Welcome to Lapland

Lapland Region is not a country but a region larger than the United Kingdom. Lapland is one of the last unspoilt nature wildernesses in the world.

Where is Lapland

Lapland, known locally as Sápmi, is a cultural region traditionally inhabited by the indigenous Sámi.

Lapland is in the Arctic in the northern part of the three Nordic countries, Sweden, Norway and Finland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia.

Why visit Lapland

Lapland is packed with Arctic activities for visitors to enjoy throughout the year.

The Arctic Circle is best known for its northern lights, magical winter landscapes, and outdoor activities like dog-sledging, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and reindeer sleigh rides. The reindeer is the most eye-catching of the region´s animals, but the fauna and flora are also exceptional because of their unique geographical position in the world.

You can find inspiration and information about Lapland and its unique attractions, like the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi and the famous Ice hotels in Lapland. There are also plenty of opportunities to experience the traditions of the native people called the Sami.

The region is world-renowned for its magnificent natural beauty, amazing Northern Light, Midnight Sun, clean air and silence.

Destinations in Lapland

There are countless small towns and villages in Lapland, and the main towns are Rovaniemi and Ivalo in Finland and Hammerfest, Kiruna, Luleå and Gällivare in Sweden.

We have selected some destinations we can recommend to visit:

Rovaniemi (Finland)
Situated next to the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is considered the capital of Finnish Lapland. This town is best known as the hometown of Santa Claus, which visitors can meet any day of the year at the Santa Claus Village.

Kiruna (Sweden)
Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden, is surrounded by amazing landscapes, ranging from rivers and crystal-clear lakes to ancient boreal forests and snow-capped mountains.

The most famous attractions and accommodations are the ICEHOTEL, located in the neighbouring village of Jukkasjärvi (about 20 km from Kiruna) and the Kiruna Snowhotel, Aurora Sky Station in the nearby Abisko National Park.

Kemi (Finland)
Located in Finnish Lapland in the middle of the Bothnian Arc is Kemi, the site of the famous SnowCastle with its amazing SnowRestaurant, SnowChapel and Children’s Land. Other popular attractions in this area include cruises aboard the Sampo icebreaker ship, where you can go for an “Arctic swim” in thermal flotation suits.

More places to visit in Lapland

Sami - the indigenous people in Lapland

The north of Lapland is Sápmi, the home of the Sami people, and Inari, Utsjoki, and Hetta are the central communities.

The population is around 80000 people, and most Sames live in Norway with 50000 people. The reindeer has been the centre of Sami culture for thousands of years.

Adventure destinations

Within the last ten years, the Lapland region increased the number of tourists because of the better infrastructure and connections. Destinations like Kiruna, Tromsø and Rovaniemi attract tourists who want to explore the unique scenery, adventure experiences and local culture.

How to get to Lapland

You can reach the regions by regional flights from Stockholm and Stockholm-Arlanda Airport to Kiruna and Swedish Lapland. There are flights from Helsinki and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Rovaniemi and Finnish Lapland.

Stockholm-Arlanda Airport in Sweden and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland have several international and regional airlines.

Many local domestic carriers in Sweden and Finland have partnerships with international airlines.