Home of Santa, sleigh rides, and the Indigenous Sami people, Lapland has a distinct and fascinating culture and history; a beautiful arctic landscape; and a cold but beautiful climate that may require you to layer up but isn’t at all hostile once you’re well prepared. It’s a fabulous place to visit all year round – though it really does come into its own in winter. Just don’t forget your thermals!
When the days get shorter and snow falls, the countryside becomes a quintessential winter wonderland. It’s a place where you can have some truly unforgettable experiences that you just won’t find anywhere else.
Here are nine magical experiences you can only have in Lapland.
1. Break the ice in Bothnian Bay
This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime boat ride. Board a massive, purpose-built icebreaker cruiser for a – quite literally – smashing experience, as your boat beats a trail through the ice-blanketed waters on the Bothnian Bay. Channel your inner Tom Crean as you break and crunch a path through vast fields of sea ice, feeling as though you’re going where no man has gone before.
The cruise has far more than just that to entertain you though – some truly unforgettable experiences await you during your voyage. During a three-hour cruise, you’ll be able to disembark and walk out onto the ice to get some impressive photos of yourselves with the huge ship behind you.
You can also, if you like, don a special Arctic survival suit and plunge into the waters in the boat’s wake, right in the path that’s just been broken. You won’t feel cold in these suits; they’re made of super-thick waterproof neoprene, designed to keep you warm, dry, and afloat, so even less confident swimmers can experience a safe, stress-free dip in Baltic waters.
2. Take a magic sleigh ride with real reindeer
One of Lapland’s most famous and beloved creatures, the reindeer is a gentle giant known for its most important job. But flying Santa’s sleigh around the world to bring Christmas presents to all the good children is a two-night job at most, which leaves them free to welcome visitors to Lapland throughout the rest of the year.
You’ll learn all about these beautiful beasts, witness their calm and confident demeanour, maybe feed them some of their favourite lichens – and best of all take a whimsical sleigh ride through the glittering snow-covered woodland. You might get a chance to take the reins yourself during the ride, and if it gets a little nippy out there you can warm up with a delicious local hot berry juice.
3. Trek to frozen waterfalls
In Lapland’s Korouoma Canyon, you can witness one of the most fascinating and impressive sights the Lappish landscape offers – frozen waterfalls. The canyon is a beautiful Scandinavian wonderland, about 30km long and up to 130m deep in parts, and it’s hikeable year-round. However, when the cascading waterfalls along the canyon cliffs freeze over in wintertime, it becomes the most magical version of itself.
You can take short or longer hikes here, ranging from one hour to seven or eight hours, depending on your ability and how you feel about the cold! During that time you’ll see several stunning frozen falls, most of them an enchanting bright blue hue (this is because the ice absorbs the reds from the colour spectrum and reflects only blues).
If you’re lucky, you might also see some native wildlife including the elusive lynx, arctic wolves, wolverines, the mighty moose, reindeer, and much more.
4. Witness the majesty of the Northern Lights
Many of us in Britain and across southern Europe have now enjoyed witnessing the sky’s celestial light show closer to home, but to see them farther north in Lapland is something else. Here, they’re brighter, more pronounced, and – dancing against the sparkling landscape – that bit more spectacular.
There are lots of different hikes, tours, and experiences you can choose from to view the lights, depending on your time and budget. Whether you choose a short tour or spend an unforgettable night glamping in one of the many purpose-built pods or glass igloos that allow you full panoramas of the Aurora Borealis, a Lapland light show is an unmissable experience.
5. Enjoy an incredible husky-led safari
Mush through the arctic wilderness in style, on an exhilarating husky-led sled ride. Huskies are a marvellous breed of dog that have been used in arctic climates for hundreds (maybe even thousands) of years as working dogs. Initially used to pull hunters across arctic ice to find polar bears and sea mammals, they’re now mainly used recreationally.
In Lapland, they’re used overwhelmingly in tourism and you can experience the speed, strength, and agility of these fabulous hounds as you whizz through the woodlands on a sledge safari. Be sure to choose a provider that works ethically with the animals, and keep an eye out for the tours that will allow you to take the reins and do a little mushing yourself.
6. Immerse yourself in the culture of the Sámi people
The Sámi are some of the oldest and hardiest people in Europe, with a rich heritage that was forged in a hostile, difficult environment. You can learn about these resilient people and their culture through various Lapland experiences, as many originated from the Sámi.
But for a thorough introduction to their history, lifestyle, and culture, head to the Sámi Siida Museum in Inari. Here, you can learn in-depth about their unique languages and craftsmanship, and the traditional reindeer herding and ice fishing that was intrinsic to their survival.
By visiting the museum and some Sami villages, you’ll gain an appreciation for the deep connection they have with the nature around them, and how they worked with it rather than against it to survive through harsh winters. You’ll see how this connection is reflected in their spiritual beliefs and fascinating way of life, and how Lapland became the beautiful place it is today.
7. Try some traditional Lappish delicacies
Lapland has a cuisine like no other that truly speaks to the region’s unique geography and climate. While you may not crave the Sámi people’s most distinctive traditional food – the pungent, fermented fish dish called Rakfisk – plenty of other traditional dishes are more accessible to a visiting palate!
Lappish and Sámi cuisine is all about meat, fish, berries, and the few vegetables that can thrive here. Reindeer is one of the most popular meats and was often simply sauteed, or cooked into a hearty, delicious stew. Renkok is a popular Sámi dish that will give you an authentic taste of Lapland, while reindeer tongue is a popular sandwich filling here. You can also find reindeer burgers, ribs, and even reindeer sushi and carpaccio.
Make sure you try some leipäjuusto, the local soft cheese bread that’s usually accompanied by cloudberries, as well as local salmon and foraged mushrooms. If you like salmon, you’ll love Arctic char, a buttery cold-water fish that tastes heavenly smoked, or served simply with dill and potatoes.
8. Visit Santa!
This one might be most suitable for visitors with little ones in tow, and if you do have children joining you on a winter trip, you’ll never see them as excited as during this magical experience. Of course, this experience is most popular in December, but Santa does welcome visitors all year round so if you’re too late to book a Christmas visit, you still have options.
The Santa Claus village is an enchanting and immersive theme park with real reindeer, elves, Santa’s workshops, a petting zoo where kids can interact with the reindeer, wonderful gift shops full of local crafts, and Santa’s official post office. If you’re visiting Lapland for a family trip, this will undoubtedly be a highlight.
9. Behold the beauty of the pastel Polar Night
Being mostly within the Arctic Circle, Lapland has the midnight sun in summer with long sunny days where the sun barely sets. In winter, the opposite happens, and the sun rises for shorter and shorter periods for months on end. Then the depths of Arctic winter arrive, and the day comes when the sun doesn’t rise at all, but rather glows just beyond the horizon for a few hours per day at most. This is Polar Night.
As the snow builds, and everything is blanketed thicker and deeper in pure white, the landscape reflects what light there is in a dreamy, pastel pink and purple twilight glow. If the conditions are right, you might even catch the Blue Moment, a short period of glorious blue hazy light that appears just before the sun slips away completely.
Final thoughts…
Winter sun can feel tempting when things get colder and darker at home. But there’s lots to be said for leaning into winter with a visit to a place as beautiful as Lapland.
This is a place of peace, pure beauty, natural wonders, and snow-covered woodlands with adventures you’ll never have the opportunity to have anywhere else. So why not grab your woollies, some warm socks, and a good pair of gloves, and explore the incredible experiences Lapland has to offer?
Have you been to Lapland? Or perhaps you’re thinking about visiting? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.