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Finnish Lapland, Finland
Photo: Harrim, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
South-east Lapland is a border region between northern Finnish Lapland and inland Finland further south. It lies on the Arctic Circle and includes Lapland's capital and transport hub Rovaniemi.
By train
Most of Lapland is reachable only by bus or car, but even when there is no train service to your destination, using the train for the first leg often makes sense. The transfer is usually smooth.
By bus
There are coach connections from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (15 hours), which is the hub of most connections. Northern Norway (Troms and Finnmark) has daily connections at least in summer.
By car
There are good roads to Lapland, but instead of using a day on driving, you might want to get your car on an overnight train and wake up fresh in the morning to enjoy the landscape while driving only…
By bus
Long distance coaches or minibuses cover most of even the smallest places, often with sparse schedules (typically one or a few services a day along the main roads).
By train
Trains are available only between Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, and the schedules might be awkward as they are the long-distance ones.
By taxi
Taxis are not necessarily connected to any call centres. Ask locally for phone numbers of individual taxi businesses.
By car
If you are going to rent your car, check where you can get one. In Rovaniemi there are probably enough businesses, but elsewhere there might be none.
By snowmobile
Snowmobiles actually are a viable way of getting around; the route and track network is extensive.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Rovaniemi · International · RVN
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the entrance to Lapland for most. The province capital, the main transport hub, a university town, and the only city of any size. At the Arctic Circle with workshops of Santa Claus, where most people go to meet him.
the other real town in the region, north-eastern railhead of Finnish passenger trains.
with villages that survived World War II, thanks to their remoteness.
Pentik design, Sirniö Smith Village and Riisitunturi National Park.
wildlife park with the only polar bears in Finland
a ski resort, lots of wilderness, a national park and part of another.
Oulanka National Park is a large national park in Northern Finland, near the border with Russia. It is one of the most popular national parks in Finland, despite its relatively remote location.
quite large ski resort and a nature lover's destination by the popular Pyhä-Luosto National Park
Pyhä-Luosto National Park is a national park in the municipalities of Sodankylä, Pelkosenniemi and Kemijärvi in Finnish Lapland. See the articles on Pyhä and Luosto, the adjacent ski resorts, or the web pages of Metsähallitus on Pyhä-Luosto National Park.
small but nice national park around the fell Riisitunturi
a national park inaugurated in 2022
a small but popular ski resort
Articles and travel topics about South-east Lapland and Finland.
Nature & adventureWhere to see the northern lights in 2026 and 2027 during Solar Cycle 25, comparing weather in Tromsø, Abisko, Fairbanks and Iceland.
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InspirationThe best places to visit in December across sun, snow and culture, comparing Lapland, Chiang Mai, Vienna, Costa Rica and Cape Town.
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InspirationDiscover 10 rewarding emerging travel destinations for 2027. Escape crowded tourist hubs and explore quiet spots with rich culture and great food.
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Travel tipsFinland is the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Outside the major cities, driving is usually the most practical way to get around.
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