My Photography & Travel Guide to Lapland, Finland
On Monday, we saw that Northern Lights activity would be particularly strong over the weekend. By Wednesday, we were on a flight to Finland.
That is how the Lapland trip happened. A forecast, a flight, and four days in the Arctic that produced some of the most extraordinary experiences of our lives as photographers and travelers.
Lapland is in the far north of Finland, above the Arctic Circle, where winter means deep snow, extreme cold, frozen forests, and a specific quality of silence that you do not encounter anywhere else. Walking through the landscape in January is walking through something that looks like it was designed specifically to be photographed: snow-covered trees bending under the weight of ice, open fells running to the horizon, reindeer crossing the road without particular urgency, and a sky that turns extraordinary colors during the long blue hour that constitutes most of the winter day.
We saw the Northern Lights. I want to tell you that no description, including this one, prepares you for the actual experience of standing in a dark field in minus fifteen degrees watching green ribbons of light begin to move across the sky. The excitement of seeing them for the first time is something that stays with you.
We also tipped our snowmobile in deep snow, returning to the lodge at night. Nobody was hurt. The snow in Lapland in January is very deep and very soft, which is either a coincidence or the place looking after you. We laughed for a long time in the snow before getting it upright and continuing back.
Outside of Javri Lodge
We stayed at the Jávri Lodge in Saariselkä, which was our base for everything. We met the Sami people, the indigenous people of Lapland, and learned about their way of life, which is one of the most genuinely moving cultural experiences the trip offered. We saw reindeer. We photographed the aurora. We froze, in the best possible way.
In this Photography Guide to Lapland, I share what our winter visit produced: the photography locations, the Jávri Lodge, the food, the practical cold-weather advice, and the specific guidance on photographing the Northern Lights that comes from standing under them with a camera and figuring it out in real time.
Why Lapland Is Special
Seeing the Northern lights for the first time was a bucket list experience we had dreamed of seeing. Standing under a star-studded sky, watching green and purple ribbons of light ripple overhead, was just incredible. Lapland’s pristine wilderness provides the perfect backdrop for such awe-inspiring moments. Beyond its natural wonders, Lapland boasts a unique Sami culture, cozy accommodations, and thrilling winter activities like husky sledding and snowmobiling. Lapland has something extraordinary to offer and I highly recommend visiting during the winter.
Where to Stay in Lapland
Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, is a fantastic base for exploring the region. It offers a blend of modern comforts, cultural experiences, and easy access to natural wonders. We ended up going much further north into the Arctic
This is where we stayed, and it is our unqualified recommendation for Lapland. The lodge is located in Saariselkä, approximately 30 minutes from Ivalo Airport (IVL) and 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The Urho Kekkonen National Park, the second-largest protected natural park in Finland, is minutes from the property. Frozen fells, vast forests, and crystal-clear rivers surround the lodge on every side.
The owners are among the most personable and genuinely kind hosts we have encountered at any property anywhere in the world. The entire staff shares that warmth. You arrive in an extreme environment, and you immediately feel cared for. The lodge itself is beautifully designed with Lapland's materials and character: wood, stone, clean lines, and the specific atmosphere that comes from being properly insulated from forty-below Arctic nights while looking out at them through large windows.
The activities organized through the lodge are exceptional: snowmobile tours through the national park, reindeer safaris, Sami cultural experiences, and Northern Lights alert services that wake you at any hour when the aurora becomes active. The food is excellent and specifically Lappish in character. For photographers, the lodge's location away from light pollution makes it one of the finest aurora viewing bases in Finnish Lapland.
It is the right base for this trip. Book directly through their website.
How Long to Stay and When to Visit
Plan for at least 4-5 days to fully immerse yourself in Lapland’s beauty. This gives you ample time to explore Rovaniemi, chase the Northern Lights, and enjoy winter sports.
Best Time to Visit
Winter (December to March): Perfect for snow activities and Northern Lights photography.
Autumn (September to October): Experience ruska (autumn foliage) and the first glimpses of the aurora.
Getting Around
Rovaniemi is well-connected with public buses, taxis, and rental cars. For exploring remote areas, renting a car is recommended. Uber and Bolt are not available, but local taxi services like Lapitaksi are reliable.
Where to Eat
Restaurants
The food in Finland, and specifically in Lapland, was simply delicious. We really loved Fish Soup (Lohikeitto): A creamy salmon soup with potatoes, leeks, and dill. The Arctic Char (Rautu) was also excellent. Many people seemed to love Reindeer meat, which is a staple in Lapland and a cultural symbol of the region.
Do not miss trying the berry Juices: Lingonberry, blueberry, and sea buckthorn juices are found everywhere.
Ravintola Nili – A cozy spot for traditional Lappish cuisine.
Restaurant Aitta – Savor fresh, local ingredients in a charming setting.
Santa’s Salmon Place – Famous for its delicious open-fire grilled salmon.
Monte Rosa – Elegant dining with a European flair.
Gaissa – A culinary gem offering Nordic-inspired dishes.
Coffee Shops
Cafe & Bar 21 – Known for its waffles and cozy atmosphere.
Konditoria Antell – A delightful bakery with artisanal treats.
Photography Gear to Bring
We primarily wanted to photograph the Northern Lights.
Full-frame mirrorless bodies with strong high-ISO performance are essential for Northern Lights photography. The Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Sony A7R V, and Nikon Z8 all handle the extreme low-light conditions of the aurora with excellent results. The Sony A7R V's high-ISO noise performance is particularly strong for this specific application.
Best Photography Locations
Northern Lights — The primary reason most photographers visit Finnish Lapland in winter. The aurora borealis is visible whenever the sky is clear and solar activity is strong. Dark-sky conditions away from any light pollution are essential. The Jávri Lodge's location in Saariselkä provides exceptional darkness and an aurora alert service that notifies you when the lights become active.
Pro Tip: Use manual mode. Set ISO to 1600-3200, aperture to f/2.8 or wider, and start with a 10-15 second exposure. The aurora moves faster than most people expect; a shorter exposure preserves the structure of the ribbons rather than blurring them into a smear. A sturdy tripod on hard snow, a remote shutter release, and a fully charged battery (kept warm in an inside pocket until needed) are all essential.
Snow-Covered Landscapes and Frozen Forests — The defining visual character of winter Lapland. The hoarfrost-covered trees, known as "snow trees" or tykky, form when moisture freezes on branches, creating thick white sculptures that transform entire forests into surreal photography environments. The blue hour in deep winter, which lasts two to three hours on either side of the brief midday sun, produces extraordinary soft light on snow.
Pro Tip: Walk away from the lodge in any direction for thirty minutes in the morning blue hour. The light on snow at this hour is unlike anything produced in the rest of the year. A wide-angle lens handles the forest depth; a longer lens isolates individual snow-covered trees against the pale sky. Watch condensation on the lens in the cold; bring lens cloths in a warm pocket.
Reindeer — Reindeer roam freely throughout Finnish Lapland and are regularly encountered on roads, in forests, and across open fells. They are not particularly shy and will sometimes stand for close-up photographs before moving on at their own pace. The combination of a reindeer against a snow-covered forest background is one of Lapland's defining images.
Pro Tip: Move slowly and quietly. Do not approach directly but angle slightly to the side. A 70-200mm telephoto lets you photograph from a respectful distance without disturbing them. In the blue hour light, even a silhouette of a reindeer against a pale sky is a strong composition.
Urho Kekkonen National Park — The park begins minutes from the Jávri Lodge and covers 2,550 square kilometers of fells, forests, rivers, and wilderness. Day trips into the park by snowshoe or snowmobile produce landscape photography that the areas near the lodge cannot match in scale.
Pro Tip: Organize a guided snowshoe or snowmobile tour into the park's deeper interior. The scale of the open fells, visible in every direction without any human structure, is where Lapland's landscape photography reaches its highest expression. Bring the widest lens you have.
Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi — Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle outside Rovaniemi is the most concentrated tourist photography environment in Finnish Lapland: glass-roofed igloos, festive lighting, reindeer at the stables, and the official Arctic Circle line itself. A strong subject for warm, colorful, atmospheric shots distinct from the wilderness photography of Saariselkä.
Special Festivals and Holidays
Christmas Season (December): Rovaniemi transforms into the official hometown of Santa Claus.
Sami National Day (February 6): Celebrate Sami culture with music and dance.
Final Thoughts
Lapland is a dream destination for photographers and travelers looking to experience the magic of the Arctic. With its breathtaking scenery, vibrant culture, and countless photo opportunities, you’re sure to leave with memories and images to treasure forever.
Lapland in winter feels like stepping into another world. Snow blankets the forests in perfect silence. Trees bend under the weight of ice. The air is so crisp it almost hums. Everything feels still, yet alive.
What makes Lapland unforgettable is the light. In deep winter, the sun barely rises. You get long stretches of soft blue tones that photographers dream about. Twilight lingers for hours. And then, if you are lucky and patient, the Northern Lights begin to move across the sky. No photograph truly prepares you for that first moment when green ribbons start to dance overhead.
For photographers, Lapland is about preparation and patience. Dress properly. Protect your batteries from the cold. Use a tripod and manual settings for the aurora. Embrace the blue hour, which seems to last forever here. During the day, look for contrast: dark pine forests against white snow, reindeer tracks across open fields, and cabins glowing warmly against the winter landscape.
The snowmobile tipped over in deep snow on the way back to the lodge one night. We were not hurt. You cannot be hurt in snow that deep and that soft. We lay there for a moment in the silence of a Finnish forest at midnight, looking up at the sky, and then we started laughing. It is one of the finest memories from any trip we have taken.
Lapland is extraordinary. Go in winter. Stay as long as you can.
If you enjoyed this Photography and Travel Guide to Lapland, you can explore my other Photography and Travel Guides here, including my guide to Helsinki, Finland , which makes the ideal gateway before flying north.
If you are interested in joining one of my photography workshops, you can find the details through the link. You can also follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or subscribe to my newsletter for more travel photography tips and behind-the-scenes insight.
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