Lapland holidays
Lapland casts a mystical spell on people: from the midnight sun to the wistful waltz of the Northern Lights. Not only does it cover four countries, but its indigenous Sami people have been here since the Stone Age, while snow-covered pines, pristine lakes and roaming reindeer only add to the magic of Santa’s official home.
Santa, spellbinding stars and snow
Lapland is among the best places to go for reconnecting the soul with the nature around you and grounding yourself into the forests, lakes and surrounds is a wonderful thing. No wonder the Finns constantly top the happy charts.
Lapland is filled with natural light, and perhaps the cleanest air and water in the world. Offering anything from winter sports to swimming in Arctic waters and sleeping under the stars, Lapland is so magical that the Finns even have a word for this – Lapin taika. After all, where else are you guaranteed to find a man in a red suit who can defy the laws of gravity? Book your flights to Lapland Ivalo now.
Carefully selected Lapland hotels
Best hotels in Lapland for all types of traveller
Lapland holiday FAQs
- Winter is undeniably special because it’s the official place to visit Santa in Lapland. You’ll find the magical Santa Claus Village in the capital of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi. From here you can send a postmarked card and straddle the Artic Circle with one foot on either side. Of course, you’ll meet the big man himself, and there’s a host of other activities from ice skating and snow discos to ice bars (for the adults).
- Along the river around Rovaniemi, you’ll also find some 70 shelters that can be used for roasting snacks over an open fire – the firewood is even provided. Around Finland, there’s some 450 wilderness huts – and they look like they’re straight from an architectural magazine. While it won’t offer the comforts of a hotel, for a free overnight stay, it’s a great wilderness experience.
- Fancy upgrading your wild swimming experience? Then you could go all out and try a spot of ice swimming. Hopping into a man-made hole in a frozen lake or river may not sound like ‘wellness’ but it’s a big thing here. Usually preceded by a sauna, it gives you that extra surge of blood in your veins that Finns swear by.
- If you’re not quite ready for full-body immersion, ice floating could be your thing. Experience a surreal lightness as you float while you float with your back to the icy water and face to the sky. Don’t worry, you’ll be fully clothed in a rescue suit to stay warm and dry throughout.
- Skiing in Lapland should include Levi with its extensive runs and uncrowded, snow-sure slopes. Throw in some spectacular scenery, cute bars and cosy restaurants, and you’ll get the vibe. Another reassuringly good option is Ruka – it might be a bit of a budget-busting resort, but its extensive slopes favour all levels of skiers.
- Fancy taking in the spectacular views while getting the old heart rate pumping? If you’re an adrenaline lover, Ruka’s ice climbing is for you. Don’t worry if you’re a novice, beginners are well catered for with expert guides showing you the ropes (available from the end of December to April, with a minimum age of 12).
- Of course, a visit to Lapland wouldn’t be complete without trying to capture nature’s light show. The best time to visit Lapland to see the Northern Lights starts as early as the end of August when the nights get darker.
- Fancy finding out about local culture? Why not head to Muonio and dine at the Reindeer Herder’s Cabin? You’ll have a three-course slap-up meal by an open fire in an authentic reindeer cabin while learning about reindeer and related husbandry. You’ll also learn what local food and natural products are used to make your meal.
- You don’t need an excuse to try Korvapuusti – this Finnish cinnamon roll is scented with cardamom and filled with buttery cinnamon sugar. But if you feel like you do, do as the Finns do and have it with a late afternoon coffee to keep you energised for a possible evening of Northern Lights spotting.
- Head for northern Lapland and you could catch them just about every other night if you know where to go.
- Head north anywhere near and above the Arctic Circle, and if the night sky looks clear and starry, you’re in a decent chance.
- Remember to get far away from bright lights and buildings. Hilltops and lakeshores make good vantage points.
- For a wonderful wilderness spot, why not check out Urho Kekkonen National Park and find your way to a wildnerness hut for the night? The whole experience is a magical way to spot the Aurora Borealis in winter.
- Catch the Northern Lights between December to March. This is when the skies are at their darkest for the longest time.
- The Finnish metrological service has a Northern Lights weather updates to help you judge the best spots.
- Between 10.00 to 02.00 is your best bet – even better is to take an excursion.
- For those of you who like precision: Lapland’s ‘aurora zone’ encircles the earth at latitudes of 65 to 72 degrees north.
- Rovaniemi, the magical capital of Finnish Lapland, close to the Arctic Circle is where you’ll find Santa Claus Village. For those of you who can’t wait – there’s even a Santa’s Express Bus that runs from the airport to here. Rovaniemi itself is an entirely walkable city, and with it you’ll find cafes, restaurants and bars.
- The longest-running river in Finland is the Ounasjoki, and take in the spellbinding views of Jatkankynttila Bridge, especially when illuminated at night.
- The Pilke Science Centre gives you an insight into forests, with an interactive exhibition that gives you the chance to perform karaoke songs about the woods, climb into the birdhouse and hunt a virtual moose while learning about the sustainable use of forests.
- It’s the sort of thing you never knew you wanted until you heard about it. For a sauna in the sky, head to Yllastunturi, in Westen Lapland. It’s more than 500 metres above its immediate surroundings and gives you views of miles away. It’s here you can also take the longest gondola ascent in Finland. By special request, the gondola can also function as a sauna.
- For a peaceful surrender to your surroundings, head to the Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park and get to those parts of the forest walkers can’t reach by snowshoeing. Lapland in December only gets about four days of daylight, so get your skates (shoes) on!
Lapland is in Scandinavia, within the Arctic Circle. It’s the term often given to the northern part of Finland, though to be correct, it also covers northern parts of Sweden, Norway and even Russia.
The word itself is derived from ‘Lapp’. Scandinavians used this word to refer to the indigenous Sami people who have been here since ancient times. The word ‘Lapland’ is offensive to Sami people who prefer to use the word they have for this region, Sapmi.
Why choose British Airways Vacations?
The British Airways experience is more than a flight.
We offer carefully chosen hotels, resorts and villas in the most amazing places, and car rental with no hidden extras. Our access to the extensive British Airways global network and oneworld® alliance puts us in a unique position to create packages with convenient flights across the globe. From start to finish consider your vacation taken care of.
Small deposits
Secure your vacation with a small deposit and spread the cost with flexible installments.
Baggage allowance
All of our vacation packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.
Earn extra Avios
Earn extra Avios and reduce the cost of your next vacation with Avios payment.
Pay with Avios
Reduce the cost of your next trip and pay for your vacation with Avios.
Customer reviews
Our customers’ reviews are independently moderated by Feefo. We're extremely proud of our verified ratings, satisfaction scores and the commitment we see, when our customers consistently choose to book with us again.
You might also like...
Christmas markets holidays
Family holidays
Finland holidays
Iceland holidays
Innsbruck holidays
Low deposit holidays
Norway holidays
Ski holidays
Stockholm holidays
Sweden holidays
Switzerland holidays
Tromso holidays
Terms and conditions
- Flight only prices are updated every 24 hours and are accurate when published. Flights at these prices are limited and may sell out quickly.
- Package vacation prices (flight + hotel or flight + car) prices are updated every 24 to 48 hours and are accurate when published and may vary upon reaching subsequent pages. Availability may be extremely limited particularly during peak periods.
- Return fares displayed are the lowest adult return prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges, based on a 7-day return journey.
- Package vacation prices (flight + hotel and flight + car) shown are in USD per person based on 2 adults sharing one room or one car and prices include taxes, fees and carrier charges unless otherwise specified. Flight + car prices based on drivers aged 30-70 years.
- Additional charges will be applied for payments made using a corporate credit card.
- Advertised fares are available on ba.com. Additional charges may apply if purchased through British Airways outlets or travel agents.
- Combine and save on Vacations: Guaranteed savings are only available when booking a Flight + Hotel or Flight + Car booking including one land product, it does not apply to a ‘Customise your trip’ vacation including more than one hotel and / or car.
- Standard British Airways terms and conditions apply.
1. Vacation Sale offers can be booked online at ba.com or through the British Airways call centre from January 6, 2026 and January 22, 2026 at 23:59 EST.
2. Vacation sale offers are valid on travel between January 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026. All travel must be completed by September 30, 2026. For travel from all British Airways operating airports in the US.
3. To qualify for the up to $400 discount per booking offer certain booking requirements must be met.
4. The savings are $50, $100, $200 or $400 and apply to new Vacation Package bookings only where a minimum spend is met:
a. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $8,000 per booking can save $400 per booking.
b. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $5,000 per booking can save $200 per booking.
c. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $3,000 per booking can save $100 per booking.
d. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $1,500 per booking can save $50 per booking.
5. The savings are per booking.
6. A Vacation Package booking means any booking including round trip flights and either a hotel, car or combination of both for the duration of the travel period. Hotels/cars added to flights only after a flight has been selected or booked will not be eligible. To be eligible for savings, we invite you to choose ‘Flight + hotel’ or ‘Flight + car’ when commencing a search. Quotes in our ‘Create your trip’ booking tool will not include this offer and are discounted in a different way.
7. Flight + car Vacation Package savings are applied before any Extras (insurance waiver, car seats etc.) are added to the booking.
8. Prices advertised on ba.com include the additional discount where applicable.
9. Vacation sale lead-in prices include all airline-related taxes, fees, and carrier charges.
10. Economy flight and hotel package lead-in prices are based on 2 adults traveling on the same itinerary, round trip in Economy Class, pricing per adult person, based on 5 nights for double occupancy accommodation.
11. Economy flight and car rental package lead-in prices are based on 2 adults traveling on the same itinerary, round trip in Economy Class, pricing per adult person, based on 7 days Avis or Budget car rental in a ‘Group A Economy Manual’ car. Prices are based on drivers aged 30-70 years. (Automatic car rental available at higher prices).
12. Car rental prices do not include fees charged locally such as airport charges, additional driver, insurance, navigation aids and similar options.
13. All prices are liable to change at any time and are subject to flight, hotel and car rental availability. Availability is strictly limited.
14. Offers are valid for new bookings only, made during the promotional period. Valid only when combined with British operated flights or BA code share flights departing from a US gateway.
15. Prices are based on travel during dates and board basis stated.
16. Limited availability of flights at these prices. Individual travel dates are subject to availability. Promotional travel is subject to availability and capacity control, and availability may be limited over holidays and peak periods. The number of seats available on each flight at a particular fare may be restricted and it is possible that seats allocated to a particular fare on a particular flight may be fully booked even though seats are still available for sale at a different fare or booking class in the same cabin.
17. Deposits can only be paid for bookings created as flight + hotel or flight + car packages. All flight only, hotel, car and experience only bookings, and any hotel, car or experiences added to a flight only booking are excluded from this offer. The following deposit levels apply based on the total spend per booking:
I. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $1000-$1999 - pay from $198 deposit per booking
II. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $2000-$2499 - pay from $250 deposit per booking
III. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $2500-$2999 - pay from $300 deposit per booking
18. The deposit balance will be due 28 days prior to your departure date. The actual payment date will be displayed on the payment details page. You can pay the balance in as many instalments as you want. This allows you to spread the cost of the vacation over a longer period. You will have full flexibility of when you make the payments and how much they are, the only requirement is that you must have paid the full balance by the balance due date.
19. British Airways holidays standard terms and conditions and conditions of carriage apply. For full terms and conditions please refer to https://www.britishairways.com/es-us/information/legal/package-booking-terms-and-conditions
20. All travel on BA operated flights is subject to BA's General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage (see ba.com http://www.britishairways.com/es-us/information/legal/british-airways/general-conditions-of-carriage) and the notice and conditions of contract contained on each ticket and itinerary. Passengers carried by code share services are subject to the ticketing carrier's conditions of carriage.
21. British Airways is not liable for the reproduction of this offer or indirect access via third party websites of these terms and where such reproduction misstates or omits any of the information or terms and conditions connected with this promotion.
22. Normal booking conditions, including amendment and cancellation charges, of a hotel purchase apply.
23. Normal booking conditions, including amendment and cancellation charges, of a car purchase apply.
24. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
25. This offer may be withdrawn or limited by British Airways without notice.
26. Other significant restrictions may apply.
We reserve the right to cancel any bookings that violate any of these terms and conditions.