A winter trip to Finnish Lapland is magical for children: snow, Santa, reindeer, huskies and maybe the northern lights. It takes careful planning, especially around Christmas.
When to go
- December: peak Christmas season. The most magical and the most expensive; book many months in advance.
- January to March: snowy, cold and quieter, with longer daylight by March and good aurora chances.
- Late November: the season begins; snow is not always reliable.
Where to stay
Rovaniemi (Lapland), on the Arctic Circle, is the easiest base, with an airport and direct links. Santa Claus Village is just outside town. Smaller resorts such as Levi, Saariselkä and Luosto offer quieter stays.
Things to do
- Santa Claus Village: meet Santa, cross the Arctic Circle line and send postcards from Santa's post office.
- SantaPark: an underground Christmas theme park.
- Husky safaris: short rides suit young children.
- Reindeer farms and sleigh rides.
- Snowmobiling: children usually ride in a sled pulled by an adult's snowmobile.
- Aurora hunting: best for older children who can stay up late.
- Snow hotels and glass igloos.
Keeping children warm
Temperatures can drop to minus 20°C or lower. Dress children in thermal base layers, fleece and insulated outer layers, with warm boots, mittens and a hat. Many activity operators provide thermal overalls and boots. Plan shorter outdoor sessions with warm breaks.
Daylight
In December, daylight lasts only a few hours. Plan activities around it.
Age considerations
Some activities have minimum ages. Very young children may find long, cold outings hard. Check before booking.
From India
Flights connect via Helsinki or other European hubs. A Schengen visa is needed. See Schengen visa for Indian travellers: how the process works and Planning a northern lights trip: where, when and how many nights.
See Family holidays for family itineraries.
When to go
When to go
When to go
When to go