Holidays in Finland in winter. Holidays in Lapland Traditional Sami costume

Lapland- a unique region beyond the Arctic Circle, where it is winter 200 days a year, endless expanses of sparkling snow, untouched nature, amazing breathtaking views, and in the summer the sun does not set beyond the horizon 24 hours a day, providing residents and tourists with unique opportunities for interesting activities and adventures.

">NORTHERN LIGHTS

The Northern Lights are one of the most spectacular natural shows. It’s hard to believe that such beauty actually exists and that the inhabitants of the Earth have the opportunity to see this heavenly performance. In Finland, the Northern Lights can be seen from October to April.

SANTA CLAUS IN ROVANIEMI

Of course, Santa Claus in Rovaniemi is the main grandfather for whom tourists from all over the world come to Finland and Finnish Lapland specifically. Rovaniemi in Finland is home to the only official residence of Santa Claus. It is important to remember that Santa's residence is open all year round. Of course, many people want to come here in winter, but even in summer, Santa is happy to receive guests and listen to New Year's wishes. Right there on the territory of Santa’s residence you can solemnly cross the Arctic Circle.

DEER

Reindeer is a symbol of Finnish Lapland, the main animal of the northern region. The number of reindeer in Lapland is approximately equal to the population. Each reindeer belongs to a specific reindeer herder. In the summer, the reindeer roam on their own, and twice a year all the reindeer are collected into pens to count the current population.

Meeting a deer in Lapland at any time of the year is common. Deer often graze near roads, tumble in the snow on the side of the road, and often come to human habitation.

By the way, deer are excellent berry and mushroom pickers! They know when blueberries and lingonberries ripen, so they have their eye on the juiciest meadows. They also love to eat mushrooms. And of course, the most favorite delicacy for deer is moss. Since this deer delicacy grows only in Lapland, deer are therefore only found in these latitudes.

HUSKIES DOGS

Lapland has ideal living conditions for huskies. In the summer, huskies are on vacation and the owners of these dogs create ideal conditions for their pets to relax, since they are too hot for active activities. But winter is the most favorite time for huskies. They greet guests with a joyful bark, and, whining and squealing, they look forward to the opportunity to rush with the wind across the snowy expanses of Lapland, or make a long expedition through the snowy tundra.

SNOWMOBILES

Lapland offers the best conditions for snowmobile safaris. The snowmobiling season starts in November and ends in May. Hundreds of special snowmobile trails are laid out in Lapland and are maintained in perfect condition. All snowmobile trails are equipped with road signs, speed limits, and indicators; along the trails you can find barbecue shelters and even cabins for overnight stays. In special companies you can book a snowmobile safari for several hours, various snowmobile programs (with a stop at a deer farm, or a visit to a black sauna), and even an entire polar expedition for several days with overnight stays in forest huts along the way.

It’s interesting that snowmobile tracks are full-fledged roads with their own traffic rules, and on a track in the forest you can quite easily meet snowmobile police who may ask you to breathe into a tube! And this is not a joke - extra miles and you can lose your driver's license.

ICE ROCK CLIMBING

Ice is an integral element of winter. Why not try the embrace of ice in Lapland this winter and test your strength and endurance? The Pyhä ski resort in Lapland has unique ice climbing conditions and professional ice climbing instructors.

GUARANTEED SNOW IN WINTER AND SUGAR PINES

With global warming in recent years, it is quite difficult to predict whether there will be snow in southern Finland in December-January. In Lapland, snow is guaranteed from the end of November until the end of April. Many ski resorts in Lapland are open at the beginning of May, so lovers of alpine and cross-country skiing can spend the May holidays in the ski resorts of Lapland, enjoying the snow and sun.

SKI RESORTS OF LAPLAND

There are approximately 75 ski resorts throughout Finland. Small resorts are located on the hills near towns in southern and central Finland. But the highest, most interesting ski resorts with developed winter recreation infrastructure are located in Lapland. The main giants of the northern Finnish resorts are the ski resorts of Levi, Ylläs, Pyhä and Ruka.

Ski resort Ylläs- resort of the longest slopes in Finland. This is the best place to watch the northern lights; only this resort has a unique sauna - a gondola. Ski resort Levi- a legendary alpine resort in Finland. Amazing atmosphere, beautiful village, high and long slopes, water park on the resort grounds. Pyha ski resort is a calm family resort, well-equipped slopes, picturesque wild slopes, not far from Rovaniemi.

GLASS IGLOO

In Finnish Lapland you can spend the night in special glass igloo, where, lying on your bed in the warmth with a cup of hot coffee, you can admire breathtaking views, snowy landscapes, starry skies and, if you're lucky, the northern lights.

POLAR NIGHT

Polar night- a feature of the northern regions of the Earth, those areas that are located above the Arctic Circle. Finnish Lapland is no exception. The sun does not rise above the horizon for about a month (December and early January), and in the very north of Finland a little longer. But the street is not completely dark - for several hours around noon, Lapland is buried in a bluish-blue-pink twilight.

POLAR DAY AND MIDNIGHT SUN

Have you ever seen how the sun walks across the sky 24 hours a day, descending towards the horizon, but not setting behind it? In Lapland, this phenomenon can be seen in the summer from early June to mid-July, and in the northernmost parts of Finland as much as 70 days in the summer! Finns happily use this time of year for all sorts of active activities: hiking, fishing, canoeing, playing golf in the wee hours. And of course, the best activity is a vacation in the countryside, in a cottage, where you can enjoy nature and silence 24 hours a day.

LOG COTTAGES KELO

Kelo- dead silver pine is a special, unusual pine! This tree can only come from Lapland, where due to low temperatures, and even extremely low in winter, the pine grows very slowly, and then, drying out on the root, it curls. Kelo silver pine cottages are mainly built in Lapland. There are entire resorts here where only cottages from KELO are built (for example, the Luosto resort).

Cloudberry - SUPER BERRY OF LAPLAND

Cloudberry- berry queen! Cloudberries grow throughout Finland, but the most abundant crop ripens in Lapland. Cloudberries are rich in vitamin C and contain vitamin E in larger quantities than many fruits and grains. We can say that cloudberries are a vitamin bomb. A very valuable berry in Finland. The cloudberry harvesting period is very short, approximately the last week of July and the first half of August.

All the gold of the earth is on the Kola.

Original post and comments at

Where to stay: We advise those who like to conquer the slopes to stay directly at the chosen resort. Arctic hotels in Saariselka are an interesting experience to live in one of the northernmost resorts in the world. It's a little expensive here, but the views will blow you away. There is also a spa and even a water park. Vuokatti is perhaps the most family-friendly of all Finnish resorts; the choice of accommodation is very, very large. And very close to Kajaani and Kuhmo, there is also accommodation for tourists. We are going to Kemijärvi with the children to visit Santa. For fun city adventures, welcome to Oulu. Hotels - for every taste, fresh sea air - free. Rovaniemi hotels are a choice for those who want everything from Lapland at once. There is nature, sports, culture and art, and shopping, of course.
What to see: Sometimes it seems that stop anywhere in Lapland, get out of the car, and there will be a ski resort nearby. There are more than a dozen of them known and popular here. Off-season, almost every ski resort admits that there are wonderful protected forests and national parks around. For those looking for a more traditional tourist adventure (or visiting in the summer), we recommend visiting Rovaniemi, the historical and cultural center of Lapland. Although there are ski slopes here, it seems that Lappi is nowhere without them. Visit the Arktikum Arctic Center, Reindeer and Husky Farms, Santa Park and other great attractions.
Oulu is considered by locals to be the most fun place in Finland. The notorious student spirit is taking its toll.

Lapland is the largest region of Finland by area and, perhaps, one of the most amazing and attractive from a tourism point of view due to its magnificent landscapes, untouched nature and unique culture. Travelers come here both in summer and winter. These regions attract both lovers of extreme sports and adventure, as well as lovers of a relaxing holiday. We will tell you how to spend an unforgettable holiday in Lapland, as well as what to see in this amazing northern region.

Northern Lights in Lapland

History of the region

Finnish Lapland or Lappi is only part of a vast historical region that is divided between Suomi, Norway, Sweden and Russia. Despite the fact that Lapland has never been an independent state, the unique and original culture of the indigenous inhabitants of the region - the Sami, a small northern people - has been preserved here.

A special page in the history of Lapland is the attacks of the “gold rush”, which swept the region three times in the last hundred years alone. Mining of the precious metal in the northern region continues today. By the way, just a little over twenty years ago, the fourth largest Lapland nugget was found on a tributary of the Ivalojoki River - this “treasure” weighed more than 140 kilograms.

Lappi has a particularly harsh climate: most of it is located north of the Arctic Circle, winter lasts almost six months. In the cold season there are long polar nights, and in the warm season there are polar days.

Lapland in winter

Lapland in our minds is inextricably linked with a winter fairy tale and the New Year: this is why huge flows of tourists flock here in December and at Christmas. On New Year's Eve in Lapland, you should definitely visit the Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi: in the official residence of the fairy-tale character, you can send a congratulatory letter, ride a roller coaster, play in the snow and even take a souvenir photo with Santa himself. Also in the region you will find a lot of opportunities for active and eventful winter recreation. First of all, you should pay attention to the ski resorts of this region: here you can enjoy clean snow slopes, pristine landscapes and have plenty of snowboarding and alpine skiing. The most popular destinations for winter sports enthusiasts are Levi, Ylläs, Saariselka, Salla, Lapin, Luosto, Ounasvaara and Ukkohalla.

In winter, dog sledding and reindeer sledding are also very common in Lapland: so-called “winter safaris”. For example, not far from the Lapland town of Ivalo there is a dog kennel for 140 dogs: from here you can go on an exciting multi-day trip. Farms where you can enjoy reindeer rides are located in the town of Luosta, in the municipality of Kuusamo, near Rovaniemi and in many other parts of Lapland.

Snowshoeing and snowshoeing are also popular in Lapland, where you can travel to the Arctic Ocean and even travel to Norway and back.

For especially brave tourists, winter Lapland also offers such entertainment as swimming in an ice hole, which, by the way, is a centuries-old tradition for the peoples of this region.

Lapland in summer and autumn

In the warm season, it’s worth going to Lapland to relax in pristine nature without the extreme conditions of the harsh polar winter. The only thing is that you must be well prepared to meet numerous Finnish midges and mosquitoes.

If you consider yourself a fan of extreme recreation, then in the summer in Lapland you can go rafting along the Muonionjoki and Tornionjoki rivers. Connoisseurs of more relaxing leisure time should go to the local forests to pick berries and mushrooms. Also, these northern regions are an excellent place for camping.

In autumn, you can go hunting in the untouched forests near the city of Rovaniemi and bring back real hunting trophies. In September, October and November you can hunt hare, wood grouse and even elk here.

By the way, in the summer two interesting events take place in Finnish Lapland. From June 27 to July 1, Rovaniemi hosts the international folklore festival “Yutayaset”, where you can see performances by musical groups performing songs and dances of the northern peoples. The city of Sodankylä hosts the Midnight Sun Film Festival from June 13 to 17: during the wonderful white nights you can see films by famous Finnish and foreign directors.

National parks

The special pride of all of Finland, and, of course, Lapland, are national parks. These places are worth visiting both in winter and summer, depending on what you want to see: snow-covered expanses or green forests. The largest national park in Lapland is Lemmenjoki, covering an area of 3000 km²: here you can see bears, lynxes, wolves, otters and other representatives of the rich Finnish fauna. Reindeer herders and gold miners also work in the park.

Pallas Park Ounastunturi will amaze you with its numerous gorges, in Pyhätunturi you can see some of the most ancient rock formations on the planet, and in Urho Kekkonen you will get acquainted with the taiga nature and its many inhabitants, such as finches, partridges and bears. In the northern waters of the Baltic Sea, Perämeri Park is located, with about 30 wild islands and picturesque reefs. You can only get there by boat: you can take a boat taxi in the coastal villages of Kemi or Tornio: there is also a chance to see seals during the trip. In Lemmenjoki Park you will find the magnificent Ravadasköngas waterfall, and in Riisitunturi you will see the famous Korouoma Canyon, which stretches for 30 km. Urho Kekkonen is worth a visit to enjoy the view of the Korvatunturi fell: as legend has it, it is the home of the Finnish Santa.

Museums

The main museum of Lapland is rightfully considered “Arktikum”, located in Rovaniemi and dedicated to the life of the Arctic region. Also in the capital of Lappi there is the Lapland Lumberjack Museum, and in Kemi there is an interesting gallery of precious stones. In the town of Tankavaara, located in the Sodankylä region, there is a museum dedicated to gold. Here you will get acquainted with the history of gold mining, and in an artificial pond you can try yourself as a gold dust hunter. Five kilometers from the resort of Luosto on Mount Lampivaara there is an amethyst mine, which can also be visited as a tourist. By the way, Lampivaara is the only place where these stones are still mined in Europe.

From Lapland, in addition to unforgettable impressions, it is worth bringing original souvenirs as gifts to friends and family. Usually, products made from deer skin and antlers, crafts made from arctic birch bark, famous Sami hats, and mittens are brought from these regions. For representatives of the stronger half of humanity, Finnish knives, for example, from Marttiini, will be an excellent gift. In the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, there is an exhibition hall located near the Arktikum building, where you can view a collection of knives and purchase the products you like.

Material on the topic

See the Northern Lights in Finland: new opportunities

The north of Finland is truly a fabulous land. And even if you have already visited the residence of Santa Claus, tried the local cuisine, and ridden a dog or reindeer sled, this region will still find something to surprise you with.

Svetlana Shirokova

If you enjoy snow-white snow, the opportunity to ski or sled, or love to walk through a fabulous winter forest, you definitely need to visit Finland in winter. Virtually untouched nature, a variety of opportunities for active winter recreation, comfortable living conditions - both in hotels with a full range of services and in self-catering cottages - make Finland attractive to people with different income levels.

Resort Vuokatti - ski resort for family holidays

The distance of 630 km from St. Petersburg to Vuokatti can be covered in a day by car or in 1 hour by plane from Helsinki to Kajaani Airport.

Vuokatti is a popular ski resort for family holidays, there are 13 ski slopes of varying difficulty and 8 lifts, especially for children there is a 50 m long “magic carpet” belt lift. In addition to the ski slopes, the resort has year-round tunnels for cross-country skiing and snowboarding.

Those who love a comfortable holiday in Vuokatti will find the upscale SPA hotel Holiday Club Katinkulta. The hotel has a water park with all kinds of slides and a bath complex with several saunas. In summer the hotel welcomes golf lovers, and in winter – skiers. The presence of an indoor sports complex allows you to practice various sports at any time of the year. Guests can enjoy indoor tennis courts, squash and badminton courts, a gym and group fitness programs with an instructor.

Vuokatti is a great place for a family holiday! An indoor Angry Birds Adventure Park opened here in December 2012. The park's adventure trails feature climbing routes, crawling tunnels, bridges, slides, and a zip-lining course—all rugged structures that can handle adults, too. To unwind after sports activities, there is a fast food restaurant, lounges and wi-fi - here you can have fun with the whole family all day long!

Resort Iso-Syöte - at the top of the mountain

At the very top of the hill stands the Iso-Suote Hotel, surrounded by many cottages located in a fairy-tale forest. The restaurant’s windows offer panoramic views of the surrounding area - you can watch sunrises and sunsets, and if you’re lucky, admire the northern lights.

The ski slope is located right next to the hotel. If you brought your ski equipment with you, then you will not need a car at this resort at all. True, beginner skiers and children will still have to get to the bottom of the slope by transport in order to start skiing on simple gentle slopes, of which there are a sufficient number here.

The youngest skiers are invited to visit the children's snow country "Lumimaa", where not only special lifts are provided for children, but also many other entertainments.

Resort Ruka - alpine skiing in Lapland

Ylläs Resort - ski resort in the Arctic Circle

"Snow Village" beyond the Arctic Circle

As a northern exotic, you can visit the "Snow Village". Every year at the beginning of the winter season, a team of Chinese craftsmen comes here and, together with their Finnish colleagues, builds another snow masterpiece in a short time.

The snow hotel has several rooms where you can spend the night on ice beds - special sleeping bags are provided for this. Each room has an original design, although there are no toilets or other amenities in the rooms.

The hotel bar is especially popular, where you can warm up, for example, with blueberry vodka. And in the restaurant you can order national Lapland food.

New Year in Finland. Cottage or hotel room?

If you are used to relaxing in hotels, please - all Finnish ski resorts have such accommodation options. But Finland is interesting because you can try out a new format - relaxing in a cottage in the middle of a fabulous winter forest. The cottage is not a hut “on chicken legs”, it is a spacious 1-2-storey house with all the amenities - you will have an equipped kitchen, a sauna, several bedrooms at your disposal, the living room will most likely have a fireplace, next to which you can spend a pleasant evening with a glass of wine and having a pleasant conversation with friends. Of course, there are cottages not only in the forest, but also in resort villages close to shops and restaurants. Which option to choose is up to you.

It is especially convenient to travel to Finland with a friendly group - renting a large cottage is much cheaper than a hotel room, and more fun. Spending evenings in the sauna, relaxing after skiing - what could be better?!

Comment on the article "Finland: 5 best winter resorts: Lapland and more"

What to see in Lapland

Of course, the main pride of Lapland and, in fact, the point of the whole trip is the village of Santa Claus, in the local language, Joulupukki. Ride his team of reindeer, receive a gift from the hands of a bearded fat man, or send a letter to your homeland with the stamp “Arctic Circle. Lapland" will be interesting not only for children. And although Santa is a winter character, his house is open to friends all year round.

A trip to Snowland will be fun for the most persistent adults. This is a real city made of ice, where you can stay in an ice hotel, drink a couple of cocktails in a bar with transparent tables, or dance in the coldest disco in the world.

Well, women who have a weakness for precious stones should go to Luosto. This is the only mine in Europe that produces amethysts. You can learn almost everything about them, admire unique specimens, and even find yourself a small pebble in the waste ore. By the way, those who want more treasures, good and different, go to Kemi, where the Gallery of Precious Stones is located.

And for the northern lights and unique shots, it is customary to go to the Enontekiyo region. Here, among the high hills, not far from the harsh ocean, almost every night the sky shimmers with hundreds of colors.

Family holidays in Lapland

Families with children will especially enjoy a holiday in Lapland. Most of the entertainment and excursions offered are designed for them. The trip to visit Santa alone is worth it. The same goes for museums of folk crafts, reindeer rides and building snow forts.

The residents of Lapland themselves are always happy to have children and let them in to almost all entertainment with substantial discounts, or even for free. Most hotels offer options for staying with a child in a room without additional payments, as well as the services of nannies and children's animators.

In addition, parents will also like the tranquility in Lapland: there are very few nightclubs here, the streets are quiet - it is almost impossible to meet a noisy party here. If you really dream of absolute solitude, you can always rent a house in the forest and only get out of it on pre-booked excursions.

Prices for winter tours and tickets

Holidays in Lapland are not as expensive as is commonly believed. True, it is advisable to book tours or tickets in advance so as not to rush around looking for “refuseniks” in the last days before the winter holidays. By the way, a good option for those who want to save money is to take trips for the second half of January. Nothing will change in nature, nor in the weather, nor in excursions, but your trip will be 30% cheaper than New Year's.

A tour to Lapland for two with train travel can be purchased for 700 €. The price will include not only travel and accommodation, but also three meals a day and a festive program. But you will have to pay extra for all excursions, visa and insurance.

If you decide to organize your vacation yourself, hurry up and take care of ticket issues. After all, if there are enough hotels in Finland, then there are not so many flights departing to the cold country on New Year’s Eve, and almost all of them are occupied by tour operators. Now you can still buy air tickets to Finland for 14,000 rubles, but closer to the holidays, prices for the same flights will increase significantly.

Give yourself and your children a winter fairy tale, go to Lapland and be sure - you will want to come back here more than once!