From the Northern Lights to atmospheric winter cities – explore Finland by land without a car
The Northern Lights above the fells. A visit to Santa Claus on the Arctic Circle. Snow-covered Finnish landscapes ice sculptures and winter cities where the pace of life slows as the temperature drops.
Many people are surprised to hear that you don’t need a car to enjoy the best of a Finnish winter. Even more surprising is that you can experience many of these highlights on the same trip.
In Finland, long distances are often travelled by plane or by car. But you can also go a long way overland! By bus, train or a combination of connections, you can travel easily to destinations across the country.
Discover the many sides of winter in one trip
1. Wake up in snowy Lapland
Imagine falling asleep in southern Finland and waking up to a landscape where pine branches bend under the snow and frost traces patterns on the windows. Welcome to Lapland!
From Kemijärvi or Kolari, for example, it is easy to continue by bus to the northern fell resorts. Each is a winter wonderland of its own, where you can enjoy nature and try something new – perhaps your first go at downhill skiing.
After a day of adventures, the welcoming fell villages offer a cosy place to return to.
2. From the Arctic Circle to the peace of the wilderness
Santa Claus Village is known around the world, but there is much more to Rovaniemi than being Santa’s hometown.
Close to the Arctic Circle, the city brings together northern nature and culture, winter experiences and city comforts. For many visitors, it is the perfect starting point for adventures in Lapland.
The bus journey from Rovaniemi to Ivalo takes around 4.5 hours and connects two very different worlds: bustling Rovaniemi near the Arctic Circle and the open fells, peaceful wilderness and nature of the far north.
If seeing the Northern Lights is on your wish list, this is a route to keep in mind.
3. Try fell hopping – three destinations in one trip
You may have heard of island hopping. In Lapland, you can do the same between the fells.
Levi, Ylläs and Pallas each have their own character: lively village life, the peace of nature and wilderness scenery. Fell hopping lets you discover several different sides of Lapland on the same trip.
SnowVillage charms visitors with its changing snow and ice sculptures every year. You can also take a little detour to Ranua Wildlife Park to discover Arctic animals, from polar bears to other northern species.
Travelling around Lapland is easier than many people think, but it always calls for careful planning. You can arrive by train in Rovaniemi or Kolari, fly to Kittilä or Ivalo, or make Lapland part of a longer journey around Finland. Bus connections take you from one fell destination to the next.
With your route planned in advance, you can focus on what matters: exploring the next fell and enjoying new scenery along the way.
4. Find the winter you have always imagined
If your idea of winter looks just like a postcard, head to Kuusamo and Ruka.
The area is known for Ruka’s ski slopes, snow-covered forests, winter trails and the spectacular scenery of Oulanka National Park. In winter, snow builds up on the branches and makes the landscape look almost unreal. Spend the day skiing, snowshoeing or simply enjoying the peace of northern nature.
Kuusamo also fits well into a longer winter trip. It is easy to continue to your next destination by bus. Finland’s best-known winter destinations are not isolated islands, but part of a network where a new landscape is often just a few hours away.
5. Discover winter magic further south
You do not have to travel to Lapland to enjoy winter in Finland.
Southern and central Finland offer ski resorts, winter activities and cosy cottage retreats, as well as national parks such as Repovesi and Koli, where winter nature works its magic. Snowy forests, frozen lake views and peaceful hiking trails offer a very different way to experience a Finnish winter.
Many ski resorts and nature destinations can be reached by combining long-distance and local public transport. They are a great choice if you want to bring together a city break, time outdoors and winter experiences in one trip.
Sometimes, all it takes is a day in a Finnish national park or ski resort for your next trip to Finland to start taking shape.
6. Winter reveals another side in the cities
Porvoo’s old town, Turku’s riverside, Kuopio’s lake views and Oulu’s seaside atmosphere offer winter experiences you will not find in the fells. Spend the day in cafés, museums and small shops, or try local flavours before continuing to your next destination.
A winter city break can also be a chance to unwind. After an active day outdoors in the cold, many visitors head for the warmth of a sauna, a spa visit or a relaxed evening over good food. It is this combination that makes winter such a special time to visit Finland.
In many Finnish cities, sights, restaurants and experiences are easy to reach without a car of your own. Local public transport makes getting around the city straightforward.
Your first winter trip to Finland? Here is how to make it work
Finland’s best-known winter experiences may be hundreds of kilometres apart, but planning your trip does not have to be complicated.
For many visitors, the easiest way to start is to choose one destination or region and build a trip around it. Some head north in search of the Northern Lights, while others stop in several cities along the way. Many combine fells, national parks and winter activities in the same holiday. There is plenty of choice, yet getting from one destination to another can be surprisingly straightforward.
When your whole route is in one place, there is no need to spend time comparing timetables, hunting for separate tickets or piecing together connections. That is why the Matkat app is an easy way to plan your trip and compare different travel options.
The Matkat app brings bus, train and ferry tickets, as well as travel chains, together in one place. You can plan your journey all the way from Helsinki, Tallinn or Stockholm to the fells of Lapland. Once your plans are ready, you can buy all the tickets you need for the trip in one go. Then you can focus on what matters: enjoying the journey.
In Finland, a journey is more than getting from A to B. At its best, it is part of the experience. On a single trip, you can see the Northern Lights, hike in a snowy national park, stroll along historic city streets, relax in a sauna and wake up the next morning to a different landscape.
That is why a trip to Finland often ends not with coming home, but with planning the next one.
Author: Ella Paimander, Matkahuolto
Ella works with marketing and content at Matkahuolto. She is inspired by overland travel in Finland and abroad, experiences that are easy to reach and new destinations you can explore without a car – including by bus.
Photos:
1: Harri Tarvainen, 3: Jouni Kyrö / Vastavalo, 5: Harri Tarvainen / Visit Oulu, 6: Jussi Hellstén