Is it worth visiting Finnish Lapland in Autumn?
Ticking off seeing the Northern Lights in Finland is more achievable than you probably think, and the secret can be found in Lapland in Autumn.
Look, I get it. I also always dreamt of those iconic frozen lakes, endless snow dumps, and Santa sleigh rides, UNTIL I saw the hefty price tag that came with it…
When it came to planning my own aurora hunt, I was surprised to find that Autumn still has Santa’s Village open, with the highest chance of seeing the Northern Lights AND is a fraction of the price.
Having survived the season without frostbite (an added Autumnal bonus), I have the inside scoop on how to have a boujee on a budget Lapland experience!
Where is Finnish Lapland?
It is a misconception that Lapland is a single country. In Reality, it consists of Sweden, Norway, Russia AND Finland.
With Finnish Lapland being the Northernmost region of Finland, in the Arctic Circle.
The capital of Finnish Lapland is Rovaniemi: The ‘home’ of Santa Claus, and where we are basing ourselves for this Autumn in Lapland adventure.
How to get to Rovaniemi, Finland?
As the capital of the region, Rovaniemi is one of the most accessible points across all of Lapland.
For more specific transport routes and timings, Visit Rovaniemi has a great page of transport infographics. With information on how to get there and how to get around
Although sometimes having too many options can make it harder to decide what is best for you. So I am here to mix in my own personal experiences and Mistakes I made along the way to Finnish Lapland to help make your ride as smooth as possible.
With the bonus of discounted tickets along the way…
🚄Taking the TRAIN to Rovaniemi
Finnish railroads are operated by VR.
Offering several train routes between Helsinki and Rovaniemi year-round.
EXCEPT the day we wanted to book…
Unfortunately, a very rare 2-day break for trackwork closed the route for the iconic Santa Express train.
THE SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS
The double-decker overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi.
Book a regular seat from €49 or make the 12-hour journey fly by in a deluxe private €160 sleeper compartment. Some with private showers and toilets!
✈️ Flying to Rovaniemi
It is easier than ever to fly directly to Santa now that Rovanimi Airport directly connects to over 40 Airports throughout Europe.
With even more options for connections via Helsinki.
Where we enjoyed a few days to shake off the jetlag and find some reindeer hotdogs at the markets.
🚏Taking the BUS to Rovaniemi
Matkahuolto and Onnibus are the primary Bus services across Finnish Lapland.
While it may not be most people’s first choice, it happens to be the only means of public transport if you are looking to explore Finnish Lapland beyond Rovaniemi. So you may not want to rule them out completely.
🚕 Driving to Rovaniemi
Yes, driving to Rovaniemi is possible. However, it takes approximately 10 hours to drive the 825 km from Helsinki.
If you are itching for a road trip, I suggest getting to Rovaniemi via another mode of transport, then picking up your rental from there to explore Finnish Lapland.
When is Autumn in Lapland
Autumn in Finnish Lapland typically runs between late August into October.
A short sweet spot between the midnight sun of Summer and little to no sun during Winter. The ideal conditions to enjoy the crisp air and colourful foliage.
What is Ruska in Finland?
In Finland, this Autumn/Fall Season and its colours are known as ‘Ruska’.
Ruska is the Finnish word for the vibrant autumn foliage season, and it’s kind of a big deal up north when the landscape transforms with golden birch trees, scarlet shrubs, and dusky sunsets.
Understanding the seasons in Finland
In general, Finland follows are regular seasonal guideline across Summer, Autumn, Spring and Winter.
However, the further north you go, the more seasons unfold to adapt to its unique and colourful conditions.
The Seasons of Finnish Lapland:
❄️ Midwinter (Late December – January)
Still deep in snow, but the days are getting longer and the sun starts to return. It’s the perfect time for snow sports and enjoying the magical “blue hour” twilight.
🌨️ Snowy Spring (February – Early April)
Forget Christmas, locals will say this is the most magical time of year to visit! Lots of snow, but longer days and strong sunlight.
🌱 Spring (Mid-April – May)
Snow melts quickly, rivers begin to flow again, and Lapland slowly wakes up. It’s a peaceful, less touristy time, great for witnessing the Arctic rebirth.
☀️ Summer (June – Mid-July)
This is when the Midnight Sun begins (the sun doesn’t set at all in northern Lapland). Wildflowers, outdoor festivals, and the smell of birch smoke from saunas. It’s the best time for hiking, canoeing, berry-picking, and chilling by the lake.
🌾 Late Summer Harvest Season (Late July – August)
Still warm, but the nights slowly begin to return. Blueberries, cloudberries, and mushrooms cover the forests.
🍁 Autumn (Late August to Early October)
Time for ruska, the vibrant turning of the leaves. It’s ideal for hiking, reindeer begin migrating, and it’s prime Aurora spotting time.
🌨 First Snow (October – Early November)
The first snow falls, lakes begin to freeze, and darkness starts to take over. It’s the quiet before the peak winter season.
🎄 Christmas (Late November – December)
As the official home of Santa Claus, Christmas is understandably a peak season in Finnish Lapland.
The Best Places to Visit for Autumn in Lapland
Rovaniemi
Our top pick for Autumn in Lapland due to its accessibility and surprising affordability from around the world. The ideal hub for Lapland with an abundance of unique accommodation, food and activities.
Pyhä-Luosto National Park
Hike the Tunturiaapa Trail or climb to the top of Ukko-Luosto Fell for breathtaking ruska views, easily accessible from Rovaniemi
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
The Hetta-Pallas trail (55 km) is frequently voted one of the best spots for hiking in Finland and it is even more magical during Ruska.
Salla
Known as “in the middle of nowhere”, and proudly so. Visit Salla Wilderness Park or go berry-picking in the forests. Great for off-the-grid adventurers for a colourful adventure without the crowds.
5. Levi
More commonly known for its Winter Skiing, you shouldn’t overlook its cozy cabins, activities like fat-biking or hiking, and colourful landscape during Autumn. Home to some of the best rusk views in all of Finland when you take the gondola to the top of Levi Fell.
Inari
Deeply connected to Sámi culture and located near Lake Inari. This is a quiet, spiritual and incredible scenic destination with ideal conditions for Aurora viewing. Visit Siida Museum for culture, and explore the lake’s islands by kayak or boat tour.
Is it worth visiting Lapland in Autumn?
Lapland is absolutely worth visiting in Autumn.
With the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights, even more unique experiences without the crowds AND at a fraction of the price. I am baffled by how underrated it is.
And you won’t completely freeze your tits off, its a win all around if you ask me!
Lapland in Autumn vs Lapland in Winter; when is better to visit?
The BEST time to visit Lapland comes down to what you want out of your holiday and how much you’re willing to spend on it (mainly the latter).
Urgh, I know that’s probably not the clear answer you wanted but to justify it, let me break down my thought process in hopes it can help you break down yours.
When we started planning our Europe trip, we knew we had October-December blocked out, so we were flexible within the timeframe to tick off Lapland.
MY GOALS:
- See the Northern Lights in what was apparently their peak year
- Stay in a unique Glass Igloo
- Try out a floating Sauna
And sure, I would have loved to see the iconic fluffy snow-covered landscapes but it wasn’t a priority this trip. Especially when I discovered that those snow months come with more cloud cover that decreases your chance of seeing the aurora.
Most of all, it came down to the difference of that iconic Glass Igloo stay because:
- It was already heavily booked out around Christmas time
- And it was the difference between a couple hundred dollars a night in October vs the THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DECEMBER WTF
Where to Stay – The Best Autumnal Accommodation in Finnish Lapland
During our week in Lapland, we stayed in 3 very different accommodations.
BUT there are so many incredible stays during the Autumn season that I can’t help but show off the next 3 on my bucket list too.
Rovamiemi, Finland
Sinettä, Finland
Rovaniemi, FInland
Budget City Apartment: Lapland Arctic Apartments is modern apartment in the heart of Rovaniemi. Boasting its own balcony, washer and dry, plus a kitchen. We stayed here for around 60 Euro a night!
Classic Glass Igloo and famous Ice Hotel: Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloos is the famous Ice Hotel where even your bed is made from ice. However during autumn you can stay in their classic Glass Igloo accommodation. This had one of the best buffet breakfasts I’ve ever had!
The Ultimate Lapland Glass Igloo: Apukka Resort is the ultimate Autumn in Lapland destination with an impressive collection of unique accommodation AND experiences that are all run by Apukka.
Rovaniemi, FInland
Rovaniemi, Finland
Rovaniemi, Finland
Unique Things to Do in Lapland in Autumn
Autumnal Hiking in the Arctic Circle Hiking Area
This is home to the most accessible hiking routes near Rovaniemi. With shuttle buses offering direct access to the Arctic Circle Hiking Area from Rovaniemi City Center, Santa’s Village and Apukka Resort.
There are 3 main routes inviting visitors to explore the Finnish wilderness along well-marked hiking trails.
Apukka Resort Lapland
- Bus departs from Rovaniemi city center at 9:25
- Bus departs from Apukka Resort at 9:50
- Return transfer at 13:20
- Time to enjoy the trails: 3 hours
- Self-guided tour
- Full refund for cancellations made up to 24 hours before the tour
Photograph the Ruska
Finland is a photographer’s dream, but in the Autumn, the photo ops are NEXT LEVEL!
Sure Winter remains the most iconic but with everything covered and snow, it is easy for all the photos to look the same. Not to mention, when it gets that cold your camera batteries drain fast.
The beauty of the Ruska is that it paints every landscape different with surprises around every corner.
Husky Ride on Wheels through Fall Foliage
I hate to admit it, in the past, I have unfortunately fallen into tourist traps that were unethical (cough, cough, Nara Deer Park). However, it has made me extra vigilant to do my research and open up those honest conversations directly with locals/tourism providers.
That did not take away from the nerves of our Husky Ride with Apukka Resort. After all, the main reason for its fame is that Huskies thrive in the snow… and we didn’t have any yet.
What is usually a sled ride becomes a crazy buggy set-up with the huskies running through the colourful forest.
Beautiful, cold but still questionable at this point, so I continued asking a million questions. We found out that this Autumn season is when they train and rehabilitate the dogs ahead of peak season. Helping build the confidence and strength frot hese working dogs.
BONUS: part of the tour included cuddles and play time witht he puppies and retired dogs.
Traditional Finnish Floating Sauna and Arctic Cold Plunge
Saunas have been a major part of Finnish culture and identity for thousands of years.
Saunas are a relaxing haven for cleansing the body/mind and when paired with an invigorating (although I would use a different word for it…) cold plunge into the arctic waters, it becomes the ultimate wellness experience.
A floating sauna gives you the best of both worlds, all in one location! As the wood-fired sauna improves circulation while a cold plunge further stimulates blood flow, reduces inflammation, and promotes mental clarity.
During Autumn, the lakes aren’t yet frozen giving you a lot more wiggle room to float than the usual hole cut into the ice. Not to mention the sunrises are sunsets are OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Berry and Mushroom Picking
Step into a real-life fairytale forest exploding with wild blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, and all kinds of edible mushrooms just waiting to be discovered.
Thanks to Finland’s “Everyman’s Right” law, anyone can freely roam and forage in nature. Since it is a local tradition, I would encourage you to partner with a local guide to safely and respectfully do so.
Aurora Hunting – Autumn is the BEST time to see the Northern Lights
What you have all been waiting for and YES, autumn really is the best time to tick it off the bucket list!
With clearer and longer night skies, Autumn provides the best chance to spot the Aurora.
Although it is possible to see from Rovaniemi city, the further away from any light pollution you can get, the better chance you will have of seeing the sky truly dance! The best way to do that is by booking a remote accommodation OR even better, an aurora hunting tour.
Go behind the scenes on construction for the famous Ice Hotel before it opens for winter
I was pretty bummed to find out the ice snowhotel understandably doesn’t open up until much later in the winter season. BUT that didn’t stop us from staying at the Glass Igloo side of the iconic resort.
During Autumn the Arctic SnowHotel offers guests a unique experience to learn the art of ice sculpting. The most successful sculptures created in the workshop get displayed in the Arctic SnowHotel (spoiler alert: mine did not make the cut haha).
Your ice sculpting skills will immediately be shown up when you get a glimpse behind the scenes of the ice storage facilities where the masters build the new Ice Hotel.
What to eat in Finnish Lapland in Autumn?
Must-Try Food in Finnish Lapland in Autumn
My fellow foodies are going to LOVE autumn in Lapland. For a destiantiono that isn’t as well known for their food, it really comes to life with a lot fo surpirses during Autumn.
From the wild berries that turn into the most increidble spread of jams, teas and juices (even vodka if you’re game!). Cloudberry is my personal favourite.
To fresh forest mushrooms and traditional reindeer meat to match.
Oh and you can’t forget about the abundance of Arctic Fish before the lakes freeze over.
What to Pack for Lapland in Autumn
Packing recommendations always get a little tricky with everyone having different needs and often very different trips.
For example: we were travelling all across Europe over 6 weeks with icy nights in Lapland to sunny days in Spain so I don’t want to give you my exact messy packing list.
What I can give you is the essentials for survival on your Autumal Lapland adventure. F
Layers are your bestfriend: It may not be winter yet but the temp drop QUICK during autumn and the snow can hit out of nowwhere towards the end of the season. Between your thermals, a quality winter coat and a few accesories (scarves, beanies, gloves…) you will be prepared for whatever the season throws at you.
Comfortable, sturdy, waterproof shoes: I don’t think you need heavy duty snow boots just yet but a solid pair of walking shoes are going to be a make or break for your trip. Even if you plan to stay in your resort the whole time, getting to and from your room to restaurants can get icy, slippery and in some cases, steep.
More Moisturiser than you think + SPF: Even if youre not an extremely dry, senstive skin girl like me, you will feel like it in these conditions. Save your skin with the right SPF and hydration.
Less camera gear than you think: And I am saying this as a professional travel photographer… you do NOT need the fanciest cameras and lenses to capture the aurora. In fact, some of my favourite photos from the trip were from my phone or GoPro on a 10second night mode.
Common questions about Lapland in Autumn
Is Finland better than Norway or Sweden for Autumn in Lapland?
I don’t believe this has a clear answer and considering I have only had the chance to experience one of the above, I don’t either.
What I will say is the Finland nails the autumnal vibes with a lot of Autumn Specials and expereinces that you can not get anywhere else in the world.
When is the best time to see the Autumn Colours in Finland?
For peak Ruska, the first two weeks or Septemeber are suggested.
But if there is anything I learnt from our disaster of a Japanese Cherry Blossom Season it is that these predictions can rapidly change. It takes one rouge weather event to cut the season short.
OR if you are like us and are looking for a mix of that autumn magic with a chance or snow, October is ideal!
How, When and Where Can You See the Northern Lights in Lapland in Autumn?
The Northern Ligths typically make a big, bright appearance from late August through mid-October, when the nights are dark and the skies often clearer than in winter. This season offers a unique chance to witness the aurora reflected in unfrozen lakes.
They say the best time to view the is between 9 PM and 2 AM but it really does vary day by day. Some days they don’t show up at all.
Some hotels will have their own Aurora alarms, however, my favourite was the stalk the live streams most of the resorts have set on their youtube/website. Not only was it great to see if it was worth getting out of bed for but it was very wholesome to see everyone out enjoying the experience and showing it off to their loved ones.
Is Santa Claus Village open in Autumn?
Yes Santa Claus Village is open all year round.
HOWEVER, I must admit that it is no where near as magical without all the snow and a lot is still clsoed until Winter. It felt a little tacky and was the least favourite part of my Lapland in Autumn trip.
Does Finland get snow in Autumn?
Yes it can snow in Lapland during autumn, but it varies depending on the location and year.
We were lucky (or maybe unlucky??) to get snow on our very last night in late October. It was the first major snow cover on the season and by the next week the grounds were all white.
In saying that, the snow in Finland can arrive as early as August so it can be hard to plan for. If snow if your primary Lapland goals, Feb-April might be betetr suited.
Can Finnish Lapland be done on a budget?
Yes but not on the same kind of ‘budget travel’ that somewhere like Thailand or even Japan could be done.
And if you are wanting to do Lapland on a budget, you are at least looking for the right season as it makes the difference between paying hundreds of dollars compared to THOUSANDS for accommodation alone.
Do you need to hire a Car to travel Lapland in Autumn?
It is not a need.
With potential snowfall and increasing icy roads, it makes roadtripping a little more complicated and not worth it for the average traveller. Not to mention, expensive!
Most accommodations come with shuttle services and there are so many increidble local tours to book if you are planning to aurora hunt.
Is It Worth Visiting Lapland in Autumn? My brutally honest opinion and bonus tips.
It may not have been my first pick but I am grateful that it was my first experience of Lapland. It felt like the ideal ease (both for me and my bank account)
Given our main goal was the see the Northern Lights for the first time, October was PERFECT for us and I highly recommend planning your own Lapland in Autumn adventure.
In saying that, there were a few hiccups along the way and a few things I would change if we relived the experience:
MISTAKE 1: Not packing warmer clothes
While I did have a good winter coat, the cold hits you like nowhere else here and I certainly could have used a few extra layers. Especially towards the end of the season the weather change coming into winter can be dramatic and nippy.
SOLUTION: Good shoes, thermals and an extra warm coat
Most locals will recommend a good set of wool thermals and socks to get your through any season. Unfortunately I am allergic to wool so my options are limited, but even so a few extra warm long sleeves and thicker socks would have made a world of difference.
MISTAKE 2: Missing the Santa Express experience due to Trackwork
SOLUTION : Alternate Flight routes
Rovaniemi has an increasing number of direct flight throughout Europe that could have saved us a lot of travel time and money if I had looked this up before booking our main flights from Australia.
To be fair, I still got a fnastic deal on a multi-city fare from Sydney to Helsinki and home form Bucharest back to Sydney so I can’t complain too much. However, the main reason we flew into Helsinki was to take the Santa express.
With the train down for trackwork the only 2 days we would have needed it, we had to book a domestic flight AND pay for an extra night accommodation (since we had planned to be on the oevrnight train)
If this happens to you or you simply would rather fly than train anyway, you could save a lot starting outside of Finland before you get into Lapland.
MISTAKE 3: Not booking an Aurora Hunt
I don’t totally regret this because we still got insanely lucky see the aurora both nights during our time at Apukka then again from our city apartment (rare!).
SOLUTION: Book and Aurora Hunt
However, if I were to visit again, this would be the first thing I would book as I know it would elevate the entire experience.
We did catch up for lunch with a local Aurora Hunters (in fact, he was one of the first to even use that title!) and we got the inside scoop on how it all works and why they are aboslutely worth it.
So after all of that, to put it simply, Lapland is absolutely worth visiting in Autumn.
As always, if you have any more questions or have your own Lapland experiences to share, please do not hesitate to comment, email me at wanderingdonut@gmail.com or slide into my @wanderingdonut DMs
