Lapland sounds like winter magic, the Northern Lights, and reindeer—but the costs of a Lapland vacation are quite substantial. We spent ten days in the Finnish part of Lapland and have transparently listed all our expenses for you here. Perhaps you’re planning a trip there yourself and want to know roughly what to expect. Spoiler alert: It’s not cheap—but it was worth every cent.

• Costs in Lapland—Our Overview
• 1. Return flights to Lapland
• 2. Rental car & gasoline
• 3. Accommodation in Lapland
• 4. Supermarket purchases
• 5. Restaurants, cafés & snack bars
• 6. Entrance fees & tours
• 7. Other
• Conclusion: Is Lapland worth it despite the costs?

Costs in Lapland – Our Overall Overview

Lapland is definitely not a bargain – but we can tell you: Every euro was worth it. The experiences, the nature, the light, the peace and quiet… simply priceless. We traveled as a couple and split the expenses. In total, the 10-day trip cost us €4,662.83, or €2,331.42 per person. Here’s the complete cost breakdown for you to calculate:

1. Return flight to Lapland

We spent €385.70 per person on the return flight to Lapland (more precisely, to Rovaniemi). We flew directly to Rovaniemi with Eurowings, including our luggage—which is almost a small highlight these days.

We flew back with Finnair, with a short stopover in Helsinki. Both connections were smooth, the transfer time was relaxed, and everything worked out perfectly. You can book flights here*.

We booked the flights almost 3 months in advance. It must be said, however, that flights to this region are generally not particularly cheap—especially not in winter, when it’s peak season for the Northern Lights and winter adventures. Sometimes a flight to Helsinki plus a domestic flight or train is cheaper.

2. Rental Car & Gas

A car is practically a must in Lapland – especially if you want to see a lot and not just stay in one place. The roads are well-developed and well-plowed in winter. It can seem a bit slippery at first, though, for novice drivers. In our opinion, you don’t need all-wheel drive, but winter tires are of course a must.

We booked the rental car (Opel Corsa) in advance at www.billiger-mietwagen.de* and spent 406.90 € on it. We always book rental cars with free cancellation and then continue to monitor prices. If a cheaper offer comes along, we simply cancel and rebook. It worked really well on this trip too.

When booking, make sure that the following services are included:

• no excess (through reimbursement)
• incl. Glass, tire, and underbody protection
• All kilometers free
• Fuel policy: full/full
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival
• Snow chains/spikes in winter

The price per liter in Lapland was around €1.85, which is still reasonable by Scandinavian standards. For the entire route, we paid a total of €115.13, or around €57.50 per person.

3. Accommodations in Lapland

We stayed in various accommodations – from cozy rooms to small holiday homes. On average, it was just under €65 per night per person. That’s okay for Lapland; it rarely gets cheaper, especially if you want warm and well-equipped rooms. In total, we spent €1,299.97 on accommodations, or €649.98 per person.

We found the self-catering accommodations to be the best. This gave us flexibility in the evenings, we could cook our own meals, and didn’t have to head out into the cold or search for a restaurant – especially after a long day outdoors, it was super convenient. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the chic hotels with restaurants. But you also have to be able and willing to afford it.

Our accommodations at a glance:

• private cottage in Rovanjiemi
• magnificent wooden cabin in the forest in Posio
• room at the Hotel Kuusamon Portti*

4. Supermarket Shopping

Finland is expensive, but if you cook for yourself more often, you’ll get by much cheaper. We regularly stocked up on snacks, breakfast, and small cooking items at the supermarket – from pasta to ready-made sauces and, of course, coffee for our thermos on the go. We spent a total of €213.93 (€106.96 per person for 10 days).

Lidl is also available in Lapland – and the prices there are a bit more reasonable than at K-Market or S-Market. You can really save money here, especially on basic groceries, fruit, and drinks. Most supermarkets are also open on Sundays, which is of course very convenient when traveling.

If you have accommodations with a kitchen, it’s worth doing a bulk shop right at the beginning – this way you don’t have to keep going out and you can avoid spontaneous restaurant visits. In some areas, such as Posio, the selection of restaurants is also very limited. In Rovaniemi, however, that’s not a problem.

5. Restaurants, Cafés & Snack Bars

We ate out a few times, but not every day. A simple lunch can easily add up to €15–20, and dinner can easily cost €30–40. Cafés aren’t cheap either – but after a day in the snow, a hot chocolate, a piece of cake, or some soup is simply worth its weight in gold. In total, we spent €262.40 (€131.20 per person)..

6. Entrance Fees & Tours

This is the largest single item: tours like dog sledding, snowmobile safaris, Northern Lights adventures, and a reindeer visit. These activities are a real highlight—but they’re not exactly cheap. However, you get experiences you won’t soon forget. Total cost for both of us: €1,378.

Here’s an overview of what we did:

• Ice Floating: €208 | Float in icy water in a survival suit (book here*)
• Husky Tour: €280 | Beautiful 4-hour tour (book here)
• Husky Tour Santa Claus Village: €198 | Short introductory ride (book here*)
• Sauna & Northern Lights Evening: €258 | Including sauna barrel & Northern Lights (book here*)
• Snowmobile Tour: €198 | Pure adrenaline through snowy landscapes (book here*)
• Reindeer farm visit: 50 € | small, family-friendly, and very informative (to the farm)
• Cross-country ski set (rental): 30 € | including boots and poles (rent here)
• Admission to Arktikum Museum Rovaniemi: 36 € | exciting exhibition (to the museum)
• Shoe spikes (rental): 10 € | very helpful on icy paths!
• Snowshoes (rental): 38 € | for your own little tours off the beaten track
• …

Our tip: It’s worth comparing combination tours or tour providers! Some offer discounts if you book multiple experiences with them or choose packages directly. The times also vary greatly – so it’s best not to book too spontaneously, especially for popular activities such as huskies or snowmobiles.

7. Other

This includes souvenirs, small purchases, parking fees, and a bit of shopping. There are lovely gifts to be found everywhere in Lapland – and we definitely didn’t return home without a few cozy memories. In the end, we spent €215.10 in the “Other” category (€107.55 per person).

Conclusion: Is Lapland worth it despite the costs?

Definitely: Lapland is not a cheap travel destination – but honestly? It was worth every euro. The silence, the snow, the landscapes, the northern lights, and the very special encounters – you won’t get that anywhere else. If you plan cleverly, you can even save a little in a few places without sacrificing the essentials.

And if you’re still wondering whether you really should do it: Go for it. Book the flight. Go. You’re guaranteed to love it. Lapland completely captivated us – and we’re already planning our next trip. This time, however, we want to head all the way up north.