5 things to Book in Advance for Lapland Trip: What & When To Book

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make when planning a trip to Finnish Lapland is assuming they can book everything after they arrive.

While that might work during the quieter months, it is a very different story during the winter season. From late November until early January, Lapland welcomes around million visitors, and the most popular experiences often sell out months in advance.

The good news? You don’t need to book everything months ahead. Knowing what fills up first and when to reserve can save you money, help you get the experiences you actually want, and avoid unnecessary stress during your holiday.

Here are the five things you should consider booking in advance.

1. Private Santa Meeting (Book 1–2 Months Ahead)

If you’re visiting Lapland around Christmas. time, a private meeting with Santa Claus is one of the first experiences to sell out.

Unlike the public Santa experiences, private meetings are offered only a limited number of times each day. Families from around the world reserve these magical moments months before Christmas, especially during December. Apukka* is one of the best Private Santa providers in Rovaniemi.

If your travel dates are between late November and Christmas, don’t wait until you arrive.

Recommended booking time: 1–2 months before your trip.

Note: During the Christmas week, this advice applies to almost everything. Popular tours, restaurants, and activities are often fully booked weeks in advance.

2. Long Snowmobile Adventures

One-hour snowmobile safaris are usually available throughout the season, but longer adventures are a different story.

Six-hour and full-day tours have much smaller group sizes, require more guides, and are offered only on selected days. Because of this, availability is much more limited than standard safaris. Arctic Lifestyle* is one of the trusted companies in Rovaniemi offering longer tours.

If you’ve dreamed about riding through remote forests, frozen rivers, and open fells, it’s worth reserving your place before arriving in Lapland.

Recommended booking time: Around 2–4 weeks in advance.

3. Husky Safaris

Not all husky experiences are the same. Short rides offered by many companies often have good availability, but longer self-driving adventures are among the most sought-after experiences in Lapland.

Some of the highest-rated kennels intentionally keep their groups small to ensure excellent animal welfare and a better guest experience. Because of that, tours can sell out surprisingly early.

For example, Bearhill Husky* is one of the companies that regularly sells out its longer tours every winter.

If you already know which kennel you want to visit, don’t wait too long.

Recommended booking time: At least several weeks in advance, or even earlier for the most popular companies. Often companies are quite ok to change your reservation afterwards if your plans change/ flights get cancelled etc.

4. Restaurants During Holidays

Many visitors are surprised by how quickly restaurants become fully booked during major holidays.

Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and even busy weekends can leave you with very few dining options if you haven’t made a reservation.

Unlike large cities, even in Rovaniemi and even more other Lapland destinations have a relatively limited number of restaurants. When thousands of visitors arrive at the same time, tables disappear fast.

If you’re planning a special dinner, reserve it before your trip.

Recommended booking time: 1–2 weeks in advance, or earlier for the most popular restaurants.

5. The Best Accommodation

If there’s one thing that can save you both money and disappointment, it’s booking your accommodation early.

Hotels, glass igloos, cabins, and Airbnb properties often release early booking offers during spring and summer for the upcoming winter season. These campaigns usually include the lowest prices of the year.

Waiting until autumn doesn’t just mean paying more but it also means many of the best places are already gone.

This is especially true if you’re looking for:

• Glass igloos*
• Lakeside cabins*
• Large Family apartments* (These are actually very hard to find on a reasonable price)
• Accommodation within walking distance of Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi*

Recommended booking time: 4–6 months before your trip for the best prices and widest selection.

Never come to Lapland before you have accommodation secured! We don’t have enough room to save hundreds of travelers without roof on top of their head to emergency accommodations when every hotel/ resort and airbnb is full. (Unfortunately this happens now every winter, but please don’t be one of them.)

Quick Booking Timeline

Here’s a simple overview of what to reserve before your trip:

Experience	When to Book
Best accommodation	4–6 months before arrival
Private Santa meeting (Christmas season)	1–2 months before
Long husky safaris	Several weeks before
Long snowmobile adventures	2–4 weeks before
Holiday restaurant reservations	1–2 weeks before

Lapland isn’t a destination where you need to plan every hour of your holiday months in advance. There are plenty of activities you can book after arriving, especially outside the busiest weeks.

However, if there is one experience you’ve been dreaming about, whether that’s meeting Santa privately, driving your own husky sled, or spending the night in a beautiful lakeside cabin it’s worth securing it early.

A little planning before your trip means less stress, better prices, and a much greater chance of experiencing Lapland exactly the way you imagined.