Why do we travel? We go on a journey to change our surroundings, see new places, experience new emotions. While residents of northern countries tend to go to south, many residents of southern countries go on vacation to the north. For example, to Lapland.
This year's winter season is expected to be a record year for international tourism in Finnish Lapland.The largest group of foreign tourists in Finland are residents from European countries: Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain and other central and southern European countries. The journey from Asia has become longer and more expensive, and this has affected the number of Asian tourists. American tourists also visit Finland, but the US and Canada have not yet become a significant source of tourists for Finland.
The most popular month for traveling to northern Finland was previously December, during the Christmas holidays. But this year, it seems that all the winter months are of interest to tourists. European tourists are interested in booking tours as early as November. December is sure to be very active in Finnish Lapland. January and February are (usually) great months for those interested not only in visiting Santa Claus Village (Rovaniemi), but also in outdoor activities and sports. (In my opinion, March may be the best month for a winter trip to northern Finland. The daylight hours will be longer, the frost will be less, and there will be plenty of snow.
What to do in northern Finland in winter? Previously, the highlight of most tourists was visiting the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. But Finnish nature, sports and active outdoor activities are of interest to an increasing number of tourists.
Finnish Lapland has several ski resorts where you can enjoy your holiday (or part of your holiday).
Many tourists book dog sled safaris and snowmobile safaris during their holidays.
We also recommend nature walks on cross-country skis.
How to get there?
Rovaniemi and Kittilä airports serve the largest number of foreign tourists in northern Finland. Direct flights to these airports are operated in winter from several airports in Europe (UK, Germany, France).
You can also fly to Helsinki and then continue to Rovaniemi by train or plane.
It is also possible to get to Finland by bus, but this is not the most comfortable option for a long trip.
Where to stay?
All popular tourist destinations have sufficient accommodation for tourists.
If you are traveling as a family with children or a group of friends, then (perhaps) your best bet is to rent a separate cottage.
Single tourists and couples usually stay in hotels.
One of the unusual places to spend the night is a glass-roofed igloo. In this case, you can see the stars and (if you're lucky) the northern lights at night. (This is if the weather is cloudless.)
Use any international service to book hotels.
Things to do
Is it worth ordering activities in advance? We believe this is not necessary. You can choose an activity to your liking after arriving at the place. You can find out what is offered to tourists and how much it costs in advance on many websites. (Reindeer safaris, dog sled safaris, snowmobile tours.)