1. See the Northern Lights
Location: Lapland, Above the Arctic Circle
Imagine standing beneath bands of dancing green lights (sometimes tinged with purple and red) swirling in the sky. The northern lights, also called aurora lights, are a predominantly green, natural light display in the sky. It is most frequently seen in high-latitude regions near the Arctic Circle, and a magical phenomenon that will leave you breathless.
MY EXPERIENCE: Witnessing the northern lights in the arctic circle was high on my bucket list, and I was overjoyed when I finally saw it in real life! Seeing them, even within the Arctic Circle, is not always guaranteed as it depends heavily on solar activity and weather conditions; however, during the 12 days we were in Lapland, we saw the northern lights 3 times. All three times were varying degrees of brightness, ranging from what looked like wispy gray clouds to bright green ribbons.
2. Visit a Sami Reindeer Farm
Location: Kujalan Porotila Reindeer Farm, Kuusamo, Finland
Did you know there are more reindeer than people in the Finnish Lapland? Reindeer herding is an important tradition in Finland, and you can visit a farm to see the reindeer up close. Not only will you learn about the Sami traditions, you can feed the reindeer, go on a sleigh ride, and (cautiously) pet them.
MY EXPERIENCE: We visited one of the oldest and biggest farms in the Ruka-Kuusamo area, Kujalan Porotila Reindeer Farm. The tour we opted for was the “World of Reindeer Safari,” which included feeding and sleigh rides. We even got the opportunity to walk a couple of reindeers to the next activity location. They’re such gentle animals, and if you’re an animal lover like me, I would definitely recommend visiting a Sami Reindeer Farm.
3. Stay in an Unique Accommodation
Location: Lake Inari Mobile Cabins, Inari, Finland
If you’ve ever wondered where those magical glass igloos surrounded by snowy trees under the aurora lights are, seek no further, you can find them in Lapland. You may have seen them gain popularity in recent years, but for good reason – it’s a great way to catch a glimpse of the aurora lights without ever having to leave your bed!
MY EXPERIENCE: We stayed in a mobile glass cabin for one night in Inari. What’s special about this experience compared to others is that our small mobile cabin was towed out to the lake ice by a snowmobile (while we were IN the cabin) to stay on the frozen lake overnight, and then towed back to basecamp in the morning. They also offer a traditional dinner in a Kota, free sauna, an abundance of activities (at a cost), and a main basecamp building with a shared lounge space. It was a very unique stay, and one of our favorite experiences in Finland!
4. Visit a National Park
Location: Riisitunturi National Park, Posio, Finland
Finland has 41 National Parks, some of which are accessible during the winter for winter activities. One of these special national parks is Riisitunturi National Park. Riisitunturi National Park is a hidden gem known for its crown snow trees, also known as tykkylumi trees. Tykkylumi trees are trees where the crown is overloaded with snow and ice, a winter phenomenon that looks something out of a Dr. Seuss book.
MY EXPERIENCE: When we visited in January 2025, it was an unusually warm year, so we did not get to see too much of what we came for (tykkylumi trees); however, the landscape was stunning regardless, and well worth the visit because the scenery was absolutely beautiful! I would love to revisit one day to experience this magical winter wonderland again.
5. Relax in a Traditional Finnish Sauna and Cold Water Plunge
Location: WNTR Sauna & Ice Swim, Rovaniemi, Finland
Relaxing in a sauna is a deep-rooted tradition in Finnish culture. In a country of 5.5 million people, there are 3.3 million saunas. That’s more than 1 sauna for every 2 people. Chances are, every Finnish local you meet will have a sauna in their house. Even apartments have them! To get the most out of the sauna custom, it is popular to immediately roll around in fresh snow or do a “cold plunge” after a sauna session. It’s a fun experience with added health benefits like improved blood circulation and stress reduction.
MY EXPERIENCE: We booked a 1.5 hour time slot for a traditional sauna and ice swim experience at WNTR Sauna & Ice Swim in Rovaniemi. It is a public sauna, shared with others, but you can also book private sessions. It was such a fun experience to relax in the sauna, step outside to cold plunge into the Kemijoki river, and warm up by the fire in the outdoor teepee tent. The sauna and cold plunge felt so good, I repeated it three times, and would have done more if I didn’t run out of time. They also provided free slippers and snacks for sale.
6. Throw Boiling Water in the Air
Location: Open areas below -14 degrees fahrenheit
Throwing boiling water into sub-zero temperatures is a neat winter experiment where the water changes from liquid to gas, then freezes before hitting the ground. However, it can only be done when the conditions are right. The prerequisites are that 1. It has to be cold enough outside, specifically -14 degrees fahrenheit or below, 2. You have to use boiling water, 3. You have to use caution and make sure it doesn’t fall on top of you.
MY EXPERIENCE: A couple of days during our two week visit to Lapland, the temperature dropped to -18 degrees fahrenheit (-27 C), so we took that opportunity to try this experiment. We boiled water in a kettle, poured it in a cup and immediately brought it outside to throw overhead. It was an intriguing science experiment that lasted all but a minute, but it was really cool to see in action.
7. Go Husky Dog Sledding
Location: Lapland Safaris, Saariselkä, Finland
Calling all dog lovers! Husky dog sledding is a popular tourist activity where hyper energetic husky dogs take you on a fun ride through the arctic forest. Depending on the tour you choose, you can go on a dog sled ride, meet and take photos with the dogs, and enjoy hot refreshments.
MY EXPERIENCE: We went on a 5KM Husky Experience tour (2.5 hours) with Lapland Safaris in Saariselkä. They provided arctic suits and gloves to protect us from the cold, and took us on a bus to the husky farm. After a quick rundown on how to use the sleds, we were assigned a sled. The dogs were very energetic and excited, constantly barking and signaling to us that they were ready to go. Lin was the driver of the sled while I was the rider, and about halfway through, they allowed us to switch so we were able to experience both ways. After the ride, we had a chance to greet and meet the dogs, and warmed up by the fire with hot berry juice in a kota. We had such a fun time! Pro-tip: If possible, I recommend bringing clear goggles or something to protect your eye region from the extreme cold, especially if it is snowing or sub-zero degrees.
8. Visit Santa Claus Village
Location: Santa Claus Village, Saariselkä, Finland
If you’re a Christmas fanatic or have children, visit the Santa Claus Village. It is a great place to get a dose of Christmas magic despite whatever time of year it is. Let me tell you, I love the Christmas season and everything that comes with it, and the Santa Claus Village did not fall short. The village has souvenir shops, restaurants, the official Santa Claus Main Post Office, a place to see Santa Claus himself, and other activities. A few hours is enough to see the main attractions, like visiting Santa and the post office, and half a day at most, if you want to take your time.
MY EXPERIENCE: We started our visit by mailing postcards to our friends and family from Santa Claus’ Main Post Office. We chose from an abundance of different postcard designs and sent mail via two mailboxes: one to mail it right away and the second to mail it later in the year during Christmas time. After roaming around festive souvenir shops and purchasing a couple of Christmas ornaments, we headed to Santa’s Pet’s to feed reindeer and visit other animals such as goats, alpacas, ponies, etc. The village is such a cute cheerful place to visit with a plethora of photo opportunities. I loved our time here, and highly recommend a visit, especially if you have little ones!
9. Go Tobogganing (aka Sledding)
Location: Kaunispää fell, Saariselkä, Finland
Borrow a toboggan (aka a sled) and ride down Finland’s longest toboggan hill in Saariselkä. The toboggan ride begins on the summit of the Kaunispää fell and the ride is 1.1 miles or 1.8 km long with varying steepness. You can purchase a Toboggan ticket for multiple rides which includes a 2 hour chairlift to the top of the hill, sled, and helmet for 45 euros (as of 2025), OR bring your own sled and climb up the hill yourself (although it will be a 45 minute uphill hike), OR bring your own sled and take the local bus back to the top of the hill (this is what we did).
MY EXPERIENCE: The slope varies in steepness and sometimes can go very fast. There are some sharp turns but you can see it coming ahead of you and it’s fairly easy to stop or slow down. The ride itself is fairly quick, about 5 minutes long, but the short thrill of speed is very worth the rush of adrenaline. Our AirBnB host kindly let us borrow her sleds, and at her recommendation, we parked at the top of Kaunispää fell, sled down the hill, and took the 6 euro local bus back to Kaunispää fell. Pro-tip: Take a break at the restaurant at the bottom of the slope and enjoy a hot cup of hot chocolate to warm up before another run!
10. Go Snowboarding at Ruka Ski Resort Polar Night Light Festival
Location: Ruka Ski Resort, Kuusamo, Finland
Ruka Resort Polar Night Light Festival is a ski event that takes place for a couple weeks in January of every year. Stunning light displays illuminate the ski slopes, creating a magical atmosphere while you ski or snowboard down the slopes.
MY EXPERIENCE: After avoiding a morning storm, we picked up our rental snowboards (which was a very smooth and easy experience) early in the afternoon. We snowboarded mostly on the north side of the resort where we took a break at the fire pits to warm up before hitting the slopes again. When dusk fell, trees lit up in various colors and the snow glowed in different light patterns. It was beautiful. Since we were there only half the day, we didn’t get to explore all of the slopes, but I would love to come back again to explore the remaining tracks and run through some fresh powder again!
