Attractions
Go walking in a real-life winter wonderland in Finnish Lapland
Lapland is Finland’s northernmost region, a sparsely populated area bordering Sweden, Norway, Russia and the Baltic Sea. It’s known for its vast subarctic wilderness, ski resorts and natural phenomena including the midnight sun and the Northern Lights. Capital Rovaniemi is the gateway to the region. The homeland of the indigenous Sami people, which extends into neighboring countries, centers on the far north.
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Go walking in a real-life winter wonderland in Finnish Lapland
FINLAND // Even if you have no intention of sitting on Santa's knee, Lapland is pure Christmas card stuff. Arriving here in winter is like stepping into a snow globe, with spruce forests bristling above frozen lakes and reindeer-driven sleighs whisking you through snow that lies deep and crisp and even. The bluish twilight of the polar night is the best time to glimpse the Northern Lights, perhaps after you've explored on snowshoes, cross-country skis, dog-sled or snowmobile, or post-sauna in your little log cabin. Santa's HQ, Rovaniemi, is a natural starting point, with every kind of winter activity imaginable. But for a flavour of the remote wonders of Lapland, strike north to Utsjoki on the Norwegian border, where the indigenous Sámi keep ancient reindeer- herding traditions alive.
Is Lapland in Russia?
Lapland, a region of northern Europe that lies mostly within the Arctic Circle and extends across northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland and into Russia's Kola Peninsula.
Why is Lapland so famous?
Finnish Lapland is the best place in the world to see, enter and experience snow structures such as igloos and ice saunas, as well as larger structures such as snow hotels and the famous snow village of Lainio. And of course, you can't talk without mentioning the biggest buildings in the world: the Kemi Snow Castle.
Is Lapland Sweden or Finland?
Lapland, also known by the Swedish name Lapland (North Sami: Sápmi, Finnish: Lappi, Latin: Lapponia), is the northernmost province of Sweden. It borders Jämtland, Ångermanland, Västerbotten, Norrbotten, Norway and Finland. Almost a quarter of Sweden's area is in Lapland.
What language do they speak in Lapland?
In 2011, Lapland had a population of 183,320, of whom 177,950 spoke Finnish, 1,526 Sami, 387 Swedish, and 3,467 spoke some other language as their mother tongue. Sami, Northern Sami, Inari Sami and Skolt Sami languages are spoken in the region.
Is Lapland really worth it?
We took our 4 year old to Lapland and although he was initially put off by the cold when we arrived, after an hour or so he was fine and loved it. As an adult, the view alone is worth it when you're flying into the airport - like being in a postcard!! Expensive but worth every penny to see the kids so happy.