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21 Things to do in Lapland in Winter

We visited Lapland in Winter building our own trip for Christmas. I was keen to fit as much as possible into our six-night itinerary. But also very aware that the kids will have never seen snow like it so that was going to feature pretty high on their must-do list. So I started by pulling together a Lapland bucket list. A list of things to do in Lapland in Winter and the best places to visit in Finnish Lapland. Which I could use to narrow down our options while staying in Rovaniemi.

Lapland in Winter – 21 Things to do

Our Lapland bucket list includes outdoor activities which are suitable for both adults and children. If you are visiting without children there will still be plenty of things you can do in Northern Finland which is a beautiful Winter wonderland.

Try out a snowmobile

Travelling with the boys I knew that full-on snowmobile safari was probably something we couldn’t really partake in. Many of the excursions do not take children. Plus I wondered after the initial thrill of it they may get a bit bored wanting to ride one themselves. In doing my research I found that the boys could have a go on their own snowmobile ride at Santa Claus Village. I thought this would be the easiest way, but as ever I struggled to find much information on how this works.

Located towards the back of Santa Claus Village it can get quite busy at the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park. This is because the rides last for around fifteen minutes with six or seven children having a go at the same time. The track is circular and you can see them all the way around. Surrounded by pine trees it is very pretty and a good way to introduce children. It costs 22€ and is suitable for children from the age of four. You pay in the little white hut by the track. And then pick up a balaclava and helmet. If it gets busy they do not have enough helmets and so you need to wait in the queue and pick one up at the front before getting on your snowmobile.

The boys really enjoyed this. If this is something you would like to do I would suggest visiting early to avoid the queues as much as possible.

Cross the Arctic Circle

There are two places we found to cross the arctic circle. This was at Santa Claus Village or Santa Park both located next to each other. In both locations, you can get a special certificate which shows that you crossed over.

We decided to do this as Santa Claus village. When we visited Lapland in the Winter there was a lot of snow on the ground which meant outside we could not see the official line that marks the arctic circle. Although there are some red posts which have artic circle on them. Instead, you can go into the information centre and see it on the ground. Here is also where you can buy your certificate from the information desk. They have two different certificates, one cost 4.95€ and the other 6.95€ which has gold foil on it. They stamp the certificate with the date you crossed over.

As mentioned you can also do this at Santa Park. Here you can cross over the arctic circle underground. There is a large archway near the ice gallery. You can not miss it. Here you can also buy a diploma unless you have VEP tickets in which case it is included in your ticket price. They cost 6.95€ each.

See the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis

This natural phenomenon was most definitely something we wanted to do on our Lapland bucket list. Staying in both a glass igloo and also the snow hotel both of which are away from light pollution. Both of them have aurora alarms but seeing them is dependent on the weather conditions. Unfortunately, because we had a lot of snow while staying in Lapland at Winter the skies had a lot of cloud cover and so we did not get lucky and see the green lights.

Of course, you could also done of many northern lights tours, which in hindsight I think we should have also booked during our Lapland holiday. There are tours which are suitable for families providing thermal suits and inside locations to warm up. When we visited Levi a couple of years ago Charlie and I did manage to see the lights through a camera with Artic Frontier. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Stay in one of the many glass igloos

Definitely a bucket list thing to do in Lapland. Staying in a glass igloo is very special something about falling asleep under the night sky. And of course, there is always the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights on a clear night. One of the top things to do in Lapland during Winter it comes with a higher price tag, especially when travelling with children and needing a family-sized igloo.

For this reason, we chose to only stay one night at Apukka Resort. Many of these types of accommodations are set up as resorts. So my advice would be to arrive early and leave in the afternoon the following day. This gives you time to explore all of the facilities after all you are paying for them. Doing it this way meant that we could enjoy the beautiful setting, the boys could play on the snow tubes and we could watch the sun go down across the frozen lake.

Visit Santa Claus Village

Visiting Santa Claus Village normally features on everyone’s Lapland bucket list, especially if travelling in Winter time. After all, it is the home of Santa Claus and so consequently one of the most popular places. So we added it to ours and visited on the first day of our stay. The boys enjoyed the visit as there is a lot for kids to do. Some of the activities offer taster sessions of other things on this Lapland in Winter list. Entrance to Santa Claus Village is free although most activities you do need to pay for. It is useful to fit around your other activities to pick

Such as snowmobiles, reindeer rides and husky rides. There is also Snowman World which is a kid’s snowy playground. With snow tubes, slides, ice skating, an ice bar and a labyrinth there is plenty to keep kids entertained. We spent a good couple of hours there during our visit. Snowman world costs 28€ per person.

Go on a reindeer sleigh ride

One of the things I really wanted to do during our Lapland Winter trip was going on reindeer safaris. Again there are lots of different options mainly revolving around the length of the journey. If you are not sure about going on a ride then you could try visiting a reindeer farm. Where you will be able to meet the reindeer, take photos and in some instances feed them.

If you are thinking about booking a reindeer ride then this blog post may help – Picking a reindeer safari in Lapland.

Visit the ice hotel

Each year during the winter period on the outskirts of Rovaniemi a snow hotel is built from the ice on a lake. It is a huge structure offering tourists the chance to look around the many intricately carved hotel rooms. As well as have a drink in the ice bar and a set meal in the ice restaurant.

It is possible to visit the snow hotel in Rovaniemi as a day guest, with or without eating in the restaurant or you can even stay overnight. Which is what we did, you can read about how we got on during our unique experiences – Arctic Snow Hotel Rovaniemi. If you want to visit as a day guest entrance costs 24€ for an adult and 15€ for a child. If you want transfers as well from Rovaniemi then the price goes up to 69€ for an adult and 49€ for a child. Dinner with entrance costs 103€ for an adult and 67€ for a child.

A one-night stay in the snow hotel start at 169€ per night for an adult and 109€ per child. A family suite which is one of the higher-end rooms costs 1099€ for six people.

Eat in the ice restaurant

There is something strange about sitting in an ice restaurant and eating hot food. Yet it is extremely popular, especially with organised tours. It is normally a set meal so this can cause issues for kids that are fussy eaters. We did eat at the snow hotel in their ice restaurant during our stay but unfortunately, it really did not live up to expectations. Before booking, if this is on your Lapland bucket list, I would do your research and check out reviews on TripAdvisor.

Go on a husky safari

Husky sledding was a huge Lapland bucket list item for us and by far one of the best things we did during our visit to Northern Lapland. Or as the boys called it the North Pole! Charlie has wanted to go on a husky safari since we visited the husky farm in Levi but did not have snow. Judging by all the different tours available I am guessing it is on a lot of people’s lists. With it being the one thing that we wanted to do in Lapland in the Winter we decided on a much longer dog sledding ride which lasted about an hour and went over 8km.

It was everything that I hoped it would be. Racing through the twilight with the snow falling and being pulled along by husky dogs. In the experience, we chose we also drove the sleigh which was also an incredible experience. Although there were people on hand to help out if needed. If you are considering adding a husky safari to your things to do in Lapland list then I would encourage you to read our blog post. Choosing the best husky experience – runs down things that you should think about when considering which tour is right for you.

Try ice fishing

I really hope that the boys would enjoy this experience yet it turns out that Winter is not the best time to have a go at ice fishing. Although there are various places that offer this, during the winter months many of the fish are very sleepy due to the cold. Tending to hug the bottom of the lake. When we gave it a go we did not manage to catch anything.

However, the family that was running our trip suggested that come April the fish would be a lot easier to catch. It is warmer despite the thick ice and therefore they tend to be more active. If we do return in the Springtime then this is at the top of our list. The fishing rods we used are only small meaning that the boys could manage a rod themselves easily. They are not complicated to operate at all.

Make ice balls from balloons

Not all the things on this Lapland bucket list you need to pay a lot of money for. This was a great free activity to do in Lapland in the Winter. We brought with us some small balloons. Not water balloons as they are too small and fiddly. Five-inch balloons seemed to work really well. We added some gel food colouring and then placed them on our balcony to freeze. Most days it was -6 degrees. Leaving them overnight meant that five out of the six froze. For some reason the one we added purple food colouring to did not.

The boys enjoyed bowling them in the snow and using them when we sledging as markers to see who had managed to get the farthest. They kept them occupied one morning while we were waiting to move on to another accommodation. So I would definitely recommend doing these if you can.

We left them near the sledging slopes so that the other children could use them. Never underestimate the amount of fun the kids can have with some ice balls.

Try frozen bubbles

In the same way, we brought some bubble mixture from home to enjoy in the cold. Blowing the bubbles across the snow and watching ice crystals freeze. It can be a little difficult to spot them on the basis that snow is white. So I would try and catch them on the bubble wand to really see them at their best.

Toast marshmallows

As we did not have a car during our trip to Lapland I also brought some marshmallows from home with skewers for the firepit to toast them. Firepits are used to keep warm between activities. We found several dotted around Santa Claus Village. As well as some of the places that we stayed.

When it is cold a little bit of sugar is greatly appreciated. It was also useful to encourage the boys to sit for a little bit before raring off to find a sledge or play in the snow. We took some chocolate biscuits from home to try and make smores. When we travelled we took both the marshmallows and the skewers in the hold luggage as our skewers were metal forks and so would not have been allowed in the cabin.

Go sledging

If you ask Harry this was his favourite activity of our whole trip. The good news in many places sledging is also free. With plenty of accommodations having plastic sledges available for the children. We found free sledges at Santa Claus Village as well.

If your accommodation does not offer free sledges then you should be able to hire them. It is worth checking this in advance. Our first hotel did not offer free sledges instead charging 5€ per 24-hour period per sledge. We were lucky as there was a hill nearby which was perfect for the boys. Some of the people who were also in our hotel brought some sledges with them. They looked like dinner trays with a handle between the legs.

Knowing that our hotel had a specific hill suitable for sledging I would have been tempted to do the same. Perfect for filling in between activities or something to keep them entertained after a day out.

Practice cross country skiing

In the same vein, many of the accommodations also offer the ability to hire cross-country skiing equipment. Skis that fit around your snow boots. Perhaps a gentle way to start if you have not skied before. And easy to fit around other activities. If your hotel or resort is not in the centre then you may be able to hire skis directly from them.

Many of the different Lapland locations in Finland are also ski resorts. So if you want to combine a Christmas Lapland holiday with some skiing it is possible. Both Rovaniemi and Levi have their own slopes.

Visit Santa Park

If you want the full-on Christmas experience and travelling with children then Santa Park has you covered. Not only is it inside it can be a relief for little hands and feet even with warm clothes from the cold weather. But there is so much to keep the kids entertained. With a trip to the post office, an elf workshop, a virtual reality sleigh ride, an elf acrobatic show and an elf school to name a few. They are completely set up for kids and of course, you can also see the big man. Although we did not on our visit.

We spent almost five hours at the inside theme park. So I would allow at least half a day to experience it fully. Tickets can be booked online in advance or you can purchase them on the day. They cost 42€ for an adult and 36€ for a child. You can also have a buffet lunch in their restaurant which is really good value for money. Santa Park is only open in Lapland during the winter and there is plenty of space to store your base layer. Opening from the end of November to the beginning of January.

If your time and budget only allow for one either Santa Claus Village or Santa Park. Then I have compared the two for you here – Santa Park vs Santa Claus Village.

Meet Father Christmas

Visiting Lapland in Winter means only one thing meeting Father Christmas! There are plenty of different places where you can visit Santa Claus. All you need to do is decide what you are looking for and what your budget is like. It is possible to visit Santa Claus for free in Santa Claus Village. In fact, that doesn’t just have one Santa Claus but two! To try and spread the people and reduce the queuing times. Although visiting is free you do need to pay for a photo which is around 40€. There is no gift for your child.

Visiting Santa Claus in his office is included at no extra cost in your ticket price when visiting Santa Park. Although you do need to pay 12€ if you would like Santa to give your child a present. You can take as many photos as you would like with your camera or phone. Although printed photos are also available at a cost of 35€.

There are some other opportunities to see Santa with various tours and trips being offered during the Winter months. Some include snowmobiles, some include reindeers and others include a visit to the secret control station. Santa Claus Secret Forest.

See the polar bears at Runua

If you are looking to get away from the Christmas spirit but still want a family-friendly activity. Then a trip to see some fifty different species of animals at Rauna Resort Wildlife Park. Including polar bears, brown bears, arctic foxes and fish otters. There are over 150 animals in total.

Tickets can be booked online in advance, purchased on the day or included with a tour. If you have your own transport or rental car and have hired a car then it is considerably cheaper to buy tickets directly from Runua. An adult ticket costs 21.50€, a child up to the age of 14 costs 17€ or a family ticket is 65€.

Take some Christmas-inspired photos

There are infinite photo opportunities to take Christmas-inspired photos. That your problem will be deciding where to start. As the weather is cold make sure you bring spare batteries for cameras and charging packs for phones. We also had some thermal sleeves for the mobiles which really helped.

As well as lots of beautiful photos in the snow. I discovered a phone app that allows you to add Santa and his reindeer in the sky. The overlay is free and can be added to any photo. Although it also includes the moon so you may need to take a couple to make sure you have enough space. The app is called Lightleap and is available on both iPhone and android. The app is also free although for some of the edits you can make you need to pay for the pro version. However, the one below is at the time of writing this free.

Eat traditional Lappish food

I was surprised by just how much fast food is available in Finland. There are pizza, pasta and burgers everywhere. This is great if you are travelling with children as it means there will always be something for them to eat.

However, we were also keen to try some traditional Lapish food. Again tours are offered in the surrounding area. Normally these will also include the opportunity to see the Northern Lights, or a snowmobile tour or similar. However, they come at quite a high price point. Many restaurants in the different Lapland resorts will offer traditional Lapish food. It is worth checking with your accommodation to see if they can recommend a local one.

Here you can still get the true experience but quite often at a reduced price. It will also give you more flexibility if you have a fussy eater as hopefully, they will be able to eat off the set menu in a restaurant. Whereas when you are on a tour with a set menu there is much less flexibility.

Watch the sunrise and the sunset

A must! Lapland in the Winter does not have many daylight hours. During our visit, we were there on the shortest day of the year and had less than two hours of light. Although beautifully clear skies. Which meant we got to enjoy beautiful coloured skies. It is really beautiful watching the oranges turn to pinks in the morning and then the sun sinking beyond the horizon. We found the perfect place in Apukka resort to do this as there is a large lake, covered in thick ice and deep snow which is almost untouched.

One of the things that is not on this things to do in Lapland list is to build a snowman. You may think this is slightly odd. But the snow that they have doesn’t clump together, it is quite dry … as far as snow goes. So it is really difficult to build a snowman. We took snowman kits with us which we never got out of the packaging!

As you can see there are so many winter activities which you can enjoy in the lush landscape. Have you been to Lapland in the Winter? What else would be on your Lapland bucket list?