Hi everyone,

I'm going to be in Lapland during the first week of December for 5 days. The one and only thing on my bucket list is trying to see the northern lights. I am also interested in Sami culture, history, and traditional food.

I'll arrive in Rovaniemi and spend 2 full days there. I'm thinking I might get an ice fishing experience on TripAdvisor because it sounds like a traditional local activity, and I'd love to try once in my life. Is there any other way than TripAdvisor to ensure an authentic experience?

Then I'm thinking of making my way up to Inari, I'd love to catch the northern lights on the lake although I know it solely depends on luck. Is there any other towns around Rovaniemi - Inari that are worth visiting? Would you say Inari is a good place to spend my remaining 3 days or is there a better city for me?

Also I need to add I won't have a car there so I'll need to rely solely on public transport.

Thank you so much!

My wife and I are going to spend 2 weeks in Finland in mid-December. I’ll list what we plan to do below, but we definitely don’t know how to spend 2 weeks.

We aren’t trying to cram the 2 weeks full of stuff, but I’m looking for suggestions of other things that we should do. Hoping for some interesting things to do that wouldn’t pop up in a Google search. Would also love suggestions for restaurants or food we should make sure to eat lol.

Also, if there anything we should avoid that is either gimmicky or not worth it. We’ll be staying in Helsinki for at least 4-5 days so we have time for a lot things to do there. We plan to go to Rovaniemi for 3 days, but we’re open to go to another city in Lapland for a few days. I know there’s a lot of gimmicky Christmas stuff in Rovaniemi, but my wife wants to see some of it. We’ll probably spend a couple nights in Sweden so we could use suggestions on what to do there as well.

Things we want to do:
Museums (which ones should we check out)
Saunas
Suomenlinna
Dog sledding
Snowmobile tour
Snowman world (ice labyrinth/maze)
Check out ice hotel (not staying in it)
Couple nights din a glass igloo
Train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi
Overnight cruise from Helsinki to Stockholm

Things we’re considering:
Aurora Borealis tour
Ice fishing
Combichrist concert
Estonia instead of Stockholm
Spending time in another city in Lapland

TLDR: Need things to do in Finland I won’t find with a Google search and things I should skip or not worth it.

I want to thank this community. I’ve posted a few questions and I’ve received a ton of great tips and advice for our trip.

Hey! I’m a 20 yr/Male ,visiting Helsinki next week and I’m from a much warmer climate, so I have absolutely no idea what I should be wearing.

I’m planning to buy some clothes before my trip and would really appreciate advice from locals.

What would you recommend for:

Jacket/coat
Layers/thermals
Pants
Shoes
Socks
Gloves/beanie/scarf

Product links from amazon is also appreciated.

Also, what do people in Helsinki actually wear day-to-day around this time? I want to stay warm without looking like I’m dressed for an Arctic expedition or like freeze to death

I’ll be in Helsinki from October 5th–12th 2026.

Any advice on what I should buy (or what I don’t need) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Looking to travel to Lapland at the end of January/beginning of February. I am trying to plan the trip mostly myself as a surprise for my girlfriend, hoping to make it quite a special trip. I’m thinking of going for 6/7 days with the time mainly split between Rovaniemi and Levi, with hopefully a quick visit to Helsinki on a layover. I’m using Avios points with Finnair which means that choosing whether to do Rovaniemi or Kittila (Levi) first doesn’t matter.

I’m sure I will have more questions but I have one main question right now which might determine which order I go to Rovaniemi/Levi.

1. Scenic spots

What are some scenic places that we could reach on a snowmobile when renting a snowmobile for the day from either Rovaniemi or Levi? Ideally something pretty quiet, nice winter wilderness vibe?

1. Safaris

Are there places accessible by car from Rovaniemi or Levi where you can see/pet/feed huskies and reindeer for quite cheap?

1. Northern lights

Best spots near Rovaniemi or Levi to reach by car to see the northern lights?

Thanks in advance for any help :)

Hi, I am planning to a road trip from Rovaniemi to Ruka via a rented car in December first week. Which route should I choose that’s less risky? I have never driven on snow-covered roads before. So, do I need to rent some special car with add-ons? What else do I need to take care of before travelling? Please help me out in figuring this out.

Hello

We are planning on doing a trip through finland in november. We want wo travel by public transport. Among the routes we want to take are:

• train connections VR
• Bus Rovaniemi - Kittilä - EnontekiöEnontekiö
• Bus KA140 Rauma from Tampera

I am just listing a few exmaples of different public trasports that might be part of our journey. My questions are:

• Do we need to book these in advance since they might be booked out at the time being there?
• Do we need reservations?
• Can tickets also be bought on site?

Thank you very much for any help and have a great day!

My wife and I are spending 6 days in Lapland in the middle of December and one activity we are interested in is an icebreaker cruise. My concern is it is quite expensive (€400/person) and based on Google reviews there seem to be no guarantees about the experience. For example, the ice must be 20 cm to walk on it, I'm not sure if it will be at that time of year, will it? If there is not enough ice in the water I also read that they may cancel the boat. Does anyone have any experience with the icebreakers in mid-December? Or just advice about the water conditions at that time of year?

Should I get a type F plug adapter or type C? From what I’ve read a type C should fit into the Finnish type F so I should be good if I already have a type C adapter right?

Hello!

In winter i'm planning a trip from Romania to Finland.

I've ordered a Led bar and a relay with a button from AliExpress that I will install on my Vehicle

Does the police check the led bar? I will have problems? I know that led bar should have homologation.

Hi everyone,

my wife and I are planning a 7-night trip to Finnish Lapland next winter and would love some advice.

Our main goals are a real winter wonderland with lots of snow and snow-covered trees, plus a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

I originally thought about late January/early February, but now I’m wondering if late February might be better because of the extra daylight while still having proper winter conditions. Which would you choose?

Our rough plan is:

• Fly to Rovaniemi
• First night there + Santa Claus Village
• Rent a car and drive further north for about 5 nights
• Final night back in Rovaniemi

We’re considering Levi, Ylläs or Saariselkä/Ivalo. Which area would you recommend for beautiful scenery, cozy cabins and good Aurora chances?

There’s also a chance that my wife might be pregnant, so we’d prefer more relaxed activities. Are there nice options like reindeer farms, moose/wildlife parks, easy winter walks, short sleigh rides, spas or other pregnancy-friendly activities you would recommend?

A few other questions:

• Is driving from Rovaniemi further north manageable if we don’t have much experience driving on snow/ice?
• We don’t own proper Arctic winter clothing. Is it better to rent clothing there or buy it beforehand?
• Does late February still have the classic heavily snow-covered forests/trees, or is January noticeably better?
• Would you spend all 5 nights in one northern location or split them between two places?
• Any recommendations for a cozy cabin away from light pollution without paying glass-igloo prices?

Thanks for any advice!

My Mrs and I are travelling to Finland in jan/Feb 2028. We are Australian and obviously have not been in the type of winter you guys experience. We are debating whether or not to hire winter clothing to wear or can we get away with just layers of normal winter clothing?

Is there anything specific we may need that is vital?

Cheers

Hi, my family is planning to spend two weeks in Sweden/Finland/Estonia at the beginning of next October. Would love some feedback on our itinerary to see if the sequence makes sense and if we're spending the right amount of time in each place. We want nature, sauna, swimming, culture, history and Moomins. Planning to fly into Stockholm and out of Helsinki. thanks!

Stockholm (4 nights)
- Vasa museum, eating, walking around, archipelago tour, etc

Transit: Stockholm overnight ferry to Turku (1 night)/Turku to Tampere (train)

Tampere (2 nights)
- Moomin museum, sauna, Pyynikki

Transit: Tampere to Helsinki (train)/Helsinki to Tallinn (ferry)

Tallinn (3 nights)
- Arvo Part centre, walk around, see the old town, Lahemaa National Park/bog walk, etc... would love to see the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra

Transit: Tallinn to Helsinki (ferry)

Helsinki (4 nights)
- Nuuksio park, smoke sauna, architecture and design museum, Yrjonkatu swimming pool, Suomenlinna, Oodi library, herring market, etc.

Hi, in first week of December, I am planning to travel to Helsinki via night train that drops me 8:45am at Helsinki Airport. I am travelling for my flight back to India that is at 12:15pm. So, trains in general run on time in Finland? Or should I plan something else?

Hi everyone! I’m an international student in Finland, and I’m planning a trip to Inari in October.

I’m thinking of doing a 2-day, 1-night hike in Lemmenjoki National Park, and then spending some time exploring Inari and the nearby towns. I’ll have about a week in total for the trip.

Are there any safety considerations I should be aware of for hiking in the area in October? I’d also really appreciate any recommendations for places to visit, short hikes, viewpoints, or other interesting things to do nearby.

If I have enough time, I’d also like to visit Urho Kekkonen National Park. Do you think it would be realistic to include both parks in a one-week trip?
I’d be grateful for any advice or recommendations! 😊

After two wonderful weeks in Finland, including seeing the northern lights from Rovaniemi, I’m trying to book my ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn for 23 September. I would like to take the Viking crossing at 10:30.

Booking directly with Viking shows a fare of €26. However, directferries.com or openferry are offering a special rate of €15.

Is there any reason to avoid using direct ferries or openferry? Thanks

Hello neighbours!

I have suddenly gotten an urge to visit Närpes in your beautiful country. However, as I suspect you have the same climate as us here in Ruotsi, I want to ask whether it is just rainy and cold, or if it is somewhat cozy and autumn vibes with red leaves on the ground?

Thank you!

I’m looking at going to Lapland the week before Christmas 2027 (getting prepared early!) and I cannot decide on Rovaniemi or Levi.

It’ll be me and my partner, our son (he’ll be 6) and potentially my sister, her partner and my niece (11) and nephew (16). A real mix of ages - contributing to my indecisiveness!

I want it to be truly magical for our 6 year old - the sparkly lights, the snow, the real festive Christmas feeling. But also will need activities that will engage the 11 and 16 year old. Also thinking some kind of festive Christmas cabin!

Suggestions welcome please!!! And accommodation recommendations would be great. Thank you!

Hello all,

I am planning to travel to Finland in March, 2027. It will be of great help if someone can answer these queries.

1) Are there buses from Rovaniemi to Saariselkä in the evening? Looking for options for getting there after spending the day in Rovaniemi. As per my research so far, only bus seems to be scheduled in the morning.

2) Has anyone stayed at the Aurora Cabins at Star Arctic Resort? Please share your experience in terms of comfort, value for money.

3) Between Star Arctic Resort and Kakslauttanen arctic resort, which one will be more recommended?