Lapland

Lapland is Finland's largest and northernmost region, a land of forests, bare fjells, and bogs where reindeer outnumber people. A vacation in Lapland means northern lights, husky sleds, and ski slopes in winter, and midnight sun, hiking, and salmon rivers in summer.

Beyond the Arctic Circle

Lapland covers almost a third of Finland's area but is home to only about 175,000 people. It borders Sweden, Norway, and Russia. The Arctic Circle runs just north of Rovaniemi. In the south, the forests and river landscapes of Kemi and Tornio stretch along the Gulf of Bothnia; farther north, the terrain grows barer: fjells such as Pallastunturi and Saana near Kilpisjärvi rise above the tree line. In the far north lies Inari, the center of the Sámi, the only indigenous people in the EU. Their way of life is closely tied to reindeer herding.

Sights in Lapland

Rovaniemi, the capital, was almost completely destroyed in World War II and replanned by Alvar Aalto, whose street layout is said to resemble a reindeer's antlers. The Arktikum is a museum and science center about the north, and at Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, Santa welcomes visitors all year round. In Inari, the Siida Museum tells the story of Sámi culture and the nature of the north; Lake Inari, with its thousands of islands, can be explored by boat in summer. Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park near Kittilä and Kolari offers hiking and cross-country skiing trails across the fjells. Levi and Ylläs are the major ski resorts, and Saariselkä near Inari is a starting point for tours into Urho Kekkonen National Park. Near Kemi, the icebreaker Sampo takes guests through the frozen sea in winter, and in Tornio the border with Sweden runs right across a golf course. Sodankylä is known for its Midnight Sun Film Festival.

Nature and Seasons

Lapland is a land of extreme seasons. In December and January, the far north experiences the polar night, kaamos, with just a few hours of blue twilight. On clear nights between September and March, the northern lights dance across the sky; in glass igloos and cabins, you can watch them from your bed. In spring, when the sun returns and the snow is still on the ground, it's the season for ski tours. In summer, the sun doesn't set for weeks, mosquitoes swarm over the bogs, and in September the ruska paints the fjells red and gold. If you travel far to the northwest, you'll reach the tripoint with Sweden and Norway near Kilpisjärvi and the trail to Halti, Finland's highest point.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Reindeer meat is everywhere, for example as poronkäristys, sliced sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. Salmon, whitefish, and Arctic char come from the rivers and lakes, and cloudberries, the golden berries of the bogs, are considered a delicacy; leipäjuusto, baked cheese, is served with them. Rovaniemi (RVN), Kittilä (KTT), and Ivalo (IVL) airports also have direct flights from Germany in winter. The night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and Kolari is an experience in itself. The best time to visit is December to March for snow and northern lights, and June to September for the midnight sun and fall colors.