Can’t travel to Lapland this year? Missing the peace and quiet of the beautiful Lappish nature? Travel bug itching so bad it’s nearly impossible to stay still? Due to stationary travel restrictions, you may not have dared to book your holiday to Lapland this year (yet!). But fear not, there are also ways to experience Lapland from home. Visit Lapland has gathered 10 tips that provide to all your five senses and help you get in the spirit of Lapland!
1. Taste the sweet berries of Lapland
The Lappish berries are the real superfoods found in almost any nearby forest in the Finnish Lapland. Bilberry (commonly known as blueberry), gourd, cranberry and lingonberry are at the heart of the sweet portions of the Lappish cuisine. So what better way to tune into the atmosphere of Lapland than to bake a blueberry pie? And if you can’t find fresh blueberries from your local supermarket, Finnish-owned company Arctic Power Berries offers berry powders to add to e.g. your oats or smoothies. It’s not only delicious but also super healthy!
Did you know that due to Everyman’s Right, anyone can go into the woods and pick berries free of charge in Finland?
2. Try reindeer on your plate
Although you may consider reindeer to be Santa’s cute little helpers, reindeer is a northern delicacy also on plate. Reindeer husbandry has been and still remains to be an important livelihood for Europe’s only indigenous people, the Sámi. Reindeer have been found in the Lappish diet for hundreds of years. However, the capacity of northern nature cannot withstand an unlimited number of wild reindeer roaming the lands. Consequently, the availability of reindeer meat is also very limited. Preparing reindeer meat doesn’t differ from the preparation of any other meat. You can try sauteed reindeer with mashed potatoes, on top of pizza or even in a burger.
3. Mushrooms – health-boosting addition to your coffee?
In addition to berries, in Finland the Everyman’s Right grants people the freedom to pick mushrooms straight from the forest. In Finland, the mushroom season usually starts in early autumn. Mushrooms are delicious either as such or as a side dish. But have you heard about the health benefits of mushrooms? Four Sigmatic is a Finnish-started company that swears by the health effects of functional mushrooms. The company sells powdered chaga mushrooms to be added to your coffee, tea or cacao. The powerful antioxidants of chaga transform your brew into an immune system boosting refreshment.
Magic mushrooms? You bet!
Also check out our previous blog post about other local delicacies of Lapland
4. Get comfy on the couch with movies from Lapland
We know that all of us must have spent more than enough time indoors watching Netflix this year but have you already seen these Finnish movies from Lapland? These flicks allow you to travel to Lapland virtually!
If you’re a fan of dry nordic humour, Lapland Odyssey should be at the top of your what-to-watch list. Lapland Odyssey is a comedy about a man and his quest bring home a digital TV box (it’s an old movie, we know!) by dawn in order to restore his marriage and mend broken promises. This seemingly simple task turns out to be quite something else.
Lapland is known not only for its breathtaking scenery but also for a very well-known bearded man. Many tourists travel to Lapland to meet Santa Claus. The Finnish movie Christmas Story tells the tale of the time before Christmas traditions were born. The movie sheds light on the little known “fact” about how Santa Claus became Santa Claus.
+ If you’re a fan of darker movies with a bit more action, you can choose Rare Exports – a bit darker depiction of Santa Claus
5. Listen to the sounds of nature
Tune in with the sounds of nature through Sound of Lapland’s SCAPES album (spotify link). The SCAPES album takes you on a soundscapes journey through Lapland and provides instant relaxation. Close your eyes and listen to rushing waters, hear the ice break or wander at the grunts of reindeer.
6. Watch Lapland live!
If you’re a fan of more live action, check out these webcams that get you in the spirit of Lapland immediately!
Watch our Live discussion about Lapland life ( Our Lapland Live).
See what’s going on in Santa Claus Village in the Arctic Circle.
Ylläs Log Cabins even has its own Aurora web cam so if you’re willing to wait for the night to arrive and you have some patience, you may be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights!
7. Indulge in vlog euphoria
What you can’t find on Youtube isn’t worth finding, right? Vlogs and videos provide an excellent source of travel inspiration for your next holiday or can take you back to a place that you so miss. If you’re interested in the everyday life in Lapland, check out Äidin Puheenvuoro channel (videos in Finnish, but English subtitles available). And if you’re more into the traveler experience, e.g. Flying the Nest and Roxi & Matt have documented their amazing experiences in the Lappish winter wonderland.
8. Vibe to the tunes of Sámi artists
Amoc performs his texts in Inari Sámi language, spoken only by an estimated 300 people, and is particularly known for his specific style in the horrorcore-genre. Amoc is considered as the figurehead for Sámi rap.
Solju is formed by Ulla Pirttijärvi and her daughter Hildá Länsman, who combine their heritage of northern Sámi language and traditional chant, known as yoik, with modern experimental pop music.
Ailu Valle is a rap artist performing in Northern Sami language, Finnish and English, whose texts and style emphasize the importance of appreciating nature. The artist has performed for more than ten years in northern Norway and throughout Finland.
9. Shop Arctic design and other goods for yourself and your home online
If you yearn for something beautiful for yourself or your home and want to support local entrepreneurs in Finland, check out stores like Valkko Finland webshop and Arctic Design Shop. The stores sell anything and everything from clothes to accessories and from art to home goods.
Christmas shopping sorted!
Book Your Accommodation in Lapland
You can also book your accommodation in Lapland, Finland from this special link of Booking.com.
Book your Lapland activities and Tours from our website.
10. Smell the nature!
What does Lapland smell like? Rain, forest, crisp air? All things nature, naturally! To get the scent of Lapland for your home, you can try OSMIA‘s room scents, scented candles and bar soaps. Try their Pine Forest Fragrance Diffuser to enjoy the scent of forest. Osmia is the only company in Finland that develops its own fragrances.
Although the very temperature sensitive coffee obviously doesn’t originate from Lapland, did you know that Finns are very passionate about coffee? Every year, Finns drink about 10 kg of coffee per person. Pot coffee by the campfire is a very popular drink among hikers in Lapland. Check out Kaamos coffee roastery for freshly roasted coffee from Lapland.
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What are your favourite things about Lapland that you can experience at home? Comment our post! 
- emilia.karumaa@ourlapland.fi
