Some destinations impress you with what they have. Lapland impressed me with what it doesn’t: noise, traffic, urgency, and constant distractions. Just endless forests, frozen lakes, snow-covered landscapes, and a silence so profound it almost feels unfamiliar.
My journey began in Finland, a country often celebrated as one of the happiest places in the world. After spending time there, it’s easy to understand why. Life feels simpler, slower, and deeply connected to nature.
Then comes Lapland.
Located above the Arctic Circle, this northern region looks exactly how you imagined winter as a child. Snow-covered trees, cozy cabins glowing in the distance, reindeer wandering through the forests, and skies painted in soft shades of pink and blue during the brief winter daylight.
And of course, Santa Claus.
Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, is officially known as the hometown of Santa Claus. Before arriving, I expected a tourist attraction. Instead, I found something surprisingly charming. Crossing the Arctic Circle, visiting Santa’s Village, and sending postcards from the official Santa Claus Post Office somehow reconnects you with a sense of wonder most adults leave behind.
Experiences You Can't Miss
Dog Sledding with Huskies
Gliding through snowy forests pulled by a team of huskies is one of those experiences that instantly brings back the excitement of childhood. It’s pure joy.
The Northern Lights
Everyone arrives hoping to see them, but no one can guarantee it. Nature decides. We were lucky. Watching the first green lights appear and slowly dance across the Arctic sky felt almost unreal. Fewer than 1% of the world’s population has ever seen the Northern Lights, and I left feeling incredibly fortunate.
Glass Igloos & Arctic Nights
Some of the most magical moments happen after sunset. Staying in a glass-roofed igloo surrounded by snow-covered forests allows you to watch the sky from the warmth of your bed while waiting for the auroras to appear.
Snowmobiles
Crossing frozen lakes and remote wilderness by snowmobile is one of the best ways to appreciate the scale and beauty of Lapland.
Sámi Culture & Reindeer
Lapland is also home to the Sámi, Europe’s only recognized Indigenous people. Learning about their traditions, reindeer herding, and deep connection to the land adds an entirely different dimension to the journey.
The Finnish Sauna Ritual
No visit to Finland is complete without experiencing a traditional sauna. For Finns, it’s not a luxury but a way of life. Alternating between intense heat and freezing temperatures may sound extreme, but after a few days in the Arctic, it starts to make perfect sense.
Final Thoughts
What I loved most about Finland and Lapland was how effortlessly it brought me back to a simpler version of myself. A place where you spend hours looking at the sky waiting for an aurora, listening to the silence of a snowy forest, or sitting by a fire while everything outside remains covered in white.
Lapland isn’t just a Christmas destination. It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest luxury is feeling completely disconnected from the rest of the world.
