Region

Lapland

Lapland is Finland's large northern region, much of it north of the Arctic Circle, with forests, bogs, rounded fells and wide rivers. It is the homeland of the Sami people, whose culture and reindeer herding are part of the region's identity. Summer brings the midnight sun, while winter brings snow, the polar night and the possibility of seeing the aurora, which can never be guaranteed. Distances are large and winter requires careful preparation. Towns act as gateways for hiking, skiing and nature travel. Lapland covers the whole of Finland's far north and reaches into the Arctic fells at the Norwegian and Swedish borders. In the south it feels like the boreal forest of the rest of the country; further north the trees thin out and bare, rounded fells rise above the treeline. Towns act as gateways with rail, road and air links, and the distances between them are long, so most visits focus on one hub and its surroundings. The summer months bring the midnight sun; autumn brings colour in the fells and the start of the aurora season, which Visit Finland says runs from the autumn well into spring; and winter offers snow-based activities. Practical tip: dress in proper layers, check weather and road conditions before long drives, and treat any aurora sighting as luck rather than a promise. In summer, bring insect repellent for the forest.