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Lapland has a bit of a reputation for being for kids, right? Like Ibiza is apparently only for youthful clubbers and the Maldives are for annoyingly loved-up honeymooners. But even though popular folklore and modern marketing have turned Finnish Lapland into the official home of Santa Claus, it’s also home to the indigenous Sámi people, vast forests, frozen lakes, winding rivers and open Arctic tundra.
One New Year’s Eve, I decided to treat myself to the trip of a lifetime and travelled solo to Helsinki, before flying out to Inari in Finnish Lapland, where I went snowmobiling, ice fishing, dog sledding, fed reindeer and saw the northern lights – it was one of my favourite trips ever.
If you’re considering a winter trip to Lapland as an adult, this guide covers what you need to know, from why I chose Inari and where I stayed to the best things to do and what I wish I’d known before I went.
The best bases in Finnish Lapland for adults
Lapland isn’t a country, or even exclusively Finnish. The wider region stretches across northern Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia, forming part of the traditional homeland of the indigenous Sámi people. For my trip, I chose to head to Finnish Lapland, and more specifically Inari.
There are several places you could base yourself in Finnish Lapland, with Rovaniemi, Levi and Ylläs among the most popular. But Saariselkä and Inari seem to be the best destinations for adults seeking a peaceful, nature-focused escape away from family-heavy Christmas resorts.
I eventually narrowed it down to Inari, mainly because I was desperate to see the northern lights. While the aurora is, of course, never guaranteed, Inari’s dark skies and remote location make it a great place for aurora hunting, and you don’t necessarily even need to book a tour – I saw the northern lights right outside my hotel.
If you want more restaurants, skiing and a wider choice of activities on your doorstep, Saariselkä might suit you better. But if you want dark skies, Sámi culture and somewhere quieter, go with Inari. If you still can’t decide, it’s worth knowing that Saariselkä and Inari are only around 30 minutes’ drive apart, so you could easily explore both if you hire a car.
Where to stay in Inari, Finland
Here’s a quick summary of where to stay in Inari if you want to skip the bigger breakdown:
BEST FOR SELF-CATERING Holiday Village Inari | Click here for rates and availability
BEST ALL-ROUNDER: Hotel Inari | Click here for rates and availability
BEST IF YOU WANT TO SPLURGE: Wilderness Hotel Inari (where I stayed) | Click here for rates and availability
BEST FOR A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: Lake Inari Mobile Cabins | Click here for rates and availability
For this trip, I did something I never do: I booked a package holiday. No hostel dorm rooms. No instant noodles for dinner. No cat sitting for a free stay. I went all out – a little New Year treat to myself.
Wilderness Hotel Inari – where I stayed
There are several Wilderness Hotels dotted across Finnish Lapland, but I chose Wilderness Hotel Inari, simply because of their availability over the New Year period. I stayed in one of the Wilderness Rooms, although there are also pricier Aurora Cabins with heated glass roofs if you want to go all out.
I booked a package that included all my meals, drinks and activities. The food was good, the staff were friendly and the hotel itself was super cosy, with an open fire and the restaurant overlooking the frozen lake. It didn’t feel overly crowded, and although it’s not an adults-only property, there weren’t many children during my stay.
Book here: Wilderness Hotel Inari
Hotel Inari – best all-rounder
For a bit of everything, Hotel Inari is a solid all-rounder. I met quite a lot of people on organised tours who were staying here and recommended it. Like Wilderness Hotel Inari, it’s right on the shores of Lake Inari and puts you close to shops, local sights and the Sámi Museum. Rooms are comfortable and straightforward, with some offering lake views and others having their own private sauna. There’s also an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Book here: Hotel Inari
Holiday Village Inari – best for self-catering
If you’d rather have the freedom to cook for yourself, Holiday Village Inari is a great option. Their cosy cabins come with kitchen facilities, so you can stock up on supplies and settle in without having to eat out every night. Many cabins also have their own sauna, which I definitely missed out on. The property has canoes, kayaks and rowing boats available to hire in summer, and there’s also a café on site for drinks and snacks. You’re also only a five-minute walk from the centre of Inari, with the Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre around 20 minutes walk away.
Book here: Holiday Village Inari
Lake Inari Mobile Cabins – best for a unique experience (and where I’d stay next time)
If you want your accommodation to be part of the adventure, take a look at Lake Inari Mobile Cabins, a little further around the lake. At the base camp, you can make use of the shared showers, sauna, lounge, kitchen and dining room, before enjoying dinner around the open fire. Then comes the fun bit. Your warm, glass-roofed cabin is towed out onto the frozen lake for the night (with you inside!) where you can lie in bed and look up at the Arctic sky. In the morning, it’s towed back to base in time for breakfast. It’s certainly not your average hotel room, but I’m definitely staying here next time I’m in Inari.
Book here: Lake Inari Mobile Cabins
Things to do in Inari for adults
There aren’t many activity operators in peaceful Inari, so all of my excursions were organised by my hotel. If I returned, I might consider staying in nearby Saariselkä for easy access to a wider choice of excursions, especially now I’ve seen the northern lights, which was my main reason for choosing Inari. If you have a hire car, though, it won’t be an issue as you can easily travel between the two.
Here’s what I got up to:
Snowmobiling
Without a doubt, snowmobiling was one of my favourite things I did in Inari. If you’re travelling solo, you might get lucky and not have to share, which means you can sing ABBA at the top of your lungs without ruining anyone else’s experience. We zoomed across the frozen lake, stopped to let reindeer cross the trail and eventually reached a camp where our guide lit a fire inside a tipi and served us hot berry juice and biscuits.
During my trip we had extremely low temperatures of -30°C, which made snowmobiling at night a bit more challenging due to the wind chill. It was painful at times, but the cold was worth it for the chance to snowmobile beneath the northern lights – something I managed to do on New Year’s Day.
Book an evening snowmobiling tour here
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is a much more serene experience. You’ll learn how to make a hole through the thick ice before settling down to see if anything bites. It was interesting to try – I’ve never done any kind of fishing before. Although once you’re set up, there’s quite a lot of sitting around waiting. I didn’t catch anything, no one in our group did, so perhaps that didn’t help.
Local culture and reindeer feeding
I visited a local reindeer-herding family and learned more about their work, local traditions and Sámi culture. I love excursions like this where you get a bit of a sense of local life, so I’d recommend this if you’re craving something a bit different to the other outdoor adventures.
Meet a Sámi reindeer-herding family on this tour for a hands-on handicraft workshop and lunch
Husky sledding
Husky sledding is another absolute must while you’re in Lapland. The huskies are ridiculously cute, and getting pulled through the snow by a team of them is one of those experiences that feels properly magical. It gets a bit bumpy if you’re the one sitting in the sleigh… and a bit smelly as the dogs are somehow able to poop and run at the same time. Oh and I did end up crashing into a load of other people when my fellow tourist driver fell off. Otherwise it’s so fun!
More things to do in Lapland
- You can swap a snowmobile for a go-kart and try ice karting on a frozen track.
- If you fancy something slower than the energetic huskies, you could go horse riding on a guided tour.
- And if you want to keep both feet on the ground, head out into the polar night and try snowshoeing while you search for the northern lights. You certainly won’t run out of things to do in Inari and the surrounding area.
How many days do you need in Lapland?
For Lapland itself, I’d recommend at least three nights. That gave me enough time to try several activities without feeling like I was constantly rushing from one excursion to the next. If you’re flying via Helsinki, I’d allow at least five nights for the overall trip, with a night either side of your Lapland stay in the Finnish capital. But if you have the time and budget, I’d recommend staying a few extra nights in Helsinki. There’s plenty to see and do, and you might as well while you’re there.
My Lapland itinerary at a glance
Night 1: Helsinki
I flew to Helsinki on 29th December, and because my flight to Lapland was at 6.50am the following morning, I decided to stay close to Helsinki Airport and kept this first night simple.
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Vantaa, but it appears to have permanently closed and replaced by Scandic Veromies, which is still a very budget-friendly option. It’s a little further from the airport, but there’s a free shuttle available.
If you want to make things even easier, Comfort Hotel Xpress Helsinki Airport Terminal is actually inside the airport – I love a hotel like this when you have an early flight. Another option is Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport, which is also very close to the airport.
Nights 2–4: Inari
I flew from Helsinki to Ivalo, which took around 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Ivalo, I travelled onwards to Inari via an airport transfer arranged by my accommodation, Wilderness Hotel Inari.
Nights 5–7: Helsinki
After Lapland, I flew back to Helsinki and spent another three nights in the city, staying at The Yard Hostel, which I really enjoyed. Sadly, I wasn’t feeling well enough to make the most of the city. I’d been ill since mid-December and was just getting over it when I arrived in Lapland. I swear the -30°C temperatures froze whatever virus I had until I defrosted a little in Helsinki’s comparatively balmy -16°C, and then it came back with a vengeance.
What’s the weather like in Finnish Lapland in winter?
If there’s one thing I underestimated about visiting Lapland, it was just how cold it could get. I’d done my Google research and was expecting lows of around -16°C, but during my three nights in Inari, it hovered around -30°C. While I quite enjoyed the Arctic cold and getting cosy, it did make it difficult to stay outside for too long.
Although many hotels and activity providers provide winter clothing for excursions, you still need to bring the basic layers you’d expect for any winter holiday. I was happy with what I packed, but there are a few things I’d do differently next time. I’ve covered those, along with some niche advice, in my Lapland winter prep article.
As for the sun, it never quite rose above the horizon, creating a bluey, pinky, dusky sky for much of the day. Against the snow-covered trees, it was simply stunning.
So, is Lapland worth visiting as an adult?
As I sit here and reminisce, I’m wondering how soon I can go back, because this was one of my favourite trips ever – not just as an adult, but as a solo traveller too.
Yes, Finnish Lapland has plenty of Santa-themed experiences aimed at families, but that’s only one side of the region. You can spend your days snowmobiling through snowy forests, meeting huskies, learning about reindeer herding, ice fishing, discovering Sámi culture or simply sitting somewhere cosy as the snow falls. And if you’re lucky, you might finish the day watching the northern lights dance overhead.
So, is Lapland worth visiting as a solo adult traveller? My answer is a very definite yes. Just remember to bring your thermals.
