Every winter, photos of snow covered Lapland Finland fill my Instagram feed. While winter looks absolutely stunning, and staying in an ice hotel sounds amazingly cool (literally), I’m more of a warm weather gal. Fortunately for me, summer’s also a magical season to visit Finland.
Here’s 8 reasons to consider a visit to Lapland Finland during midnight sun season instead.
1: Endless Daylight
We visited Finland during summer solstice, at the height of Midnight Sun Season. We based our trip in Rovaniemi which is located on the Arctic Circle. In June and July, the sun never truly sets here. We discovered that you can squeeze a lot of activities into a day when it doesn’t get dark. If the sun doesn’t go down, the fun doesn’t have to end, right? Because it never got fully dark, we had more time for outdoor activities.
KidTripster Tip: The perpetual daylight can be disorienting, especially for kids. However, hotel rooms will have blackout curtains to ensure that you can fall asleep even while the sun’s still shining.
2: Plenty of Activities
The Finns experience a winter season without sunlight so when summer rolls around, they take advantage of it. Activities and tours run late into the evening. We had some really amazing late night experiences.
We participated in a Midnight Sun Photography tour with Beyond Arctic. The tour left from downtown Rovaniemi around 9pm. Our guide took us to a few different locations, offering advice on how to photograph the natural surroundings, and also taking gorgeous family photos of us, too.
On the actual summer solstice, we went on a canoe tour with Wild About Lapland. After a few hours of peaceful paddling on a mirrored lake, we roasted wienies over a campfire at midnight. Both experiences were magical and unforgettable and something that only happens in summer months.
[ Related: Must Dos for Kids in Rovaniemi ]
3: Mild Weather
Although cold in the winter, the Arctic Circle can be quite warm in the summer. The long days of sunshine make for mild temperatures. In June, average temperatures range between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. We experienced a few 80 degree days during our visit (thus the photos of us meeting Santa in shorts!).
KidTripster Tip: When packing for a summer visit to Lapland, we recommend bringing a light jacket and a pair of long pants. These help keep you warm on cooler days and provide protection from mosquitoes. You’ll also want to pack sunglasses and sunscreen.
4: Santa Works, Even in the Summer
Speaking of Santa, the opportunity to visit Santa in his Arctic Circle workshop is a big draw for many family travelers, especially at Christmas-time. After all, this is considered the official home of Santa Claus. But not to fear, Santa works year-round. Santa Claus Village is buzzing with activity even in summer.
Some of the activities available here include:
Meeting Santa
Santa’s available for meetings every day of the year. During our visit, he chatted with the kids about their Christmas wishes. They once again asked for a dog, figuring they had a chance with the real Santa, but sadly he said no, very diplomatically.
It’s free to meet with Santa. However, personal cameras are not allowed which means you’ll have to purchase a photo. You’ll get a video, too, which is a fun keepsake.
Greeting Reindeer
Where there’s Santa, there’s reindeer, of course. Several reindeer are roaming around at Santa Claus Reindeer Resort. You can feed them, take photos, and learn more about reindeer and reindeer herding. It costs about $5 a person and is open from 10-4 daily.
Mailing a Letter
Santa’s official post office is located in the village. You’ve never been to a post office quite like this. It’s fun and cheerful (not drab and dreary like in the U.S.) Every year Santa receives a half a million letters sent here from around the world. Some people also send small gifts. You can see the interesting items that Santa receives on display in the post office, which also serves as a bit of a museum.
Visitors can mail letters postmarked from the Arctic Circle, it’s a special postmark that’s not used anywhere else in the world. There’s a yellow box marked “Normal Mail” and a red box for “Christmas Mail.” Normal mail arrives to its destination within a few weeks. However, if you drop a letter in the red box it will arrive just before Christmas. You can also pay a small fee to have a personally addressed letter sent from Santa at Christmas. It makes for a fun surprise for family and friends! There are lots of cute souvenirs for sale here, too.
Crossing the Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle runs directly through Santa Claus Village.
The Arctic Circle is a circle of latitude that runs 66°33′45.9″ north of the Equator. It marks the southernmost latitude where the sun can stay continuously below or above the horizon for 24 hours. That’s known as the Midnight Sun in the summer and the Polar Night in the winter.
You can’t miss the Arctic Circle! It’s well marked. This is a fun place to take a family photo. You can even get a certificate to commemorate the experience.
5: See What Winter Animals Do in the Summer
During winter months, the reindeer and huskies are hard at work pulling sleighs and sleds. But in the summer, the animals have time to relax a bit.
Reindeer at Rest
In addition to meeting reindeer at Santa’s Village, you can also spend time with them at their summer home. After the busy winter season, the reindeer retire to the countryside to graze and relax.
Families can participate in a tour through Santa Claus Reindeer that includes transportation from Rovaniemi, a guided tour with a reindeer expert, and a snack around the fire.
Upon arrival, the reindeer will come running to greet the guests. You’ll have the chance to feed and pet them. They’re a little scruffy looking in the summer as they shed their winter coats. It’s fun to get up close to these animals and learn more about their significance in the region.
Sled Dogs in Training
The Bearhill Husky kennel is open during summer months. The Alaskan husky dogs exercise during the summer months to stay in shape for winter.
Visitors receive a guided tour of the kennel where you’ll interact with the dogs and learn more about their unique personalities.
If it’s not too hot, you’ll be offered a husky ride through the woods. On warmer summer days, you can take the dogs on a walk instead. If you’re lucky you might even meet some puppies, like we did!
The tour ends with fresh juice and cookies inside the warming hut. Bearhill Husky offers pick up from hotels in the Rovaniemi-area.
6: Less Expensive and Less Crowded
Winter is the height of the tourist season in Lapland which means you’ll pay premium prices for hotels and activities.
During the summer months, prices are more reasonable. And it’s considerably less crowded, too. Of course, crowded is a relative term. Fun fact about Finnish lapland, reindeer considerably outnumber people.
[ Related: What to Know Before Going to Finland ]
7: Easy to Navigate
Without any snow on the roads, getting around on your own is easy by car. However, if visiting in winter months, we’d advise leaving the driving to someone else.
[ Related: Renting & Driving a Car in Finland ]
If you prefer not to rent a car, Rovaniemi is very walkable. Many of our excursions had a meeting point in downtown. If not, taxis could be arranged to get to places like Santa Claus Village.
We stayed at the centrally located Hotel Santa Claus. A variety of restaurants and shops were just steps from the hotel. The rooms were recently renovated. Some of them are spacious enough to include an in-room sauna which is definitely worth the splurge.
KidTripster Tip: There are many daily flights to the Rovaniemi Airport from all over Europe. Another way to get to Lapland is via the Santa Claus Express which is an overnight train from Helsinki. Taking the train is an adventure in itself. We booked sleeper cabins. Each one sleeps two people and has its own bathroom. We arrived in Rovaniemi just after breakfast, well-rested and ready for adventure. In addition to being an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, it was also economical. The cost of four round-trip train tickets (with breakfast) was considerably less expensive than four plane tickets plus two nights in a hotel.
8: Family-Friendly
For seven consecutive years, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world!
One of the things that makes Finland so great is that it loves kids. The whole country is welcoming to families, Lapland being no exception. You’ll find kid friendly spaces and playgrounds all over Finland.
We’re certain that no matter the season, your family will enjoy visiting Lapland.
[ Related: What to Know Before Going to Finland With Your Family ]
The author was hosted by Visit Rovaniemi for the purposes of this article. All opinions are her own.
