Visiting Finnish Lapland in Autumn | 5 Reasons Why

Visiting Finnish Lapland in Autumn is not something I have ever considered in the past mostly because the winter wonderland has the biggest appeal. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to visit Santa Claus Village – an all year round Christmas themed attraction with my family which I know the boys would really love. I have never however considered visiting during autumn Ruska {Indian summer}, a time of breathtaking autumn colours, geomagnetic activities for beautiful auroras.

Lapland is Finland’s most northern region located within the article circle and it shares with borders with the Baltic Sea, Norway, Russia and Sweden. The vast expanse of the region is often thought to be Europe’s last great wilderness, popular with tourists for the ski resorts and the natural phenomena of the Northern Lights. I am excited to share a few reasons why you should consider visiting Finnish Lapland in autumn, specifically where you can see the Aurora Borealis in Autumn.

Visiting Finnish Lapland in Autumn 

Autumn is an incredible and charming of the time across Europe and Finland is no exception with impeccable foliage, breathtaking hiking trails and the best fishing spot. Finland is more than Helsinki, and even though it is an incredible city, consider visiting Finnish Lapland in autumn. There are many reasons why I recommend visiting Lapland in autumn which include no sub-zero temperatures as well as fewer crowds.

As much as I love travelling across Europe during the summer, Autumn is my second favourite time and it is much cheaper. Visiting the Finnish Lapland during autumn is much cheaper than during summer or winter months. Apart from seeing the Northern Lights, I would love to go berry picking as well as mushroom picking even if I am a not a fan of mushrooms.

Learn about the culture- Sámi

The Sámi people also known as Laplanders are Finno-Ugric people who told inhabit Northern parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. They are most commonly known for their reindeer herding and in some parts of the world, they are the only ones legally allowed reindeer herding. When the weather is not inviting but still want to explore parts of Lapland, I would recommend visiting the Siida Museum to learn more about Sámi people.

See the Aurora Borealis {Northern Lights}

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights but in all honestly Autumn wasn’t the time I was thinking of seeing the northern lights. Thanks to NASA, we now know that during the equinoxes there is more geomagnetic activity which means more Northern Lights displays. I am someone who hates the cold which means Autumn is the perfect time for me to see the Northern Lights.

Berry and Mushroom Picking

Nordic berries are some of the best I have ever tried and when you visit, you have a chance to wander around the forest and berry pick. Berries have an amazing array of health benefits and contain natural antioxidants – protects cells from damage by radicals. Finland is a mushroom pickers paradise and whilst I do not like mushrooms, they are a good source of protein and fibre. As I am not a season pickers, I recommend picking to what you know.

Embrace the Foliage

Autumn Ruska in Finland lasts a total of 2 straight weeks, but if you time your visit right, you will be greeted with beautiful foliage. The Scandinavian countries all have beautiful landscape but Finland has the beauty of forests and lakes and it’s truly a sight to behold. Foliage in Lapland is so much better than anywhere else in Finland and with good reason, it is covered in pinkish red, yellow and brown leaves.

Visit a Sauna

Saunas in Finland are not a luxury but rather part of their lifestyle, culture and necessity, it is something to be enjoyed. There is a saying in Finland, behave in a sauna as you would in a church, saunas are holy places and nothing sexual. When in Finland, do as the Finns do, and I love that there different types of saunas and they can be enjoyed all year round.

One of the main reasons I want to visit Finnish Lapland in Autumn is because it is the land of Christmas dreams. But more than seeing the Northern Lights with my own eyes has always been a life long dream which I hope to soon fulfil. Like with any destination, it is important to plan ahead, outside of seeing the Northern Lights, I want to visit Santa Claus Village too.