Imagine waking up surrounded by snowy tykki trees in the middle of nowhere, after a stunning night with the Aurora Borealis dancing above.. just woah!
Winter in Finnish Lapland is something you can only truly understand by experiencing it. Picture endless snow-covered forests, frozen lakes, huskies sprinting across the tundra, and the Northern Lights dancing overhead. All those fairytale instagram posts are real and much more than that but imagine exploring it in a different way — all while having the freedom of a campervan as your cozy home-on-wheels.
We spent 4 unforgettable days exploring Finnish Lapland in February 2024, and I cannot recommend this experience enough!
It’s definitely not for everyone but if you’re an adventurer looking to have an authentic trip that not many others get to experience, the best places without the crowds and without the crazy high expenses, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your own Arctic adventure, if you choose to do it by van.
A Note on Respecting These Places
The freedom to camp and hike in places like Lapland exists because these landscapes are treated with care. We share these experiences with deep respect for the outdoors and the responsibility that comes with it.
Leave no trace of your visit. Pack out everything, camp & park responsibly, and stay mindful that nature isn’t a backdrop — it’s the reason we’re here. How we travel today shapes what these places will look like tomorrow.
Lapland is massive, wild, and full of untouched nature. Bringing your van or renting one gives you flexibility, freedom, and the chance to wake up wherever you want — often with a view you can’t get from a hotel window, all without having to break the bank.
You can chase the Northern Lights, stop for hikes when you want, and experience the true quiet of the Arctic Circle. And if you don’t like a place or you feel it’s boring or too comercial, you can head to another beautiful place without the concern of loosing money on hotels or can’t find availability immediately.
We drove our van there from Germany so it took us more than 30 hours driving, quite a lot of fuel and some road tolls.
Safety precautions to drive a van in Lapland
Before you hit the road, a bit of planning goes a long way. Driving in Lapland in winter is stunning but challenging.
If you already have a van and plan to drive all the way up from anywhere in Europe, make sure you realistically understand the time spent on the road and prepare accordingly. Proper precautions are essential: high-quality winter tyres, snow chains, a shovel, and even some sand are a must, as you’ll be driving on thick ice and snow most of the time.
I strongly recommend using motor oil suitable for extremely low temperatures (down to –30°C) to avoid long-term engine damage, as well as a high-quality –30°C windshield washer fluid to prevent freezing in the reservoir. Don’t underestimate these! We learned our lesson the hard way.
If you rent one, they should have everything prepared for your safety but make sure to ask them everything if in doubt.
Key Tips:
Roads are icy. Slow down and keep distance.
Keep headlights on at all times and be aware that the locals are usually driving with HUGE extra headlamps to help them spot wild animals in useful time.
Tire chains are optional but helpful in snowstorms.
Fuel stations are far apart; always refuel when possible. Never go lower than half tank.
Watch out for wildlife — reindeer and moose cross roads frequently. You don’t want to underestimate this!
Renting a campervan / motorhome in Finnish Lapland
Campervan Rentals:
Strongest recommendation is to fly into Rovaniemi and rent one locally if you plan to stay less than 10 days, but you can also consider flying into Germany and driving up North if you plan to stay at least 2 weeks and do your shopping in Germany to save money. Third option is to fly into Norway or Helsinki, book and drive from there but make sure you plan your costs properly.
- Expect €80–€120/day for a fully equipped winter van.
Ensure it has heating, winter tires, and enough insulation.
Route Planning:
- I recommend starting from Rovaniemi, the gateway to Lapland.
- Drive north toward Levi or Saariselkä for snow-covered landscapes and Northern Lights.
- Don’t miss places like Riisitunturi National Park, Ruka or Oulanka National Park
Keep your itinerary flexible — bad weather or aurora forecasts may require changes.
Recommended companies:
McRent, TouringCars if you want to rent locally or Roadsurfer & Indie Campers if you are willing to drive a long way from Germany.
Best time to visit Lapland
If you want to see snow and experience true Finnish Lapland, SKIP December. Especially the Christmas Holidays. It’s the absolut worst time to visit Rovaniemi and all the other places.
Why?
It’s mostly cloudy, extremely crowded, snow is not guaranteed and more expensive. You might even get scammed with some of the tours and you’ll probably be dissapointed in this whole experience. Trust me, there is no “oh but during Christmas is the magic happening”. Nope, it’s not. Instagram makes this look better than it actually is. The crowds and costs will make you crazy. There’s less or no snow, minimal daylight and time to do things, and probably zero chances to see the Northern Lights.
Your best bet is January–February for guaranteed snow, Northern Lights, and winter activities.
If you’re renting a van you won’t need to book waaaay in advance since there isn’t a high demand as with the glass igloos or standard accomodations, so check the weather forecats and aim to be more spontaneous when you spot -20 or -30 degrees Celsius for the most epic adventure & fun.
But make sure there is availability for what you want. Some companies don’t rent out in winter unless you book a whole month.
Expect short daylight hours though: around 4–6 hours, but this adds to the magical light for photography.
What to pack for a winter roadtrip trough Finland
Winter in Lapland is extreme. Proper clothing and equipment are not optional — they’re survival essentials. It’s extremely important to have everything you need with you especially when traveling by van.
Clothing Essentials:
- Insulated waterproof jacket & pants
- Thermal base layers (tops & bottoms)
- Wool socks, gloves, scarves, beanie
- Sturdy winter boots with good grip
- Crampons or spikes
Other Essentials:
- Extra blankets & sleeping bags just in case
- Snow shovel, wheel chains & ice scraper
- Headlamps, powerbanks and batteries. (your phone battery will drain extremely fast with those cold temperatures
- Plenty of non-perishable food
- Camera + tripod for Northern Lights
Sleeping & Camping
Wild van camping in Finland is permitted and popular due to the Everyman’s Right but it has to be well respected. If you ever see a sign prohibiting wild camping or parking, you must absolutely respect that.
Free Camping:
- Use Park4Night to search for places with good reviews.
- Check local signs – parking in private areas is prohibited.
- Behind Santa’s village in Rovaniemi, you can spend the night for free in the large parking lot.
- Riisitunturi National Park has a big parking lot where we’ve seen people staying overnight and no prohibition signs back in 2024. Check local signs & laws for current information.
- Don’t leave any trace
Paid Campsites:
- Santa’s Village Campground (Rovaniemi) – €25–30/night, great facilities including shower and dumping station
- Levi Camping – €30–40/night, close to ski slopes.
Chasing the Northern Lights
Seeing the Aurora Borealis is definitely a very important bucket-list moment. Having a van gives you the best opportunities to see the Northern Lights without relying on tours that keep your schedule fixed and short.
While I do recommend getting a Northern Lights tour if you don’t have the experience to chase them or it’s your first time, seeing & photographing them from the comfort of your van is something else. You could find a remote dark place near a lake & stay for hours because you are not missing out on your hotel booking, and it’s also free.
You get outside, enjoy the dancing Aurora, take some photos and get back inside to warm up then do it all over again until you get bored. Of course you won’t :)) You just get tired and you get to sleep surrounded by snowy trees without the need to drive for hours back to your hotel.
Tips for Hunting Auroras:
- Stay far from city lights — forests or frozen lakes are perfect. (ex. Riisitunturi National Park is the place you’re guaranteed to see them if the sky is clear)
- Check aurora forecasts and webcams on the best website – AuroraWebcams.com
- Stay far from city lights — forests or frozen lakes are perfect.
- Patience is key — sometimes you wait hours, sometimes it appears immediately.
Photography Tips:
- Use a tripod and manual mode: ISO 1600–3200, aperture f/2.8–f/4, exposure 10–20 sec. White balance auto or 3500 for most natural greens.
- Include foreground interest: trees, lakes.
- Shoot RAW for maximum editing flexibility and high quality in post production
- Try a timelapse (set the camera up for continuous photos and let it sit for at least 30 minutes) play with shutter speed depending on how fast the Northern Lights are moving.
- iPhone photography: use a tripod, activate night mode with maximum shutter speed, 3 seconds timer to prevent any movements, wait for the 30 seconds to appear and slowly press capture.
Activities to try in Finnish Lapland
Driving or flying such a long way comes with the deep desire to do those bucketlist things everyone does, so of course I will definitely recommend them, but try to add some extra activities that are free and quite amazing. It’ll be worth it!!
While I do recommend going on a husky sledge run or a snowmobile trip, visiting Santa or a reindeer farm, try going on a hike too and witness those insane wilderness landscapes with your own eyes! It’ll be cold, I know… but you’ll never see such a thing in your life! The hype is real! If you have everything covered in snow, you can even try to go at night on close nearby trails in Levi for example. It’s quite an adventure!
Here are my best recommendations:
- Riisitunturi National Park – Riisin rääpäsy trail
- Oulanka National Park – Pieni Karhunkierros trail (The Bear Trail)
- Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
- Korouoma Nature Reserve -Koronjää Trail
After a stunning hike you’ll never forget (both because of it’s beauty and probably the extreme cold), I recommend experiencing a Lavvu.
Shop some sausages and take them on a hike with you. Take a portable pot or metal can, some milk and powdered hot chocolate and make a break in a Lavvu to heat up and enjoy a meal in between! There’s nothing like it! Hot chocolate in the middle of nowhere? Yes please!!
If you find yourself in Rovaniemi, give this mini lights park a try:
Why? because it’s fun and truly magical if you allow yourself to be a kid again. OR maybe you are a family with kids which makes this the perfect location to feel like in a fairytale!
There are igloos, sledges to mess around and all sorts of figurines to play with or simply admire. We’re in our 30’s and we had so much fun here at -25 degrees Celsius like it was the absolut best part of our entire trip. Well after the Aurora of course. I think the entry to this park costs around 30 Eur.
You can always choose more local specific things like floating on a freezing lake, go ice fishing, do a cold plunge followed by sauna or stay in a glass igloo, but I have to be honest, I haven’t experienced them yet so I can’t share specific opinions, but I bet they are worth it! Expensive, but worth it for sure.
I am here to show you that Finnish Lapland can be even more magical than the normal paths the typical tourists take and clearly more affordable if you plan your trip accordingly, or you choose to get out of your comfort zone, of course!
Other than that, I hope you have a wonderful trip up North no matter how you choose to explore this stunning part of the world! <3
Save this guide for later if you found it useful or share it with your hiking partner to help plan your trip. And if you’ve already been to Lapland, I’d love to hear which experience left the strongest impression — drop a comment below and share your experience. <3
Thanks for reading!
Finnish Lapland is one of those unique places that remind you why you fell in love with travel adventures in the first place. I hope this guide inspires you to consider your own wild escape and experience Lapland beyond the classic ways.
Wishing you an unforgettable journey.
