Finland, Sweden, Iceland, or Norway in October

[Anonymous]

Next fall/winter is supposed to be a better than average time to see the Northern lights- so good timing, but still not guaranteed. Best way is actually Alaska, but Iceland will do. You do have to get quite high up in Norway to see them.

[Anonymous]

We were thrilled to see them in Oct in Iceland (we took a bus from downtown Rejk. with some people)--2019. Amazing!

[Anonymous]

Any recommendations for hotels in Helsinki and accommodations in Lapland?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for hotels in Helsinki and accommodations in Lapland?

In Helsinki, stay at Hotel Kamp or Klaus K. We went to Rovaniemi 10 years ago and stayed at a Scandic, but it was nothing special. Now, there are several of those igloo styled hotels. I would definitely stay in one of those. I also wouldn’t bother with the train between the two, just fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for hotels in Helsinki and accommodations in Lapland?

In Helsinki, stay at Hotel Kamp or Klaus K. We went to Rovaniemi 10 years ago and stayed at a Scandic, but it was nothing special. Now, there are several of those igloo styled hotels. I would definitely stay in one of those. I also wouldn’t bother with the train between the two, just fly.

Thank you for your response! So we won't miss anything if we don't take the train (scenery-wise)? Also, did you rent a car in Rovaniemi? We want to stay somewhere outside of the town, like the igloo hotels you mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for hotels in Helsinki and accommodations in Lapland?

In Helsinki, stay at Hotel Kamp or Klaus K. We went to Rovaniemi 10 years ago and stayed at a Scandic, but it was nothing special. Now, there are several of those igloo styled hotels. I would definitely stay in one of those. I also wouldn’t bother with the train between the two, just fly.

Thank you for your response! So we won't miss anything if we don't take the train (scenery-wise)? Also, did you rent a car in Rovaniemi? We want to stay somewhere outside of the town, like the igloo hotels you mentioned.

It’s just a lot of forest, like hours and hours of forest, which you’ll also see plenty of in Rovaniemi. We did not rent a car. We went for a long weekend with the purpose of going to Santa’s Village with our toddler. We lived in Helsinki, at the time. The Northern Lights were not in a period of high activity while we were there and it was not a “thing” to go see them then. We did the main touristy things - Santa’s Village, the other Santa place (one is much better than the other), reindeer sleigh ride, dog sled ride, etc. Driving in Finland is really easy, so I would decide based on whatever else you plan to do in Rovaniemi. We’re actually in the early stages of planning a trip for Thanksgiving week and trying to decide if we’ll return to Finland or go to Iceland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were thrilled to see them in Oct in Iceland (we took a bus from downtown Rejk. with some people)--2019. Amazing!

We also saw them in Iceland in October (2014).

[Anonymous]

OP here - we are now considering going in December to see the Christmas markets and really enjoy Lapland in the snow. Any thoughts or tips on Christmas markets in Scandinavia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for hotels in Helsinki and accommodations in Lapland?

In Helsinki, stay at Hotel Kamp or Klaus K. We went to Rovaniemi 10 years ago and stayed at a Scandic, but it was nothing special. Now, there are several of those igloo styled hotels. I would definitely stay in one of those. I also wouldn’t bother with the train between the two, just fly.

Thank you for your response! So we won't miss anything if we don't take the train (scenery-wise)? Also, did you rent a car in Rovaniemi? We want to stay somewhere outside of the town, like the igloo hotels you mentioned.

It’s just a lot of forest, like hours and hours of forest, which you’ll also see plenty of in Rovaniemi. We did not rent a car. We went for a long weekend with the purpose of going to Santa’s Village with our toddler. We lived in Helsinki, at the time. The Northern Lights were not in a period of high activity while we were there and it was not a “thing” to go see them then. We did the main touristy things - Santa’s Village, the other Santa place (one is much better than the other), reindeer sleigh ride, dog sled ride, etc. Driving in Finland is really easy, so I would decide based on whatever else you plan to do in Rovaniemi. We’re actually in the early stages of planning a trip for Thanksgiving week and trying to decide if we’ll return to Finland or go to Iceland.

We stayed in the glass igloos near Santa Claus village, there is a shuttle you can take directly from the airport there and back- I think we took a taxi back and it was super reasonable. All the activities we had any interest in doing were either walkable from our location or we could be picked up. Really no need for a car, especially if going in the winter and you aren't used to driving in snow.