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
£1445 to £1495
5 days
inc UK flights
Northern lights family holiday, tailor made
A mix of Lapland family activities and a relaxing Spa hotel
From
£1155 to £1365
4 days
inc UK flights
Log cabin holiday in Finland, with activities
Experience cosy log cabins and exciting activities
From
£1115 to £1345
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
Finnish Lapland activity holiday with log cabin
A log cabin wilderness experience, Luosto, Finnish Lapland
From
£1675 to £2380
8 days
inc UK flights
Finland winter activity holiday & Northern Lights
Discover this Finnish winter activity wilderness week
From
£1749 to £2249
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
Lapland holiday, husky safari & log cottage
Luxurious log suite,northern lights & overnight husky safari
From
€1923
5 days
ex 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
Finland hiking holiday
A hut-to-hut hiking journey along Finland's eastern border
From
€1020
8 days
ex flights
Lapland New Year holiday, Northern Lights
New Year celebrations, Tromsø & the Northern Lights Route
From
£2030
5 days
inc UK flights
Snowshoeing holiday in Finland
A snowshoeing adventure in the Finnish wilderness
From
£1699
8 days
inc UK 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
€932 to €1066
5 days
ex flights
Northern Lights Autumn holiday in Finland
Autumn Northern Lights quest in Finland
From
£1055
4 days
inc UK flights
Finland snowshoeing holiday
Explore this stunning setting of Oulanka National Park
From
£1599 to £1749
8 days
inc UK flights
Snowshoeing holiday in Finland
A great snowshoe tour in the new Hossa National Park.
From
€940
7 days
ex flights
Northern Lights short break, Finnish Lapland
Unique aurora tour with huskys, snowshoeing and snowmobiling
From
€1204
3 days
ex flights
Northern Lights short break in Nellim, Finland
Short Northern Lights break in Finland.
From
£1095
4 days
inc UK flights
Northern Lights activity break in Finland, Arctic Hills
Experience the wilderness by car, snowmobile, skies, huskies
From
€1349
4 days
ex flights
Cross-country skiing holiday in Finland
Fun, relaxing cross-country skiing for beginners and pros.
From
€1150
8 days
ex flights
Watch brown bears in Finland
Observe the rare European Brown Bear
From
£1001 to £1182
4 days
inc UK flights
Scandinavia small group tour
Soak up a little Scandinavian minimalism
From
£4635 to £5300
21 days
ex flights
Winter holiday in Finnish Lapland, tailor made
Combine unbeatable comfort with winter adventure
From
£785 to £975
3 days
inc UK flights
Fat biking holiday in Finland
Delve deep into Europe's last great wilderness
From
£1699 to £1949
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
Winter tailor-made holiday in Finland
Adventure in Finnish Lapland, huskies, northern lights & more
From
£895 to £1045
4 days
inc UK flights
Northern Lights holiday in Finnish Lapland, Harriniva
Hunt for the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland
From
£1775 to £1995
8 days
inc UK flights
Luxury wilderness Northern Lights holiday, Finland
Nangu Northern Lights Activity Holiday
From
£1815 to £1865
5 days
inc UK flights
Family winter activity holiday in Finland
A combination of activities, cottages & snowy landscapes
From
£1845 to £1895
8 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
£1445 to £1495
5 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2020: 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar
2020: 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 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 lets you into long and light summer days, for trekking and kayaking, as well as Northern Lights watching, snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the snow covered, darker months of winter.
Click on our interactive Finland map and highlights to discover some of the best places to visit in both summer and winter, whether you're seeking wolverines, wild bears, snowshoeing, Santa or Sami hospitality.
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.
From snow shoeing and cross country skiing to husky safaris, Northern Lights and warming fires, Finland in the winter abounds with things to do so slip on your woolly socks, grab a glass of Glögi and read on for more info.
There’s no more exhilarating and rewarding way to discover the snowy Finnish wilderness other than on a husky safari, with a team of dogs pulling you through pure white landscapes and across vast frozen lakes.
You don’t need to travel to Alaska to see brown bears; the Wild Taiga region of Finland is home to 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. including self-drive tours and hiking holidays.
Although traditionally semi nomadic reindeer herders, the Sámi are adapting to a changing world with responsible tourism playing a role in keeping alive the languages, music and folklore tales from around the Arctic Circle.
If you fancy fat biking in Oulanka National Park, these mountain bikes with big chunky tyres are a great way to enjoy some Arctic exercise and have fun as part of a small guided group without damaging the environment.
The first eSleds have made their debut in Finland, and in the responsible travel stakes, electric beats traditional snowmobiles hands-down, but how can you make sure your snowmobile safari is good for Finnish Lapland?
Travelling in Finland with kids is a wonderful experience for families of any age, with snowshoeing and canoeing on the cards for older children, and snowmen, sledging and reindeer-nuzzling delights for younger ones.
Our specialist holiday companies and travellers have shared their Finland travel advice on everything from cross country skiing and the best time to see wildlife, to packing for the cold and eating locally sourced food.
It's hard to go wrong when travelling in this nature loving nation but there are a few things to be aware of including hunting, Sami rights and huskies vs snowmobiles; read our thoughts on responsible tourism in Finland.
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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