12 Handpicked Winter Activities For A Quintessential Lapland Itinerary

Drenched in Christmas vibes year-round, Lapland is characterised by Santa, elves, reindeer, festivity, and terrific outdoors. Lapland – the northernmost region in Finland, distinguishes itself as the home of the Christmas spirit. Thanks to Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus! But, there’s a lot more to Lapland than what meets the eye.

As your local tour guide in Rovaniemi, let me present the best Lapland winter activities, making the most popular options to consider before settling for your dreamy winter journey.

The Arctic land is a keeper of nature’s most attractive spectacles. The wild taiga forest, exquisite wildlife & a lush snow-coated coniferous vegetation welcome you to the famed ‘Winter Wonderland’. Consider yourself truly lucky if you make it to Rovaniemi in winter.

For me, Lapland in winter will always be about the untouched outdoors wrapped in the thick winter snow & ice, roaring snowmobiles, ecstatic reindeers & huskies – welcoming you on their sledge for a wild ride, the forever festive vibes exuding from the Santa Claus Village, the pristine frozen lakes & rivers, super cosy Kota (traditional fireplace in the forest), dreamy roads, stunning ski slopes, and Auroras – nature’s greatest show on the planet. Things that make Lapland winter activities so popular around the world!

Crucial information on the Lapland winter experience

Photo Courtesy: Nordic Unique Travels

Read to pick your fav. Lapland winter activities? Read this.

1. Lapland is a region and not a country. It’s the northernmost territory of Finland, sharing a border with Russia, Norway, and Sweden.

2. The Arctic Circle line – one of the five major circles of latitude on earth, marked by 66°33′48.0″, cuts through the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

3. Lapland experiences nature’s finest spectacle, like the Midnight Sun and Polar Night. The midnight sun phase is marked by uninterrupted daylight, which lasts almost 73 days a year. June experiences daylight for 21-24 hours. It is reversed by dark days in December and the beginning of January, when the sun barely shows up.

4. Rovaniemi is the administrative capital of Lapland. During the summer in Rovaniemi, it’s true that they have more reindeer on the streets than humans. As a sparsely populated region, Lapland tourism makes an ideal choice for nature lovers.

5. The reindeer is the mascot of Rovaniemi. Look at the city map carefully to find the city centre shaped as a reindeer head with easy-to-identify antlers. Try it! 😉

More interesting Lapland travel guide info…

6. Reindeer meat, salmon, trout fish, brown Lappish bread, reindeer sausage, blueberry juice, salmon soup, squeaky cheese, and cloudberry jam are some of the must-try foods when in Rovaniemi.

7. Lapland is the best region in Finland to watch the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis

8. The local indigenous population of Lapland is known as Sami, and there are still plenty of them you can come across in Rovaniemi or other parts of Lapland.

9. Besides the usual berries – blueberries, raspberries and cranberries that you have heard of, there are some obscure yet delicious berries in the forests of Lapland. They are lingonberries, cloudberries, and crowberries, and to find them, you have to go berry-picking in the Finnish forest sometime during the late summer.

10. After WWII, Rovaniemi was burned to the ground. Alvar Aalto, the great Finnish designer, had a task cut out when he sat down to redesign the entire city.

With a fair idea about Lapland, let me introduce you to the most exciting experiences you can treat yourself to when in Santa’s Land!

Top 12 Lapland winter activities – A must for every winter trip to Rovaniemi!

1. Northern Lights Hunting

Photo Courtesy: Nordic Unique Travels

Without a second opinion, Northern Lights are the biggest & most extraordinary natural phenomenon on Earth. When in Rovaniemi in winter, a Northern Lights photography tour naturally becomes everybody’s first preference. And why not? After all, who doesn’t want to have a great photo with the magical Auroras? From September, when the autumn is in full bloom in Rovaniemi, nights are darker and colder, and skies are clear, thus making way for the legion of stars and the Milky Way, the solar winds start appearing.

Photo Courtesy: Nordic Unique Travels

Solar winds fuse with different gases in the atmosphere to produce colourful waves. More details about the Northern Lights phenomenon are listed on my other blog here! I suggest these top winter activities to combine with Aurora hunting. The most popular activities under Northern Lights: Sledge Rides (husky, reindeer, snowmobile sledge), photography tour, hiking with barbecue on the frozen lake, ice floating with sauna and hot tub experience under Northern Lights, and my favourite – hunting Northern Lights on a snowmobile.

All the Northern Lights activities are carried out during nighttime when the lights appear. Ideally, 9 pm to 12 am is considered the most appropriate time to watch the auroras, however, it varies throughout the night and sometimes gets stronger right before dawn.

Protip: Make sure to carry a camera or hire a professional photographer, whatever suits you!

2. Husky & Reindeer Sledge Ride & farm visit

Photo Courtesy: Nordic Unique Travels

“Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Over the fields, we go
Laughing all the way”

As a kid in India, Christmas was more about carols in school than festive street markets or snowy landscapes. But stepping into Rovaniemi, Santa’s official hometown in the heart of Finnish Lapland, felt like tumbling straight into a snow globe. What I once imagined through winter songs and TV scenes turned real, from frosty air and reindeer rides to the surreal dance of the Northern Lights overhead.

Photo Courtesy: Nordic Unique Travels

Every traveller in Rovaniemi wants that classic sleigh ride through snowy forests. By winter, huskies and reindeer are well-fed and full of energy, ready to pull sledges along scenic trails.

You can ride during the day or book a night tour while hunting the Northern Lights, bundled up in reindeer skins under Arctic skies. While Santa Claus Village has both animals, I recommend visiting local farms for the real deal. My top picks: Seiriporo, Raitola, and Parpalandia.

For a comprehensive Lapland winter activities experience, visit the farms where the reindeer & husky farmers share deep insight into the daily life of arctic wildlife and their challenges.

3. Snowshoeing In The Arctic Forest

Snowshoeing is a fun activity to try in places with excessive snowfall during winter months. Arctic forests become an ideal place to wear snowshoes in feet-deep snow cover. Snowshoeing is a must-try when planning a trip to Rovaniemi for the Christmas holidays.

4. Ice Fishing On A Frozen Lake

Ice-fishing in Rovaniemi is such a unique Arctic experience!! For me, it’s about the thrill of harsh winter thriving in nature’s quietude. All the hundreds of lakes that form an essential part of the great nature escape in Lapland turn into a meter-thick slab of ice. The turf is rock solid and can easily uphold any weight.

Make a hole in the lake with a driller, put your bait in there, and wait for the fish to bite it. Ice fishing is a relaxing and fun activity to test your patience while offering you a unique perspective of the Finnish way of life.

5. Floating In The Frozen Lake

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Protip: Book a floating experience with a local tour operator, as renting a suit and finding a place with adequate facilities and a sauna might be difficult. For the best experience, club this experience with Northern Lights.

The local tour operators have a dedicated place for floating, also they make sure that all the arrangements are in place and you’ll be guided well. The activity requires a hole to be made in the frozen lake. Amidst the crumbled ice, you’ll enter the frozen lake wearing the special floating suit. The floating suit is good enough to keep you afloat on the water. Just lie there facing the sky, and leave yourself suspended on the water surface! Soak up the best of nature’s tranquillity and relax; this is probably the most relaxing Lappish experience in Rovaniemi.

People usually club ice dips and saunas along with floating. Braving a dip in the frozen lake is not a joke at all, and besides all the courage, this activity will also test your physical strength. Try this one with the utmost care, and only when you’re a hundred per cent sure. Floating is usually a 3-4 hour activity.

6. Skiing at Ounasvaara Or Other Ski Slope

Like me, if you too are a sucker for views, and a perpetual adventure seeker then Ounasvaara is the place for you. To those of you who don’t know Ounasvaara, it is Rovaniemi’s highest point, and a pretty landmark that can be recognised from a distance, no matter which part of the city you are in. Ounasvaara is the highest point in Rovaniemi, and the most popular spot preferred by visitors in Rovaniemi.

7. Sauna & A Dip In The Frozen Lake

Sauna and lakes are the crucial elements of Finnish culture and heritage. That is why a sauna settlement can mostly be found by the lake in most parts of Finland. In a sparsely populated region like Rovaniemi, the abundance of forest and lakes around results in a large number of saunas. Portable saunas are also quite common in Rovaniemi.

Soak up the extreme heat inside a wood-heated sauna & dare to jump into the frozen lake once you are out. Repeat it a few times until you get tired of it and have the urge to make some barbecue and enjoy steaming hot blueberry juice. Sauna and dip in the frozen lake make a lethal combination with Northern Lights, all you need to do is check the forecast well, and brace yourself for your luck! 😉

8. Hiking to Ounasvaara – Skiing Sunrise/Sunset Views Complimentary

Hiking to the Ounasvaara top is a major highlight of Lapland winter activities. The hike, about 4 km from the centre, is characterised by all the views and thrill. Upon hiking to the top, climb to the top of a viewing platform for a 360-degree view of the Arctic forest and Rovaniemi, cut by the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers.

Some well-marked winter hiking trails lead you to the Ounasvaara top, even though these signboards are mostly buried under tonnes of snow, especially at the peak of the winter season. Wonderful ski launching platforms, ski trails, and some Kotas close to the viewing platform await you there.

There are cable cars and sliders for those who seek more adventure. At the top, the Ounasvaara Sky Hotel is just a perfect place to grab a glass of steaming cacao after an exhausting hike or ski session. You can also book a stay there during the winter season, but make sure that you do it well in advance, since a lot of people make bookings here. The hotel offers some incomparable sunrise and sunset views in the entire Lapland. Absolute quietude awaits you at Ounasvaara, located some 4 km from the centre, which means you are far but not too far from the hustle of city life. Make sure that you wear the ski & hit the slopes at Ounasvaara.

9. Lappish Barbecue On A Frozen Lake Or In A Kota

Nothing tastes more delightful than a grilled reindeer sausage ladened with mustard sauce, as you crouch around the rising flames from the pinewood! Right there, in the middle of the frozen lake, with the quietude of night enveloping you from all sides, no infrastructure or settlement in sight, and the temperature low enough to freeze your bones. That’s how I picture a Lappish barbecue during the peak winter in Lapland.

Let’s say, of all the Lapland winter activities, I cherish Lappish Barbecue the most. Irrespective of the activities taken, barbecuing is one complementary experience you get to enjoy, no matter what the activity!

From the Northern Lights tour to a snowmobile ride in the middle of the night, berry or mushroom picking or canoeing in the lake, Lappish-style barbecue pairs perfectly with all, summing up your experience in the most fitting way. Warm berry juice, reindeer & pork sausage, grilled salmon, salmon soup, Lappish bread, and marshmallows are some of the essentials of a Lappish barbecue. Don’t miss this authentic Lappish experience when you plan a trip beyond the Arctic Circle. That’s why they have hundreds of Laavus & Kotas in random places across Lapland! Finns love it, I love it! 🙂

Unforgettable Lapland winter activities – A couple of hours’ drive from Rovaniemi

10. Hiking To Korouoma Canyon Frozen Waterfall

If you wish to behold the ever-changing colours of Lapland, Korouoma Canyon is the place to be! The majestic canyon in Korouoma National Park, with a 100-meter drop and almost 5 km of nature trail, is a pretty sight to behold. While summer brings with it the exceptional flora and fauna to life, winter is nothing less than a fairytale amidst Korouoma Canyon. The entire national park region comprises as many as 14 frozen waterfalls, of which 3 are the most impressive, which can be spotted during the 5-km hike across the gorge.

Korojoki river cuts through the region, making for a brilliant location for wonderful touristic activities like hiking, ice climbing, bird watching, nature photography, and recreational fishing (summer). Korouoma is hands down one of the best places in Lapland to undertake professional ice-climbing. The canyon is a 1.5-hour drive southeast of Rovaniemi.

Find out more information about the national park here!

11. Visiting Amethyst Mine in Luosto National Park

Lapland is dotted with terrific landscapes & excellent viewpoints. One such place that must not be missed during your trip to Rovaniemi is Lampivaara Amethyst Mine. Located in Pyhä-Luosto in Lapland, the Amethyst Mine is a place where you walk straight into the 2000 million-year-old history! The mine is located in the heart of ancient mountains, and it treasures gems that last hundreds of years. Upon reaching the Amethyst Mine, you’re entitled to a welcome drink and guided tour of the entire mine complex. The landscapes of the Pyhä-Luosto National Park from the top of the mine are breathtaking. Later, you can go inside the mine and dig for an amethyst for yourself. If the amethyst fits your palm, which it mostly does, you’re allowed to carry it along as a souvenir.

Book a tour of the Amethyst mine with tour operators in the Rovaniemi city centre. However, if you want to make it there on your own, make a reservation straight from their website. All the information & prices can be retrieved from their website. Remember that the Amethyst Mine in Luosto National Park is a 1.5-hour drive from the Rovaniemi city centre. Once you reach the mine parking area, an Amethyst Pendolino will take you up, which is a 10-15 minute ride. There is a cafe & restroom, and a souvenir shop near the mine. Don’t miss your chance to lay hands on the prized jewel of Lapland!

12. Ice Breaker Tour In The Gulf Of Bothnia In Sweden

Photo Courtesy: Nordic Unique Travels

Winter is when the Nordic land turns gorgeous & fills every soul. Some seek nature, while others seek adventures; the quest for a fulfilling vacation in Lapland never ends. To further enhance your winter trip to Rovaniemi, take the Polar Icebreaker tour. A popular winter activity in Rovaniemi, this tour takes you to the border town of Kalix, Sweden, by the Bothnian Sea. It takes around 2.5 hours from Rovaniemi City Centre to reach Kalix.

Embark on the joyride as the massive Icebreaker ship moves through the frozen sea in the Gulf of Bothnia. The crushing of ice beneath the ship and sunset views from there are an experience of a lifetime. This ride is followed by a floating experience in the Gulf of Bothnia.

Embarking on these 12 winter activities will immerse you in the heart of Lapland’s magic. Whether you’re chasing the ethereal Northern Lights or savouring traditional Lappish cuisine, each experience adds a unique thread to your Arctic tapestry. Ready to craft your perfect Rovaniemi itinerary? Reach out, and let’s make your Lapland dreams a reality.​