Things to Do in Lapland

A circle of latitude marking the southern boundary of the Arctic region, the Arctic Circle has long been thought of as the gateway to an icy, uninhabitable wilderness, but for visitors to Finland, it's also the entry point to one of the country's most breathtaking region. The majority of Finnish Lapland lies within the Arctic, with popular destinations like Rovaniemi and Suomu lying directly on the Arctic Circle and attractions like Santa Claus Village even marking the location of the circle on the ground for the benefit of tourists. 

The unique location of the Arctic also lends itself to a number of natural phenomena, most famously the otherworldly Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, which can be seen in and around the Arctic region during the winter months. Equally unusual is the Midnight Sun, a period during midsummer when the sun appears to never set, while conversely, the midwinter months appear to be in a perpetual state of twilight, with temperatures dipping as low as -58 degrees F.

Located about 155 miles (250 km) north of the Arctic Circle, Saariselkä is one of Finland's northernmost ski resorts, a remote spot that is an ideal choice for those looking to get off the beaten track and escape the crowds. 

Saariselka is best known for its winter sports, and the nearby fells of Kaunispaa and Iisakkipaa offer 11 ski and snowboard slopes, along with more than 155 miles (250 km) of cross-country skiing trails. Other popular activities include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, husky sledding and reindeer safaris, while summer visitors can make the most of the abundant hiking and mountain biking trails. Saariselkä also makes a great destination for viewing the Northern Lights, with its northern location offering some of the highest sighting rates from September to March. 

A wild landscape of ancient pine forests, lakes and hills stretching between the fell resorts of Pyhä and Luosto, Pyhä-Luosto National Park is the highlight of central Lapland and a popular choice for a day trip from Rovaniemi.

With more than 90 miles (150 km) of walking trails, Pyhä-Luosto is a top destination for hikers all year-round, with highlights including Isokuru, Finland's deepest gorge, the Pyhä Waterfall and the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, Europe's only active amethyst mine, where visitors can try their luck digging for gemstones. With over 75 miles (120 km) of ski trails and ample opportunities for snowmobiling, reindeer sleigh rides and husky sledding, Pyhä-Luosto makes a fun place to spend the winter months, while summer activities include mountain biking, canoeing, swimming and fishing.

Created more than 200 million years ago, the Amethyst Fell of Lampivaara is one of Finnish Lapland’s most unique tourist attractions and the only active amethyst mine in Europe.

The journey to the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine is as spectacular as the destination, with visitors hiking or boarding a snowmobile and climbing through the snow-blanketed forests of the Pyhä-Luosto National Park to reach the hilltop mine. Here, visitors not only have the chance to learn about the history of the semi-precious gemstone and traditional mining techniques, but can even dig for amethysts within the mine itself. Best of all, if you find one of the semi-precious stones (provided it’s no bigger than your palm), you can keep it as a souvenir. 

The landscape around the zoo is beautiful and worth a visit in itself. The trail around the park is around 1.5 miles (2.5 km) and cold in winter, so dress appropriately.

As the capital and main transport hub of Finnish Lapland, most travelers will find themselves staying in or passing through Rovaniemi, a city well situated for discovering the region’s many highlights. Rovaniemi’s idyllic setting is its biggest asset, perched at the meeting point of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers, right on the Arctic Circle and overlooked by the winter sports resort of Ounasvaara. 

The city itself is an atmospheric spot, dramatically lit up in the evening hours and home to a lively Christmas market during the festive season, but for most visitors Rovaniemi remains synonymous with one thing—Santa Claus. Just five miles (8 km) north of the city, Santa Claus Village and Santa Park are the top draws, where Father Christmas is in residence year-round and the festive fun includes reindeer sleigh rides, husky sledding and exploring Santa’s workshops.

As Finland’s most popular ski resort and host of the annual Alpine World Cup Race, Levi makes a top choice for winter sports, equipped with an impressive 43 slopes and 26 ski lifts. Set atop a 1,700-foot (531-meter) fell, this is one of the largest ski areas in Lapland. There are ample opportunities for both first-timers and seasoned skiers, including more than 124 miles (200 km) of cross-country trails, several black runs and the country’s largest snowboard park. Winter visitors can also take a Nordic walking excursion, ride a husky sled or visit the reindeer park.

Levi might be at its liveliest during the winter months, but the resort town is still worth a visit when the snow stops falling, with year-round activities including mountain biking at the Levi bike park, dry-slope sledding and zip-lining at the Levi Adventure Park. 

Lapland has long proclaimed itself the Official Home of Santa Claus, and the Santa Claus Village is the ultimate destination for festive visitors, a unique theme park devoted to the red-suited fellow and located right on the Arctic Circle.

Children are sure to be swept up in the magic as they explore Santa’s workshops, where his elves are hard at work, pet Santa’s friendly reindeer and have their photo taken with the big man himself, but there’s fun for all the family too. Get in the festive spirit exploring a series of Christmas-themed exhibitions, shop for gifts at Santa’s official souvenir shop, take your photo at the border of the Arctic Circle (denoted by a white line running through the village) or take a ride on a husky sled or snowmobile. Don’t forget to send a letter home from Santa’s official post office too, hand-stamped with the special Santa Claus postmark and guaranteed to arrive in time for Christmas.

Finland’s SantaPark may be as close as you can get to actually visiting Santa at the North Pole. Located near the town of Rovaniemi in northern Finland, it offers the quintessential Christmas experience. Children and adults alike can attend Elf School to learn elf secrets and decorate gingerbread made with Mrs. Claus’ secret recipe in the Gingerbread Kitchen. Visit Santa Claus in his office and hand him your Christmas wish list or drop by Calligraphy School to practice old-fashioned elf writing and write your own Christmas card. Then, drop it off at Santa’s Post Office and watch the elves hard at work sorting out all of Santa’s mail. Your card will be stamped with a special stamp and you can even get a head start on next year’s Christmas mail.

Don’t miss the opportunity to cross the Arctic Circle through a tunnel 50 meters underground and get your own Arctic Circle Undercrossing Certificate. Finally, ride a sleigh through the winter landscape around Rovaniemi and through the Elves’ Toy Factory before stopping at the Elves’ Workshop to make your own Christmas decorations.