3 Unmissable Experiences in Sweden & Finland’s Lapland

I have been many places in Scandinavia, but never to the northern reaches of Sweden & Finland’s Lapland. After arriving in Stockholm, we flew up north to airports that even I – after decades in the travel industry – did not even know the airport codes for! It was exhilarating to arrive to new territory and I am happy report my discoveries back to you.

Why Scandinavia Should Be on Your Must-See List

Scandinavia is a wonderland, both in and out of its major tourism hubs…

Cutting edge culinary scenes abound in the major cities, like Stockholm and Göteborg (Gothenburg). The culture favors beautiful, well-crafted design and architecture, often executed with a modern flair. A booming craft culture results in gorgeously made carvings, fabrics, and artisanal goods of all sorts that inevitably lead travelers to squeeze every last bit of space out of their checked bags in order to bring home items they simply can’t leave without. There are also wonderfully unique and quirky hotels to enjoy, plus a unique coffee culture where denizens enjoy taking a “fika”: a break for a coffee and pastry mainly used as a time to connect with coworkers and friends.

Finland, unsurprisingly, recently made the list of the world’s Happiest Countries. It is also one of the best places in the world to take in the spectacular vivid greens, violets, and turquoise colors of the Northern Lights. With its rich history, fantastic museums, stunning vistas, and vibrant arts scene, visitors never run out of new wonders to discover in Scandinavia.

Here are just a handful of my favorite and most unique experiences I recommend seeking out in Sweden & Finland’s majestic Lapland.

1. Meet a Herd of Reindeer at a Reindeer Farm

Reindeer are everywhere in Lapland and my travel group and I had the wonderful opportunity to spend an afternoon with a Caribou Herder who taught us all about herding and husbandry practices. The great beasts definitely prefer chilly weather, as evidenced by their unique fur which is made of long, hollow, and insulating hairs. After the fuzzy creatures spend the winter months roaming freely, herders move the animals up north to protect them from the warmer summer months.

During our visit we were invited to walk the reindeer and feed them handfuls of lichen (which made us very popular!). Several of us also jumped at the opportunity to hop in a sled and go for a one-reindeer open sleigh ride through the snow-blanked forest.

2. Sail on an Ice Breaker Ship & Go for a Dip in the Baltic Sea

Probably one of the most unique experiences you will ever have during your adventure in Finland is to wrap yourself in a bright orange suit and float in the ice covered waters of the Baltic Sea. Just getting out to where we would step into the sea was a fun experience; a DJ on deck spun the hits of ABBA as we sailed out and if they were ever tired of hearing ABBA songs, they certainly didn’t show it – they seemed to be having as much fun as us!

Once we had carved our way through the sheet of ice crusting the sea, we anchored the ship and…walked out onto the ice! After the stroll and back on the ship, we donned fluorescent orange rubber jumpsuits that sealed us in completely against the cold. While not something I’d recommend for the more claustrophobic members of any traveling group, it is definitely an adventure worth experiencing if you are up for the challenge. As I stepped off the ship and lowered myself into the ocean, I felt like I was bobbing along in a cocktail glass. I could hear the ice tinkling around me; it was actually a very peaceful experience.

3. Sauna, Sauna, and More Sauna

It would not be a proper trip to Scandinavia without experiencing Sauna culture for yourself! Generally speaking, the Finnish people are very outdoorsy people. They will often congregate around a crackling campfire with a partial triangular covering overhead to protect them from the falling snow, perfectly happy to be out in the brisk winter weather. It simply follows that they are therefore not afraid to go for a chilly dip in icy waters. The invigorating chill is then quickly followed by a trip to a hot sauna room. Then: rinse and repeat! My group and I visited a unique sauna resort where they had a multitude of different sauna styles: Dry, steamy, and even smoke-infused. When in Finland, one must sauna!

Other things to do and see in Scandinavia

There is so much to experience during your trip to the Nordic countries. Other wonderful experiences I highly recommend are visiting the Siberian husky camps, staying in the highly unusual and unique Tree Hotel in Northern Sweden, visiting the one-of-a-kind Vasa Museum in Stockholm, and seeing Roveniemi: the Santa Claus Village in Finland. And of course, if you visit at the right time of the year opt to stay in an igloo hotel with floor-to-ceiling glass so you can gaze at the gorgeous northern lights all night long.

I fall in love with these countries every time I visit. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me for even more recommendations, ideas on where to stay, and how to make your next trip to the north the absolute best it can be.