A Guide To A Magical Christmas Break In Finnish Lapland

Instead of using the “betwixmas” period (the time between Christmas day and New Year’s Day) to nurse hangovers, watch Christmas films, and hit Boxing Day sales, more and more families escape to the far north for the ultimate Christmas break. Late December is an ideal time for this type of holiday, as people are free from the stresses of planning Christmas and can enjoy Lapland at its peak time of year.

Treat yourself to an extra-special Christmas this year and book yourself onto Culture Trip’s expertly curated five-day adventure in Finnish Lapland.

Getting there

Travelling so far up north and being greeted by ice and wilderness may seem like a big hurdle, but it isn’t all that complicated. Even for a location so remote and widespread, Lapland is still well connected. Many holiday package deals include airport and road transfers in their cost. Most will need to fly to Helsinki’s Vantaa Airport and arrange a connecting flight to the airport nearest to where they will be staying—probably Rovaniemi, Kittilä, or Ivalo.

As there are many different types of accommodations available throughout Lapland, the next decision is which of the unique villas, hotels, and cabins to stay in. There is the Snow Village, which is re-constructed entirely from snow every year, the Aurora Kota with its glass pyramid-shaped roofs for aurora viewing, or the rustic cabins of Harrinivia Wilderness Hotel to name just a few. Or book a combination for a few days at a time and travel around Lapland. Either way, be sure to book in plenty of time, as these accommodations are very popular and fill up quickly.

You can choose to stay in a luxury cabin in the woods of Akaslompolo, Lapland

What to do

The best thing about Lapland during winter is there is an almost endless number of things to see and do to satisfy everyone in the family—and not everything is Christmas-related.

There are rare chances to watch the Northern Lights, ride a snowmobile, learn traditional Finnish cooking, or just take in the unique winter landscapes while children can enjoy visiting husky and reindeer farms and going on sledge rides. Sports enthusiasts are in their element with opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, tobogganing, and skiing that can’t be found anywhere else. Taking a swim in an ice-covered lake is a particularly exhilarating thrill for those brave enough to try it. For learning about local culture, there are places to visit the indigenous Sami people, particularly at the Siida Museum in Inari. And of course, no trip to Lapland is complete without a visit to Santa Claus.

Lapland is a great place for cross country skiing

Where to eat

Even at the top of the world, there are still plenty of places to eat including fine dining restaurants. The Arctic Snow Hotel in Rovaniemi contains a particularly unique ice restaurant where the walls, furniture, and even the plates and glasses are made from ice.

Not all Lapland dining has to be fancy, however. Rustic cooking with fresh local ingredients that warm the body and soul is much more common in the region. Nothing can beat the experience of cooking a meal over a campfire and enjoying it under the winter sky in a beautiful landscape while trading stories.

Dining at the Arctic Snow Hotel is a once in a lifetime experience

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.