One Week In Finnish Lapland – The Ultimate Winter Itinerary!

Planning a winter getaway in Finnish Lapland? Here is how to spend one week in Finnish Lapland, a true winter wonderland!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Access Lapland, but all opinions are my own. 

If you’re dreaming of a winter wonderland adventure, a one-week trip to Finnish Lapland is the perfect escape. This magical Arctic region offers everything from snow-dusted landscapes and thrilling outdoor activities to the mesmerizing Northern Lights in Lapland. Whether you’re chasing the auroras, gliding through frozen forests on a husky safari, or unwinding in a traditional Finnish sauna, Finnish Lapland promises an unforgettable journey.

A 7-day Lapland itinerary allows plenty of time to try out all of the must-do activities. Finnish Lapland is a place filled with wild adventures and activities to suit all travelers! In this guide, I will be focusing on the region around Rovaniemi, also known as the home of Santa Claus. Having Rovaniemi as a base is perfect for first-time visitors, and those who would rather not drive in the harsh winter conditions. Since it is the capital of Lapland, you can find so many activities nearby, and easily take tours to other parts of Finnish Lapland from here. This itinerary ensures you’ll experience the very best of Finnish Lapland in one week.

Planning your Lapland winter itinerary may seem overwhelming, but this guide has you covered. From where to stay in Lapland to the best things to do in Lapland in winter, you’ll find everything you need to make the most of your Arctic getaway. 

In the following sections, I’ll walk you through a meticulously crafted one-week itinerary covering must-visit spots, local cuisine, and Lapland adventure activities. Get ready for the ultimate Finnish Lapland travel guide – a trip that will guarantee unforgettable memories!

FAQs about one week in Finnish Lapland

Is 7 days too long in Lapland?

7 days is definitely not too long in Lapland! A 7-day Lapland itinerary gives you the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. In a week, you can experience Northern Lights tours, husky safaris, reindeer sleigh rides, skiing, and snowshoeing while also having time to unwind in cozy cabins or traditional Finnish saunas. Whether you stay in one location like Rovaniemi or Levi or explore multiple destinations, a full week ensures you won’t feel rushed.

How much money do you need for a week in Finland?

The cost of a one-week trip to Finnish Lapland depends on your travel style. Below is a breakdown of the average prices based on the kind of trip you prefer:

• Budget travelers: €800–€1,500 (staying in hostels, using public transport, and self-catering meals).
• Mid-range travelers: €1,500–€3,000 (staying in hotels or cabins, dining out, and booking guided tours).
• Luxury travelers: €3,000+ (staying in glass igloos, private tours, fine dining, and premium activities).

Even if you are more of a budget traveler, when planning a trip to Finnish Lapland, do expect the price to end up in the higher range of around €1,500. In addition, please note that these prices are per person! Although Finnish Lapland is expensive, it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Which part of Lapland is best?

The best part of Lapland will highly depend on your interests! Rovaniemi is ideal for first-timers, offering easy access to Santa Claus Village and a mix of Lapland adventure activities. Levi and Ylläs are best for skiing and luxury stays, while Saariselkä and Inari offer stunning Arctic wilderness and Northern Lights experiences with fewer crowds. If you want a quieter area, then the region around Ruka is ideal, with access to Oulanka National Park and Riisitunturi National Park. 

This post is all about one week in Finnish Lapland! 

When to visit Finnish Lapland

Knowing when to visit Finnish Lapland will highly depend on the kind of experience that you are looking for! Below is a breakdown of what to expect during winter in Finnish Lapland. 

November and December 

Winter officially begins in November as the first snowfall blankets the landscape, creating a fairytale setting. While November traditionally has snow, as it can come as early as October, this is not always the case. Therefore, while November offers a great shoulder season opportunity, in some years, you might be unlucky and not even have any snow at all! 

By December, Lapland transforms into a Christmas wonderland with festive markets, twinkling lights, and the magic of Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. This is also the beginning of the polar night in the far north, where the sun barely rises, giving the landscape an ethereal blue glow. While temperatures drop to -5°C to -25°C, this is the perfect time for cozy cabin stays, reindeer safaris, and experiencing Lapland’s winter wonderland at its most festive. That being said, December is a hectic month in Finnish Lapland as everyone is looking for the perfect Christmas Magic destination. If you visit in December, keep in mind that prices and crowds will likely be at an all-time high. 

January and February

These are the coldest months in Lapland, with temperatures ranging from -10°C to -30°C, but also the best time for outdoor adventures. Snow conditions are perfect for husky sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, and Northern Lights hunting, with long, dark nights offering prime viewing opportunities.

January is quieter with fewer tourists, while February sees more visitors enjoying the peak of winter activities. Despite the extreme cold, clear skies and deep snow make this the ultimate winter adventure season. In addition, January is when Finnish Lapland typically enters “deep winter”. If you are looking for a lot of snow, I would recommend visiting in February, as by then there will be several months of snowfall prior to your arrival. 

March and April

By March, daylight hours increase significantly, bringing a stunning mix of deep snow and sunshine. This is also one of the best months for Northern Lights tours, as the skies remain dark but with slightly warmer temperatures. When talking to locals, they will often exclaim that March is their favorite time in Finnish Lapland. The longer daylight hours allow for more exploration. In addition, you often have beautiful sunny days, while still being able to enjoy lots of snow and winter activities. 

April marks the transition to spring skiing season, especially in Levi, Ylläs, and Saariselkä, where ski slopes stay open under bright Arctic sunshine. With milder weather and fewer crowds, this is the ideal time for those who want winter activities without the extreme cold.

How to get to Finnish Lapland

Getting to Finnish Lapland is fairly easy in the wintertime as it has become a popular winter destination. If you’re coming from abroad, then you will likely need to fly into Helsinki and then catch a domestic flight. However, during winter, there are also several direct flights to Rovaniemi from various locations around Europe. When I visited, we flew directly from Copenhagen, which was super convenient! 

Overall, you have a choice of two main airports, Rovaniemi or Ivalo. If you are planning to explore Rovaniemi during your trip, then I would highly recommend flying into here. Since this is the capital of Lapland, there are more flight options, and you get to fly into “the official airport of Santa Claus”. In addition, since this itinerary is based around Rovaniemi, it’s going to be the most convenient airport. 

 

Do you need a car in Finnish Lapland?

I have designed this itinerary so that you do not need a car while visiting Finnish Lapland. Finland is already an expensive travel destination, and rental prices here can start at around 180 euros per day during winter season. In addition, places like the airport and Santa Claus Village are well connected via shuttle bus. Public transportation in Rovaniemi is lacking outside the city and these two spots, so you may need to take an Uber here and there. When it comes to your winter activities, they will often include (or have an additional service) of pickup in Rovaniemi, meaning you won’t actually need a car. 

That being said, if you’re interested in driving to some more remote places, then renting a car may be a good option. For those looking for unique day trips to nature, I will link some tours throughout the itinerary that will drive you back and forth. But otherwise, renting a car may be a good idea for a few of the days. Please only rent a car here if you are used to driving in snowy/ icy conditions or have at least visited before and know what to expect. While the road conditions in Finnish Lapland are fairly good, it can still be dangerous. In addition, make sure that you rent a car with winter tires! 

Where to rent a car

When it comes to car rentals, I am a huge fan of using Sunny Cars! I have been using their services for years and have always had such a positive experience. Sunny Cars operates in most countries and always has the cheapest rates that I can find. In addition, they include unlimited mileage, cancellations up to 24 hours in advance, and the most comprehensive insurance package I have seen. Best of all, if you end up needing to pay your deposit for the car, Sunny Cars will refund it to you! 

Book your rental with Sunny Cars here!

Where to stay in Finnish Lapland

When it comes to budgeting a trip to Finnish Lapland, the main cost driver is going to be the accommodation you choose. For first-time visitors and those looking for more affordable options, I would recommend staying in the city center of Rovaniemi. This will be most convenient as buses and tour operators can easily pick you up at no additional charge. In addition, you will have lots of meal options catering to more budgets, as well as the option to shop in grocery stores and make your own meals. 

We stayed at the Golden Circle Suites, and I can highly recommend it! The rooms come with their own kitchen, making it convenient to cook your own meals to save money. In addition, in the bathroom, you can find your own private sauna, which was by far the highlight for us while staying here. Every day, we would heat it up as soon as we came back from a cold day of adventuring. This was the perfect way to unwind and heat up before continuing on to our evening plans. Honestly, this is probably one of the best hotels in terms of value for money, and the beds are extremely comfortable. 

PS. If you are traveling as a family, then they have suites that accomodate that and let you all stay together in your own apartment suite. 

If you’re looking for more unique stays where you can have a chance of seeing the northern lights from your bed, then below are some of the best options for this! 

One Week in Finnish Lapland – Ultimate Itinerary

The itinerary below is created based on how we set up our trip. If there are days that make sense for you to switch out with other activities based on your plans, feel free to do so! Our trip to Finnish Lapland was set up to ensure we didn’t miss the activities we wanted to do the most.

We had Access Lapland set up all of our activities, which enabled us to enjoy a hassle-free vacation. Not only did Access Lapland make planning a breeze, but they truly provided us with the best activities Finnish Lapland has to offer! While you can book individual activities on their website, you can also find a variety of holiday packages to suit your needs! You can find all of the packages they have to offer here. 

Throughout the itinerary, I will also suggest other options if you would like to check out some more places. I’ll begin by giving a quick overview of our week before diving into each day. 

• Day 1 – Arrival
• Day 2 – Ice Karting and Snow Mobiles
• Day 3 – Arctic Icebreaker
• Day 4 – Arctic Fun Day
• Day 5 – Winter Hike and Santa Claus Village
• Day 6 – Kotatieva and Ice Hockey
• Day 7 – Skiing and Sauna with Cold Plunge

Day 1 – Arrival

I suggest taking the first day easy, as you will be arriving at Rovaniemi Airport and checking into your hotel. If you stay at Golden Circle Suites, you can borrow thermal overalls, boots, and mittens to keep you warm. Once you have comfortably checked in and gotten your equipment, I recommend exploring the city center of Rovaniemi. While it is small, it has some charming streets in the city center. This is also a great time to go grocery shopping to get some supplies for the next days. While shopping, I recommend buying several packs of hand warmers to bring on the cold days. This will be super helpful in keeping your hands and cold warm, especially if you have any night activities planned!

If you arrive early in the day and have some time to explore, I recommend checking out the Arktikum Museum. This is a must-see for anyone visiting Finnish Lapland. Here you can learn more about the Sámi culture, who are the indigenous people of Lapland. You will also learn more about the northern lights and life in the Arctic, including the animals that live there. One of my favorite features is the Arctic Seasons film, which shows visitors what life in the Arctic looks like throughout the various seasons. Overall, this is such a great museum, and it also has lots of interactive exhibitions, making it entertaining for kids as well! 

Book your visit to the Arktikum Museum here!

Day 2 – Ice Karting and Snow Mobiles

Day two is going to be filled with outdoor activities, so make sure to dress extra warmly! On this particular day, we had -25 Celsius weather, so lots of layers were definitely essential. All of our activities during this week were organized by Access Lapland, a tour company specializing in premium outdoor activities in Lapland. They have been around for over 30 years and offer amazing activities. Honestly, booking a trip to Finnish Lapland can be quite overwhelming as there are so many different activities and tour providers. Check out which activities you can book through Access Lapland here for a stress-free holiday.

Ice Karting 

The day’s first activity was Ice Karting, which started at around 9:30 AM. Since the sun rises at around 9 AM in the winter, most activities will start at around 9:30-10:00. The activity starts at the Access Lapland office in the city center of Rovaniemi, where you hop on a shuttle bus to the Ice Karting rink located just a 5-10 minute drive away.

We were quickly equipped with gear, and then the group was split in two to ensure there weren’t too many karts on the track at once. We took turns of 10 minutes each, driving around the track in a race with the other people in our group. The 10-minute intervals were perfect as it got really cold really quickly, so it was nice to be able to warm up in between. Although it was freezing, it did mean that we were treated to a beautiful sunrise while racing around the tracks! Talk about a winter wonderland 🥺❄️. 

Honestly, I didn’t think I would love Ice Karting as much as I did, but it ended up being one of my favorite activities! This is just such a genius idea and a super fun way to experience winter in Finnish Lapland. If you are visiting as a family, then definitely make sure to add this activity to your itinerary. The only thing to note is that there are some safety restrictions, meaning children below 10 years old and under the height of 150 cm cannot participate. The activity ended at around 11:00, and everyone was driven back to the city center. Since we had a snowmobile safari planned, we warmed up a bit and went straight back outside. 

Click here to book your Ice Karting adventure! 

Snow Mobiles

Next up, we embarked on a 2-hour snowmobile safari, which was absolutely incredible! Our guide, Robin was amazing and took us driving across the frozen river of Ounasjoki, which in itself is a breathtaking experience. We then entered a forest path where the trees were covered in frost, thanks to the very cold conditions. Even though snow had fallen off most of the trees here, the frost still provided us with picture-perfect views of white covered scenery. 

We drove through a forest for quite a while, which included a fair bit of ascent, which made our final location incredible. We stopped at a frozen swamp at the top of the hill with lots of small trees and views over the surrounding nature. Although it was cold, I simply had to fly my drone to capture this experience, and I am SO glad that I did! This was truly one of the best moments of our trip. My boyfriend and I both agree that going on a snowmobile tour is an absolute must! 

Access Lapland offers a variety of snowmobile tours, including both a one-hour and a two-hour tour. If you are a complete beginner and would like a taste of it, then the one-hour tour is perfect! However, if you know you are going to love this activity, then I highly recommend the two-hour tour for a more comprehensive experience. The two-hour tour also allows you to explore further, ensuring you get to experience the Arctic wilderness. 

PS. One thing to note is that to participate in snowmobile activities, you must have a valid driver’s license!

Northern Lights Snow Mobile Tour

Arguably, the most popular activity in the Finnish Lapland is chasing the northern lights. Being able to witness this magical phenomenon requires a combination of good weather and being at the right place at the right time. It is well known that the sky needs to be dark in order to see the northern lights, but there are also specific seasons of the year when northern lights activity occurs more often.

While you can witness the northern lights from late fall until spring, March is typically known to be the best month for spotting the northern lights. This is because another prominent feature of spotting these green lights is having clear skies. In early winter, the weather in the Arctic Circle is filled with snow and cloudy weather, while months such as March often have many days of clear blue skies. Lastly, you need to be in the right place at the right time. Even if you have clear skies, the northern lights may only be visible for 5 minutes, while other times, they are visible for hours. Furthermore, they may appear at 17 in the afternoon or 02 at night; you never really know.

Seeing the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland

Due to all of these factors, if seeing the northern lights is high on your bucket list, I recommend chasing them every day you have clear skies on your trip. My favorite way to do this was on a snowmobile tour! This is such an exhilarating experience and completely different than during the daytime. In addition, if you don’t end up seeing the northern lights, then at least you get an enjoyable activity out of it. If you are unlucky like we were, I recommend booking a driving tour since that way you are more mobile and can drive an hour or two to areas with better visibility. While you can also go chasing the northern lights yourself, I do recommend joining a tour since the locals often know the best spots. 

PS. if you are staying in Rovaniemi, then you can also walk to this spot from the city center. It is known to be the best spot for seeing the northern lights without getting out of the city. I saw pictures from the day before we arrived where there was an amazing show here – but we were unfortunately unlucky our whole trip. 

Day 3 – Arktis Icebreaker Cruise

Day 3 was probably the most memorable day of the trip for me. This was the day we went on the icebreaker cruise, which is an activity that had been on my bucket list for so long! A little disclaimer in advance: this is quite a pricy activity, but it TRULY is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’ll make sure to walk you through the experience so you can decide for yourself whether it is worth it. For the icebreaker cruise, you typically have two options: either a morning or afternoon cruise. I would recommend the afternoon cruise, as it ensures you are sailing during daylight, and you don’t have to get up at 5 AM 😅.

You can book this tour either from Rovaniemi or from Kemi, the nearest town. Personally, I would recommend booking it with a transfer to and from Rovaniemi to save yourself the hassle of going to Kemi by yourself, as there’s not much else to explore there. From Rovaniemi, the drive is around 1.5 hours each way. Once in Kemi, you will be dropped off to check in and receive a lunch voucher (included in the ticket). You should then have an hour and a half or so to eat lunch and explore the SnowExperience365. Here, you enter a large hall where large sculptures have been made out of the ice taken directly from the sea! There is even a slide made of ice, which is so fun. Definitely make sure to check out this experience before your cruise if you have the time.

Getting to the cruise

Then, a shuttle bus will take you to the harbor. There are two ships to choose from, which will determine the length of your cruise. The original icebreaker ship is the large Sampo cruise. This ship is the one that will actually break completely frozen ports that freeze during winter to keep vital passages open. The Arktis is the little sister of the Sampo, and while it cannot by itself break completely frozen thick sea ice, it can still break the ice frozen from previous trips on the Sampo. In general, the Sampo cruise lasts for 4 hours, while the Arktis lasts for 3 hours. We were on the Arktis Icebreaker Cruise, and I loved the design of the ship!

Icebreaker Cruise

During the cruise, you sail for about 45 minutes out to sea, where you get to enjoy views of the ship breaking the ice. There are lots of viewing platforms and places to explore on the ship itself. During the check-in process, you will get a group color, which will determine when your ice floating time occurs. Then, once the ship has stopped, the ice floating sessions begin, where each group has around 10 minutes to enjoy floating in the icy seawater. The crew helps you put on special suits that ensure you don’t feel a thing in the water! The ice floating is by far the highlight of the cruise and such a unique experience.

While other groups are floating, you also must step off the ship and explore by foot. You can actually walk on the sea ice and see the ship from afar, as well as get a selfie up close with the front of the ship. Honestly, this experience goes by so fast as there is so much to experience here. Once all groups have had their ice floating session, the ship begins its cruise back to the harbor.

Back to Rovaniemi

Once back, you will typically have another hour of free time at the main building where you checked in. This allows you to explore any other activities you may have missed on the first break. Then, the shuttle will drive you back to Rovaniemi. If you choose the afternoon cruise, expect to be back in Rovaniemi at around 8 PM. Overall, I highly recommend booking this Icebreaker Cruise adventure. It will definitely be an experience to remember! I have linked below the three main options for the Icebreaker Cruise, including both the Sampo and Arktis cruises from Rovaniemi as well as one option from Kemi.

Day 4 – Arctic Fun Day

This day was filled with all of the classic Finnish Lapland activities you would normally expect a trip to include. We spent the day on an idyllic farm near Rovaniemi called Piiru. The farm consists of 100 hectares and is located just 15 minutes away from Rovaniemi, making it the perfect place to experience the stunning winter scenery. Here, we enjoyed a day of Ice Fishing, a Reindeer visit, and a Husky ride. In addition, we got to enjoy the beautiful scenery on a short snow show hike in the forest while waiting for lunch to be served. 

Ice Fishing

While I would not typically recommend fishing as I am personally against it, I didn’t mind the experience at Piiru Forest Resort. This is because their lake only has very small fish that you are unlikely to catch, and if you do, they get thrown back into the water. Personally, I think the main point of ice fishing is trying to drill a hole through the thick layer of ice. This is exactly what we focused on, and I thought it was super fun! It’s also a great way to get in an arm workout, as it’s much harder than it looks 😅. 

Reindeer visit and ride

This was by far one of the highlights of our trip. Reindeers are some of the cutest animals, and I absolutely loved watching them from close up with the beautiful forest scenery surrounding them. Piiru Forest Resort has a lot of reindeer that live there during the winter. I talked to the guide here quite extensively and was so impressed with the balance they find between letting the reindeer roam freely and having them work. All reindeer in Finnish Lapland have an owner, but many of them roam freely, especially during the summer. During the winter, the owners will often collect the reindeer to have them “work”.

PS. You can also find the CUTEST baby reindeer on the farm that are being slowly trained up! 

Are reindeer visits ethical? 

That being said, many reindeer actually return to the farm by themselves as they know they will get easy access to food. They know that it also requires that they work in sleigh rides, but the owners are very cautious about not overworking the animals. Each morning, they will see which reindeer come to the fence, indicating that they are happy to work that day, and that way ensure the animals are happy. In addition, the sleigh rides here are kept very short to ensure the reindeer don’t feel overworked. While reindeer do not like to be petted, you can still ensure looking at them after the ride is over to make your visit more memorable. 

While some people may want a long sleigh ride, for me, it was most important to find a place that offers this experience while still giving the reindeer the best possible conditions. I am absolutely certain that Piiru Forest Resort is the perfect place for this! 

While I wholeheartedly recommend the place we visited, I do also want to point out that the Finns take extremely good care of their animals and land. Therefore, I would, in general, say that you can trust most companies to take good care of their animals! Below, you can find the exact reindeer farm visit we went on, as well as some other amazing options near Rovaniemi. 

Husky ride

Our last activity of the day was visiting their husky pen and playing with the sweet huskies, as well as getting a husky ride. At Piiru Forest Resort they have SO many adorable huskies, and we were lucky enough to get to play with them for quite a while! They are all extremely friendly, although some may be taken aback by their friendliness. Huskies typically have a lot of energy and love people, so don’t be surprised if the dogs jump up on you.

After playing with the dogs, we also got a nice little husky ride, which was so much fun. The dogs are so energetic, and before you start, they are crying with excitement because they want to run and enjoy the cold weather. While there will always be a person guiding the sled from behind, it is also common for one of the dogs to run loose and lead the pack to where they should go.

Once again, it was clear that the huskies here get such good care and are very well-fed and happy. While many people complain that these activities are rather expensive, you can really tell that your money goes into giving the animals the best life possible. Therefore, I think it makes the price so worth it! While I think all places in Finland take proper care of their huskies, I can 100% vouch for the love and care the huskies at Piiru Forest Resort receive. Below, you can find the exact tour we took as well as some other amazing husky tours in the area.

Day 5 – Winter Hike and Santa Claus Village

Winter Hike

On day 5, I highly recommend exploring the beautiful Finnish nature on a winter hike. If you are not looking for a long hike or are exploring with children, then I would recommend the Ounasvaara Winter Trail. The trail is accessible from Rovaniemi city center and is the perfect way to spend the first half of your day. It leads you through a forest and up to an observation tower called “Ounasvaaran Näköalatorni“.

Although the trail is fairly short, around 4 km round trip from Rovaniemi, the views from the top are fantastic! In addition, once you reach the top you can find other trails you can continue to hike on. Another fun option is to bring some sausages or marshmellows to grill at the top. There’s a hut with a grill station by the observation tower, although it’s a good idea to bring matches in case no one has made a fire. 

Day trip options

If you want to get out of Rovaniemi and explore some Finnish nature elsewhere, then there are also lots of day trip options to choose from! Some of the best day trips from Rovaniemi include a trip to the frozen waterfall at Korouoma Canyon and Riisitunturi National Park. These unique day trips offer a chance to see unique winter landscapes you can’t find in many places. If you love a challenge, then I highly recommend Korouoma Canyon. Here you can go hiking through a beautiful forest, and then climb up a massive frozen waterfall! If you prefer dreamy winter scenes of the famous Finnish trees tilting due to the amount of snow on them, then Riisitunturi National Park is for you. Either way, whichever option you choose, you are bound to have an amazing adventure! 

Pro Tip: If you decide to take a day trip, then make sure to stop at Santa Claus Village another day! 

Santa Claus Village 

No trip to Finnish Lapland is complete without a visit to Santa Claus’s home, aka. Santa Claus Village! The Christmas magic is alive here all year long, so definitely make sure to stop by, even if Christmas has long passed. The best thing to do here is say hello to Santa Claus. Visiting him is free, and you can get your picture taken with him, but you will need to purchase it afterward if you want to keep this memory. You can also visit Mrs. Claus, although there is a small fee to do so. Other than that, you can walk around the beautifully decorated village while listening to Christmas songs or enjoy some of the other activities offered here. 

In the post office, you can send a letter to Santa Claus (or back home from the Arctic Circle), explore the various gift shops, or eat Salmon smoked over a real fire. Another popular activity here is taking a sleigh ride, although I would discourage it if possible as the reindeer here look overworked. While I am sure that they are taking proper care of the animals, I still think reindeer in local farms are better to visit than the ones located here in front of the masses. Overall, Santa Claus Village is the perfect place to spend the afternoon, as it really is a must when in Rovaniemi. In addition, getting to and from the village is super easy as there is a shuttle bus every 15 minutes or so. 

Day 7 – Kotatieva and Ice Hockey

Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park

Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park is a fairly new place that has quickly become a must-see for anyone visiting Rovaniemi! Located just 15 minutes away from the city, this park is known for its magical ice skating route. In the middle of the forest, they have created a 1,000-meter-long ice skating track that lets you skate while enjoying the magical winter views of a snow-covered forest. As soon as I saw this place on social media I just knew we had to visit! The experience totally lived up to my expectations, and we had the best time skating here! In addition, I really appreciated that you could borrow either hockey or figure skates, based on your preference. 

While my favorite part here was by far the ice skating track there are also other activities to check out while here! They have an ice rink suitable for playing ice hockey, a toboggan track for sledding, snowshoes for hiking, and two very cute reindeer. We bought food for the reindeer for 4 euros and enjoyed feeding them so much! The reindeer are still super young and absolutely adorable! If you crave something to eat or drink, then there is also a very traditional and cute cafe. Here, you can also buy sausages and grill them outside on an open fire.

Overall, a visit to Kotatieva is absolutely a must in my opinion. If you have a car, you can visit independently and simply buy a day ticket to enter. Please note that these tickets tend to sell out, so make sure to reserve your spot in advance! If you are staying in Rovaniemi without a car, then you can request transportation from either Rovaniemi city center or Santa Claus Village (included in the price). 

Ice Hockey

If you happen to visit Rovaniemi while a local hockey match is playing then you absolutely have to add it to your itinerary. Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Finland, and the Finnish national team is one of the best in the world. The local hockey team in Rovaniemi is called RoKi, and they play in the second division league. While the games are seasonal, make sure to check it out if you can catch one during your trip! 

Day 7 – Skiing and Sauna

Skiing

The last day in Finnish Lapland should be all about the quintessential Finnish activities you must do while here! The first is skiing, whether you prefer crosscountry, downhill, or even snowboarding, you simply have to do at least one of these while here. Some of the most popular ski resorts in Finnish Lapland are Ruka and Levi. While you can definitely visit these on a day trip from Rovaniemi, you do need a car for this. If you would like to stay locally and avoid renting a car, then you will also find lots of options in Rovaniemi. 

If you’re interested in doing some downhill skiing or snowboarding, then I highly recommend going to Ounasvaara Ski Resort. The slopes are located just outside the city center making it fairy easy to reach. In addition, the slopes here are very beginner-friendly and perfect for casual skiers (like most slopes in Finland). Expect it to cost around 200 euros for a day of skiing (gear included) for two people. 

If you prefer to do some cross country skiing, then you can also rent skis for this at the Ounasvaara Ski Resort. You can begin your cross-country trail right from the resort. The Ounasvaara area has 100 km of cross-country tracks, with 50 km having lights. This means that you can enjoy a long day of skiing in the forest to enjoy the winter magic! For more information about skiing options, click here. 

Sauna and cold plunge

After a day of skiing, I can think of no better activity than to end a trip to Finnish Lapland with a traditional sauna and cold plunge. We were lucky to enjoy a sauna session every day of our trip since our room at Golden Circle Suites came with a private sauna. However, we did not have the option to dip into the freezing water afterward, so we decided this had to be arranged for our last night. 

Which sauna to book 

While there are a lot of sauna experiences available in Rovaniemi and the surrounding area, it can easily become an expensive activity. Many private sauna experiences cost between 200-300 euros for a 2-hour session, which we felt was a waste of money. If you’re also looking for a budget-friendly experience, then I highly recommend WNTR Sauna. This is a shared sauna experience with a large, wood-heated traditional sauna. They have a maximum capacity of 20 people, so you definitely need to book this experience in advance. It costs 28 euros per person for a 1.5-hour session where you have access to the sauna, a cold dip area in the river, showers, and outdoor lounge areas. Even though there were other people, it didn’t feel crowded at all, and we found that it was an amazing value for the price! 

I highly recommend coming here and even more, doing this on your last night in Rovaniemi. It truly was the best way to end our trip before we headed back home the next morning. 

That concludes my guide for how to spend a week in Finnish Lapland – the ultimate winter itinerary. We had the most magical trip and I can seriously not recommend this destination more. Finnish Lapland has gained a lot of hype these past few years, and it 100% deserves it. While it is an expensive destination, it truly is a bucket-list trip everyone needs to experience once in their life! Thank you again to Access Lapland for hosting us on this trip. If you’re looking for a reliable and professional tour company in Lapland, then you should definitely check them out! 

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