Lapland with Kids

[Anonymous]

Looking for advice from anyone who has been to Lapland as we are in the early stages of planning for December 2025.
Did you go with an all-in package flying from the UK? Or did you DIY it?
We like the idea of the overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (the kids and my husband would love this in theory) but not sure where is best to go from there. We would probably want to do a 3 night stay to visit Santa, do the dog sledding, reindeer rides, etc. Is that too short?
Our kids would be 5 and 8.
I would plan to stay a night or two in Helsinki to try to get them over the jet lag before heading North.

[Anonymous]

We flew to Helsinki via Munich, stayed 2 nights, then flew to Ivalo and rented a car. It’s pretty easy to get around. 4-5 nights in Lapland is enough. It’s amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We flew to Helsinki via Munich, stayed 2 nights, then flew to Ivalo and rented a car. It’s pretty easy to get around. 4-5 nights in Lapland is enough. It’s amazing.

Did you have any qualms about going there when the indigenous people prefer the region be called "Sápmi" and that they have a history of being horrifically marginalized and their land stolen. They are one of Europe's last indigenous peoples. From the mid-1800s until about late 1960s, they were considered an alien people, often characterized as uncivilized, and a policy towards the Sami marked by racist attitudes and notions of racial hierarchy was pursued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We flew to Helsinki via Munich, stayed 2 nights, then flew to Ivalo and rented a car. It’s pretty easy to get around. 4-5 nights in Lapland is enough. It’s amazing.

Did you have any qualms about going there when the indigenous people prefer the region be called "Sápmi" and that they have a history of being horrifically marginalized and their land stolen. They are one of Europe's last indigenous peoples. From the mid-1800s until about late 1960s, they were considered an alien people, often characterized as uncivilized, and a policy towards the Sami marked by racist attitudes and notions of racial hierarchy was pursued.

Is this a bot? ChatGPT?

[Anonymous]

Following!

[Anonymous]

I saw on another travel board that you could do the reindeer, husky, Santa stuff in one day. Is it worth going all that way for one day?

[Anonymous]

Just make sure to invest the money in good quality warm clothes, especially for the kids. Wool under-layers for everyone. Balaclavas. Etc. They’ll have a blast if they’re not freezing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw on another travel board that you could do the reindeer, husky, Santa stuff in one day. Is it worth going all that way for one day?

You could do it in one day but it might be more pleasant not to. No need to jam pack activities into the schedule; it’s an extremely beautiful place and kids will have fun playing in the snow and otherwise being outdoors for short bursts and then being allowed to warm up inside.

[Anonymous]

My kids (youngest was 10 at the time) really enjoyed the overnight train to Rovaniemi. We booked sleeper cabins which had bunk beds and your own toilet and shower. It was easy to arrange the excursions ourselves but we didn’t go at peak season. We did about two activities a day and spent time in Rovaniemi itself. They have some good restaurants and we liked the Arktikum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw on another travel board that you could do the reindeer, husky, Santa stuff in one day. Is it worth going all that way for one day?

It’s very far to travel for one day. But it depends on what activities you want and the ages of your kids. My kids played in the snow for at least 2 hours every day. The Reindeer farm was supposed to be a 1-hour event, but my kids loved it so we were there for much longer. Ice fishing was a longer adventure but we cut it short. Husky safari and tobogganing at Saariselka and the ice breaker boat - all big hits. And Northern Lights. Staying at least 3-4 nights will increase your chances of seeing them.

[Anonymous]

I was visiting Finland anyway when I went, and didn't have kids. The train was nice. I took a bus to Inari and went to the Sami museum, which was quite interesting but also a long journey. It looks like you can book a tour that combines the museum and reindeer farm.

[Anonymous]

I'm OP. Thanks for all of your responses!

[Anonymous]

I’m going then for the first time. I am using KimKim to plan it. We are arriving in Helsinki and going from there - and yes, they booked us the overnight train.

I think the organizer said 12/25 and 12/26 and 1/1 are public holidays if that matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We flew to Helsinki via Munich, stayed 2 nights, then flew to Ivalo and rented a car. It’s pretty easy to get around. 4-5 nights in Lapland is enough. It’s amazing.

Did you have any qualms about going there when the indigenous people prefer the region be called "Sápmi" and that they have a history of being horrifically marginalized and their land stolen. They are one of Europe's last indigenous peoples. From the mid-1800s until about late 1960s, they were considered an alien people, often characterized as uncivilized, and a policy towards the Sami marked by racist attitudes and notions of racial hierarchy was pursued.

Is this a bot? ChatGPT?

No, I’m not kidding or am a bot. I had no idea about the Sami people until I read an article about them. They are Europe’s only recognized indigenous group. They are the descendents of the first people who inhabited the northern area of Finland, Norway, Sweden and parts of Russia.

They have been horribly mistreated and their land stolen just like native cultures in US and Canada. They were horribly mistreated and forced into boarding schools to be assimilated.

So if you are going to see raindeer in Lapland you should be aware the herder is Sami.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We flew to Helsinki via Munich, stayed 2 nights, then flew to Ivalo and rented a car. It’s pretty easy to get around. 4-5 nights in Lapland is enough. It’s amazing.

Did you have any qualms about going there when the indigenous people prefer the region be called "Sápmi" and that they have a history of being horrifically marginalized and their land stolen. They are one of Europe's last indigenous peoples. From the mid-1800s until about late 1960s, they were considered an alien people, often characterized as uncivilized, and a policy towards the Sami marked by racist attitudes and notions of racial hierarchy was pursued.

Is this a bot? ChatGPT?

No, I’m not kidding or am a bot. I had no idea about the Sami people until I read an article about them. They are Europe’s only recognized indigenous group. They are the descendents of the first people who inhabited the northern area of Finland, Norway, Sweden and parts of Russia.

They have been horribly mistreated and their land stolen just like native cultures in US and Canada. They were horribly mistreated and forced into boarding schools to be assimilated.

So if you are going to see raindeer in Lapland you should be aware the herder is Sami.

Ok but you’re living on native land yourself as well, assuming you’re writing to us from the US.