The Most Interesting Thing in Finland; What to Do in Finland: Northern Lights

Chasing the Northern Lights in Lapland

When people think of Finland, they imagine endless forests, snow-covered landscapes, and perhaps a sauna or two, maybe a Frozen castle. But there’s one experience that turns Finland from “beautiful” into “pleeeeaaase God let me have the money to go there” and that, my friends, is chasing the Northern Lights in Lapland, because if that’s not the most interesting thing in Finland, nothing is.

This Lapland place, aside from being Santa’s home, is also the northernmost region of Finland, and one of the best places in the world to witness the Aurora Borealis, and considering how cool Finland is, it’s basically the best. From late August to early April, the dark skies here light up with shifting curtains of green, purple, and pink. It’s not just the lights themselves that make it magical, obviously it’s mostly the setting. You could be watching them from a reindeer sleigh ride, a snowmobile safari (sick name), or even your own glass-roofed igloo hotel, or just a 20 minute walk away from your reasonably priced lodging. To be fair though, there aren’t many things THAT affordable in the Nordic countries. Maybe check out our ranking of the Scandinavian countries, where price has an important role in the making of the tier list.

Where to Go to Enjoy the Most Interesting Activity in Finland

The town of Rovaniemi is the easiest gateway, offering guided tours for every type of traveler. If you want something more remote (and less light pollution), head to Saariselkä or Inari for near-perfect viewing conditions. And unlike some destinations where aurora hunting means standing in one frozen spot for hours, here you can turn it into an adventure, combining the chase with husky sledding(doggies!!), ice fishing, or even overnight stays in wilderness cabins.

If you’re into a blend of comfort and adventure, Finnish Lapland makes it easy to enjoy both. You can spend your days snowshoeing through untouched forests, relaxing in a traditional smoke sauna, and sampling local delicacies like sautéed reindeer with lingonberries. What I’m trying to say is, if a loved one is pushing for adventurous nature chasing, be not afraid, for there will be bougieness underway too. But then the night falls, you simply step outside to see if the sky is performing its nightly magic. Even on nights when the lights don’t appear, the quiet beauty of Lapland’s winter landscape makes the wait worth it.

Seeing the Northern Lights here isn’t just an activity, it’s a full immersion into Finland’s wild beauty and Arctic culture. It feels like you’re part of a cosmic show that most people only see in photographs, and once you’ve witnessed it for yourself, you’ll understand why people return again and again to this frozen heaven.

As always, we hope you were able to figure out what the most interesting thing in Finland is, if you have a different opinion, let us know by email or comment! Check us out on social media!

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