We’ve been lucky enough to visit Finnish Lapland three times, and across those trips we’ve tried A LOT of different activities.
We’ve raced around frozen tracks on ice karts, driven snowmobiles through the forest at night, slept in a room made entirely from snow and ice, met Santa, ridden with huskies and reindeer, and thrown ourselves down snowy hills on sledges.
Some experiences have cost us over £100 per person, while others have been completely free. But which Lapland activities are actually worth the money?
I thought it would be useful to put everything we’ve tried into one big guide, including what we paid and, most importantly, what we genuinely thought of each one.
There are activities here from both Rovaniemi and Levi, ranging from the big Lapland experiences you’ll probably already have on your wish list, to some cheaper and even free things you might not have considered.
One thing I should probably say before we start is that I research A LOT before booking anything. I spend hours reading reviews, comparing different experiences and working out what I think we’ll actually enjoy.
So you won’t find any truly awful scores in this guide, simply because I’ve usually ruled those activities out before we even get to Lapland!
That doesn’t mean everything gets a 10/10 though. These are still my honest reviews, and there are definitely experiences we’ve enjoyed more than others, things I think offer better value for money and a few I’d probably do differently next time.
I’ve given every activity a score out of 10 based purely on our own experience. Obviously, this is completely personal. Something we absolutely loved might not be for you, and things like the weather can make a huge difference too. We’ve done activities in everything from fairly mild winter temperatures to -28°C, which definitely affected how much we enjoyed some of them!
The prices shown are what we paid at the time, so use them as a rough guide rather than a current price list. I’ll include links throughout the guide so you can check the latest prices and availability for your own trip.
So, after three trips to Finnish Lapland, here’s how we rated 20 Lapland activities we’ve actually tried, including the ones we’d happily pay for again and whether there are any we wouldn’t bother with next time.
From DIY itineraries and Northern Lights tips to budgeting advice, destination guides and honest reviews of the places we've visited, you'll find everything together in our Lapland Travel Guide Hub.
Just a quick note before we begin. Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products, services and experiences we've used ourselves or genuinely believe will help you plan your trip. Thanks for supporting Build a Break.
The activities in this guide come from three separate DIY trips we’ve taken to Finnish Lapland, and each trip was quite different.
Our first was a 5-day family trip to Levi, which was actually our first ever DIY Lapland holiday. We travelled with our children, stayed in an apartment in the centre of Levi and packed the trip with activities including Arcandia, Polarman’s Camp, reindeer rides and mini snowmobiling. You can see exactly what we did and what the whole trip cost in our 5 Day Levi Itinerary.
We then returned to Lapland for a 3-day trip to Rovaniemi, this time with one of my friends. This trip was much more about experiences for adults, including sleeping overnight at the Arctic SnowHotel, trying the Snow Sauna and heading out on an evening snowmobile safari. You can read the full trip in our 3 Day Rovaniemi Itinerary.
Our third trip was back to Rovaniemi for my teenage daughter’s birthday. We only had 2 days in Lapland, so this one was fast-paced, but we still managed to fit in ice karting, Sauna World and plenty more. You’ll find everything we did in our 2 Day Rovaniemi Itinerary for Teens.
Between those three trips, we’ve experienced Lapland as a family, with teenagers and on a trip with friends, which is why there’s such a random mixture of activities in this guide!
Across our three trips to Finnish Lapland, we’ve tried 20 different activities and experiences in both Levi and Rovaniemi.
Our ratings range from 8/10 to 10/10, with prices ranging from completely free activities to £230 for our overnight stay at the Arctic SnowHotel.
There’s a real mixture in here too. Some of our 10/10 experiences were amongst the cheapest things we did, while spending more definitely didn’t guarantee a higher score.
Below, I’ll go through all 20 individually, including what we paid, what was included, what we loved, what we didn’t and whether we’d actually book them again.
If you’re still deciding which activities to book, you can save 5% on Lapland activities with GetYourGuide using our code BUILDABREAK5.
| Activity | Location | What We Paid | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids' Mini Snowmobiling | Levi | £17 per child | 10/10 |
| 2km HuskyPark Husky Ride | Rovaniemi | £56 adult / £39 child | 9/10 |
| Lappin Saaga Reindeer Sleigh Ride | Levi | £38.50pp incl. transfers | 10/10 |
| Ice Karting at Santa's Motor Park | Rovaniemi | £81pp | 10/10 |
| Arctic SnowHotel Tour | Rovaniemi | Included with Ice Restaurant | 9/10 |
| Arctic SnowHotel Snow Sauna | Rovaniemi | £59pp | 9/10 |
| Lapland Winter Park Sauna World | Rovaniemi | £56pp | 9.5/10 |
| Polarman's Camp Northern Lights Experience | Levi | £63.50pp | 10/10 |
| Overnight at Arctic SnowHotel | Rovaniemi | £230 | 9/10 |
| Santa Claus Reindeer Sleigh Ride | Rovaniemi | £34pp | 8/10 |
| Crossing the Arctic Circle | Rovaniemi | FREE | 8/10 |
| Santa Claus Main Post Office | Rovaniemi | FREE to visit | 8/10 |
| Snowman World | Rovaniemi | £30pp | 8/10 |
| Arcandia Elf Court | Levi | £101pp | 10/10 |
| Arcandia The Darkness | Levi | Included with Elf Court* | 9/10 |
| Santa Claus Village | Rovaniemi | FREE | 8/10 |
| Levi Fell Gondola | Levi | Approx. £11pp | 8/10 |
| Sledging | Levi | €10 per sledge | 8.5/10 |
| 15km Northern Lights Snowmobiling Tour | Rovaniemi | £119pp | 9.5/10 |
| Arctic SnowHotel Ice Restaurant | Rovaniemi | £150pp | 9/10 |
*Arcandia The Darkness was included because we'd booked the Elf Court experience. We spent around £40 for our family on activity tokens once inside.
Prices shown are what we personally paid and are included to give you an idea of cost. Always check the latest price before booking, as Lapland activity prices can change between seasons.
Location: Levi
What we paid: £17 per child
Our rating: 10/10
This was one of the cheapest activities we did in Lapland and genuinely one of the best. We didn’t book in advance, we just turned up at Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park in Levi and luckily we were the only ones there at the time.
All the equipment was provided and the staff were really patient with the girls. There were only two of them taking part, but rather than having them both on the track together, they took it in turns. They each did five laps, swapped over, then did another five laps each, so they got 10 laps altogether and had the track completely to themselves while they were driving.
I really liked the track here too. We’ve tried kids’ snowmobiling elsewhere where the track has been quite tight, which I think makes it easier for kids to lose control or have a bump. This one was still through the forest, but it felt much more open with plenty of room to drive around.
We were there for around an hour in total and the girls even got their own little driving licence at the end.
For £17 each, I thought this was brilliant value. They got plenty of time on the snowmobiles, the staff didn’t rush them and, most importantly, they absolutely loved it. An easy 10/10 from us.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: £56 adult / £39 child
Our rating: 9/10
We’ve actually done this husky ride twice now, both times with HuskyPark at Santa Claus Village, and we really enjoyed it on both trips.
The ride is 2km and lasts around 10 to 15 minutes. You can book much longer husky rides in Lapland, but personally I wouldn’t underestimate how cold you can get once those dogs start running! On one of our visits it was around -28°C and the wind chill when you’re sitting on the sleigh was no joke. By the end, 2km definitely felt long enough.
Although HuskyPark is located at Santa Claus Village, once you set off you head out into the forest and it doesn’t feel like you’re at one of Rovaniemi’s busiest tourist attractions.
You could be anywhere in Lapland, surrounded by snow and trees, which makes the actual ride feel much less commercialised than you might expect from the location.
We didn’t do a husky ride during our Levi trip because one of my daughters had a fear of dogs at the time, so I can’t compare the experience with any of the husky companies there. However, having now used HuskyPark twice in Rovaniemi, we’ve been happy with the experience both times.
I’ve given this one 9/10. It’s definitely one of those classic Lapland activities I think is worth doing, but for us the 2km ride was plenty, especially when the temperatures were really low.
Location: Levi
What we paid: £38.50pp including transfers
Our rating: 10/10
This was lovely. Truly lovely, and probably one of my favourite traditional Lapland experiences we’ve done.
We were picked up from the centre of Levi for a small extra fee and driven out to Lappin Saaga, where we were met by our own elf. She stayed with us throughout the whole experience, apart from when we went off on the reindeer sleigh ride, and it all felt really personal.
Before the ride, she took us to meet the Icelandic horses and spent time chatting to the girls. We then headed out on our 1km reindeer sleigh ride, which took around 15 minutes. Again, I thought this was plenty. You leave the grounds and head off into the snowy forest, so it feels like a proper Lapland sleigh ride rather than just going around a small track.
Afterwards, our elf took us into a little hut where we were given biscuits and hot juice. She stayed with us, talking about Santa and Lapland, and there was no feeling that we were being rushed through ready for the next group.
From arriving to leaving, the whole experience lasted around an hour, before we were driven back into Levi.
For £38.50pp including our transfers, I thought the value was fantastic. It wasn’t just a 15-minute reindeer ride, it was the whole experience around it that made this one so special. Definitely 10/10 for us.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: Included with our Ice Restaurant package
Our rating: 9/10
We’ve actually visited the Arctic SnowHotel twice now. The first time we stayed overnight, and the second time we returned as part of the Ice Restaurant visiting package. On both occasions, the tour was included, so we didn’t pay an additional fee for it.
If you’re visiting just to see the SnowHotel, tickets are around €34pp, and I definitely think it’s worth seeing at least once.
One of the things I love about the Arctic SnowHotel is that it’s different every year. The hotel is rebuilt each winter and the rooms are individually themed and created by different artists, so even though we’d already seen it on our first trip, there was still plenty that was completely new when we went back.
The rooms are incredible. Some are really detailed, with huge sculptures carved into the snow and ice, and it’s quite hard to believe that people actually sleep in them!
I’ve given the tour 9/10. It’s such a unique place and definitely worth seeing, even if sleeping overnight in a SnowHotel isn’t quite your thing.
Want to know more? Read our full Arctic SnowHotel Guide, where I cover visiting for the day, the different experiences available and what to expect when you get there.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: £59pp as an add-on to our overnight stay
Our rating: 9/10
This was bliss, although I may be slightly biased because we’d just spent the night sleeping on a bed of ice at the Arctic SnowHotel! Following that with a sauna the next morning felt absolutely divine.
We paid £59pp because we were already staying at the SnowHotel and added the Snow Sauna experience to our stay. If you're visiting just for the day, there are packages available which include things like transfers and a tour of the Arctic SnowHotel, so don't be surprised if the price you see online is quite a bit higher than what we paid.
The experience includes a traditional Finnish sauna as well as the Snow Sauna, which is exactly what it sounds like. You’re sitting inside a sauna made from snow and ice while steam fills the room around you.
I loved the whole experience, although I did find the actual Snow Sauna a little claustrophobic, which is the only reason I’ve knocked a point off.
After a very interesting night’s sleep in the SnowHotel, warming up properly in the sauna afterwards was exactly what I needed!
You can read our full Arctic SnowHotel Snow Sauna Review for more details on what it was like and what to expect.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: £56pp
Our rating: 9.5/10
We spent the whole afternoon at Lapland Winter Park and Sauna World was definitely one of the highlights. There’s a free shuttle from Rovaniemi, which makes getting there really easy if you’re visiting without a car.
Sauna World has eight different saunas, so you can work your way around and try them all rather than sitting in the same one for the whole session. There’s also a cold dip pool and two jacuzzis, which we really enjoyed.
We stayed at Lapland Winter Park for the whole afternoon because there are lots of other things to do on site too, so it’s really easy to make a full afternoon of it rather than travelling out just for Sauna World.
I’ve given this 9.5/10. I absolutely loved it and would happily go back. The only thing stopping me giving it a full 10 was the changing facilities. I preferred having more privacy when we did the Snow Sauna at Arctic SnowHotel, but that really is me being picky.
You can read our full Lapland Winter Park Sauna World Guide for everything else there is to do while you’re there. We also have a Snow Sauna vs Sauna World comparison if you’re trying to decide which experience to book.
Location: Levi
What we paid: £63.50pp
Our rating: 10/10
This was brilliant. I’m a massive geek when it comes to the Northern Lights, but we actually nearly cancelled this because the forecast was showing only around a 20% chance of seeing anything due to heavy cloud cover. Thankfully we decided to go anyway, because we were so glad we did.
We were picked up in Levi and taken out of the centre to Polarman’s Camp, away from the light pollution. There’s a heated dome tent with a fire inside, which means you don’t have to spend the entire evening standing outside freezing while you wait to see if the Northern Lights decide to make an appearance.
Inside the dome they gave us a presentation about the Northern Lights, showed us a short film and told us lots of Finnish folk tales.
There was so much more to the evening than simply standing around waiting for the sky to turn green. We found the whole thing fascinating and genuinely learnt loads. There was also a Lappish BBQ included, along with hot drinks, and plenty of opportunities to warm up throughout the evening.
We were getting towards the final 20 minutes of the experience and had pretty much accepted that the forecast had been right. Then, all of a sudden, the Northern Lights came out to play!
We arrived back in Levi at around 11pm, so the whole experience was roughly four hours from leaving to getting back. For £63.50pp, I thought this was fantastic value, particularly because the evening was so enjoyable even before the Northern Lights appeared.
It also meant we didn’t have to get quite as cold waiting around for them, which after experiencing Lapland at -28°C was definitely appreciated!
An easy 10/10 and one of my favourite experiences from our Levi trip.
You can read more about this night in our 5 Day Levi Itinerary, including how we fitted Polarman’s Camp into the rest of our trip.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: £230
Our rating: 9/10
This is probably the most unique place I’ve ever stayed. Sleeping in a hotel made entirely from snow and ice is definitely one of those bucket-list Lapland experiences, although I’ll be honest, you’re booking this for the experience rather than a fantastic night’s sleep!
Every winter the Arctic SnowHotel is completely rebuilt, with around 30 individually themed rooms carved from snow and ice. Before bed, we spent ages wandering around looking at all the different rooms and sculptures. Once the day visitors leave at around 10pm, the hotel becomes so quiet and you pretty much have the place to yourselves, which makes staying overnight feel completely different to just visiting for a tour.
Our room was around -5°C and we were given specialist Arctic sleeping bags and thick blankets.
Staff advised us to sleep in dry base layers with woolly socks and gloves, and even told us to put our snow boots at the bottom of the sleeping bag to keep them warm and dry.
I also added hand and foot warmers because I’m a complete wimp when it comes to being cold!
There is a heated locker and changing area where you leave your main luggage, plus heated bunk beds available if you decide during the night that you simply can’t do it anymore. I liked knowing there was an escape route if needed, although we did manage the whole night in our ice room.
At around 1.30am we were woken by the Aurora Alarm and headed outside hoping to see the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, the cloud had other ideas that night, but I loved that the hotel alerts you so you don’t have to spend the whole night checking outside yourself.
Would I stay for two nights? Absolutely not 😂. One was enough. But would I recommend doing it once? Definitely.
I’ve given it 9/10 purely because sleep quality is obviously never going to compare to a lovely warm hotel bed. As an experience though, it was incredible and something I’ll always remember.
You can read our full Arctic SnowHotel overnight review for everything about the rooms, what we wore to sleep, facilities, transport and whether I think staying overnight is worth the money.
Location: Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
What we paid: £34pp
Our rating: 8/10
This is probably one of the easiest ways to fit a reindeer sleigh ride into a Rovaniemi trip. You don’t need to book the shorter rides in advance. You literally walk up, buy your ticket and wait in the queue for your turn. That’s still how the shorter rides operate now.
It does feel much more commercialised than the reindeer experience we did at Lappin Saaga in Levi though. When we visited there was a continuous queue of people waiting, with the reindeer and sleighs tied together and moving around the route one after another.
You do leave the main part of Santa Claus Village and head into the trees, so you still get that snowy Lapland setting, but for me it didn’t feel as personal or as scenic as our Lappin Saaga experience.
That said, I’ve still given it 8/10. If you’re short on time or don’t want to arrange transfers to a reindeer farm, being able to simply turn up and do a sleigh ride while you’re already at Santa Claus Village is really convenient. I just wouldn’t choose this one over Lappin Saaga if I was comparing our two experiences.
You can read our full Santa Claus Village Guide for everything else you can do while you’re there.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: FREE
Our rating: 8/10
Crossing the Arctic Circle is one of those things that you just have to do when you’re in Rovaniemi. The Arctic Circle line runs straight through Santa Claus Village and is clearly marked in the main square, so you can literally walk, jump or dance your way across it.
Is the actual experience particularly exciting? Not really 😂. You’re basically stepping over a line on the floor, but there is something quite cool about knowing you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle, and of course it costs absolutely nothing.
One thing that makes it a little more fun is the live webcam overlooking the Arctic Circle line. If you time it right, you can tell family or friends at home when you’re going to cross and they can watch you doing it live.
The webcam is also shown on the official Santa Claus Village site.
You can also buy an official Arctic Circle Crossing Certificate if you want something to take home, although we were quite happy with our photos and videos.
I’ve given this 8/10. It’s quick, it’s free and it’s unique to being this far north. You’re probably not going to come home saying it was the highlight of your Lapland trip, but you can’t go all the way to Santa Claus Village and not cross the Arctic Circle!
You can find this and lots more things to do in our full Santa Claus Village Guide.
Location: Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
What we paid: FREE to visit, around €5 to send a postcard
Our rating: 8/10
The Santa Claus Main Post Office is another easy thing to do while you’re at Santa Claus Village and it’s completely free to go inside.
You can buy postcards, write them there and send them home with the special Arctic Circle postmark. We paid around €5 to send a postcard, so it’s a relatively cheap little extra to add to your visit.
It does get very busy, particularly when Santa Claus Village is packed with day visitors, but I still think it’s worth popping in. It’s not going to take up a huge part of your day and you don’t need to book anything in advance.
I’ve given it 8/10. For a free attraction it’s good fun, and sending a postcard home from Santa’s official post office is one of those little things that makes a Lapland trip feel that bit more special.
You can read our full Santa Claus Main Post Office Guide for more information on what to expect, sending postcards from the Arctic Circle and visiting during your trip to Santa Claus Village.
Location: Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
What we paid: £30pp
Our rating: 8/10
We’ve visited Snowman World twice now, once as adults and then again with my teenage daughter, and we’ve enjoyed it both times.
There’s actually quite a lot included in the entrance price. You can go ice skating, use the giant snow slides, explore the snow and ice sculptures and have a look around the Ice Bar and Ice Restaurant. Your ticket is valid all day too, so you can leave to explore the rest of Santa Claus Village and come back later.
I think families with younger children will probably get the most out of Snowman World. My teenager still had a brilliant time, particularly on the slides and ice skating, but I’d say children around 5 to 10 are probably the perfect age for it.
We’ve also visited the Arctic SnowHotel twice and, although there are similarities between the two, I personally prefer the SnowHotel. It’s on a much bigger scale and feels more like a full Arctic experience, whereas Snowman World is more of a fun family attraction that fits really easily into a day at Santa Claus Village.
That’s why I’ve given Snowman World 8/10. We’ve enjoyed both of our visits and I definitely think it’s worth doing, particularly with younger children, but if I had to choose just one snow and ice attraction, I’d pick the Arctic SnowHotel.
You can read our full Snowman World Rovaniemi Guide for everything that’s included, how long to allow and whether we think it’s worth the money. If you’re trying to choose between the two attractions, we also have a Snowman World vs Arctic SnowHotel Guide comparing them side by side.
Location: Levi
What we paid: £101pp including The Darkness and transfers
Our rating: 10/10
Arcandia was one of the more expensive things we booked during our Levi trip, but it was also one of the best. We chose the shorter Elf Court experience, and from the minute we arrived it felt completely different to a standard visit to see Santa.
We were met at the gates by an elf who stayed with us while we tried loads of the outdoor activities. The girls went hill sliding, tried archery and ran around inside the giant Knockerballs, as well as meeting the reindeer.
Afterwards we headed inside the Elf Court lodge, where the girls decorated biscuits, made Christmas crafts and wrote in Santa's book. The Santa experience here was what really made it for us. There was only one other family there during our session, so instead of getting a quick chat and a photo, the girls spent around 45 minutes with Santa.
He chatted to them, helped them decorate their biscuits and it all felt really relaxed rather than rushed.
At the end, Santa even walked us back towards the gates, stopping to show us his reindeer on the way. It was such a lovely experience and probably one of the most personal Santa visits we’ve ever done.
Our £101pp also included our transfers from Levi and entry to return to Arcandia later that evening for The Darkness, which made the price feel much better value.
For us, this was an easy 10/10. If you want a Santa experience where the children actually get to spend time with him rather than simply queueing for a quick photo, this was fantastic.
You can read our full Arcandia Levi Review for everything we did at the Elf Court, current options and prices, plus what Arcandia is like after dark.
Location: Levi
What we paid: Included with our Elf Court booking, plus around £40 in activity tokens for our family
Our rating: 9/10
After visiting the Elf Court during the day, we returned to Arcandia that evening for The Darkness. Entry was included with our Elf Court tickets, so we didn’t have to pay another entrance fee, although the main activities inside use Arcandia’s own wooden coins which you buy once you’re there.
The park felt completely different at night. With the colourful lights, music, fires and the forest completely dark around you, it looked incredible and had a much more adventurous feel than the Elf Court we'd done earlier.
As we’d already tried quite a few activities during the day, we concentrated on some of the others available. We tried ice pucking, archery, mini snowmobiling, axe throwing and feeding the reindeer. The kids particularly loved the mini snowmobiles and ended up having multiple goes.
There are also some activities you can do without using coins, and fires dotted around the park where you can stop and warm up. We definitely appreciated those because it was absolutely freezing!
We spent around £40 on activity tokens for our family, so although our entry was included, it wasn’t a completely free evening.
I’ve given The Darkness 9/10. It was busier than our Elf Court experience and didn’t have that same personal feel, but that’s really comparing two completely different things. The Elf Court was all about Santa and the elves, whereas The Darkness was more about having fun and trying different activities.
I also think this side of Arcandia is particularly good for older children and teens. There’s plenty to do that has absolutely nothing to do with Santa, which is useful if your children are starting to outgrow the more traditional Lapland experiences.
You can read our full Arcandia Levi Review for a breakdown of both the Elf Court and The Darkness, including all the activities we tried and how the coin system works.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: FREE to visit
Our rating: 8/10
We’ve visited Santa Claus Village twice now and, yes, it’s very touristy and commercialised, but I still think it’s somewhere you should visit if you’re going to Rovaniemi.
The big advantage is just how much there is to do in one place. You can meet Santa, cross the Arctic Circle, visit Santa Claus Main Post Office, take a husky or reindeer ride, visit Snowman World, go ice karting, browse the Christmas shops and stop for food, all without travelling around Rovaniemi.
It’s also completely free to enter, so you don’t actually need to book any of the paid activities to enjoy it. You can wander around, take photos, cross the Arctic Circle and visit the Post Office without spending anything.
For me, that’s where Santa Claus Village really comes into its own. If you’re only in Rovaniemi for a couple of days, it makes it incredibly easy to fit several classic Lapland experiences into a relatively short amount of time.
We’ve visited in both January and February and found it much quieter than I’d expect it to be in the run-up to Christmas, but it still felt festive, with plenty of snow and the main attractions open.
I’ve given Santa Claus Village 8/10. It doesn’t have the same remote, middle-of-nowhere Lapland feel as some of the experiences we’ve done elsewhere, but for convenience, choice and the amount you can do for free, I definitely think it deserves a place on a Rovaniemi itinerary.
You can read our full Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Guide for everything you need to know, including what’s free, which activities we think are worth paying for, how long to allow and how to get there.
Location: Levi
What we paid: Approx. £11pp
Our rating: 8/10
We took the gondola up Levi Fell during our first full day in Levi. Tickets were really easy to buy from the machines inside Zero Point and we paid around €50 return for the four of us, which worked out at roughly £11pp.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t really on our side. Visibility wasn't great, so we didn’t get those amazing views across Levi that you can get from the top on a clear day.
We’d also planned to visit the Secret Café while we were up there, but it was closed. That was disappointing as it had been one of the main reasons I wanted to take the gondola in the first place.
What we did love was the snow. It was unbelievably deep at the top and the girls had a great time just playing in it, so the trip definitely wasn’t wasted.
I’ve given this 8/10 because I think our experience was massively affected by the weather. On a clear day, with the Secret Café open, I think I’d probably score it higher.
My biggest tip would be to check the visibility and whether the Secret Café is open before buying your tickets. If both are looking good, I’d definitely go up. If visibility is poor and the café is closed, I’d probably save the money for something else.
You can see exactly how we fitted the gondola into our trip in our 5 Day Levi Itinerary, or find more ideas for your trip in our Things to Do in Levi Guide.
Location: Levi
What we paid: €10 for the sledge
Our rating: 8.5/10
Sometimes the simplest things really are the best. We bought a basic plastic sledge from one of the sports shops in Levi for around €10 and it ended up being used every single day of our trip.
There’s a great area for sledging around Zero Point, and the girls spent hours going up and down the slopes. After paying for all the big Lapland experiences, it was quite funny that something costing €10 provided so much entertainment.
It was useful too. We had a supermarket close to our apartment and ended up using the sledge to pull our shopping back through the snow. It became our Lapland version of a shopping trolley!
One tip I would give is to take your sledge inside with you whenever possible. Sledges are everywhere in Lapland, but that doesn’t mean the ones left outside hotels, restaurants or activity providers are free for anyone to use. We made sure we kept hold of ours throughout the trip.
I’ve given sledging 8.5/10. It might not sound particularly exciting compared with huskies, reindeer and snowmobiles, but for €10 we got hours of fun out of it. You really don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds every day to enjoy Lapland.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: £119pp
Our rating: 9.5/10
This was one of the best things we’ve done in Lapland, although I must admit there were a few moments when I found it a little scary!
We were picked up from Rovaniemi city centre by Pure Lapland and driven around 18km out to Hotel Metsähirvas. We were given a full safety briefing and all the equipment we needed before heading out onto the frozen Lake Kemijoki.
We were actually the only people who had booked the tour that evening, so it was just us and our guide. Our guide from Pure Lapland was fantastic, which definitely helped because once we got out onto the lake it was completely pitch black. At times, all we could see were our snowmobile headlights and the darkness ahead of us.
I’ll admit, there were moments when my brain was telling me I was driving a snowmobile across a frozen lake in the middle of nowhere and I did wonder what on earth I was doing!
But it was also incredibly exciting and unlike anything I’d ever done before.
Partway through the tour we headed into the forest before stopping at a traditional wooden BBQ hut. Our guide lit the fire and we had hot berry juice, biscuits, sausages, sweetcorn and marshmallows before heading back out onto the snowmobiles.
We were picked up at around 8pm and arrived back in Rovaniemi around midnight, so for £119pp we got several hours out of the experience. It was one of the more expensive activities we booked, but also one of the best value in terms of the length and quality of the experience.
I’ve given this 9.5/10, and the only reason it’s losing that half point is because the Northern Lights didn’t make an appearance!
You can see exactly how we fitted the snowmobiling tour into our 3 Day Rovaniemi Itinerary, along with everything else we did on that trip.
Location: Rovaniemi
What we paid: £150pp including transfers, SnowHotel tour and three-course dinner
Our rating: 9/10
We’d already stayed overnight at the Arctic SnowHotel on a previous trip, but when we returned to Rovaniemi for my daughter’s 14th birthday, I really wanted to go back and try the Ice Restaurant.
We booked the full visiting package, which included return transfers from Rovaniemi, entrance and a tour of the Arctic SnowHotel, plenty of free time to explore and a three-course dinner inside the Ice Restaurant. We were collected from Rovaniemi at around 7pm and didn’t get back until around 11.30pm, so this was much more of a full evening experience than simply going somewhere for dinner.
Dinner started with creamy parsnip soup, followed by a choice of mains including elk, salmon and chicken, with a vegan option available too. My daughter is quite a fussy eater and, even though she had an adult ticket, they were happy to let her have the children’s pasta instead, which we really appreciated. Dessert was even served on a plate made from ice.
The food was genuinely really good. The only thing to remember is that you are sitting inside a restaurant made entirely from snow and ice, so your food gets cold very quickly! We definitely found ourselves eating a little faster than we normally would.
What makes the price easier to justify for me is everything else that was included. We explored the SnowHotel, visited the Ice Bar, saw the reindeer, used the sledges and warmed up around the fire in the kota. We even got incredibly lucky and saw the Northern Lights while we were outside.
I’ve given the Ice Restaurant 9/10. At £150pp it was one of the most expensive experiences we did, but you’re not really paying £150 just for a meal. For us, it was an entire evening out and something completely different to anything we could do at home.
You can read our full Arctic SnowHotel Ice Restaurant Review for the menu, exactly what was included in our package and whether I think it’s worth the money. If you're deciding between the different snow and ice attractions in Rovaniemi, we also have a Snowman World vs Arctic SnowHotel Guide.
After 20 different experiences, there honestly aren’t many things on this list that I wouldn’t do again. As I mentioned at the beginning, I research everything to death before we book, so most things have already passed quite a strict test before we even get there!
If I had to pick our absolute favourites, the experiences we gave 10/10 were kids’ mini snowmobiling in Levi, Lappin Saaga reindeer sleigh ride, ice karting in Rovaniemi, Polarman’s Camp Northern Lights experience and Arcandia Elf Court.
But I don’t think you necessarily need to book every big Lapland activity to have an amazing trip. Some of our best memories have cost very little, and things like sledging, crossing the Arctic Circle and exploring Santa Claus Village can help balance out the more expensive days.
If it’s your first trip, I’d personally try to include at least one husky or reindeer experience, something involving snowmobiles if your budget allows, and then choose one or two experiences that particularly suit your family. For us, that might be ice karting with teens or a Santa experience with younger children.
Most importantly, don’t feel like you need to fill every hour. Lapland is expensive enough without spending hundreds of pounds every single day, and sometimes simply being outside in ridiculous amounts of snow ends up being just as much fun.
For us, the best value wasn’t necessarily the cheapest or most expensive. Kids’ mini snowmobiling cost just £17 per child and scored 10/10, while we also thought experiences such as Lappin Saaga and Polarman’s Camp offered a lot for the price.
It completely depends on what you want to do. As you can see from this guide, we’ve done things for free and paid as much as £230 for an overnight experience.
I’d choose your must-do activities first and build your budget around those rather than trying to do everything. We have a separate Is Lapland Expensive? Guide where I break down what our DIY trips have actually cost.
For the bigger experiences, I would. Things like snowmobiling, husky tours, special Santa experiences and Northern Lights tours can have limited spaces.
However, not everything needs booking. We simply turned up for kids’ snowmobiling in Levi, and shorter reindeer rides at Santa Claus Village can also be done without reserving weeks in advance.
Definitely. Santa Claus Village itself is free to enter, as are the Arctic Circle crossing and Santa Claus Main Post Office. Simply playing in the snow costs nothing either!
If you’re trying to keep costs down, have a look at our 15 Things to Do at Santa Claus Village for €40 or Less guide too.
We’ve travelled to Lapland independently three times and book our flights, accommodation and activities separately. This gives us much more control over what we spend our money on rather than paying for a package containing experiences we might not necessarily choose ourselves.
If you're planning your own trip, you can also get 5% off GetYourGuide activities with code BUILDABREAK5.
Whenever I spot great-value DIY Lapland flights and accommodation from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club. If you'd like to experience Lapland without paying package holiday prices, it's a great place to start.
Copyright © Build a Break | Website by Furness Media
