WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN LAPLAND WITH 4 NIGHTS
Imagine jetting off to a winter wonderland in Northern Europe, discovering pristine scenery laden with snow. You could find yourself in this enchanting landscape on a 5-day Lapland holiday.
Lapland is situated in the far north of Sweden and Finland, within the Arctic Circle. It is a region characterised by beautiful forests, lakes and rivers. Here the dark night skies of winter light up with the shimmering colours of the aurora borealis.
Spend your 5-day tour enjoying activities in the snow, soaking up the native Sami culture, and cosying up by the fireplace.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN LAPLAND
Lapland offers opportunities for adventures and indulgent experiences in equal measure. This means that you can be as active or relaxed as you wish on your winter trip!
Here are the top things to do in Lapland:
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Go mushing through the snow on a dog sled
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Marvel at the otherworldly northern lights
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Explore the countryside by snowmobile
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Have a private meeting with Santa Claus
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Sleep in an ice room or a glass igloo
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Try skiing, ice fishing or snowshoeing
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Experience local Sami customs and cuisine
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Celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve
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See Arctic animals in their native habitat
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Warm up in a traditional Finnish sauna
When you book a Lapland tour with Nordic Visitor, you can add optional activities and day trips to your itinerary. We recommend that you reserve any extras in advance to guarantee availability.
Speak to your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor about the excursions you’d like to incorporate into your Lapland itinerary. They will organise everything on your behalf, while you relax and look forward to your winter escape.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN LAPLAND
Where you go in Lapland will largely depend on the activities and sights you want to enjoy. You can read Nordic Visitor’s Lapland travel guide to learn more about each area, which will help you decide where to visit.
Here are the best places to go in Finnish Lapland:
These are the top places to visit in Swedish Lapland:
VISIT ONE OF LAPLAND’S ICE HOTELS OR GLASS IGLOOS
One of the “coolest” things you can do in Lapland is stay in an ice hotel. Marvel at the ice sculptures, imaginative themed rooms, and restaurants and bars crafted from frozen water. Since many of the hotels melt in the spring, artists start from scratch and rebuild them each winter.
Spending the night in an ice suite is on many travellers’ bucket lists. You are kept cosy thanks to thermal sleeping bags and reindeer hides, with the chance to step into a hot sauna in the morning.
If you’d rather sleep in a warm room, you can take a guided tour of these ice hotels instead.
A great alternative is staying in a glass igloo in Lapland. Snuggle up in your heated dome, looking through the clear glass up to the night sky. You might even be treated to a northern lights show from your bed!
Here are the best ice hotels and glass igloos to visit in Lapland:
VISIT FINNISH OR SWEDISH LAPLAND
For your 5-day trip to Lapland, take your pick from visiting Finnish or Swedish Lapland. Both destinations offer similar experiences, such as aurora hunting, snowmobiling, and riding in reindeer sleighs or dog sleds.
However, Finnish and Swedish Lapland each have particular highlights that you should know about before you decide where to go. Take a look at these itinerary recommendations for a taste of what to expect in Finland and Sweden, respectively.
5-DAY ITINERARY SUGGESTION FOR FINNISH LAPLAND:
Day 1 - Arrival in Rovaniemi & snowmobile safari
Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at Rovaniemi Airport for your transfer to your accommodation. You could rest after your journey or head into town to explore a little before you start your first Lapland adventure.
Come evening, it’s time to embark on a snowmobile safari and hunt for the northern lights. An expert guide will lead you along the trails, looking for the aurora borealis and enjoying the exhilarating ride through the snow.
Round off your excursion with a hot drink and snack beside the campfire, then return to your hotel for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Spend the night in Rovaniemi.
Day 2 - Dog sledding and Finnish sauna
Head into the snow-draped scenery outside Rovaniemi today with a guided dog sled excursion. Learn about this traditional mode of transport in Lapland, starting with a brief lesson at the kennel. Then mush through the woods with your own sled.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Rovaniemi. You could indulge in a sauna session, the typical way to relax and unwind here in Finland.
Spend the night in Rovaniemi.
Day 3 - Reindeer farm and Santa Claus Village
This morning, hop on a snowmobile and make your way to a traditional reindeer farm. Here you can learn about the culture of Lapland’s native people, the Sami, and enjoy a sleigh ride.
Next, prepare to meet the “man in red” with a visit to Santa Claus Village, just outside Rovaniemi.
Soak up the festive atmosphere of this Christmassy haven, which is open year-round. Enjoy a private meeting with Santa with the elves on hand, and send a postcard from the Santa Claus Post Office. Then why not browse for souvenirs at the craft shops?
Spend the night in Rovaniemi.
Day 4 - Day at leisure and visit to the Arctic SnowHotel
This morning, hop on a snowmobile and make your way to a traditional reindeer farm. Here you can learn about the culture of Lapland’s native people, the Sami, and enjoy a sleigh ride.
Learn more about the local history, nature and culture in Rovaniemi this morning by paying a visit to the Arktikum Museum. Here you can explore the intriguing exhibits about Finnish Lapland and the Arctic region.
Come evening, head to the Arctic SnowHotel in Lehtojärvi, just outside Rovaniemi. Take a guided tour of this fascinating frozen hotel, which is created anew each year. Check out the rooms, restaurant and bar, all sculpted from ice and snow.
After your tour sit down for a delicious 3-course meal at Restaurant Kota, inspired by traditional Sami architecture. Then, you’ll either return to your accommodation in Rovaniemi, or overnight in the Arctic SnowHotel for an unforgettable stay. Choose from sleeping in an ice room or a glass igloo.
Spend the night in Rovaniemi or the Arctic SnowHotel.
Day 5 - Departure
Today you’ll be transferred back to Rovaniemi Airport where you’ll fly home from your Lapland holiday.
5-DAY ITINERARY SUGGESTION FOR SWEDISH LAPLAND:
Day 1 - Arrival in Kiruna and snowmobile safari
After touching down at Kiruna Airport, a driver will meet you and take you to your hotel. Enjoy some free time to yourself, perhaps getting to know the town or simply relaxing before you head out later.
In the evening you’ll get to explore the countryside on a snowmobile excursion, searching for the northern lights. Follow your guide through the snow as they lead you to the best spots to look for the aurora. Feel the thrill of the ride as you go.
Then, sit beside the log fire in a wooden hut and tuck into a rustic dinner of traditional local food. Afterwards, your guide will take you back to your accommodation.
Spend the night in Kiruna.
Day 2 - Snowmobile to the ICEHOTEL
This morning, discover the famous ICEHOTEL, situated in the village of Jukkasjärvi just outside Kiruna. This was the original ice hotel that set a trend for the many others that now exist around the world.
To get to the ICEHOTEL, hop back on a snowmobile and journey through the white landscape to this extraordinary retreat. After you arrive, begin with a guided tour, learning how artists build it using ice from the Torne River nearby.
You’ll also get to explore the ICEHOTEL 365, a year-round structure that stays cold in the summer thanks to solar energy.
Once you’ve discovered the stunning ice rooms, sculptures, church and bar, enjoy a coffee and light lunch by the fireplace at the hotel’s traditional-style hut.
The rest of the day is yours to take at leisure. You could opt for a northern lights snowshoe walk or another adventurous activity.
Spend the night in Kiruna or the ICEHOTEL.
Day 3 - Dog sledding and Aurora Sky Station
Today you can enjoy one of the most special activities and traditions in Lapland: dog sledding.
Meet the huskies at the kennel and learn how to drive your sled from an expert guide. Change into a thermal suit, head out onto the trails, and glide through the woods and snowy plains. Afterwards, fuel up with a hot cup of coffee and a light lunch by the campfire.
Later on, venture to Abisko National Park, located around 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Kiruna. An evening of admiring spectacular scenery and tasting fine food awaits you here.
Start by taking a chairlift ride up the mountain to the Aurora Sky Station. You’ll be treated to an exquisite 4-course dinner in the restaurant, with views of the national park from your window.
Then take a guided tour through the exhibition and look for the northern lights. With its remote location and lack of light pollution, Abisko is a great place to catch sight of the aurora.
Spend the night in Abisko.
Day 4 - Abisko National Park at leisure
Spend the day as you wish in Abisko National Park, an area of stunning natural beauty. You could opt for a guided activity, or head out on your own to enjoy some winter sports like skiing.
Later, hop on a train back to Kiruna and relax for the rest of the day.
Spend the night in Kiruna.
Day 5 - Departure
Today you’ll take a transfer to Kiruna Airport where you’ll fly home from your Lapland holiday.
BEST TIME TO VISIT LAPLAND
The best time to visit Lapland is between December and March, when you can enjoy the magical white scenery, northern lights, and excursions in the snow.
Certain activities are available in Lapland year round. For example, in summer you can meet Father Christmas, or even visit certain ice hotels that use solar power to keep some of their rooms frozen. However, we recommend travelling in winter for the quintessential Lapland experience.
Thanks to snowfall from mid-October to mid-May, you’ll be surrounded by snow-blanketed scenery between December and March. What’s more, in winter you have the best chances of seeing the northern lights. The long, dark nights provide the ideal backdrop for spotting the aurora borealis.
In summer, on the other hand, there are long daylight hours in Lapland – a phenomenon called the “midnight sun”. With light skies all night long, it is too bright to see the northern lights.
Find out how to increase your chances of spotting the aurora borealis with these guides:
Best time and place to see the northern lights in Sweden
Best time and place to see the northern lights in Finland
What are the northern lights? Aurora borealis explained
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IN LAPLAND
Perhaps you want to time your Lapland trip for December to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve in this winter wonderland?
Spend Christmas in Lapland and you could attend a festive gala dinner for Christmas Eve, accompanied by Santa’s elves. Join in the fun and help to decorate the Christmas tree before you tuck into the big feast.
You could then have the ultimate Christmas Day in Santa’s homeland. Whizz through the snow in a reindeer sleigh, meet Santa in his workshop, and taste delicious Christmas food. Think freshly baked gingerbread biscuits and a warm glass of glögg (mulled wine).
Or visit Lapland at New Year for a celebration to remember. You could attend a New Year’s Eve party in a wooden hut in the middle of a Finnish forest, experiencing local customs and cuisine. And, of course, you’d get to watch a spectacular fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.
Don’t forget, you can get into the festive spirit at any time of year with Santa Claus Village breaks in Finnish Lapland!
