Affordable Adventures – Finland

Who doesn’t love the idea of spending some time in Finland during winter? All snuggled up inside with a hot chocolate, warm fluffy socks, movie marathons in front of the fire! So cute! That’s not me though – get me outside with my thermals and beanie! If you’re looking at the picture on the left and thinking, yeah that’s more my speed, then I have got the best tips for organising an affordable trip to Rovaniemi, Finland – The home of Santa in non other than the Arctic Circle.

How to get to Finland

Local Airport: Rovaniemi

I used a budget airline flying from London, United Kingdom which was perfect for what I needed. Although, the baggage situation is far from ideal. So, when planning a trip to a country like Finland in winter, think about the layers, the jackets and the type of shoes when contemplating what size bag to use. Might be worth paying for priority rather than paying the outrageous fee at the gate!

Use skyscanner to look from your closest airport and if you can be flexible with dates, look for the ‘whole month’ option – this will give you the cheapest dates in the month you’re looking for. If there are specific dates you’re limited too then here are some more tips for you.
1) Look at all airports around you
2) Look for one way flights from each airport in addition to return flights.

When you arrive in Finland

Rovaniemi has its own airport which is really convenient. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to Rovaniemi Centre which stops at Santa’s Village on the way. There are also numerous taxi’s outside for your convenience too.

However, if you’re brave enough after a few hours in the air, you can walk from the airport to Santa’s Village (20/25 mins) where you can get one shuttle bus to Rovaniemi Centre. If I can do it with no cellular data and an overpacked backpack, I have full faith you’ll find your way through the magical forest too. I love being outside and I was so excited to be in the snow, I thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

Where to stay in Finland

So this is one of the main questions when you’re thinking about staying in Lapland. Do you go with the fancy glass ceiling huts, the 5 star hotel or the apartments. It really depends on the reason you are in Rovaniemi, what activities you want to prioritise and how you want to allocate your budget. Keeping in line with the title, I would recommend looking on booking.com at some apartments or houses which can offer incredible prices with all the suitable amenities. Lets talk about whether you stay in the city or look for something a bit more remote.

Rovaniemi Centre – I stayed in Rovaniemi Centre and these were some of the pros and cons about staying there. This is the apartment I stayed in, which I highly recommend for a short stay with an active holiday outdoors. Rovaniemi was quiet at night which was perfect for a cosy night in the apartment.

More Rural Accommodation – While I didn’t stay outside the city, I can definitely see the perks. Larger spaces, more chance of seeing the northern lights (without booking onto a tour!!), more remote surroundings- often more picturesque. Here are some of the pros and cons to consider in your decision

My holiday was based around exploring so I was out from 6:30am/7am until about 8pm. I based myself at the apartment to sleep and eat breakfast. My accommodation was walking distance to shops, activity meet points and perfectly located for discovering new walks!

When to go to Finland

Another major question. Honestly, Lapland is magical anytime from November – February for winter excitement. It will more expensive in the run up to Christmas but you can definitely still bag some great deals! I had the pleasure of visiting in late January for 4 nights, which was budget friendly. The snow was still falling in abundance, crunching beneath my feet as I frolicked from one activity to another. Santa’s village remained vibrant (and sometimes a little over stimulating for someone who enjoys the wilderness).

Things to try while you’re in Finland

I hope you have enjoyed this blog! My Activities in Finland blog will detail all the best activities to do in Rovaniemi, Finland and I will recommend all my favourite companies to ensure you have the best experience!