10 tips for traveling and visiting Lapland (Finland), our experience

We have all dreamed at some point of visiting the enormous and immense Snowy landscape from countries like Finland.

He is known as the Country of a Thousand Lakes, reindeer and Santa Claus house, and one of the few places in the world where the high tourist season is in winter, when temperatures are below zero.

Indeed, it is during the winter season when the greatest number of tourists We travel from Spain to Finland with the aim of enjoying the activities that can be done in such an environment of large snow-covered landscapes.

Tips for traveling to Finland

If you are thinking travel to Finland, we are going to explain everything you need to know to organize your perfect trip.

Flights to Finland from Spain

Most trips to Finland They start when you fly to the country's main airport in Helsinki, where you can arrive with one of the best European flag lines, Finnair.

It is one of the airports in the world with the most air traffic, since the aforementioned Finnair It uses it as a platform for many long-distance trips to Asia, as it is one of the companies that offers the most routes to that destination.

Therefore, the most normal thing is that when you travel to Finland, you pass through this airport, and hence many trips include short stays in Helsinki, either at the beginning of the trip or when you return.

From Helsinki the different flights to Lapland and the remains of cities in Finland, on routes covered by the aforementioned Finnair.

As a practical fact, you have to know that if you are going to ski, Finnair There is no charge for taking ski equipment as extra luggage.

This is easy to understand given how common the use of skis is in Finland: you just have to specify it when purchasing the flight.

For your trip, these will also be useful tips for buying your flights.

Travel with an agency to Finland

There are certain types of trips like this to Lapland, which for logistics reasons you may prefer to contract with agencies.

A very important part of the travelers who come to Finland are families attracted by nature and especially by Papa Noël.

In winter, with the country completely covered in snow, it is not easy to get around because you must have a vehicle adequately equipped for winter driving, and as a driver, you must know how to drive on snow.

For this reason, the majority of visitors prefer to let an agency organize their trip.

Our most recent trip to Lapland In Finland we have done it with the travel agency Catai, who is a specialist in this type of trips, and I will tell you that the experience could not have been better.

On a trip of this style carried out with an agency, they wait for you at the airport upon your arrival in the country and from there a guide will take you to all the excursions, hotels and restaurants.

On these trips you can go alone or in a group, depending on what you prefer.

For those of you who like to travel, but do not have the time or desire to organize it yourself, we have been able to verify that it is a very good option.

Excursions in Finnish Lapland in winter

If, on the other hand, you are one of those who like organize your own trip, you have to know that excluding Helsinki, in most cities of Lapland Similar excursions are offered.

The best way to enjoy this country in winter is by participating in the most varied snow activities that you have at your disposal, which recreate the life of the Finns.

Snowmobile driving excursions, safaris to see the northern lights or dog or reindeer sleigh tours are the most popular.

Here we leave you an article with the 10 best excursions to do in Finnish Lapland, which we have been doing on our different trips to the area.

We also leave you links to different companies that organize excursions in each city we have visited, many of which are carried out with guide in spanish.

Tours and excursions in Helsinki

Tours in Rovaniemi

Excursions in Ruka

Excursions in Kemi

Excursions in Ranua

Transfers from the airport

When you arrive at the airports, apart from Helsinki, you will realize that they are small landing strips in quite remote areas.

To go by public transport, there are usually buses waiting for the planes at the airport exit, and you just have to go out and buy the ticket when you get on the bus.

You also have taxis, with large vans with capacity for more than six people with large suitcases being common.

Now, in the case of Helsinki The most convenient option is, before traveling, to hire the transfer from airport to city center.

When your flight arrives, they will be waiting for you at the airport, and in comfortable private transportation they will take you directly to your hotel.

What cities to visit in Finland?

There are many who want travel to Finland to see its beautiful snowy landscapes, but… where do I go?

You have to know that depending on the city you choose, what above all varies is the natural environment in which you find yourself and the type of accommodation.

The activities are more or less the same, although it must be said that in the less touristy areas they tend to be more authentic y wild.

Helsinki

The great capital, Helsinki, is the most visited city in Finland because in addition to being a gateway to the rest of the country, it is also a stopover for cruises on the Baltic in summer.

When you walk through its streets with tall buildings, you will see that it maintains a style typical of a country that was part of Russia for many years.

It is an authentic city that is nothing like the rest of Finland, it is located in the southernmost part of the country and is where you will find the least snow.

Shops, restaurants, large hotels, huge churches and streets full of trams is what the country's capital offers.

Our recommendation is to reserve one or two days to get to know Helsinki, although in our opinion, the most beautiful thing in the country is not in its capital.

Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi It is the most touristic city in the Lapland region and it is where one of the main attractions of the country is located, the Santa Claus house.

Although not large in size, Rovaniemi It is the most important city in Finnish Lapland.

In this city there is also the Arktikum museum, the most interesting in the area where you can discover the history of the inhabitants of this special region located in the Arctic Circle.

Kuusamo

Kusi It means fir in Finnish, hence the name of the city Kuusamo.

It is one of the most visited areas of Lapland but not overcrowded, and the city is small in size, where the cabins that extend through the forest stand out.

It is one of the quietest and most authentic areas of the country, where you can only fly with Finnair, and where you will stay in an establishment with a resort central and villas or wooden cabins in its surroundings.

All excursions leave from there.

Hand

Hand, in the Kuusamo region, is the area located around the ski resort most important in the region.

Despite the abundance of snow, Finland is a country with very few slopes, so most of the ski resorts are small, but they do have very long slopes. sketch of cross-dressing.

There are hundreds of kilometers that you can travel doing cross country ski, to such an extent that most cities are linked to each other with this type of trails used by snowmobiles and skiers.

En Hand It is also where some of the most exclusive traditional wooden cabins in the country are located, making it a place where many famous athletes go on vacation.

In this area you can not only practice skiing, but you can also do all snow-related excursions, including skiing. trekking with snowshoes through a beautiful national park.

Kemi

Kemi It is a very small city that has two main attractions that are unique.

In this city there is the snowcastle, resort which includes a ice Hotel where you can sleep or eat in a restaurant at sub-zero temperatures, as well as luxurious glass villas.

But perhaps the most exclusive excursion what you can do in Kemi is to embark on the Sampo icebreaker cruiser.

I will tell you that the only icebreaker in the world where you can take an excursion lasting up to four hours.

It is worth the visit to the city just for sail over the frozen sea aboard this impressive icebreaker, and do ice floating, that is, bathing in the sea with a special suit.

What activities to do in Finland?

You have to discover Finland by living the daily lives of its inhabitants, and for that it is best to sign up for some of the varied activities that can be done in the snow.

As there are many that are offered to you in this country, we have written a specific article in which we detail the best experiences you can live in Finnish Lapland.

In any case, below I am going to highlight two of the most popular activities among those of us who travel to Finland in winter.

How to see the northern lights in Lapland Finland

There are many travelers who decide travel to the nordic countries in search of an experience that can only be had in very few places in the world: see northern lights.

To really be able to enjoy them you have to take several factors into account.

It is likely that you will travel to Finland or another Nordic country and not get to see them, and this is important to know and take into account because there are times when you need several trips to achieve it.

The first, To see the Northern Lights you have to travel in winter, since in summer the days are very long and with the midnight sun there are almost no hours of darkness.

Therefore you have to travel between September and April, and even then it may be cloudy or snowing, so you will not reach see the auroras.

You also need to be in areas with little light pollution, although it must be said that if the day is perfect, you can even see them in cities.

It also doesn't have to be windy so that it doesn't lose the shape it creates and diffuse into Northern Lights dust.

In any case, if you are fortunate enough to see them, you will find that it is one of the most exciting sensations you can experience.

Where to see Santa Claus in Finland?

This is a good question that we get asked a lot.

In this regard, the city of Rovaniemi has gained a good reputation as Santa Claus House.

Indeed, on the outskirts is the Santa Claus Village, a true Theme Park around the house and Santa Claus post office.

But it must be said that in high season it can be somewhat crowded and lose its charm a bit.

But what not many know is that Papa Noël has others houses in different areas of Finland.

On our last trip to Lapland we visited one of their houses in the area of Kuusamo , and the truth is that we enjoyed the visit much more than in Rovaniemi.

It is a much more personal and authentic experience in which you can spend up to two and a half hours with Santa ClausWell, you can even include a dinner with him.

For the children this experience in Kuusamo is awesome.

Do I have to take out insurance to travel to Finland?

In line with this question, I will tell you that just on our last trip to Finland one of our colleagues had to be admitted for an infection and spent several days in the hospital.

In this way we have been able to experience up close the complications that can arise on a trip.

Therefore, the advice is that always, regardless of whether you travel with the European sanitary card that ensures your medical care, you must carry insurance that includes other benefits.

This would be the case of the stay of companions in case of hospitalization or changes to tickets in case you have to modify your return flight due to illness.

That is why it is essential to carry travel medical insurance that covers all the possible expenses that being in this situation implies for both the patient and the companions.

The price of travel insurance is very little compared to the many problems it can cover you.

Here you can take out travel insurance, which by doing so through this link you have a 5% off.

Where to sleep in Lapland Finland

En Finland are some of the most exclusive and unique accommodations where you can stay.

glass villas where you can see the northern lights from bed, ice hotels where to sleep below zero, and traditional cabins Built with wood with your own sauna inside.

Here we leave you the links to search for hotels in the main cities, as well as establishments that we recommend.

Hotels in Helsinki

Ice hotel in Kemi

Crystal Villas in Kemi

Villas and apartments in Kuusamo

Traditional wooden houses in Ruka

Hotels in Rovaniemi

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

What to eat in Finland, typical food

La traditional finnish food It is clearly marked by the conditions of the country.

Most dishes are made with butter to provide calories that are then burned when, for example, you have to walk through the snow.

Eating reindeer in Finland

Obviously if we talk about Finland we have to include game meats such as reindeer.

It is an expensive product since it costs about 70 euros per kilo, and it is cooked in dozens of different ways with various sauces.

With a buffet lines From a restaurant in Ruka we were able to try more than 10 types of different reindeer preparations.

There is a law in Finland that limits by region the reindeer quotas who can live in the area.

In Kuusamo, for example, the quota is 12.000 reindeer, so all the extra ones during the year can be hunted for food.

For meat lovers, it is undoubtedly a very tasty experience.

Salmon Soup in Finland

Another traditional dish is salmon soup.

In certain regions it is a dish that is eaten several times a week and an emblem of the country.

A warm spoon dish, with potato, leek, carrot and salmon, which is one of the most grateful meals you can put in your mouth after a day of snow

Rieska, typical Finnish bread

In many restaurants they serve you what is apparently normal bread to accompany your meals, but it has a peculiarity.

This bread is not made with any cereal, but with potatoes, and I will tell you that it is quite delicious.