10 don'ts in Finnish Lapland - Avoid these - Do not enter before reading

Finnish Lapland is absolutely stunning and I would definitely recommend to visit there once in a lifetime (at least).

I know it’s a pricey destination, yet the untouched nature and the magical energy of Lapland is invaluable.

However, as a Finn and a Master of Tourism Research, I must say there are some places I can not recommend, due to their lack of responsibility towards animals, nature or people, or simply due to bad, touristy service.

Not to keep it all boring advice, there are also listed some advice I recommend only for Dudesons.

Not to leave you just with the DON’TS in Lapland -list, you might want to also check out:

Best luxury hotels in Lapland

How to See the Northern Lights in Finland

When comparing awesome accommodations, you may come across a stunning looking place called Kakslauttanen with their glass roof igloos.

Unfortunately this place is not treating animals fairly and the service and food is really average.

You are treated as a tourist instead of getting the lovely welcoming feeling to the beautiful nature of Lapland.

Rather check out this curated list of awesome accommodations in Lapland

When browsing for safaris with huskies, reindeer or aurora hunting, you might come across Chinese owned safari company located in Rovaniemi called Nordic Unique Travels.

As there are many safari organizers in Lapland, I would not recommend this one as I know it is not great conditions to work there, there are some sketchy things happening at the background and overall it is not the best experience to choose.

Nowadays it may be especially tempting to order warm looking cheap winter clothes online.

Unfortunately these cheap options are not made for arctic conditions and I can tell you frozen butt, fingers and toes isn’t just uncomfortable, but it is actually very painful.

I recommend wearing wool as the base layer and great insulation on top layer.

If you want to dress up properly, you have two options:

1. Follow the tips in this article: How to dress in Lapland in winter

2. Make sure the tour/accommodation you are booking in Lapland has rental wear to keep you warm. Many safaris offer tourists warm overalls to wear on top of your “winter clothes”.

3. Rent proper, warm winter clothes in Lapland, for example here: Winter clothes rental

The polar night, when the sun doesn't rise above the horizon for weeks, can be a challenging experience for those not used to it. The darkness can affect your mood and energy levels.

Be sure to prepare mentally and physically for these conditions by planning activities, getting plenty of rest, and possibly using daylight lamps to combat the lack of natural light which may shock you during the first days. However, in my opinion this darkness goes together with a magical energy.

It might seem like common sense, but the curiosity to test the "tongue-sticking-to-metal" myth is real. Trust me, it's not a myth.

Avoid licking any metal objects unless you want to become an impromptu ice sculpture.

You would be surprised how many Finnish kids have tried this though while being bored outdoors and moms have had to rush to get hot water to melt the tongue off the bicycle rack. :D

Reindeer may look cute and docile, but they’re not Rudolph in a petting zoo.

Don’t try to ride them, feed them your snacks, or challenge them to a staring contest. Respect their space and enjoy their majestic presence from a safe distance.

Reindeer in Lapland are half domesticated – meaning that most of them have an owner, yet they can roam freely in nature all summer. In autumn there’s “poroerottelu” which means sorting which reindeer belongs to whom.

You would be surprised how well reindeer farmer recognizes their 200 reindeers from the neighbour’s ones.

As an example of this, I shared this cute reindeer picture on Instagram I shot in Luosto National Park, and in no time a Finnish guy came to comment the name of the owner.

Winter in Lapland is a must-see, yet most of the visitor miss out by not planning a second trip to experience the midnight sun, midsummer and overall the blossom of Finnish nature in summer.

If you’re at all into hiking, cycling or nature photography, definitely do a trip also in summer. Then you can also discover this unique event: Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä.

Saunas are a big part of Finnish culture, and there are unspoken rules. Don’t bring your phone in, don’t stare, and definitely don’t wear a swimsuit.

Embrace the natural way and remember: what happens in the sauna stays in the sauna.

If you want more details, read also: 10 Don’ts in Finland.

And if you want to get a grand souvenir: order mobile sauna from this Finnish sauna brand.

High heels, furry dress and cute leg warmers sounds like a Pinterest-worthy, warm outfit to wear in Lapland.

However, this will show its impracticality right when you step out of the airplane in Rovaniemi airport.

In Lapland you can eat in Michelin restaurants, but outdoors you also need to look like a Michelin man with multiple layers.

Most of the complaints when visiting Finnish Lapland is about not seeing the Northern Lights.

Unfortunately this stunning phenomenon isn’t a light switch that can be turned on and off (unlike some tourists actually imagined, not to name any nationalities, but, Italian :D).

You can increase the probability of spotting Northern lights by lengthening your stay.