How to Get to Finnish Lapland: Tips from a Finn for smoothest travels

The magic of Lapland still amazes me, although I’m from Finland and have lived 3 years in Lapland.

If you are about to see northern lights, go snow mobiling or get to know Sami culture, you need to first figure transportation all the way to the north of Finland.

In this article I’ll give you the best means to travel to Finnish Lapland.

Finnish Lapland is the northernmost region of Finland, located above the Arctic Circle.

Among the most popular destinations is the capital of Lapland:

For Finnish people Rovaniemi is just the beginning of Lapland, and the real magic continues above it, in destinations like Levi, Saariselkä, Ylläs, Kilpisjärvi, Ivalo and Pyhä-Luosto.

Lapland consists of the northernmost parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia.

In this article I cover the best tips to travel to and in Finnish Lapland, where also Santa Claus is located.

When flying to Finland, you have two options: to fly directly to Lapland or to fly to capital of Finland, Helsinki and travel by other means to Lapland from there. Let’s cover first all the flight options.

These airports connect Lapland with major European cities like London, Berlin, Zurich, and Munich.

For example, flights from London to Rovaniemi take about 3 hours and 20 minutes, while flights from Berlin take only 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Several airlines operate direct flights to Finnish Lapland, including Finnair, Norwegian, Lufthansa, EasyJet, and TUI Airways.

Depending on the season, there are numerous daily flights from Helsinki, making it easy to reach Lapland in just 1–1.5 hours.

Please see from this map where each airport is located:

If you want to add Finnish Capital into your Finland Itinerary, it is then naturally good idea to fly to Helsinki.

Here I give you options to arrive in several destinations in Finnish Lapland from Helsinki.

Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, is approximately 800 kilometers north of Helsinki.

It’s famous for its Santa Claus Village and offers a range of winter activities, including reindeer safaris, snowmobiling, and visits to ice hotels. You can read an ultimate hidden gem list of activitieis in Rovanimemi hiere: Rovaniemi activities.

You can fly directly from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in less than 2 hours, with ticket prices starting around €100.

Sometimes Norwegian offers flights between Helsinki and Rovaniemi with just €27.

For those who prefer a more leisurely journey by land, VR night train is a fantastic option.

The train takes about 12 hours and features comfortable sleeper cabins, allowing you to wake up refreshed in Rovaniemi.

Alternatively, there are daytime trains that take 8–9 hours. You can book your tickets directly from vr.fi/en

For those looking to venture further north, Ivalo and Inari are excellent choices.

Ivalo is close to several national parks, while Inari is known for its scenic location on Lake Inari, one of the largest lakes in Finland and a prime spot for Northern Lights viewing.

(Fun fact I was told as a kid: all the people from the world would fit to stand on Lake of Inari at the same time).

To reach Ivalo, you can take a direct flight from Helsinki, which takes about 1.5 hours.

From Ivalo, a bus can take you to Inari, about 40 minutes away.

Alternatively, you can travel by train to Rovaniemi and then continue your journey by bus to Ivalo and Inari.

This option allows you to enjoy the beautiful Finnish countryside while minimizing your carbon footprint.

This will take longer time though, as the train trip from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is about 10 hours and the bus from Rovaniemi to Ivalo about 4 hours.

You can check the busses from https://www.onnibus.com/homeand https://reittiopas.matkahuolto.fi/?locale=en

For anyone interested in skiing, after skiing and enjoying the magic of Lapland in known destination Levi, you have the following transportation options.

To reach Levi, you can take a direct flight from Helsinki, which takes about 1.5 hours.

Alternatively, you can travel by train to Rovaniemi and then continue your journey by bus to Levi. This option allows you to enjoy the beautiful Finnish countryside while minimizing your carbon footprint.

This will take longer time though, as the train trip from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is about 10 hours and the bus from Rovaniemi to Levi about 3 hours.

You can check the busses from https://www.onnibus.com/homeand https://reittiopas.matkahuolto.fi/?locale=en

Train travel in Finland is not only comfortable but also environmentally friendly.

Night trains offer sleeper cabins, making the journey restful and enjoyable. Traveling by train also allows you to soak in the scenic beauty of Finland’s vast forests and frozen lakes.

The most popular rail route to Finnish Lapland is from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with the journey continuing to Kemijärvi for those looking to explore deeper into the region.

From Rovaniemi, you can connect to other northern destinations by bus. Trains are a great way to experience the Arctic landscape while avoiding the stress of winter driving conditions.

And yes, you got it right, to more northern lapland you can not get by train, as there are no rails more north.