Itineraries for Your Trip to Lapland
2 Days in Lapland for First Timers
As a kid, I remember my Finnish cousins telling me stories about hand-feeding reindeer and playing in snow that came up past their waists—the sort of things that, growing up in the UK, I’d only seen in Christmas movies. It was years later when I finally experienced Lapland for myself, and the landscapes were every bit as impressive as I’d imagined.
Two days in Lapland means you can travel farther into the Arctic region, get a taste of Lappish culture and cuisine, and enjoy some unique outdoor activities. You’ll need a 4WD, studded tires, and some serious driving skills in winter, but guided tours offer a safe and time-efficient way to explore. Here’s how to spend two days in Lapland.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a reindeer sleigh ride.
Winter temperatures can drop as low as -13°F (-25°C), so pack plenty of thermal socks and warm layers.
The regional capital of Rovaniemi is the ideal basecamp for your 2-day Lapland itinerary, and is home to the famous Santa Claus Village. As one of the must-see attractions in Lapland, it can get seriously crowded, so book a tour with hotel pickup and prebooked activities for a hassle-free visit. For the full experience, enjoy short husky-sled and reindeer sleigh rides, followed by a meet and greet with Santa Claus.
After a busy morning, it’s time to head inside and warm up with some traditional Finnish lohikeitto (salmon soup). Better yet, join a cooking class and experience Lappish culture for yourself as you help cook one of the region’s quintessential dishes. When it’s ready, sit down to share your delicious home-cooked lunch with your local hosts in their cozy lakeside cabin.
Rovaniemi is known for its lively nightlife, but for a more relaxed evening (or start to your evening), nothing beats a classic Finnish sauna. For the most atmospheric— and unintimidating—experience, head out to a lakeside sauna for a guided initiation to Finnish sauna culture. Relax in the steamy wood-fired sauna, plunge into the ice-cold lake, and repeat until you feel completely rejuvenated.
Lapland’s wild landscapes afford endless opportunities for outdoor activities, but there are few winter adventures as thrilling as zipping through Lapland’s snowy fells and forests on a snowmobile safari. Make a morning of it and combine your snowmobile ride with ice fishing on a frozen lake and a tasty lunch of Lappish stew made with your freshly caught fish.
Every year, the Arctic SnowHotel is carved anew, and it’s a remarkable sight, complete with an Ice Bar, Ice Hotel, and Snow Sauna. For your first time in Lapland, a guided walking tour is the perfect way to experience the SnowHotel without spending a night. While you’re there, admire the magnificent ice sculptures on display, order a drink at the ice bar, or go tobogganing or kick sledding.
A northern lights tour is the obvious way to spend your final night in Lapland (summer visitors can choose from a range of midnight sun tours instead). Hunting down the elusive aurora borealis is an art and a science, and a local guide is essential to seeking out the best viewing spots. Choose an open-ended tour with unlimited mileage for the best chance of observing the natural wonder.
