Finnland 2026
0700am wake-up.
Breakfast and last things finished in the apartment like empty the bins and watering the plants. At 0845am we took the subway and bus to Frankfurt airport. The Baggage drop-off per self checking was super quick and we still had some time. We went to MC Donald's and had a snack and coffee.
Security check was really quick as usual in Frankfurt and after only a Short time our boarding started. The Seat next to us was free so we had some space.
Smooth flight to Helsinki about 2 hours 15minuts. We took off 20min late but we had been on time in Helsinki. Beautiful but cold( -9C) weather. We took the Train and bus to the hotel, easy and cheapest way. Public transport is good in Helsinki. The room is super tiny but practicable. We Chilled out in the room for about 2 Hours, later we walked to a Nepali restaurant close by and had super delicious dinner. Friendly staff and cheap.
Back at the hotel we watched ice dance Olympics before we went to bed.
17.02.2026
Our alarm went off at 0800 am.
We put some clothes on and went downstairs to the breakfast. Pretty busy at this time but lots of different things to choose from and very delicious.
Back at the room we changed into worm clothes for the day and walked to the tram station. Two days ticket cost us 15€ what is pretty good. We met the girl from the walking tour in front of one of the oldest places in Helsinki. From here we walked two hours through Helsinki old town along harbor and some shopping centers, churches and Sauna places.
We finished in the Helsinki library were we had after the tour some cinnamon rolls and tea and coffee to get bit warm again. It's -9C° and sunny.
Later we walked to an small indoor market. Nice Handmade stuff and some fresh food.
After we took the tram back to the hotel and enjoyed the sauna/SPA area on top of the Hotel. We saw a beautiful sunset above Helsinki. For dinner we went to the same Nepali restaurant than the day before. It was just too good and cheap. The rest of the evening we tried to figure out what want to do in Ivalo.
18.02.2026
First thing we did, booked our cross country ski (2hr) in Ivalo for the next day. There after we went downstairs and enjoyed a long and delicious Breakfast. After we changed in our warm clothes we took the tram in to town and a small ferry to the fort. The ferry had to drive with full power trough the thick ice of the Baltic sea. On the island with the fort we walked around for about two hours before we took the ferry back to the city. Here we went to a café and had cinnamon rolls and tea and coffee. Next stop was another small indoor market with small shops and restaurants. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a souvenir shop and a grocery store for breakfast. At the hotel we changed in our swimming suits and went to the rooftop Sauna. 2 hours of warming up. At the end of the day we headed out to a very small pizza restaurant where we had big pizzas before we returned to pack our language. Early night.
19.02.2026
Our alarm went of at 0400am. We put some warm clothes on and checked out. A Uber brought us to the airport. After a very quick self check-in and a security check we had plenty off time until departure. With a 20 minutes delay due to deicing we took off to Ivalo. 1 hour and 15minutes with a in-flight sunrise and sunset we arrived in Ivalo on time. The thermostat at the airport showed -24C° ... Fucking cold but absolutely stunning views. The trees are frozen with snow the air is soo cold that it feels like you can see endless far. Our rental car is a Audi A3 and already running to head up for us. we slowly drove into the direction of Ivalo. The streets are covered with ice and snow. But still quite okey do drive. Luckily we are able to get already to our hostel. The hostel boss a friendly Finnish guy welcome's us. We can store our language already in the room even if it's not ready yet. We stayed in the common room fore some time and had tea and coffee. By midday we drove southbound to the ski resort area where we booked a cross country ski lessons. Short stop at the supermarket and a burger for lunch. We met the guide at a small bar in the forest. It's only us today so we got a private lesson. 30 minutes to get our ski on and introduction before we started our 1½hour tour. Pretty exhausting but nice experience. The guy told us a lot of Finland and things we can do. At the end we had a hot chocolate and pancakes at the forest-bar. Back at the hostel we had potato soup from the supermarket and early bed time since we are exhausted.
20.02.2026
After we woke up, we had breakfast porridge what was for free on the hostel. At around 10am I drove to the ski resort to go downhill skiing. Janina stayed in the hostel because she don't ski. When I arrived there was only a few people there the weather forecast didn't looked that good for the day. But I enjoyed it. It was cold and the slopes not too long but at least no queue at the lifts and only a few people around. the scenery around looks stunning with all the snow on the trees. At 2 pm I had lunch in the restaurant on top of the highest hill. I continued for another 2 hours and finished the day by 5pm. Exhausted but happy that I went. I drove into the night back to the hostel. The trees looked still so pretty at night. Back at the hotel I had a very hot shower and soup with Janina for dinner.
21.02.2026
After another delicious porridge breakfast we packed our bag's said good bye to the nice landlord and drove north bound to Inari. We had planned to visit the Inari museum but unfortunately it was closed. Since we didn't had anything else planned for the day we went into local pub/ restaurant and enjoyed a quiet nice burger. After some time we went into a big souvenir shop bought a new magnet, we saw people walking around on the lake and decided to give it a try. It was sunny so we walked fore some time on the lake before we stopped at the grocery store. Some final things to eat and we drove 2½ hours further north to our accommodation. It's located 2 km away from the most northern point of Finland and the EU. Right next to a River. On the way we stopped for a reindeer and some nice view's. The AirBnB is a small wooden house with a sauna, Jacuzzi and a stove. It's lovely and cosy. We straight away felt welcome. After dinner we enjoyed our view into the nature from the Sofa. We been super lucky with northern lights (aurora) we took some pictures outside for about an hour at -16C° before we went to bed preaty late that night..
22.02.2026
We slept long after we went to bed quite late due to the aurora. After a long and relaxing breakfast we Chilled out on the sofa watching some photos of last night and enjoyed the view out of the big window from the Sofa. By midday we walked 2 km on the frozen street to see the most northern point of Finland and the EU. After returning to the apartment we enjoyed a hot tomato soup. further we kept relaxing on the Sofa. Watched some Netflix. For dinner we had some rice out of the microwave. After sunset I went out to see again some Polar-lights but it didn't light up that much as the night before. And we went to bed bit earlier.
23.02.2026
We slept quite long and had a long breakfast too. There after we watched bit Netflix. At around 1pm we walked 2km to the store to buy more chocolate and a few other things. It was sunny and around -10C°. End of the Day we Chilled some time in the Jacuzzi and in the sauna. Enjoyed our view onto the nature. watched some Polar lights again in the evening.
24.02.2026
Our alarm went off at 0700am. Quick breakfast and putting all warm clothes together. At 0830am we started the engine of the car and scratched all the ice from the windows. Than we drove 3 hours back to Ivalo. Here we did a snowmobile Safari on the Inari lake. Nearly a private tour only a girl from Mexico is joining us. The weather turned into sunny and -9C°. The landscape is just beautiful, snow as far the eyes can see. The tour was a bit short but we stopped on a island (in summer not now) and head reindeer soup, pumpkin soup and hot tea. There after we could pet and feed two reindeer that live on the island. Only a few minutes back on the snowmobiles and the tour was already over. In total we spent 3 hours outside, we had some proper snowsuit but we still felt cold after this time. We went to the grocery store and had another hot tea, did some grocery shopping and drove 3 hours back into the night to our Airbnb. Here we had dinner, left overs from the day before. Than I fired up the sauna, because I was still feeling bit cold. In the time of the warming up some Polar-lights showed up and we enjoyed some time outside in the Jacuzzi watching the aurora. At the end I went into the sauna and afterwards straight to bed. The alarm is set to 2 am. The forecast for Polar-lights looks good for the night.
25.02.2026
The alarm rang at 0200am... Way to early...
At this time the sky was light up with Polar-lights I watched from inside fore some time before I put my clothes on. Because of the 3-4 layers it took some time and when I went outside the Polar-lights had already disappeared... I stayed for 30minuts outside at -17C° but nothing happened. At one point clouds came in and even the moon disappeared. So I went back to bed. By around 0900am we woke up and had breakfast. Still sad from missing the Polar-lights because that was probably our last chance to see some. After breakfast I fired up the stove and we relaxed for some time on the Sofa watching Netflix. At around 0100 pm we dressed up, grabbed the snowshoe and drove 10km to the top of a hill for a 5 km hike in the high snow. Unfortunately at arrival the wind was so strong and started to snow again we decided to drive back immediately. We wear a bit afraid to get lost in the white. Back home we put the shoes on and walked a bit on the frozen river that is the border between Norway and Finland. After returning I packed some new piles off wood for the Sauna and the stove from the shed and Janina did some yoga. The rest of the evening we played some game's, had potato casserole an finished with some Sauna time.
26.02.2026
We woke up quite early. in the night we got 4 cm of new snow outside. We fired the stove and had breakfast. Our last day in the apartment. We relaxed on the Sofa and saw some moose walking by. At one point we went outside and started cleaning the porch and the driveway from snow. Filled up all the wood piles inside. There after we walked to the grocery store and bought some last pieces. Back at the Airbnb we had early dinner. After packing our language we cleaned the apartment as good as possible. One last time at the Jacuzzi and Sauna before going to bed. -6C° and Cloudy.
27.02.2026
Our alarm went of at 0730am. We had breakfast, cleaned the place finely and loaded all our stuff in the car. With only -5C° the warmest day. We drove to Inari museum. on the way we saw some reindeer at a lake where we shortly stopped and took some pictures. We spent about two hours at the museum where we learned about the indigenous people and animals of Finland. A short tea and coffee break since we still had quite some time. A few last souvenir before too and lunch in the pub where we stopped already on the way up. In Ivalo we refueled the car and returned it at the car park at the airport. The airport was quite busy due to 4 flights leaving nearly at the same time. Janina found a last souvenir for us a wool blanket before we went through security. With only 20 minutes delay due to deicing we took off in a beautiful sunset above Finland.
Back in Frankfurt luckily our backs came in a decent time, not that usual for Frankfurt. we took the bus Home and went to bed.
Beautiful and relaxing two Weeks in Finnland / Lappland. The frozen landscape was stunning. at the end it didn't felt soo cold even if we had most of the time -10 to -18C.
28.02.2026
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