Lapland: Your ultimate guide

Lapland in Northern Finland is known as the birthplace of Santa Claus, making it a popular winter holiday destination over the festive period. Lapland also includes the Swedish version, which is a little less well-known but still offers a wide variety of activities. The Finnish Lapland is far more than its festive reputation, however, as it is one of the best places to see the natural phenomenon of the aurora borealis. Here, you can also ride reindeer or husky-led sledges, learn more about the indigenous Sámi and their culture or go skiing. You can also, of course, visit Santa’s Grotto and village, which is many people’s main reason for visiting Lapland!

The arguable best time to visit Lapland is October-April if you want the best chance of viewing the Northern Lights, but year-round, Lapland has an abundance of activities and things to do. Fortunately, you can get to Lapland pretty easily from the UK, as a large collection of airports offers direct flights to various cities and locations in Northern Finland. If you’re looking for the perfect pre or post-Christmas trip away, Lapland or anywhere in Northern Finland would be the ideal location.

Which UK airports offer direct flights to Lapland?

Several cities in the UK offer direct flights to various locations in Lapland, like Lapland’s capital Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Kemi. The UK airports that offer direct flights to Lapland include:

• Bristol Airport (direct flights to Rovaniemi and Kittilä)

• London Stansted (direct flights to Rovaniemi)

• London Gatwick (direct flights to Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Ivalo)

• Liverpool Airport (direct flights to Rovaniemi)

• Manchester Airport (direct flights to Rovaniemi and Kittilä)

• Edinburgh Airport (direct flights to Rovaniemi)

The main airlines that operate direct flights from the UK to Lapland are easyJet, TUI, British Airways and Ryanair, although the date and time of your flight may affect the airline you fly with.

How many airports are in Lapland?

There are around 5-6 airports in Lapland, located in Kemi, Kittilä, Rovaniemi, Inari and Kuusamo. Each of these airports offers international and domestic flights to several European cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris and London. Rovaniemi is considered to be the closest airport to Lapland, and the most convenient in terms of access. However, no matter where in Lapland you fly to, you can easily access most areas, cities and villages in Lapland, whether by train, car, bus or plane.

How long is the flight from London Gatwick Airport to Lapland?

Depending on where in Lapland you fly to, flights from Gatwick can take around 3-10 hours. The main locations in Lapland that you can access from Gatwick include Kemi, Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Kittilä. Flights from Gatwick to Rovaniemi take approximately 3-4 hours. To fly from Gatwick to Kittilä, the flight duration is around 3 ½ hours. Flights to Ivalo from Gatwick can take around 4 hours. Any connecting flights or stopovers can cause the duration to be around 9-10 hours.

How long is the flight from Bristol Airport to Lapland?

Currently, there are direct flights from Bristol Airport to Rovaniemi and Kittilä Airport that take around 3 ½ hours. You can reach other Lapland destinations from Bristol Airport via connecting flights which can take up to 10 hours.

How long is the flight from Manchester Airport to Lapland?

When flying from Manchester Airport, you can reach Kittilä, Ivalo and Rovaniemi in just under 4 hours when flying with certain airlines. Ensure you leave ample time before booking your flight to avoid sold-out flights or accommodation.

How long is the flight from London Stansted to Lapland?

Direct flights from Stansted to Rovaniemi take around 4 hours. You may be able to fly direct from Stansted to Kittilä with certain airlines, but double-check which airlines offer this before booking.

How long is the flight from Liverpool Airport to Lapland?

Liverpool John Lennon Airport offers direct flights to Rovaniemi in Lapland, with an average flight duration of around 3 hours 30 minutes.

How long is the flight from Edinburgh Airport to Lapland?

Edinburgh Airport offers direct flights to Rovaniemi Airport, with a duration of around 3.5 hours. You can also find connecting flights to other Lapland destinations from Edinburgh Airport.

Is Lapland Expensive?

It all depends on the activities you choose, where you stay and which part of Lapland you want to visit, as well as the time of year you go. Of course, winter in Lapland is the most popular time of year, so you may find that prices shoot up in the wintertime. You can do many activities in Lapland on a budget, however, or choose to do fewer expensive activities. Note that the currency of Finland is the Euro. Reindeer rides can cost around €170 (£140) per adult. Another way to cut costs is by visiting in quieter times of year, like the summer or spring season.

Activities like ice fishing, museum tours or skiing can significantly vary in cost, depending on a number of factors such as length of experience or stay. You can visit Santa’s Village, stroll through the national parks and see the aurora borealis for free, and you can visit a Sámi museum for an entry fee of around €15 per adult, with children under 6 allowed to access the museum for free.

Hotel prices in Lapland vary per night, depending on where you stay, how many nights you stay and the time of year you book! On average, you can expect a cheap hotel to have a price per night of around €150-€300, with the other end of the scale seeing nightly prices of €400-€600. Rovaniemi is cited as the cheapest place in Lapland to stay, so opting for a mid-range hotel in Rovaniemi instead of a 5-star ski resort or hotel in Lapland can help you significantly cut costs but certainly not comfort or quality.

When is the best time of year to visit Lapland?

Generally, any time of year you visit Lapland will be memorable, fulfilling and exciting, however, some times of year are more popular than others. September-April is usually popular in Lapland, as this is the best time to see the Northern Lights. Winter in Lapland is from November to April when snow is at its heaviest, and you’ll be able to partake in many wintertime activities like snowboarding, sledging, ice fishing and skiing.

Summer in Lapland has a different vibe, with warmer temperatures reaching around 25°C. In summer, popular activities include hiking, boat trips, visiting national parks and forests, sauna sessions and horse riding, among many others. No matter the time of year you choose to go to Lapland, you’ll find an abundance of fun activities to do. We’d recommend visiting in winter for a truly festive vibe and a wider array of activities, as well as a better chance of catching a glimpse of the aurora borealis and midnight sun!