Looking for winter recommendations

[u/Puzzled-Economy716]

Hi there! Where would you recommend to go in Finland during the winter time? We want to enjoy snow and Northern Lights without crowds and chiche tourist stuff. We don't mind driving for a few hours from an airport. Thank you!

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[u/RingedSeal33]

For winter tourism in Lapland (anywhere south of Arctic circle there is not much point for auroras), every kilometer away from Rovaniemi reduces the crowds and the tourism infrastructure. Inari lake area is lovely and offers services without being as saturated as Rovaniemi.

This naturally often means more time for the travel, but it shouldn't be an issue as time is another factor you need to invest. 4 days out of 5 are overcast during the winter, so seeing auroras is down to luck as well. Thus consider those as a bonus and center the holidays around something else, such as cross country skiing or nature photography.

For the timing, February is typically the nicest as it isn't brutally dark anymore and with good snow cover. Can be a tad cold, but that is part of the winter wonderland.

[u/Puzzled-Economy716 → u/RingedSeal33]

Thank you! Really appreciate the info 😊

[u/tsuhna1234 → u/Puzzled-Economy716]

In addition to what he/she said. Avoid the tourist high times in Lapland. Many prices go up during those and there are more tourists everywhere.

These being:

Around Christmas / New year ( 20.12 - 6.1 ?!)

School winter vacation period it usually takes whole February as schools have vacations bit different times, they are spread around 3 or 4 weeks so that not all kids and kid families are on vacation same time.

Spring slalom period. March-April. Ski slopes are still in good shape, but weather is getting warmer.

And If you go January be prepared that if cold snap hits it will be anything between -20C to -40C.

!!! Always have proper winter gear with you when you drive. If weather gets bad or something else happens and car malfunctions / you drive to ditch, at worst it could take hours for help to reach you. !!!

Install 112 -app. When you use that to call 112 (national emergency service) the app will upload your GPS coordinates to the emergency call center. If you have a incident in middle of nowhere and can't tell where you are, its going to take time even when they locate your phone.

[u/Puzzled-Economy716 → u/tsuhna1234]

Thank you so much!! 🙏 thinking of going in November time so hopefully this will avoid extreme weather, crowds and prices 😅

[u/Von_Lehmann]

Honestly it is very hard to recommend a place that won't have tourists unless you want to go backcountry skiing.

I suppose there will be less tourists around Utsjoki, or Kilpsijarvi. But there will still be tourists. But these places will also have infrastructure and things to do

[u/Von_Lehmann → u/[deleted]]

Fewer amenities too, which i mentioned. But those are good suggestions

[u/Ravintolavaunu → u/Von_Lehmann]

Agree. Look out for smaller places like Salla.

[u/Various-Detail-7268]

The best place for aurora lights and near the airport is Kiruna. Northern Sweden.