What is there to see in Lapland – who says Christmas is only for children?
Winter is hardly anyone’s favourite season. This may be because the hallucinatory cold or the idea of dressing up like the Michelin Man are not very appealing. Despite the thick layers that make it difficult to move your limbs and the endless amount of handkerchiefs you stuff up your sleeve to keep your nose from dripping, the cold can be magical. Especially when you experience it on the northern edge of Europe, in Lapland. If you’re a backpacker looking to find out what there is to see in Lapland, I recommend travelling to Rovaniemi, with the option of driving all the way to the remote town of Äkäslompolo.
Snuggling up under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate when it’s cold outside may seem like the best part of winter, but there’s plenty to see in Lapland when the temperatures are below zero. This beautiful region in the Arctic Circle is completely covered in shimmering, glistening snowbanks for 200 days every year. It’s a truly magical winter experience that surpasses every Christmas cliché! Here are 10 places in Lapland that every backpacker will love.
Experience the magic of the Aurora Borealis
When you say Lapland, the first thing that comes to mind is the extraordinary Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). This enchanting spectacle in the night sky is truly one of nature’s mystical wonders. The colourful lights of the Aurora Borealis can be seen in the Arctic sky between October and April. Due to climate change and other man-made disasters, it has become increasingly difficult to predict this incredible phenomenon. But on cloudless winter nights, the spectacle is often clearly visible.
You can enjoy this experience for free wherever you want, but promise me you’ll keep your eyes open and your phone away: Instagram doesn’t need another Aurora Borealis photo! Some of the best places from which to watch the Aurora Borealis in Finnish Lapland are the Arktikum Shore and Ounasvaara Fell in Rovaniemi.
⛄ Lapland, what to see: Artikum Shore, Finland, 涅米羅瓦
⛄ Lapland, what there is to see: Ounasvaara Fell
Visit Father Christmas
No, I don’t think you’re naive enough to fall into a tourist trap. But think about it, you can’t visit the birthplace of Father Christmas and not visit him! I don’t know if it will convince you, but you don’t have to sit on his lap…
The best thing about the whole experience is that you can visit Santa’s post office, where you can write and send your letters. And if meeting Santa isn’t at the top of your list of things to do in Lapland, you should know that the village is also home to an incredible variety of restaurants, gift shops and colourful, glowing ice sculptures. You don’t have to pay an entrance fee to meet Father Christmas – so what have you got to lose?
Father Christmas Village is located 8 kilometres north of Rovaniemi and can be reached by bus number 8.
⛄ Lapland, what to see: Father Christmas Village, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland
💰Price: free admission
Swim in the ice-cold water and then go to the sauna
The stereotype that Finns are an exuberant people is not helped by the fact that we also have a great passion for swimming in frozen water. You might think that when the temperature drops below zero, how can you even think about swimming? Well, we Finns just make a hole in a frozen lake and dive into water that is probably more suitable for polar bears. But please don’t take the tranquilliser gun, we’re not dangerous, just a bit weird! A bit like your grandad who is convinced that climate change is just a government conspiracy.
So if you’re looking for an authentic Finnish experience that will freeze your bum off and enrich your soul, head to Koskipuisto Park in Rovaniemi and take a dip in the great Kemijoki River. The locals swear that swimming in sub-zero water is revitalising and healthy. To get the full Finnish experience, head to the sauna after your swim and have a shot of Salmiakki. You’ve earned it after nearly dying of hypothermia!
⛄ What to see in Lapland: Koskipuisto Park, Koskikatu 1, 33100 Tampere, Finland
💰Price: The price for a bath is €3, €3 is added for the sauna.
Skiing through the enchanted forest
Every country has an official national sport, but not all populations really love and practise it. For the Finns, it’s cross-country skiing. Perhaps its popularity stems from the fact that it is suitable for everyone, regardless of level, and is very healthy for body and mind, with the beautiful winter landscape as a backdrop.
💰 Price: Hiring skis for a whole day costs around €30.
Skating in the centre of a square
In the winter months, tourists and locals alike can skate on the famous ice rink in the centre of Rovaniemi. The rink is located in Lordi Square (yes, the square is named after the heavy metal band that won the Eurovision Song Contest), the perfect place to experience the local culture, stroll around, take selfies with the giant Christmas tree that dominates the central square, shop and discover the impressive Nordic architecture. This is one of the most wintry things to do in Lapland!
⛄Lapland – what to see: Ice rink at Lordi Square, Maakuntakatu 29-31, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland
💰 Price: Ice skating costs €10 per person. This includes a full-day skate hire and all the equipment you need as a beginner.
Visit to an Arctic museum
One of Lapland’s most famous museums, the ArktikumScienceCentre in Rovaniemi, is not to be missed by any backpacker. The museum has set itself the task of teaching visitors everything they need to know about the protected Arctic regions and presenting the local history, culture and nature.
Whether you visit the museum for the permanent or temporary exhibitions or for the stunning architecture, you won’t be disappointed. There’s even a glass ceiling above the main area that allows visitors to observe the Aurora Borealis from inside – and in the heat!
⛄ Lapland, what to see: Arktikum Museum, Pohjoisranta 4, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland
💰 Price: €13 for adults.
Go mountain biking
📷 @mikakor
OK, this might surprise you. It’s not for the faint-hearted or for people who would call sunbathing on the beach a feat, but if you’re looking for a real adventure, then the opportunity to mountain bike through Rovaniemi might be just the thing for you.
No bus or car journey will bring you as close to the Arctic beauty as cycling. To fully enjoy the breathtaking scenery, it’s important to choose the starting point of your route wisely. I would recommend starting in Rovaniemi, as the city is the benchmark for all outdoor activities. Mountain biking can be done all year round, so you can choose between blue skies and a winter route.
💰 Price: The rental price for a conventional bike starts at around €25 for 3 hours.
Learn more about the Sami culture
The Sámi are the indigenous people of Lapland, and if you want to learn more about their culture, the Lauri Handicraft Shop in Rovaniemi is the perfect place to start. Here you can see genuine Sami handicrafts, both traditional pieces and new interpretations. Everything is made from renewable natural materials to honour the values of the Sámi ancestors. You can also make a unique Sámi artwork yourself, as masterclasses are held in the shop by local Sámi!
⛄ Lapland, what to see: Lauri Handicraft Shop, Pohjolankatu 25, 96100 Rovaniemi, Finland
💰 Price: The cost of the class depends on the piece you want to make. Prices start at €39 per person, including materials, for one hour of lessons. A fair price for a one-off lesson with an authentic local maker!
Try frisbee golf
Another special activity you can participate in for free is frisbee golf. It’s one of the best things to do in Lapland, and the best time to do it is during the Finnish summer, when Lapland is lush with greenery and flowers. It may sound completely random (and it is), but the sport is played with a frisbee and a metal bucket and follows the same concept as golf. It’s completely free and a very fun group activity. There are two frisbee golf courses in Finnish Lapland, and it will be hard to find such good places to throw a disc into a bucket. Bring friends you’ve made at the hostel and spend a few hours exploring the nature around the courses.
⛄ Lapland, what to see: Äkäslompolo
⛄ What to see in Lapland: Ylläsjärvi
Enjoy the endless light of summer
Of course, Lapland is an incredible destination in winter, but it’s also beautiful in summer, just in a different way. To enjoy the epic nature and endless summer light, stay at the incredible 7 Fells Hostel near Ylläs Fell and Kesänkijärvi. At the hostel, guests can rent bicycles for free during the summer. If cycling is not your thing, you can also hike up Ylläs Fell in summer and enjoy the breathtaking view from the top. But watch out for mosquitoes, especially in the evening!
On the route around Kesänkijärvi you can rest, fill your lungs with fresh, unspoilt air and cook yourself a good meal at the Laavu hut. Then take a dip in the cool waters of the river – a perfect summer day in Lapland. There are plenty of guides you can book who know different routes if you fancy giving your bum a bit of a workout.
⛄ Lapland, what to see: Trekking in Ylläs Fell
The best youth hostels in Lapland
If the starting point of your adventure is Rovaniemi, Wherever Boutique Hostel offers a central location, a very modern interior, cosy common areas and prices that are perfect for the backpacker’s wallet travelling through this expensive region.
If you want to explore Äkäslompolo further, you should stay at 7 Fells Hostel or its newly opened, even more glamorous sister, 7 Fells Boutique Hostel. The cosy atmosphere and environmental ethos at both of these accommodations will allow you to enjoy the wooded and remote areas of the north to the fullest. The free bicycles in summer and sledges in winter, as well as the proximity to fantastic ski slopes and hiking trails, make them the best places to stay. If you land in Rovaniemi, simply take a long-distance bus into town.
📷 7 Fells Boutique Hostel
If you’re one of those slightly boring people who can’t get excited by the thought of a thick blanket of snow and an even thicker parka, then I hope this list of places to visit in Lapland has changed your mind. You’re sure to fall in love with nature and the cold if you embrace winter life. Finns just know how to do it: we know how to freeze our genitals off in frozen lakes and on long cross-country skiing trips, but then we burn ourselves in the heat of the sauna! That must be the secret to the high life expectancy in this part of the world 😉.
Discover youth hostels in Finland
The author
Karan Ahluwalia is a Finnish writer who studies in London and sets off on great adventures after her MA studies. She knows five languages, food from all corners of the world and misses the snow and seasons from home.
Get the App.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.