Lapland

From its great literary history to its sumptuously warm saunas, Finland is growing in popularity as a holiday destination, and with good reason. If you're visiting Lapland, it makes sense to have some knowledge of Finland under your belt, and with our quick crash course, you'll be travel-savvy in no time.

Lapland holidays are packed with interesting activities from meeting the elves at the official Santa Claus Village to spotting stunning wildlife including lynx, bears and wolverines, or skiing past dramatic landscapes of snow and ice. But for many visitors, one of the biggest thrills is the possibility of viewing a spectacular natural phenomenon – the Northern Lights.

When you're visiting Lapland, you're going to be impressed with the down to earth mannerisms of the people, and that's a characteristic that carries over into the way they eat and drink. Although Lapp cuisine takes its cues in many ways from the Scandinavian nations that share this special part of the world, there's an iconic flavour and distinctive appeal to the meals that they enjoy here.

Finland is home to an incredible 35 national parks, seven of which are found in the northern region of Lapland. In fact, more than 70% of Finland is made up of forests, while there are a further 188,000 lakes. That's a whole lot of wilderness.

There are few places more fitting than Lapland to indulge in some time on the piste or to blaze your trail down the slopes. Snowsports are a massively popular pastime here, and whether you're a savvy snowboarder or a first timer to skiing, a wealth of choices are open to you.

Heading out to Lapland for your Christmas holidays means you can immerse yourself and your family in snow, Santa and sledding. But you may not know some of the more niche ways that people in Lapland and Finland celebrate the festive season. You might like to join in on a few of the traditions to add some extra quirk to your trip – Christmas Eve sauna anyone?

Stashed up in the Arctic Circle and often covered in snow, Lapland isn't always on everyone's holiday radar. And we don't necessarily blame you – this winter wonderland is more than a little mysterious. But it only takes a little peek through the icy curtains and you're bound to fall head over boots for Finland's northernmost region.

When visiting Lapland, it isn't all Santa, snowsports and Northern Lights. If you're looking for cultural activities there are several museums where you can discover more about Lapland and take in some art or music. Have a look below for some of the best museums to visit in this northern region of Finland.

With Lapland's frosty conditions, it's difficult to fathom just what animal species could survive here. And yet, nature somehow manages to carry on. Lapland is actually home to a number of cold-loving animals, including Arctic foxes, rare lynxes and of course, whole herds of reindeer.

There's more to Lapland than its festive myths and the northern lights. This region in the far reaches of northern Europe encompasses some surprising history if you know where to look, and those tales of old continue to inspire its people today.