There are holidays that children enjoy. And then there are holidays involving Santa, reindeer, huskies and enough snow to make a snowman army. Lapland is definitely the second one.
More than 700,000 people visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi each year, and December is understandably one of the most popular times to head north. For families, it’s about as close as you can get to stepping inside a Christmas card.
There is, however, a little more planning involved than simply locating Finland on a map and packing every Christmas jumper you own.
Here’s how to plan a Lapland trip with children, from choosing your snow-covered base to dressing for true Arctic temperatures and dealing with the possibility that the weather just might have plans of its own.
First question: where in Lapland?
Lapland is big, so you’ll need to narrow your focus a little.
Rovaniemi
This is the big one for kids, especially if they’re still in awe of Santa. The Santa Claus Village here is directly on the Arctic Circle, so the reindeer sleigh rides, sleds pulled by huskies, and outdoor fire pits just make sense.
Direct seasonal flights to Rovaniemi are available from easyJet and Ryanair from UK spots including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Belfast.
Levi
Are you and the kids into skiing? In Levi, which you reach via Kittilä Airport, you get access to one of Finland’s biggest ski resorts. And you don’t even have to give up the reindeer or the huskies. They do that here, too.
For direct winter flights, TUI and easyJet will work from London, Manchester and Liverpool.
Saariselkä
Sometimes you don’t want a built-up area when you’re travelling to a place like Lapland. Saariselkä is smaller and wilder but still accessible from Ivalo Airport. Picture forests, untouched Arctic scenery and much smaller crowds.
Reaching Ivalo Airport will often require a connecting flight from Helsinki, but British Airways flies direct in season.
Ruka
Then there’s Ruka, near Kuusamo, another good option for active families who want skiing alongside their Christmas magic. Use Kuusamo Airport, which offers direct flights on TUI and Finnair from London and on airBaltic from Gatwick and Manchester.
Visit Finland’s Lapland guides can come in really handy before you commit to a specific destinaton, too. And when you’re pricing flights, don’t forget that the £30 saving for early morning flights may not be worth it with kids in tow.
Short on time and patience to book an entire Christmas trip? Rely on existing packages that bundle all travel and even activities into one booking.
Lapland for a day or several?
Yes, you really can fly to Lapland, meet Santa, and fly home again on the same day. Whether you want to do that with a five-year-old is another matter.
Day trips pack an extraordinary amount into a few hours. They’re great if Santa is the main event and you don’t want to commit to a full Arctic holiday. But factor in getting to a UK airport, an early flight, transfers, activities and the journey home, and you’re looking at one extremely excited and potentially extremely tired child.
A three or four-night stay lets you slow everything down. Husky ride today. Santa tomorrow. Snowball fight whenever you want. Extra time in Lapland means the freedom to let the kids explore naturally, whatever that is to them.
Though it might be obvious, book as early as possible. December isn’t the month for a spontaneous “shall we pop up and see Santa?” conversation.
Packing: think of the kids like onions
When packing, think layers, and lots of them. One big and bulky coat is an on-or-off situation, but layers add flexibility. Here’s what to pack:
- Thermal top and leggings
- Fleece or wool mid-layer
- Waterproof and windproof outer layer
- Insulated snow boots
- Warm socks, plus spares
- Mittens
- A hat that covers the ears
- Snood or neck warmer
- Spare mittens (seriously, bring spare mittens)
- Lip balm and moisturiser
Don’t automatically buy a range of low-temperature gear you may never use again. Some tour operators provide thermal suits and boots.
Snow happens, and that’s kinda the point
Snow-blanketed landscapes and evergreen trees are what you’re picturing, right? But we have to think about the airports as well. Lapland airports are, unsurprisingly, pretty good at dealing with snow, but we can’t exactly call them magical.
Heavy snowfall, poor visibility and de-icing queues are the enemy of an on-time flight. This is true in Lapland or back in the UK.
Pack with this in mind, and keep the important things with you at all times:
- Medication
- Nappies
- Snacks
- Chargers
- One change of clothes (minimum)
It’s also helpful to understand whether bad weather really counts as extraordinary circumstances if your flight is seriously disrupted. Bad weather can release an airline from paying compensation, but simply saying “weather” doesn’t automatically settle the question. The conditions need to have caused the disruption, and the airline must have taken reasonable measures.
Unavoidable severe weather is one thing. An airline failing to prepare adequately for predictable winter operations can be another. For example, if the airline doesn’t have enough de-icing fluid available and has to delay or cancel the flight as a result, that’s not extraordinary circumstances because it’s within the airline’s control.
And even when compensation isn’t payable, passengers can still be entitled to assistance during a qualifying delay, including food and drink and, when an overnight stay is necessary, accommodation and transport.
Not particularly Christmassy, admittedly. But very useful to know when you’re stranded with two children who’ve already eaten the emergency snacks.
Don’t schedule every minute
Easier said than done sometimes. You want to make every second count. But don’t overschedule.
Sure, book the huskies. Meet Santa. Ride the reindeer. Go looking for the Northern Lights if bedtime and the clouds cooperate. But leave some space too for building snowmen, warming up with hot chocolate and taking tons of photos.
Sort out the practical stuff beforehand and know that your children are unlikely to remember whether you chose the perfect airport transfer. But they will remember the reindeer.
