Finland
Snow, saunas and the northern lights in winter; lakes and the midnight sun in summer. Two trips in one country.
- Best time to visit
- Dec–Mar snow, Jun–Aug lakes
- Getting around
- Domestic flights and night trains
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Ideal length
- 6–8 days
Lapland is the dream, but timing is everything
Most people come to Finland for one thing: the northern lights over a snowy Lapland. There's a real chance from late August to early April, but the best trips give it three or four nights in the far north and fill the days with huskies, reindeer and saunas.
Summer is the other Finland, and it gets missed: lake cabins, berry forests and daylight that barely ends in June. Either way, a couple of nights in Helsinki, then the overnight train or a short flight north, makes the trip.
From Helsinki to the Arctic
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Design, saunas and the sea, with old Porvoo a short drive away. Direct flights from Delhi.
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Finland's lake district: summer cabins, saunas by the water and the rare Saimaa ringed seal.
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Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, husky farms and reindeer, an hour and a half by air from Helsinki.
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Lapland's liveliest ski resort, with glass igloos and good odds for the aurora.
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Far north, dark skies and Sámi culture: the best place to wait for the northern lights.
Things worth actually doing
Tap the ones you would like on your trip.
Good to know before you go
Apply for the Schengen visa early
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa. Apply up to six months ahead; winter dates fill fast.
Dress for −20°C
Normal for Lapland winters. Most lodges lend thermal overalls and boots.
The aurora isn't guaranteed
Plan three or four nights up north and stay flexible. Cloud matters more than the forecast.
Book December early
Christmas weeks in Rovaniemi sell out up to a year ahead.
