Finland & Lapland
Finland is the country where the Northern Lights dance across the sky, where you sleep in a glass igloo watching the aurora from your bed, where children visit Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle, and where the sauna is not a luxury but a way of life. It is also one of the happiest countries in the world, and once you experience the combination of pristine nature, thoughtful design, and quiet Finnish warmth, you begin to understand why.
The country splits into two very different travel experiences. Helsinki in the south is a cool, compact capital with world class design, architecture, and food. Lapland in the north is the Arctic wilderness, where husky teams pull sleds through snow covered forests, reindeer roam freely, and the silence of the winter landscape is broken only by the crunch of your boots and the occasional snap of a frozen tree.
Where to Go
Helsinki is worth two to three days. The city’s design heritage shows up in everything from the architecture of Alvar Aalto to the cafes and shops of the Design District. Suomenlinna, an 18th century sea fortress spread across six islands in the harbor, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular day trip destinations in Finland. The Oodi Central Library, a masterpiece of modern Finnish architecture, is as much a cultural center as a library. And the sauna tradition is taken seriously: Loyly, a public sauna on the waterfront, combines modern architecture with traditional steam bathing and ice plunges.
Rovaniemi in Lapland is the official hometown of Santa Claus. Santa Claus Village, right on the Arctic Circle, is where families come to meet Santa, send postcards from the Arctic Circle Post Office, and experience the magic of the north. Beyond Santa, Rovaniemi is a base for husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobile excursions, and Northern Lights chasing.
The glass igloo experience, pioneered at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselka, is one of the most unique accommodations in the world. Lying in a warm, transparent dome as the Northern Lights shimmer overhead is an experience that redefines what a hotel room can be.
Levi and Saariselka are Lapland’s main ski and activity resorts, offering downhill skiing, cross country trails, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and aurora tours. In summer, the same regions offer midnight sun hiking, river fishing, and berry picking in forests that stretch to the horizon.
Where to Stay
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort has the original glass igloos as well as log chalets. Arctic TreeHouse Hotel near Rovaniemi offers design forward Arctic suites cantilevered among the birch trees. Hotel St. George in Helsinki is a refined, art filled property in the city center. For something unique, the SnowHotel in Lainio lets you sleep in a room sculpted entirely from snow and ice.
Let Us Plan Your Finland Trip
Finland, and especially Lapland, requires advance planning. Glass igloos book six to twelve months ahead for peak Northern Lights season. Activity schedules, domestic flights to Lapland, and Arctic clothing logistics all benefit from expert coordination. We will build a trip that captures the aurora, the adventure, and the magic of this extraordinary country.
