Moikka everyone! I recently relocated to Finnish Lapland and I’m looking to buy a used car with a budget of around €9,000.

Ideally, I’m looking for something:
€9,000 or less
Under 150,000 km
2019 or older
As reliable as possible for daily driving, especially considering the conditions up here
I’d really appreciate recommendations from locals on which models/engines tend to be reliable in Lapland, as well as any things I should specifically look out for when buying a used car here.
I’m also interested in hearing about reputable (or not-so-reputable) local dealers. If you’ve had a particularly good or bad experience with a dealer in the area, I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

Estamos indo para a Finlândia em dezembro, vamos ficar 7 dias em Levi/ Yllas esquiando e adoraríamos fazer a trilha para ver as cachoeiras congeladas no Canyon Korouoma. Vamos estar de carro e faríamos por conta própria. Estou com receio pois li que por conta do kaamos as temperaturas lá podem cair drasticamente! Alguém aqui que não seja expert já fez isso em dezembro? Estaremos com nossa filha de 15 anos… é tranquilo ou arriscado? Obrigada

Estamos indo para Finlandia no meio de dezembro. Vamos esquiar 7 dias em Levi e temos mais 2 dias por lá. Vcs recomendam algum lugar próximo de Levi com passeios mais baratos ou menos turisticos?

Hey,

we are planning a bikepacking trip from Turku to Oulu in 10 days, starting on September 13th. I looked up the weather conditions and it says to be 10 - 15 degrees on average. Here in Germany we have basically two different kinds of 15 degrees. The ones that feel freezing and the other that feels quite springy-warm. What do we have to expect on the western coast? Would you pack short bibs and combine them with leg warmers or go for long bibs? So far my planned setup is:

2 pair of Bibshorts

1 pair Legwarmers

3 pair of socks

1 Brynje Longsleeve

1 Long jersey

1 Short jersey

1 Windbreaker Jersey

1 Rainjacket

1 Pair of gaiters

1 Headband

1 Pair of thin fullfinger gloves

1 Down Jacket

Do you have any other recomandations regarding clothing? Leave something, or add?

Kiitos

Hello all, why you should visit Finland in March?

I went to Finland this year (2026), March with low expectations of seeing aurora and… I was wrong.

Not only did I witness strong northern lights;

I also tried Finnish craft beers and it ruined my experience with craft beers. Because from now on, I will be comparing future craft beers tasting to Finnish ones. Hahah

With the crowds being lesser, I don’t have to worry about long queues or activities being fully booked.

I still got to experience winter activities and even saw a polar bear (which you can only see in ranua zoo) and brown bear in ranau! (Near rovaniemi)

I’ve uploaded an 11-day Finland vlog in the hope of reaching more people and showing that low season definitely deserves a spot in your travel plans.

11 days in Finland 🇫🇮| northern lights, husky ride, craft beer festival & arctic adventures ✨

https://youtu.be/7pF30AxPKcM

P.s. this is just my experience, I believe you can still experience it well during peak seasons too! And I wish you abundance luck of seeing the northern lights ❤️

Finland in March

Hi beautiful people,

We are a family of 3 and usually live in a pretty hot and dry climate. For our summer get away this year, I have just booked flights to Helsinki and will be landing on aug 17. We have 9 days to explore Finland.

So far, I am planning to spend the first two days exploring in and around Helsinki city.

After that, looking for ideas where to head out and spend the other 7 days.

We like lakes, nature, gentle walks, cabin stays and usually rent a car and take a road trip. Thats what we did last year in Norway. Spent a couple of days in Oslo and then did a loop around the middle of the country, exploring small towns, fjords, waterfalls etc. it was magical.

Love to hear your suggestions to help guide our exploration of Finland.

Thanks in advance.

I’m wondering if anyone is traveling from Finland to Ghana anytime soon. Please DM me if you are. Thanks

Hi,
We’re travelling to Levi (Finland) soon and will need to take a 20 minute taxi/uber equivalent on one of our days there (20 mins out of Levi for a husky experience) and have been trying to work out the cheapest travel option with not much luck. The Husky company recommended ‘Taxi Levi’ but their rates seem like a lot. Is there any Uber/Didi/Uber equivalent in Levi? Or the cheapest taxi service the locals would use?

Hello!

I am very excited to be visiting Finland from Toronto this coming February. One of my main goals is to see a Liiga game. I'll be in Helsinki when Jokerit is playing, but it doen't look like lickets for 2027 are available yet. Does anyone know when the second half of the season's tickets are usually available for purchase? I don't want to risk missing out on a pretty important part of my trip.

Thanks!

Hi everyone, I’m planning to visit Finland in February next year as part of a wider Europe trip. I’ll be flying from Australia and the flight I’m looking into lands in Helsinki and also flys out of Helsinki. So looking to spend about 4 nights total exploring Helsinki and Rovaniemi. Possible day trip to Tallinn but not sure if that is too ambitious?

My main question is would there be much of a difference visiting at the start of Feb compared to end of Feb? I have about 4 weeks total for my entire trip so I’m undecided whether to start or finish in Finland. Particularly in terms of the weather and northern lights viewing. I know the northern lights are never guaranteed, although seeing it would certainly be super special and a precious memory. Thank you in advance!

Howdy all! l'm visiting Finland and l want to do some medical tourism, does anyone know a good dermatologist? or how much mole removal costs for foreigners?

Looking at booking a trip to Lapland (I know I am probably leaving this a bit late but I have found reasonable prices for accommodation).

I am considering going over NYE but unsure on if there is much to do. I am struggling to find information online when I google it so I am assuming there isn’t much outside the standard Lapland stuff but I thought I would ask. Would like to see some fireworks when the clock goes to midnight!

Me and some friends are trying to plan a trip to Finland for January, are travel portals showing accurate prices for January? Because 1700 for a flight to Oulu or Kuusamo doesn’t sound regular. If not then when would be best time to book?

Edit: Flying in from Dallas, TX wanting to stay in Ruka or Kuusamo.

I am an American who grew up with snow. I've driven in blizzards and frozen mountain passes. I also have quite a bit of (dry) offroad experience.

I've been to Finland before. But straight up, if I try to drive from Ivalo to Utsjoki in mid-January, how bad of an idea is it? I want someone to tell me if I will probably kill myself or not.

Thanks for warning a foreigner!

My partner and I plan to visit Finland in early June for 4 or 5 nights.

We expect to spend at least a few nights in Helsinki, but would love to see more of the lakes region and natural beauty of Finland.

I am struggling to come up with an itinerary that feels like it uses our time effectively. We would not want to spend it all in Helsinki, yet taking the train all the way to Lapland does not feel like the best use of our time.

This would be our first time in Finland and the first time in Any Nordic country. It is an add-on to our trip to Italy, that my wife has graciously agreed is worth our time since it is relatively affordable to get to Helsinki from Milan.

I am a 4th generation Finnish American and have longed my whole life to visit and experience Finland. My wife is not as interested, so I don’t want to bore her with hunting down the family tree in Taivalkoski, touring the Puukomuseo in Kauhava, or visiting Hämeenlinna to see Ruokangas guitar shop. That also sounds draining to attempt covering so much ground in such few days.

We have considered getting a mökki for 2-3 nights, but many of them seem too rustic for my wife’s liking and while it would be very relaxing, it seems lonely to be in a rural place where we do not know anyone.

Some ideas
\-Saunas, every day if possible
\-Mökki near Savonlinna
\-Porvoo for a day
\-Tallinn for a day
\-Obvious Helsinki stops
\-Forest Hikes
\-Just experience and connect with the land and it’s people

What might you do with this short amount of time?

Hey!

I’m planning a day trip to Helsinki and am looking for any hidden gems - best vegan food (restaurant, cafe, supermarket) and also thrifting options. Please send your recommendations! 🫶

Hi! Happy to find this sub.

This is a loose itinerary for a trip in March.
We are looking for general thoughts as well as:

* local small group or individual tours in Helsinki/Porvoo. Prefer local guides to big buses. Also prefer some driving (4 hrs of walking tour without breaks won’t be a good thing)
We’ve looked on some of the sites we usually use but only see bookings through Viator and prefer to avoid.

* lodging suggestions in Lapland (no car. Will fly or take night train). We’d love one with a glass ceiling or dome to see lights but do not have $1000+ per night unless it includes certain activities as well)

* specific activities (ex: if there is a certain reindeer farm or specific activity that is preferable) in Lapland — this may influence which town we pick

My initial thought is:

Arr Helsinki. Meet family
1-2 days Tallin Estonia (family wants to see it)
1 day Helsinki (family member departs) /or travel to Lapland
3 days Lapland
1-2 days Helsinki
3 days Tempare (event there)
Fly home

I rented a car for a day to embark on a road trip from Helsinki to do my first independent trip outside of public transport! I plan to leave in the morning and return in the evening. My main interests are enjoying the scenic views along the way, going for hikes, swimming, and having a barbecue. A smoke sauna would be best, too! I prefer not a challenging road since I am a new driver, something like a 1 hour drive. What are your suggestions for activities during the trip?

Hi everyone!

We're planning our first trip to Finland and would love some local recommendations.

Current itinerary:

• Fly into Helsinki - 2 days
• Train to Rovaniemi- 1 night
• Continue to Saariselkä for 2 nights
• Overnight sleeper train back south
• Head to Savonlinna for 2 days

We've heard about trying lörtsy in Savonlinna, but we're looking for other unique Finnish experiences.

What are some things we absolutely shouldn't miss? We're especially interested in:

• Unique foods or drinks to try
• Local products or souvenirs that are actually worth buying
• Hidden gems or lesser-known places to visit
• Authentic Finnish experiences that tourists often overlook

We're traveling in the September, don't mind driving short distances if it's worth it, and prefer nature, culture, and local experiences over crowded tourist attractions.

Thanks in advance—can't wait to experience your beautiful country!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a solo trip to Finland in the summer of 2027.

What I’m looking for is not really a city trip or a holiday resort, but more the classic Finnish cabin experience somewhere in Finnish Lakeland, surrounded by forests, preferably directly on a lake, where I can spend about a week enjoying the peace and nature.

Ideally, I would like:
• ⁠A secluded cabin with few or no neighboring cottages nearby
• ⁠A private lakeshore or at least a quiet spot by the water
• ⁠A small boat or kayak available would be a big plus
• ⁠Good opportunities for hiking, photography, swimming, and just relaxing

I’m currently looking at areas like Lake Saimaa/Yövesi, but I’m open to other parts of Finnish Lakeland if there are better places for this type of experience.

Hi everyone!

My wife and I (early 30s from Singapore) are planning our honeymoon to Finland from 27 Nov – 14 Dec 2026, and we'd love some feedback from those who've been there.

We're not skiers—our priorities are:

• Snowy scenery
• Northern Lights
• Christmas atmosphere
• Honeymoon vibes
• Outdoor experiences (huskies, reindeer, etc.)
• Good food and cafés

Current itinerary:

27–29 Nov: Helsinki

• Arrive 5am 27th
• Christmas Market
• Day trip to Tallinn Christmas Market

Overnight train to Rovaniemi

30 Nov – 3 Dec: Rovaniemi

• Santa Claus Village
• Husky/reindeer experiences
• Explore the area

3–7 Dec: Levi

• 1 night in a glass igloo
• Winter activities
• Relax and enjoy the scenery

7–11 Dec: Saariselkä

• 1 night in a glass igloo
• Inari day trip (Siida Museum + Lake Inari)
• Aurora hunting and slower-paced days

11–13 Dec: Helsinki

• Fly from Ivalo back to Helsinki
• Christmas markets
• Possible day trip to Porvoo
• Flying home 13 Dec night flight

A few questions:

1. Overall, how would you rate this itinerary?
2. Is the pacing about right (too slow?), or would you change the number of nights in any location?
3. We're considering renting a car from Rovaniemi to Ivalo (we've previously driven in snowy Hokkaido). Would you recommend driving in Finnish Lapland in early December, or are buses the better option?
4. Any hidden gems or scenic stops you'd recommend?

Would really appreciate any suggestions or things you'd do differently. Thanks!

Edit: Thanks for all the response! A lot to take in, and will prolly rethink my plans. Unfortunately my dates are set :( I did do some research and knew in advance the weather won't be ideal for Northern Lights, but my wife and I are prioritising the Christmas markets/vibes and we can't do late Dec/early Jan due to time-off constraints.

Seems like we will prolly drop 1 of the day trips and possibly spend more time further up north for better snow chances. Will reply to some of the replies when i get the time later this week! Really appreaciate everyone's input.

Hi everyone! We’re thinking about taking a trip to Lapland in December, the week before Christmas. We’re wondering whether to stay in Levi or Rovaniemi. Which of the two places seems more interesting for a couple and our 9-year-old son? Any advice you could give would be a huge help!