Things to do in Finland
The clear, inland air of Finnish Lapland makes it one of the best places in the world to witness nature's most awesome light display.![]()
Northern Lights
'Aurora alarms', remote lakeside huts and monitoring software all increase your chances of seeing the lights. You can toast marshmallows and hear aurora myths from local guides as you wait by the fire long into the Arctic night for the colours to creep across the sky. It's no wonder the Northern Lights are top of the bucket list for many.
Our Finland Holidays
Finland Northern Lights holiday, Wilderness Auroras
Winter activities & Aurora hunting in the Finnish wilderness
From
£1395 to £1575
5 days
inc UK flights
Cross-country skiing holiday in Finland, Russian border
Guided hut-to-hut cross-country skiing holiday in Finland
From
€1030
7 days
ex flights
Northern lights family holiday, tailor made
A mix of Lapland family activities and a relaxing Spa hotel
From
£1065 to £1225
4 days
inc UK flights
Log cabin holiday in Finland, with activities
Experience cosy log cabins and exciting activities
From
£1025 to £1215
4 days
inc UK flights
Finnish Lapland activity holiday with log cabin
A log cabin wilderness experience, Luosto, Finnish Lapland
From
£1675 to £2380
8 days
inc UK flights
Husky safari in Finland
Sled with huskies through spectacular Finnish scenery
From
£2155 to £2295
8 days
inc UK flights
Finland winter activity holiday & Northern Lights
Discover this Finnish winter activity wilderness week
From
£1499 to £2199
8 days
inc UK flights
Winter cottage holiday in Finnish Lapland
Log fires, lakeside trails & a range of winter activities
From
£1845 to £1995
8 days
inc UK flights
Lapland holiday, husky safari & log cottage
Luxurious log suite,northern lights & overnight husky safari
From
€1923
5 days
ex flights
Northern Lights activity break in Finland, Arctic Hills
Experience the wilderness by car, snowmobile, skies, huskies
From
€1349
4 days
ex flights
Finland snowshoeing holiday
Explore this stunning setting of Oulanka National Park
From
£1349 to £1749
8 days
inc UK flights
Self drive family holiday in Finland
A self-drive holiday in Finland for families
From
€545 to €900
9 days
ex flights
Fat biking holiday in Finland
Delve deep into Europe's last great wilderness
From
£1699 to £1749
8 days
inc UK flights
Snowshoeing holiday in Finland
A snowshoeing adventure in the Finnish wilderness
From
£1399 to £1849
8 days
inc UK flights
Watch brown bears in Finland
Observe the rare European Brown Bear
From
£975 to £1099
4 days
inc UK flights
Snowshoeing holiday in Finland
A great snowshoe tour in the new Hossa National Park.
From
€940
7 days
ex flights
Luxury wilderness Northern Lights holiday, Finland
Nangu Northern Lights Activity Holiday
From
£1795 to £2095
5 days
inc UK flights
Northern Lights holiday in Finnish Lapland, Harriniva
Hunt for the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland
From
£1745 to £1845
8 days
inc UK flights
Northern Lights short break in Nellim, Finland
Short Northern Lights break in Finland.
From
£1095 to £1395
4 days
inc UK flights
Northern Lights short break, Finnish Lapland
Unique aurora tour with huskys, snowshoeing and snowmobiling
From
€1204
3 days
ex flights
Family winter activity holiday in Finland
A combination of activities, cottages & snowy landscapes
From
£1845 to £1995
8 days
inc UK flights
Winter adventure in Finland
Experiences which stay with you
From
£1995 to £2225
8 days
inc UK flights
Scandinavia small group tour
Soak up a little Scandinavian minimalism
From
£4635 to £5010
21 days
ex flights
Wild Taiga wildlife holiday in Finland
Special Taiga mammals of Finland
From
€1475
8 days
ex flights
Christmas in Finland, log cabin stay
Family friendly activity holiday with Santa Claus visit
From
€989 to €1035
5 days
ex flights
Lapland New Year holiday, Northern Lights
New Year celebrations, Tromsø & the Northern Lights Route
From
£1895
5 days
inc UK flights
Lapland husky safari short break, Norway
Combine wilderness and log cabins with this dog sledding adventure
From
£2055 to £2375
5 days
inc UK flights
Northern lights short break, Finland
Leisurely stay in Finnish Lapland & an Aurora alert system
From
£1345 to £1795
5 days
inc UK flights
Winter holiday in Finnish Lapland, tailor made
Combine unbeatable comfort with winter adventure
From
£785 to £975
3 days
inc UK flights
Winter tailor-made holiday in Finland
Adventure in Finnish Lapland, huskies, northern lights & more
From
£895 to £1045
4 days
inc UK flights
Husky safari
The Arctic winter is magical – and how better to experience it than on a husky-pulled sleigh, gliding through the Christmas card scenery with only the padding of paws and the swishing of the sled runners to break the snowy silence. Husky sledding tours can cover anything from a couple of kilometres to a couple of hundred, travelled over a week. This is when you really immerse yourself in local life – you'll harness your own team of four or six dogs, prepare their food, settle them for the night – and you might even be allowed to snuggle one in your cabin! You'll wake in the morning to their excited barks – huskies love their jobs and are always eager to get out on the trail. Be careful; emotional goodbyes are guaranteed.
Moose, arctic foxes, lynx, wolves and even brown bears still roam the Finnish forests. And did you know that wolverines exist?!![]()
Arctic wildlife
You don’t have to leave Europe to find yourself in a wildlife filled wilderness. Some creatures can be seen as you travel with cross-country skis or huskies; others, such as wolverines and bears, require specialist guides. But don’t worry – you’ll be in a hide for the bear watching!
Our top Finland Holiday
Finland Northern Lights holiday, Wilderness Auroras
Winter activities & Aurora hunting in the Finnish wilderness
From
£1395 to £1575
5 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 15 Dec
2020: 5 Jan, 12 Jan, 19 Jan, 29 Jan, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 1 Mar, 15 Mar, 29 Mar
2019: 15 Dec
2020: 5 Jan, 12 Jan, 19 Jan, 29 Jan, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 1 Mar, 15 Mar, 29 Mar
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Finland or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Sauna
Finns are fanatical about the sauna; there are 1.6 million saunas for a population of 5 million. Electrical stoves are often used to heat the stones, but more traditional varieties heat them with wood stoves, filling the sauna with smoke over a long period. The smoke is then released through a chimney before the sauna is used – connoisseurs claim this to be the best experience, and we highly recommend you try this if you get the chance.
Aki Käräjäoja, of our supplier Routa Travel, explains one of his favourite things to do in Finland: “Sauna is really important in our culture. Some tourists think it’s weird, especially when it’s -20, -30 outside. You can roll in the snow afterwards, or – if you’re on a lake – make a hole in the ice for a small refreshing swim! But there is no one way to do this – if you just want to sprinkle cold water on yourself then that’s already enough. Sauna is a place where everyone is equal and you lose your titles. It is said that it washes both your body and your soul, and I really believe this.”
Aki Käräjäoja, of our supplier Routa Travel, explains one of his favourite things to do in Finland: “Sauna is really important in our culture. Some tourists think it’s weird, especially when it’s -20, -30 outside. You can roll in the snow afterwards, or – if you’re on a lake – make a hole in the ice for a small refreshing swim! But there is no one way to do this – if you just want to sprinkle cold water on yourself then that’s already enough. Sauna is a place where everyone is equal and you lose your titles. It is said that it washes both your body and your soul, and I really believe this.”
More about Finland
The best time to visit Finland depends on what you wish to do as winter is ideal for dog sledding and winter sports whereas the arrival of spring in May sees the sun making a return prior to the long hot summer days.
Our Finland travel guide unwraps the home of Father Christmas - and reveals that there is so much more to this Arctic nation than reindeer, sledges and forest snowscapes.
Finland's highlights sparkle like fairly lights across Lapland's snowscapes, the thick Taiga forest and its thousands of lakes.
If you’re looking to put a bit of colour into the darker depths of winter there’s no better place to start than Finland and if you’re also looking for more info on the best time to go then read as you keep watching the skies.
The Wild Taiga in winter is about as close to Narnia as you can get without wandering into a wardrobe.
There’s no more exhilarating and rewarding way to discover the snowy Finnish wilderness than on a husky safari, with a team of dogs pulling you through pure white landscapes and across frozen lakes.
You don’t need to travel to Alaska to see gigantic brown bears; the Wild Taiga region of Finland is home to a population of these fascinating creatures and a supporting cast of other animals, too, from wolves and wolverine to elk and reindeer.
If you think that Lapland is just about snow and Santa then think again as summer holidays in Finland help to create a far more accessible and affordable outdoor experience.
If you’re heading to Lapland we implore you to find out more about the indigenous Sámi people who’ve made this northernmost region of Finland their ancestral home.
If you fancy fat biking in Finland, head to Oulanka National Park and get ready to make some serious tracks in the snow.
This winter wonderland, home to Father Christmas, friendly huskies and igloo-worthy snowfall, would be a dream destination for many children.
It's hard to go wrong when travelling in Finland, as the country is so beautifully set up for responsible travel.
Find all our Finland guides in one place, from Husky safaris to the Northern Lights and everything in between.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Tero Laakso] [Northern lights: Finnish Tourist Board]
[Husky safari: Visit Lakeland]
[Arctic wildlife: Gary Bembridge]
[Sauna: Hotel Arthur]
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