Finland family travel advice
Spotting the Northern Lights with kids
Spotting the Northern Lights with kids
Ali McLean, from our supplier, Activities Abroad, shares his Finnish Lapland travel tips
“A couple of years ago I was at Lake Inari, standing on the frozen lake waiting for the Northern Lights. It was -27°C and the kids were sitting inside a hut under blankets and next to a fire. About midnight the Lights came out and I ran in asking them to come and see the display. My daughter looked at me and said, ‘nah dad, we’ve already seen them.’ Kids have to be a certain age to appreciate them; I’d say anyone below their teenage years doesn’t have enough of a grasp of what they are and gets too tired and too cold for the hunt. It tends to be a trip for the older generation while the kids get stuck into all the great winter sports.”
Our Finland family Vacations
Northern lights family vacation, tailor made
A mix of Lapland family activities and a relaxing Spa hotel
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£1225 to £2250
4 days
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Winter vacation in Finnish Lapland
Winter Cottage vacations, Finnish Lapland.
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£2410 to £2445
8 days
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Family winter adventure in Finland
Great range of activities in Lapland's winter wilderness.
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4 days
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Family winter activity vacation in Finland
A combination of activities, cottages & snowy landscapes
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8 days
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Northern Lights family vacation in Finland
Lapland family hunt for the Aurora at New Year
From
£2929
8 days
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Finnish family winter adventure vacation
See the Northern Lights in Finland
From
US $3079 to US $3579
8 days
ex flights
Picking activities
Picking activities
Urpo Heikkinen, from our supplier Upitrek, offers advice on activities that suit kids
“Families need to pick activities carefully. Kids can do softer treks but if they get tired you may need to take a short cut so that no one gets left in the forest! They can see reindeer and sometimes elk on the walks, but bear watching is a problem as in the hides you sometimes have to be silent for hours. It depends on the nature of the children and how active they are. Sometimes it works, but it’s not for everyone.”
Itinerary tips
Itinerary tips
Riitta Kiukas, founder of specialist Finland vacation supplier, Skafur-Tour, on the best age for kids to travel here:
“Children of all ages can travel to Lapland. Finnish children are just babies when they start to spend their vacations in Lapland. There are covered toboggans for babies to sleep in during cross-country skiing for example. For very small children reindeer farm visits are fine, as well as short husky safaris. In Saariselkä and Vuokatti there are also indoor Angry Birds Activity Parks. Already very small children (from two years on) can learn to cross country ski and enjoy ice fishing, if it is not too cold. With children it is easy to stay in log cabins with your own kitchen.”
Our top Finland family Vacation
Northern lights family vacation, tailor made
A mix of Lapland family activities and a relaxing Spa hotel
From
£1225 to £2250
4 days
inc UK flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made to suit your requirements
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Tips on staying warm
Tips on staying warm
Riitta Kiukas, founder of specialist Finland vacation supplier, Skafur-Tour, on what to wear in Finnish Lapland in winter:
“You can best cope with the cold by dressing in layers – so that’s thermal underwear, fleece middle wear, sports socks with a high wool percentage – and by knitting woollen socks for yourself before the tour.”
Juha-Pekka Tuominen from Activities Abroad has this advice on staying toasty:
“Having worked in the region for many years, we have taken advice from our colleagues who live there and they suggest that layers of natural fibres such as wool and silk offer the best protection against the cold. Hand and feet warmers can also make the difference between really enjoying or enduring a winter activity. We suggest shorter duration activities for families, it is always best for families to finish an activity wanting more rather than with cold fingers, toes and tears wanting it to be over. The guides have experience of working with families who are not accustomed to the climate, so they will be regularly checking that everyone is warm enough and on most activities there will be a break to have some warm juice.”
Food and snacking tips
Food and snacking tips
Juha-Pekka Tuominen from Activities Abroad on healthy eating amongst kids in Finland:
“Finnish people are generally quite healthy so snacks children will be given would typically be sandwiches, yoghurt, fruit and porridge. However they seem pretty keen on microwave pizza and candy too!”
Tips from our family travelers in Finland
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Finland family travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
The weather was excellent for us in early August![]()
– Richard Mayneord
“The weather was excellent for us in early August, low 20’s every day, hardly any rain but pack for all weathers just in case. Take plenty of insect repellent, there are millions of mosquitos about in the summer months in the pine forests of northern Finland.” – Richard Mayneord
“Take a lot of socks.” – Louise Robertson in Lapland in winter
“Pack suitable clothing. Although the warm outer gear is perfect for tours, it is a little cumbersome for just popping to dinner. So good winter gear to go from the cabin to the main lodge. Also, we travelled with a 10 month old baby, so take a sling. The staff were fantastic and loaned us a cart with a reindeer skin, blankets and pillows to transport our baby from the cabin to the lodge. This was great! But if you wanted to go a bit further afield, the sling was important because it keeps the baby a lot warmer. Don't overpack. In the winter you don't really need to change your clothes that often and there isn't a great deal of storage in the cabins. We had too much stuff and didn't use most of it.” – Sarah Chandler in Lapland in winter
“Take a lot of socks.” – Louise Robertson in Lapland in winter
“Pack suitable clothing. Although the warm outer gear is perfect for tours, it is a little cumbersome for just popping to dinner. So good winter gear to go from the cabin to the main lodge. Also, we travelled with a 10 month old baby, so take a sling. The staff were fantastic and loaned us a cart with a reindeer skin, blankets and pillows to transport our baby from the cabin to the lodge. This was great! But if you wanted to go a bit further afield, the sling was important because it keeps the baby a lot warmer. Don't overpack. In the winter you don't really need to change your clothes that often and there isn't a great deal of storage in the cabins. We had too much stuff and didn't use most of it.” – Sarah Chandler in Lapland in winter
Don't overpack. In the winter you don't really need to change your clothes that often and there isn't a great deal of storage in the cabins. We had too much stuff and didn't use most of it.![]()
– Sarah Chandler in Lapland in winter
“We would recommend bringing your own gloves and if you have trouble with circulation in hands and feet - there are little packs of chemicals that heat up and can been worn inside your glove and that keep you warm. You have no idea how cold -30 degrees is, especially when you are sitting still in the sledge or on the back of the skidoo!” – Leontine Mastenbroek in Lapland in winter
“A set of thermal underwear is essential. Don’t take wet wipes as they freeze solid.” – Susan Prcychodny
“A set of thermal underwear is essential. Don’t take wet wipes as they freeze solid.” – Susan Prcychodny
More about Finland family
School vacations and Finland go together well, with deep winter and August two of the best times to travel for a memorable family escape.
Finland is growing in popularity as a family vacation destination and we’re not surprised, with its unique regions offering different treats and activities for families of all ages, throughout the year.
Our Finland family map and highlights page takes a close look at the national parks, super chilled cities and remote winter destinations that are worth including in a family vacation – just click on the blue dots to find out more.
Finland family vacation activities vary with the seasons, from winter breaks that offer a pick and mix of exciting outdoor activities, to self drive summer vacations, exploring forests, lakes and family attractions.
Finland’s high standard of living, relaxed and safe cities and quiet roads make it a welcoming and approachable destination for a family vacation, but any parent planning a trip here will still have questions.
Like hidden veg in a child friendly spaghetti Bolognese, the unique lessons and learning that come with a family vacation to Finland are tucked in stealthily amongst all the fun and exploration.
