Finland Winter Family Vacation: Lapland, Rovaniemi, Porvoo & Beyond

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of a Finland winter family vacation. I have visions of dog sledding safaris, finding the magical Northern Lights, ice fishing, and seeing Santa Claus Village. Thanks to Anne-Marie Tucker, I want to travel to Finland now more than ever.

She took the ultimate winter trip to Finland with kids, and now I know I need to make this happen. Take a journey through Lapland, Rovaniemi, Porvoo, and other Finnish destinations as she shares her tips for planning a winter road trip in Finland.

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Is Finland in Winter a Good Choice With Kids?

Yes, Finland in winter is an exceptional destination with kids. Our family loved everything from meeting Santa Claus in Rovaniemi to tubing and husky rides in Lapland. The infrastructure is family-friendly, English is widely spoken, and the variety of unique cold-weather adventures, like spa days and indoor play parks, kept our kids excited every day. We found Finland to be not only magical but practical for families, no matter the kids’ ages.

How to Plan a Finland Winter Family Vacation

Finland is a relatively small country, only 689 miles long from Helsinki to its northern border, so when we decided on several places to visit in Finland, we thought we’d get a better experience of the country if we visited by car. That decision turned out to be one of the best we made; driving gives you a real sense of just how stunning and varied this country is, even when the landscape is blanketed in snow for miles at a stretch.

How to Rent a Car in Finland

Renting a car in Finland is pretty easy for foreigners with a valid driver’s license. In the winter, car companies automatically include snow tires, which is a genuine relief when you’re staring down an icy highway. Four-wheel drive is available from some companies, but these vehicles book quickly, so if that matters to you, reserve early.

We rented a large van with front-wheel drive and only had one minor mishap due to weather conditions. Experience with winter driving is genuinely recommended, and there is a good chance you will encounter snowy landscapes along the way. This is not the time to learn how to brake on ice with a van full of kids.

All major highways are well maintained, but conditions on smaller roads can change quickly. They are often coated with compacted snow, which makes braking challenging and requires you to drive more slowly than usual. Budget extra time between stops and resist the temptation to rush.

Things to Consider When Planning a Winter Road Trip in Finland

Language

In Finland, all children begin learning English in elementary school. Consequently, English is widely spoken throughout the country, which is enormously reassuring when you are navigating unfamiliar roads with tired, hungry kids in the back seat.

During our trip, we had only two encounters in which the person assisting us didn’t speak much English, and in both cases we were able to fumble through the interaction well enough. Most restaurants in Finland offer English menus, if needed.

How to Decide Where to Go in Finland

We flew from the US into Helsinki. After a short visit in Helsinki, we took a flight to Rovaniemi, where we began our road trip. Before our trip, I used Google Maps to figure out what to do in Finland. I saved sights around and en route to the places we were going to visit, which kept our planning organized without being rigid.

We used the Google Maps app for navigating through the country and only got off track once, mostly because we weren’t paying attention to the navigation and missed a turn.

Mobile coverage was good in most of the areas we visited. The one downside to using turn-by-turn directions is that it often considers the shortest route and not road conditions. When planning your time in Finland, be sure to review your route before heading out and cross-reference with current weather conditions.

Is it difficult to drive in Finland?

Finland is not very populated, which means things like towns, restaurants, and gas stations can be spread fairly far apart, and this caught us off guard more than once.

We planned our trip so that we wouldn’t be in the car for more than about 3-4 hours at a time. While I did a nice job of planning stopovers and excursions, I put less effort into planning for meals and ultimately regretted this.

Oftentimes we’d arrive at a location thinking food would be nearby only to find we’d have to drive another 20 miles or so to reach a town with an actual restaurant.

At some point in our trip, we discovered that ABC fuel stations, which are plentiful throughout Finland, all seemed to offer a small grocery, a fast food option, and a restaurant with counter-service, chef-prepared meals. This became our fallback more than once, and honestly, the food was better than you’d expect.

What time does it get dark in winter in Finland?

Another thing to consider is that the days in Finland are very short. We had daylight for about 6 hours, between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Since we spent the good daylight hours exploring, we were often driving in the dark.

We allowed our kids to use mobile devices, iPads, and Kindles while we were in the car to help combat the darkness and boredom. It worked well enough, but plan for this limitation when scheduling your daily activities.

Things to do in Helsinki

Parking in Helsinki

Parking in Market Square was easy thanks to the ParkMan app. This app is used throughout Finland and came in handy when parking in urban areas.

Rates are typically a few Euros per hour and billed monthly via the app. We were able to find plenty of parking easily using the app, which allows users to load a map of nearby parking areas. Download it before you arrive; it will save you a lot of stress.

Suomenlinna Ferry

Visiting Suomenlinna is one of the most popular activities in Helsinki, and for good reason. It involves a short ferry ride, 15 minutes each way, from the Helsinki city center to and from the island. Tickets can be purchased from a self-service kiosk in Market Square. Children under 7 ride for free, and discounted tickets are available for children between the ages of 7 and 16.

The trip gives you a unique vantage point of Helsinki from the water. We enjoyed spotting the winter swimmers at Allas Sea Pool, which is a spectacle in itself. Plan to spend an hour or more on the island wandering and taking in the views and architecture; there’s more to explore than you’d expect from a 15-minute ferry ride.

Outdoor Art and City Parks

We spent the remainder of our day in Helsinki visiting some of the city’s art installations. My kids enjoyed both Bad Bad Boy and the Sibelius Monument, two very different experiences that sparked different reactions from everyone.

We rounded out our day with a visit to a local playground and stumbled upon Topelius Park. Just the novelty of playing on snow-covered equipment is probably enough for most kids. Our family lived in Chicago for several years, so this was an experience my kids were pretty used to. The novelty for us came from the equipment itself. We all enjoyed discovering and deciding how to use the “octopus merry-go-round”, something none of us had ever seen before.

Traveling to Rovaniemi from Helsinki

By car, the trip from Helsinki to Rovaniemi could take about 10 hours. There’s also a Helsinki- Rovaniemi train; that trip takes approximately 8 hours and can be made as an overnight journey, which sounds romantic in theory. In the interest of time, we decided to fly.

The flight to Rovaniemi airport is about 1.5 hours, and tickets are fairly inexpensive. We paid around $85 USD per person, which included seat selection and one piece of checked baggage. For a family, that price point is hard to argue with.

Things to Do in Lapland

Snowman World and Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Santa Claus Village is the center of tourism in Rovaniemi and provides an awesome introduction to Finnish Lapland for kids of all ages. We decided to try the Lunch Experience in Snowman World, which gave us entrance to the Ice Restaurant and Ice Bar plus unlimited snow tubing and ice skating in the Winter Zone.

Lunch was a delicious, rich, and hearty salmon soup. My daughter has a gluten intolerance, and we were pleasantly surprised by how accommodating all of Finland was to her gluten-free diet. The lunch experience includes bread, and a gluten-free option was made available to her without any fuss.

The Winter Zone at Snowman World features two snow tubing runs, one gentle hill and another steeper hill for the more adventurous set. My 7-year-old was fine on the steeper run, but it took him a bit to work up the nerve to try it.

All equipment is provided, but most of the fun is self-service. The kids were responsible for pulling their own tubes up the hill, and we had to select the right skate sizes and put them on ourselves. The skating rink seems to be mostly natural and not resurfaced, so my kids grew tired of it fairly quickly, but happily spent hours on the snow tubing hills.

The staff at Snowman World is awesome and was more than happy to push the kids together in big snow-tube trains or send them spinning down the hills.

Visiting with Santa

Of course, no trip to Santa’s Village would be complete without a visit to see Santa Claus himself. This is unlike any other Santa experience your kids have ever had. Rovaniemi claims to be the official hometown of Santa Claus, and visiting him in his “office” is truly a magical experience. It’s free to enter.

The line to see Santa is reminiscent of a Disney queue and weaves in and out of an interesting toy-factory-like setting. We waited about 30 minutes.

Groups are allowed into Santa’s office one by one, including taking a photo. Santa interacted with my kids for about 3 minutes. They were completely delighted the entire time.

You cannot take any personal photos or videos during the interaction. After the visit, you’re offered the chance to purchase photos and videos, though this is completely optional. We declined and were given a card where we could preview and buy our photos from a website later.

Rami’s Huskies

From Rovaniemi, we traveled north to the town of Kittilä. Our specific destination was Pallas-Ylläs, one of Finland’s National Parks, where we booked a dogsled tour with Rami’s Huskies. Rami’s is the only tour operator allowed within the boundaries of the park, which makes the experience feel even more exclusive.

This ended up being the coldest day of our trip. Knowing the weather might not be ideal, we booked the shortest, 5km trip. Our group was given brief instructions for mushing the dogs. The entire group stopped midway through the trip to switch places, so everyone got a turn. Our children rode together in a large sled led by a guide. The round-trip ride took about 30 minutes.

After the ride, we were invited into a warming space and given sausages and warm berry juice. You have plenty of time to visit with the dogs and take photos. All of the dogs were very comfortable with people; my youngest was thrilled.

After the ride, we were invited into a warming space and given sausages and warm berry juice. You have plenty of time to visit with the dogs and take photos. All of the dogs were very comfortable with people.

Polar Explorer Icebreaker Cruise

We had to travel into Sweden for the Polar Explorer Icebreaker cruise. There is no document requirement for traveling between Finland and Sweden – the experience was similar to crossing state lines.

We opted for this cruise over Finland’s Sampo Icebreaker primarily because the height requirement for children on the Polar Explorer is 120 cm, which assured all of our children (ages 7-12) could participate in the ice float. The experience was well worth the detour.

On board the icebreaker ship, we were free to explore and learn about icebreakers and their role in Arctic waters. Your ticket includes a guided tour, but we opted to explore at our leisure. The ship provides wi-fi and a mobile application for self-guided tours. Guests are allowed to get very close to the equipment and see how the ship really works, everything from the engine room to the captain’s bridge.

It can be quite chilly on the main decks, but guests also have access to a heated cafeteria where you can spend some time warming up or purchasing food and drinks.

Ice Floating

Midway through the trip, the ship stops to allow guests to experience ice floating. At check-in, we were given a specific time to report to the changing room. Since we were assigned to one of the later groups, we used the open time to step out onto the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia. This experience was completely surreal. You can walk right next to the ship and see the 12-inch-thick ice that was smashed by the vessel just a few minutes before.

Ice floating was also a highly memorable experience. The crew works very efficiently helping guests in and out of survival suits. It’s helpful to know the exact height in centimeters of your children, because the crew will ask in order to find the right size suit.

Our older children were suited up and sent outside first, followed by the younger two, who were then introduced to their dedicated guide, who helped them into the water and swam alongside them the entire time.

This was a pleasant surprise, because I hadn’t thought of how difficult it might be to keep us all together while floating aimlessly in the Arctic. The guide was wonderful. He played with the kids and kept them close to me the entire time we were in the water.

Taking Photos While Ice Floating

While in the water, a photographer snaps pictures of the ice floaters. Each floater is given a unique tag which can later be used to purchase the photos. The crew advises that if you want a picture of your group, you should stay together.

You can purchase the photos for download. Please note that the tags sometimes “fail,” so try to make sure yours is visible to the camera.

We were unable to retrieve any photos from the older kids’ tags. Once back on land, you are also able to take a group photo in your survival suits.

Aurora Borealis Hunting in Lapland

Many people take trips to Lapland specifically to spot the Northern Lights. When I originally planned to visit this region of the world, the Aurora was admittedly a big draw for me too.

As I did my research, I realized that spotting this natural phenomenon depended on a number of factors, including the strength of the solar activity and the clarity of the skies.

Several companies out of Rovaniemi offer a Northern Lights tour, and the more reputable ones will not take you on the tour if the forecast doesn’t look good. This was the case during our visit. We spoke with a tour operator from Aurora Hunting Lapland, and he explained that there was almost no chance of spotting the Aurora during our time there.

I kept my eyes glued to a free app from AuroraAlert that tracks the best time to see Northern Lights, and my husband and I peeked out the window every night around midnight in hopes of catching something.

What You Should Know About Chasing the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights proved to be incredibly elusive. I was finally able to “catch” them just after we visited Sweden. We were staying significantly south of the Arctic Circle in the town of Valtimo, Finland. I went outside alone with my camera and scoured the skies.

The moon was more than 50% illuminated, which likely made it more difficult to see the Aurora, but easier to see whether the sky was clear. At one point, I was trying to catch a shot of our villa. I set up my camera, used a slow shutter to capture the ambient light, and lo and behold, there they were.

I stared at the sky in disbelief. While my camera had been able to capture enough light to see the glowing green of the Northern Lights, I still couldn’t see them with the naked eye. It was exciting to catch a glimpse, but be careful not to plan your whole trip around it. What I eventually “saw” wasn’t even worth waking the kids for, though the experience of searching for it was its own kind of adventure.

Where to Eat in Swedish Lapland

One of the joys of a road trip is stumbling upon hidden treasures, and this was absolutely the case the night we dined at Roady.

Located in the town of Töre, Sweden, Roady is approximately 40 minutes away from the Nordic Lapland Resort where we stayed the night before our icebreaker cruise.

We found several restaurants via Google Maps and decided to drive the extra distance for what seemed to be a traditional local meal. Don’t let the fact that this restaurant is literally attached to a gas station in the middle of nowhere deter you.

We dined on shaved reindeer with mashed potatoes, garlic and rosemary roasted lamb served with roasted root vegetables, and seared steak with fries. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious.

What was most surprising was the price; our family of 6 enjoyed this roadside, fine-dining experience for approximately 1000 SEK, or roughly $110 USD total. That is extraordinary value for food of that quality.

Where to Stay in Rovaniemi

In Rovaniemi, we decided to experience a traditional Finnish “holiday cottage” instead of Rovaniemi hotels. You can book Villa Vihtori in Rovaniemi HERE.

This lakeside cottage was one of the most enjoyable parts of our entire trip. The home is meticulously maintained and features three bedrooms in the main house, plus an additional studio apartment attached to the garage. There is an indoor sauna and an outdoor warming hut, both of which we used enthusiastically.

The host, Jukka-Pekka, provides everything you could imagine to enjoy the nearby wilderness: an abundance of wood for the warming hut, snowshoes, cross-country skis, sleds, and even headlamps for making your way around the property at night.

The remoteness and tranquility of this location are difficult to put into words. My husband and I enjoyed venturing out onto the property’s dock after the kids had gone to bed and simply admiring the sheer silence and abundance of stars. It was one of those travel moments you don’t plan for.

The cabin is about a 45-minute drive from Rovaniemi, so be sure to stock up on groceries and supplies before heading out.

Also note that when renting a holiday home in Finland, hosts do not typically provide linens, and housekeeping is typically not included. Guests are given specific checkout cleaning instructions.

We opted to pay a modest additional fee for both linens and final cleaning, well worth it. Be sure to communicate with your host to determine what is included.

Where to Stay in Karelia

From the Sweden-Finland border, we drove cross-country to the Karelian region and stayed overnight in the Puukarin Pysäkki Guesthouse. We booked the chalet, which offers private accommodations for up to six. The entire experience was exactly what we might have expected from staying in the Finnish countryside.

The one-room chalet is humbly decorated with two twin-over-full bunk beds and a loft with two additional twin mattresses, plus a private bathroom. The lower bunks have privacy curtains, making them the most desired spot for the kids; they practically fought over who got them.

Your stay at the Puukarin Pysäkki Guesthouse includes a large breakfast in the main house. We were the only guests on the property and were still treated to an abundant breakfast of eggs, meats, yogurt, and granola, a variety of bread and cinnamon rolls, plus coffee and tea.

Other places to stay in Lapland

For one of the most unique experiences in Finland, consider staying in a glass igloo or ice hotel. Even though the average temperatures inside are below freezing, they ensure you have plenty of blankets to keep you warm, and the experience of sleeping under the stars or watching for the Northern Lights through a glass ceiling is unlike anything else.

Some snow hotels to consider are:

• Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos – the best of both worlds with a snow hotel and glass roof igloos. Check rates HERE

• Lapland Hotels Snow Village – changes shape, design, and size each year based on snowfall and accumulations. Check rates HERE

• Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – glass-domed igloos allow you to see the Northern Lights, but there are also log cabins and log chalets with domes (the best of both worlds)! Check rates HERE

Things to See in Lakeland Finland

Our trip continued into the region of Finland known as Lakeland. A large number of lakes in this area make it a popular tourist destination in the summer, but it is equally beautiful during the Finnish winter, possibly more so, with everything frozen and still.

Olavinlinna Castle

We stopped to explore Olavinlinna Castle, a medieval castle sitting in the middle of Lake Saimaa. In the welcome center of the castle, a host explained to us that in the winter, English tours are limited.

Luckily, we were the only tourists at the castle at that time, so she offered us the opportunity to take the tour in English so long as no other visitors arrived. We took her up on it immediately.

The history of the castle is fascinating. It was used primarily as a fortress and never housed any royals. Later it fell into disrepair until a group of locals decided to restore it and reopen it as an events venue. Today Olavinlinna hosts an annual opera festival each summer.

Other than the potential language barrier, there are a few considerations for visiting in winter. Access to the towers is dependent on the weather; if there is too much snow on the passageways, the guides will not take tours of the towers. Additionally, dress warmly, as the welcome center is the only part of the castle that is heated.

Visiting Spa Taikametsä

Located at the Imatra Spa Resort, the Spa Taikametsä was a waterpark-style experience that could only be had in Finland. Access to the spa was included in our stay at the resort, and we were able to use it both on the day of check-in and after check-out, a great perk.

Finnish people are accustomed to nudity in public spas and saunas. Even though the locker rooms are divided by gender, my girls were a little spooked by having to shower and change in the presence of other women.

Also of note: male visitors must wear European-style trunks or Speedos. We saw signs indicating this rule, but they were confusing, saying that “shorts” could not be worn in the pools. My husband and sons proceeded in wearing traditional American board shorts, only to be stopped by a pool manager and told their “pockets” were not allowed. Guests can rent a swimsuit, or the resort’s gift shop sells them. Come prepared.

Spa Taikametsä’s Unique Features

There are slides, hot tubs, and a children’s area much like the waterparks in the US. But a spa day at Spa Taikametsä also offers a variety of water massage areas and sensory experiences unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

Throughout the pools, there are “hidden” buttons with small signs that read “TOUCH.” The kids enjoyed this treasure hunt of experiences, touching the buttons that launched waterfalls into action or fired up a bubble bench.

In addition to the water features, the lights and music throughout the pools vary to match images on screens. One of my favorite experiences was watching the Northern Lights flicker on a massive screen above the aqua jogging pool.

Another highlight was the outdoor heated pool. It’s connected to the indoor pool via a tunnel, so it’s possible to have an outdoor swimming experience without ever leaving the warmth of the pool water, which feels almost impossible until you’re actually doing it.

If you’re tempted to give cold water swimming a try, the spa offers that experience as well. A small dip pool is maintained at 8°C. Thankfully, it’s located right next to a hot tub, so it’s possible to give this outrageous sport a try without making the full commitment to a natural body of water outside.

Angry Birds Activity Park

Finland is home to game developer Rovio, creator of Angry Birds, so it’s not surprising that there are many Angry Birds-themed activities to enjoy. Our favorite was the Angry Birds Activity Park, located inside the Kuusamon Tropiikki Holiday Club. A day pass for a family of four is available for 50€, which is reasonable for a full day of entertainment.

Even if your kids are not fans of Angry Birds, they’re likely to find something they enjoy in this 2-story indoor play space. On the first level, there is a traditional play structure with tunnels and slides, a large foam pit, an indoor pedal-cart track, and a zip line where you can pretend to launch like an Angry Bird. There’s also a small theater showing Angry Birds shorts and kiosks where you can play the actual game.

Upstairs, there are activities for the more adventurous kids: a scooter park (scooters and helmets provided), an airbag jump, a laser maze, digital soccer, and an XBOX game lounge where everyone can try a variety of the latest games. During our visit, we were one of a handful of families, so we never had to wait for any of the activities. It was a perfect rainy, or rather, snowy, day option.

Porvoo, Finland

The final stop on our trip was the medieval town of Porvoo. We spent a few hours exploring the town and admiring the architecture. Many of the old buildings have been converted into shops and restaurants, so there are plenty of spots to pop into if you need a minute to warm up.

We enjoyed dinner in one of them, Zum Beispiel. The Finnish food was tasty, and the service was excellent, but the big draw for our kids was the “bread bar,” which featured a variety of tasty homemade breads, including a fresh-baked gluten-free variety for my daughter. After days of navigating dietary needs on the road, it felt like a small triumph.

What clothes to wear in Lapland in winter?

Warm clothing and dressing in a number of layers is absolutely a must. Finland’s weather is frigid, but inside our van it was nice and toasty, so you want clothing that’s easy to peel off and put back on quickly.

I’d recommend keeping a separate bag where kids can toss their hats and gloves between stops. Keep an outer layer close by in case they need to hop out for a bathroom break. We had another small bag dedicated to snow pants, which made it easy to find appropriate gear when it was needed without rummaging through an entire suitcase.

Knowing that we’d be visiting an indoor pool, I also packed a pair of flip-flops for each of the kids. This was a nice alternative to snow boots when sitting in the car for longer periods and made transitioning in and out of pool areas much simpler.

I will admit that after days of road-tripping through Finland, the scenery began to feel very familiar. In winter, there is an endless supply of snow-covered evergreens no matter where you travel.

The sun was always on the horizon, illuminating the sky with pretty shades of pink and blue. By just looking out the car window, you’d never know how unique and interesting each of the regions we visited truly is. And therein lies the magic of Finland.

Top Things to Do in Finland in Winter With Kids

• Santa Claus Village & Snowman World: Meet Santa, go snow tubing, and explore the North Pole’s magic in Rovaniemi. The Lunch Experience at Snowman World is great value and includes free time on the tubing hills.
• Husky sled rides in Pallas-Ylläs National Park: Perfect for all ages, with professional guides, warming huts, and sausages over a fire afterward. Book Rami’s Huskies for the only park-authorized experience.
• Suomenlinna Island ferry adventure: Short, scenic, and fun, especially for city-exploring families. Kids under 7 ride free.
• Angry Birds Activity Park: A giant two-story indoor playground for burning off energy when it’s too cold outside.
• Spa Taikametsä at Imatra Spa: Indoor waterpark-style fun with heated pools, sensory experiences, and an outdoor pool connected via tunnel. Pack appropriate swimwear.
• Olavinlinna Castle: Explore a medieval fortress with private English tours in winter if you happen to visit on a quiet day.
• Icebreaker cruise and ice floating: A unique bucket-list activity suitable for kids meeting the 120 cm height requirement. The Polar Explorer in Sweden is the better option for younger families.
• Snow-covered city parks and playgrounds: Even a regular Helsinki playground becomes something magical under a thick layer of snow.

Key Takeaways

• Layer up for extreme cold. Finland’s winter temperatures can be brutal outdoors, but cars and indoor spaces are well heated. Dress in layers that are easy to remove and replace.
• Santa Claus Village delights all ages. Whether your kids are 3 or 12, the experience of meeting Santa in Rovaniemi is genuinely magical.
• English is widely spoken, and translated menus are available. You are unlikely to encounter significant language barriers anywhere on your trip, even in more rural areas.
• Heated indoor spaces are everywhere. Finland excels at keeping visitors warm between adventures.
• Plan meals carefully as long gaps exist between stops. This was our biggest logistical mistake. Research ABC fuel stations as reliable fallback options along your route.
• There are many indoor play options for kids. These are great on frigid days.
• Check age and height limits before booking activities. The Polar Explorer icebreaker requires a minimum height of 120 cm for ice floating. Some husky tours have minimum age requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 7 too old for Lapland experiences?

No, age 7 is actually ideal for Lapland. Kids this age can fully participate in all classic Lapland activities, meeting Santa, snow tubing, husky rides, and even ice floating on the Polar Explorer icebreaker (provided they meet the 120 cm height requirement).

They’re still young enough to find the magic of Santa’s Village completely enchanting, but old enough to handle the physical demands of the activities without needing constant assistance.

What are the best winter activities for kids in Finland?

The top family-friendly winter activities in Finland include visiting Santa Claus Village and Snowman World in Rovaniemi, husky sled rides in Pallas-Ylläs National Park, snow tubing, ice floating on an icebreaker cruise, exploring Spa Taikametsä’s indoor pools, playing at the Angry Birds Activity Park, and wandering snow-covered city parks in Helsinki. There is something for every age and energy level.

How cold does it get in Finland during winter?

Finnish winters can reach -20°C to -30°C (-4°F to -22°F) in northern regions like Lapland. However, the cold is very manageable because indoor spaces, cars, restaurants, cottages, and spas are kept extremely warm. The key is layering effectively so you can move comfortably between frigid outdoor activity and toasty indoor spaces. Invest in good waterproof boots and proper base layers before you go.

How should families pack for a winter trip to Finland?

Pack multiple base layers, waterproof outer layers, insulated snow pants, hats, mittens or gloves, and waterproof boots rated for cold temperatures. Keep a dedicated bag for hats and gloves so kids can access them quickly at each stop. A separate bag for snow pants helps too.

Bring swimsuits and flip-flops for indoor pool and spa visits; several resorts have strict rules about appropriate swimwear. Pack the minimum swimwear standard for men (European trunks, not board shorts) to avoid being stopped at the pool entrance.

How easy is it to travel around Finland with kids in winter?

Finland is very manageable to drive with kids, with well-maintained major highways and good mobile coverage in most areas. The biggest logistical challenge is meal planning; towns, restaurants, and gas stations can be far apart.

ABC fuel stations, which are plentiful throughout the country, offer groceries, fast food, and chef-prepared meals, making them a reliable backup. English is widely spoken, navigation apps work well, and the country is set up to welcome international families.

Can you see the Northern Lights with kids in Finland?

Yes, you can see the Northern Lights in Finland, but they are never guaranteed. Sightings depend on solar activity strength and sky clarity, two factors entirely outside your control. Tour operators will cancel the tour if conditions are poor rather than take your money for nothing.

The free AuroraAlert app is a helpful tool for tracking activity in real time. Enjoy the hunt, but don’t plan your entire trip around a sighting; you may end up like us, catching a faint shimmer on camera that isn’t even visible to the naked eye.

Are glass igloos or ice hotels worth it for families in Finland?

Yes, glass igloos and ice hotels offer one of the most memorable overnight experiences in Lapland and are absolutely worth considering for families. The Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos, Apukka Resort, Lapland Hotels Snow Village, and Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort all provide unique combinations of sleeping under glass ceilings and log cabin comfort.

Even though outdoor temperatures are well below freezing, blankets and heating systems keep you comfortable. The possibility of watching the Northern Lights from your bed is a compelling reason to try it at least one night.

About the author: Anne-Marie Tucker is a mom of four from Austin, TX. She loves traveling with her squad, running and being active, and rooting for the Cubbies. She’s a sucker for cheap flights and especially loves traveling to Central America, where all those years in Spanish finally pay off. *This post was edited and updated by Kirsten Maxwell.