The Open Road Travel

Lapland is one of the most popular destinations in the world around Christmas time, especially for families with children.

However, unless you are making your trip as part of a package tour, many won’t have any idea of the incredible things that await you in the land of a thousand lakes..

In our list of the 12 Best things to do in Lapland at Christmas, we will help you build a full itinerary, to ensure every second of your visit is filled with fun and excitement.

So, whether you are planning a long weekend or staying for the full 12 days of Christmas, this article will have you covered.

Lapland is a beautiful part of the world throughout the year, but it really comes into its own during the Winter. From late October, the nights get longer and darker, the temperature starts to drop, and the snow begins to pile up.

By the time the festive season rolls around, days feature only a few hours of sunlight and snow stands multiple feet deep, creating a magical, winter wonderland, perfect for a Christmas vacation.

From the natural beauty of the fells, forests, lakes, and wildlife, to man-made structures like log cabins and attractions like meeting Santa Claus, Lapland is perhaps the most wondrous place on the planet at this time of year.

With many unique traditions, delicacies, and locations, there isn’t a place on Earth like Lapland around Christmas and it is a destination everyone needs to experience at least once on their lifetime.

As we move on to our list of the 12 best things to do in Lapland at Christmas, I am going to suggest a broad range of options.

These will include things that appeal to travellers of all different interests, while ensuring you have something to cover everything that Lapland is known for at Christmas.

The first stop on the itinerary for anyone visiting Lapland with children, as well as many of those that don’t, is the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

The official home of Father Christmas, this is the only place on Earth where you can meet the real Santa Claus in the flesh.

Regularly seen roaming around the main building in the village, kids and grown ups alike can stop for a photo with Santa in front of a roaring log fire and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Those who want a more intimate meeting with the big man can also book a trip off into the forest to meet him in his home and receive a personal gift. Can you imagine a more magical experience for a child to have at Christmas?

Elsewhere around the Santa Claus Village, you will also find a number of other attractions to enjoy.

The official Santa Claus Post Office receives letters from millions of children all over the world and is the perfect destination to take any children who want proof that Santa is real.

You also have Santa’s House Of Snowmobiles, where you can learn about the history and see the evolution of one of the premier modes of transportation within the Arctic Circle.

Speaking of which, the Santa Claus Village lies right on the Arctic Circle itself. Markings on the ground showing the exact boundary of the circle, as well as signs showing the distance and direction to many of the world’s major cities are a unique attraction in their own right.

There is even a location known as Santa Park adjacent to the village, where you can travel down inside a mountain to take lessons from elves, watch performances, and go on rides, to create one of the most magical Christmas experiences imaginable.

Very few things are as synonymous with Christmas as a sleigh ride in the snow. From Santa and his reindeer to the one horse open sleigh in the famous carol, it appears to be the preferred mode of transportation during the festive season.

Luckily, Lapland has plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy both types of sleigh ride in abundance, each of which will see experienced local guides take you on a magical tour of the forest.

Sit and snuggle beneath the blankets as you slowly pass many of the natural wonders of the region. Those lucky enough to take their tour as the snow is falling will get to enjoy one of the most magical experiences in the world.

Depending on the company you choose to use, many will even get to pet or feed their horse or reindeer on completion of the ride, making the experience even more memorable than it already was.

While there are plenty of exciting activities to do in Lapland at Christmas, perhaps none are as exhilarating as going for a ride on a snowmobile. Capable of reaching speeds over 70 miles an hour, they give you the opportunity to explore the forests in a completely new way.

Children or those who are less confident can sit on the back of an instructor or another driver. Meanwhile, everyone else will be given some short safety instructions and lessons and given control of their own machine.

The safaris will take you deeper into the woods than you could ever hope to go on any other form of transport, while you soak in all of your stunning surroundings.

Most good tours will see you stop around the midpoint of your safari at a Kota, a traditional Lappish structure similar to a tepee.

Here the instructors will build a log fire, give you fresh baked goods and sausages to roast over the fire, while preparing tea, coffee, or hot berry juice in the traditional fashion.

Those of an even more adventurous nature also have the option of a night safari. While the layout of the experience is almost identical to a day trip, the colder temperatures and more limited visibility create a slightly more exciting experience.

Being so far from civilisation at night also gives you the perfect opportunity to see the northern lights of you are lucky enough.

You even have the option of renting a snowmobile for a day without a guide. While this is usually best left to more experienced riders, it offers you the chance to go where you please and plan your own trip, giving you complete control of the entire experience.

If you like the idea of a sleigh ride but were hoping for something a little faster paced and more involved, going for a ride on a husky sled may be exactly what you are looking for.

You’ll still get to explore the natural beauty of the region, only this time on a mode of transport cable of reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

Most companies will even allow you to drive your own dog team if you choose, making it an incredibly personal experience.

Instructors will give you pointers about how to stop and start, as well as how to control the speed and direction of the sled.

With the dogs already trained on the rough route they should be following, this gives you the chance to have a little more control and freedom, without ever having to put yourself at risk.

You will again usually be able to meet the animals after your ride, only this time you could end up getting to experience a farm of more than one hundred huskies. This would be an experience many would pay for on its own.

A lucky few will even make their trip when there is a fresh litter of puppies on site. What could be more magical than getting to cuddle dozens of adorable husky puppies after an exhilarating day out?

Skiing and snowboarding may be two of the most popular attractions in any snowy destination but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worthwhile additions to your stay in Lapland.

The region has countless ski resorts and slopes, with opportunities available for people of all abilities to rent equipment, have lessons, and enjoy their time on the snow. The exhilarating activity combines with the stunning surroundings to create a truly memorable experience.

Then, when you’re done on the slopes, why not relax in one of the many lodges and bars and enjoy a hot drink or bite to eat and turn your activity into an entire day out.

Lapland also has miles upon miles of cross-country skiing tracks weaving through the forests and circling the lakes and mountains.

So, even if you don’t want to fly down the fells at breakneck speed, you can still enjoy a leisurely spot of skiing and use it as a means of transportation.

A unique attraction that is usually exclusive to only the coldest regions on Earth, Lapland is well known for erecting ice castles and villages across the region. Perhaps the best example of this can be found at the Lainio Snow Village, located between the resorts of Levi and Yllas.

Each year, the structures are built from scratch at the start of winter and are constructed entirely of giant blocks carved from ice and heavily compacted snow.

Visitors can stroll around the grounds and marvel at the stunning buildings, all beautifully styled and decorated with sculptures, carvings, lights, and candles.

Among the most popular buildings in the village is The Ice Bar, where everything from the walls and bar to the glasses themselves are made entirely of ice.

This even includes the seats and tables, although these are coated with reindeer fur, to make sure you stay as warm as possible.

A unique experience, this is one bar where you can guarantee your drink will always stay cold. Or perhaps you would prefer a hot beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, to warm you up?

Those who want to go for the full experience even have the option to spend a night in The Snow Hotel. Like the rest of the village, you will find your room beautifully carved in snow, complete with furniture made from blocks of ice.

Similarly to the seats in the bar, reindeer skins will keep you surprisingly warm during this unique adventure.

Some rooms even include see-through ceilings, giving you the wonderful chance to go to sleep at night looking up at the night sky, filled with stars and perhaps even the northern lights.

Sometimes the best things in life are free and occasionally you can even enjoy them without stepping foot outside. While there are plenty of exciting activities on offer in Lapland, make sure you don’t spend so much time rushing around that you forget to relax.

Whether you are seeking a romantic evening with your partner or simply a laid-back afternoon with your family, there is something extremely therapeutic about sitting in front of a roaring log fire.

Sip hot chocolate or a glass of traditional Finnish Glogi, curl up with a good book or movie, or simply gaze out at the winter wonderland surrounding you while you are all cosy and warm.

With many cabins and hotels in Lapland having their own fireplaces, you can relax, refresh yourself, and get into the Christmas spirit, without spending a penny.

Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights are a unique phenomenon where the solar winds and magnetic fields in the Earth combine to create stunning light shows in the nights sky.

Most commonly appearing in green but also displaying in blues, pinks, reds, and yellows, the northern lights are one of the most stunning natural beauties on the planet.

Both more prominent and frequently occurring in places that are colder, less built up, and further north, Lapland’s location within the Arctic Circle is the perfect destination to see them in all their glory.

Anyone who has always wanted to see the Aurora with their own eyes can take a drive or walk out into the wilderness in the hopes of spotting them to the picturesque backdrop of forests, lakes, and snow covered mountains, for an experience straight off of a postcard.

Finland and Lapland have numerous wonderful delicacies and traditions, many of which are even more prominent around the festive season. As many haven’t really permeated into the outside world yet, this makes your visit the perfect opportunity to indulge in a few.

Among the savoury dining options you have choices such as a baked cheese called Leipajuusto, a salmon, leek, and potato soup known as Lohikeitto, and Karelian pastries filled with eggs, rice, cheese, potato, carrot or porridge.

That’s without even mentioning the national dish of sauteed reindeer, mashed potatoes, and lingonberries.

Those with a sweeter tooth can then enjoy tucking into baked goods like pepparakor (traditional Lappish gingerbread) or Joulutorttu, Christmas stars made from pastry and filled with creams or jams.

All of this can then be washed down with traditional Finnish beverages like lonkero, hot chocolate infused with rum, or Glogi, a traditional Finnish mulled wine served with almonds and sultanas.

As far as Finnish Christmas traditions go, you have a range of wonderful and unique carols to sing along with and enjoy, as well as traditional folk stories to hear.

In Finland, Christmas eve is also the most important day of the festive season.

Streets are lined with candles, beautiful meals are cooked, and people eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. For those from elsewhere, why not embrace the tradition and make Christmas a two-day event this year?

As beautiful as Lapland is when it’s covered in snow, it can make exploring a little difficult. With multiple feet of snow covering everything other than paths or roads, you won’t get more than a few paces without sinking in.

Luckily, there are plenty of places dotted around where you can either buy or rent a pair of snowshoes. These simple yet effective devices go over the top of your shoes and allow you to walk across the snow as if you were almost weightless.

Now no regions of the forests and wilds of Lapland are beyond your reach. You can explore to your hearts content, see natural wonders hidden from civilization, and get to walk on pristine snow that no human has ever stepped foot on before.

Many will have used a sauna at a gym or spa before but these simply don’t compare to the traditional Finnish variety.

Made from beautiful, locally sourced woods and often featuring oils from the trees and plants in the forests around you, this is the perfect opportunity to embrace the local culture, while relaxing and rejuvenating your body.

The question is, are you going to go for the full Finnish sauna experience?

For starters, the Finnish people traditionally sauna completely in the nude. While sitting with a group of naked strangers won’t be appealing to everybody, many rental cabins come with their own private sauna, allowing you to enjoy the experience in complete privacy.

The other Finnish sauna tradition is to leave the sauna and throw yourself directly in the snow. No, I’m not joking.

This is said to have a number of beneficial effects, most notably how it can cleanse your pores and improve the quality of your skin.

For most, the question isn’t whether they take a sauna or not while in Lapland. Instead, it is how close are they willing to go to the traditional experience.

Whether you plan everything yourself or come as part of a package, almost every person who comes to Lapland will use a toboggan during their stay. The Lappish name for a sledge, a toboggan is a cheap way to make the most of your icy surroundings.

No matter how old you are, adults and children alike will both find a toboggan one of the best investments they make during their stay. Wrap up warm and head to any local hill or mound of snow and prepare for hours of fun.

A relatively safe activity, tobogganing is a great way to keep the kids occupied and entertained when you want a little time for yourself to relax.

They also double up as a handy accessory to help with the groceries, as you can simply drag everything along behind you, instead of figuring out how to carry it.

Why not treat yourself during your stay in Lapland and opt for a private log cabin, as opposed to a regular hotel?

Arctic Dreams is a picturesque log cabin, located in Akaslompolo, one of the beautiful villages in the forests surrounding the famous resort of Yllas.

A traditional cabin made from Kelo logs, Arctic Dreams is a family run and owned property, which boasts a blend of modern amenities and classical stylings, to create a comfortable, convenient, and homely experience.

All of the features synonymous with Lapland are included with your stay, such as a private sauna and log fire to help you relax. Meanwhile, inclusions like gaming consoles, iPod docks, TVs, and a library and karaoke machine will keep both kids and adults alike entertained.

With two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a mezzanine, lounge and dining areas, a double sofa bed, and a private terrace complete with a seating area and BBQ, there is plenty of space for up to 8 people to comfortably stay here together.

The cabin backs directly onto the woods, so you can enjoy stunning views and interactions with the local wildlife from the comfort of your accommodation.

Meanwhile, the village itself is comfortably within walking distance, allowing you to comfortably stroll back and forth.

A wood store is located in front of the cabin, where you can obtain free firewood for the duration of your stay.

The store also features a ski waxing room and ski storage, providing maximum convenience for anyone hoping to make the most of the miles of ski tracks surrounding the property.

The cabin also includes free allocated parking spots for the duration of your stay, ensuring you don’t have to walk too far in the cold if you don’t want to.

So, there you have it, our list of the 12 best things to do in Lapland at Christmas.

While each person will have their own idea of what they hope to get out of the trip, as well as the festive season as a whole, this will hopefully have given you plenty of ideas to fill out your perfect Lapland itinerary.

All that’s left is to start getting things booked. That way, you won’t miss out on you favourite accommodation or attraction, and can look forward to a very merry Christmas in a magical winter wonderland.

For anyone who still hasn't decided exactly where to stay during their visit, why not check out our article on the best areas to stay in Lapland as well, to give yourself a better idea of what's on offer.