The Magic of Finnish Lapland: Planning a Christmas Adventure They'll Never Forget
The true home of Father Christmas, snow-covered forests, reindeer-drawn sleighs and the kind of winter magic that feels almost too good to be real.
There is something rather special about bringing the magic of Christmas to life for children. I for one, am a huge fan of the festive season, and even more so now that I have two young children.
Over the years, I've had the pleasure of planning Lapland adventures for many wonderful families, and I never quite tire of the excitement that surrounds them. The anticipation, the whispered conversations about whether Santa really will know their names, the carefully chosen experiences and, of course, the hope of waking up to a landscape that looks as though it has been lifted straight from a Christmas story. Finnish Lapland is about as close as you can get to stepping inside that story.
The landscape becomes increasingly wild and wonderfully quiet with the snow-covered forests, frozen lakes and reindeer roaming through the Arctic wilderness. In winter, the days become incredibly short with very little daylight but the landscape is beautifully illuminated by a soft blue twilight and, if you're lucky, the Northern Lights can appear overhead.
Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle, is officially recognised as the hometown of Santa Claus, with Santa Claus Village welcoming visitors throughout the year. While the idea of a Lapland holiday sounds wonderfully simple, ‘take the children to see Santa in the snow’ planning the right trip is anything but. I've found that two families can travel to Lapland at exactly the same time and have completely different experiences. This is because there is a surprising amount to consider: where you stay, how remote you want to be, how you experience the activities, how old your children are, how much time you have and, perhaps most importantly, how much you're comfortable investing.
Here are the things I think are worth considering:
Start with your investment.
Lapland is an expensive holiday, but one that will leave lasting memories for decades to come. You ar travelling to a remote Arctic destination during one of the most sought-after periods of the year, with specialist accommodation, winter activities, guides, equipment and logistics all forming part of the experience. For a family of three or four, I'd suggest thinking in the region of £7,000–£8,000 as a starting point for a three-night Lapland experience, with the final cost potentially rising considerably from there depending on your dates, accommodation, flights, transfers, activities and whether you opt for private experiences. There really is no single "cost of a Lapland holiday".
You can create a relatively simple three-night experience centred around the essentials, or you can build something considerably more immersive, perhaps a beautiful wilderness lodge, igloos, private guides, bespoke experiences, additional nights and a carefully designed itinerary. This is why I always recommend deciding what you're comfortable spending before we start the process of planning. Knowing your parameters at the outset allows me to refine the research properly and focus on what will give your family the best experience for the investment.
How immersed in the wilderness do you want to be?
One of the biggest decisions when planning a Lapland holiday is where you actually want to stay, this can make a surprisingly significant difference to the feel of the trip. For many families, Rovaniemi is the obvious starting point. It is the official hometown of Santa Claus and home to Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle. Staying in or close to Rovaniemi makes it easy to combine the major Santa experiences with other winter activities, restaurants and the wider facilities of a town. For a first Lapland trip, particularly with younger children, that convenience can be incredibly appealing however the feeling of being immersed in the wilderness is less apparent.
Or do you go deeper into the wilderness? For other families, the dream is something much more remote with a beautifully designed cabin surrounded by forest, a wilderness lodge beside a frozen lake, very few other people and the feeling that you've travelled properly into the Arctic. The further you move away from the main centres, the more the experience can become about the landscape itself, the silence, the snow, the darkness and the extraordinary sense of space. Do you want convenience, easy access to Santa and plenty happening around you? Or do you want escapism, wilderness and the feeling of being completely immersed in the Arctic landscape? This is one of the first things I consider when researching a trip.
Private or shared experiences?
Another decision that can have a considerable impact on the experience is whether your activities are private or shared with other families. There are wonderful group experiences available in Lapland, and they can be a great way to keep the overall cost under control. During the busiest periods, the difference between a private and group experience can become particularly noticeable.
How old are your children?
This is perhaps the question I find myself thinking about most when planning a Lapland trip. There is no universally perfect age to take children to Lapland but there can be a perfect age for your children. For many families, the magic lies in taking them while they are still young enough to completely believe in Father Christmas but old enough to remember the experience, and be comfortable in the colder climates even when appropriately dressed in winter clothing. A four-year-old may be completely enchanted by the elves, the reindeer and meeting Santa, but find a long husky safari or several hours outside in the Arctic cold tiring. Older children can appreciate the wilderness, Northern Lights, husky rides and snowmobiling in a very different way. This balance is different for every child, I am currently debating whether Christmas 27/28 or 28/29 will be the sweet spot year for my two!
When is the best time to visit Lapland?
If your priority is the full Christmas experience, December is the obvious choice. The atmosphere around Christmas is extraordinary, the darkness, snow and Christmas lights create an atmosphere that feels almost otherworldly. One of my clients had a wonderful idea and took her children after Christmas, to deliver thank you letters to Father Christmas in person, so you don’t necessarily need to go before the big day. December isn't the only time to experience Finnish Lapland, January and February can offer excellent snowy conditions and a deeper winter atmosphere, while March brings considerably more daylight while retaining the snow-covered landscape. If the Northern Lights are high on your wish list, they can be seen in Finnish Lapland from late August through early April, with particularly strong statistical activity around the equinox periods. So again, it comes down to priorities.
Christmas magic? December.
Deep winter and snow? January and February.
More daylight and still plenty of snow? Late February and March can be wonderful.
Northern Lights? There is a much broader season to consider.
So, what does the perfect Lapland trip look like? The answer is different for every family. For some, it might be three magical nights close to Rovaniemi, with Santa, reindeer, huskies and just enough adventure before heading home. For another family, it might be five or six nights deep in the wilderness, staying somewhere beautiful and secluded, with private guides and time to experience the landscape at a slower pace.
Questions to ask yourself prior to planning
What will excite my children?
What will they remember?
How much am I comfortable investing?
How much adventure do I want?
How much luxury do I want?
How important is privacy?
Thinking about a Lapland adventure?
If you're considering Finnish Lapland for Christmas 2027, I'd recommend starting the conversation early. The most sought-after accommodation, private experiences and peak festive dates can be limited, particularly for families looking for specific room configurations or a more exclusive experience.
I'll refine the research, explain the options and pre-handle the details, so you can concentrate on the magic.
Emily Grace Travel