The snowy fells of Finland make for a magical long weekend. Icy taiga forests, the hush of a frozen landscape and the Northern Lights dancing above.
Our classic short breaks in Finland combine the very best the region has to offer. Exciting outdoor adventures, like husky mushing and snowmobiling. Unforgettable log cabin and glass igloo stays. Evenings spent chasing the Northern Lights.
The Aurora Nights team can tailor any of the trips below to include your choice of accommodation and activities. So you’re sure to find the Finland weekend break you’ve been dreaming of.
Explore our classic short breaks in Finland
Iso Syote & the Aurora View Suites
Nestled in the heart of Finnish Lapland, the Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel in Iso Syote boasts some of the most breathtaking vistas you'll ever encounter from their Aurora View Suites.
Price per person (excl. flights)
Explore Now
from £2,000
Arctic Giant's Aurora Birdhouse Adventure
While many flock to the resorts in Rovaniemi or Ivalo, the lesser-known magical Finnish Arctic Lakeland is home to the unique and luxurious Arctic Giant Hotel.
Price per person (excl. flights)
Explore Now
from £2,000
Aurora Across the Border
Combining two countries – Norway and Finland - you'll stay in new Boutique Hotel Cahkal, situated in Finnish Lapland in a prime Northern Lights hunting location.
Price per person (excl. flights)
Explore Now
from £2,500
Aurora Log Cabin Adventure at Nangu
Experience the wonders of Finnish Lapland in Nangu, where you will spend 3 nights in an Aurora Log Cabin with views of the night sky to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
Price per person (excl. flights)
Explore Now
from £2,000
Finnish Arctic Highlights at Inari
This 4-night package at the Inari resort in Finland, includes a stay in an Aurora Cabin with a heated glass roof, for clear views of the night sky, to see the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed, with plenty of outdoor excursions.
Price per person (excl. flights)
Explore Now
from £2,250
Finnish Highlights of Lapland at Muotka
This 4-night package in Finnish Lapland combines a real log cabin experience with snowmobiling, husky sledding, snowshoeing - and Northern Lights hunting of course!
Price per person (excl. flights)
Explore Now
from £2,250
Classic short breaks in Finland: FAQs
When is the best time of year to book a classic short break in Finland?
To see the Northern Lights, visit Finland from September to March. During autumn and winter, the nights are long and dark, which gives you a much better chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Winter activities, like dog sledding and snowmobiling, are available from December and March. At this time of year, snow is guaranteed. You also have the option to combine your Northern Lights holiday with Christmas or New Year celebrations.
Unsure when to book your classic short break in Finland? Just get in touch with the Aurora Nights team for advice.
Read more: The Northern Lights: Season by Season
How long are your classic short breaks in Finland?
Our classic short breaks in Finland are between three nights and four nights long. Most are based across a long weekend, departing on Friday and returning home on Monday or Tuesday.
If you’d like to book a longer trip, take a look at our other Northern Lights holidays in Finland:
What can you see and do on a classic short break in Finland?
Depending on the time of year you visit, you can take your pick from activities like these:
- Enjoy the restful calm of the Arctic landscape on snowshoeing or cross-country skiing expeditions
- Try your hand at traditional Finnish activities, like ice fishing and dog sledding
- Experience the thrill of snowmobile, snow tubing or downhill skiing adventures
- Chase the Aurora with your expert Northern Lights guide, travelling into the wilderness in search of nature’s mesmerising light show
- Take a magical reindeer sleigh ride through the forest. Look out for elves as you journey to a private meeting with Santa Claus
- Take time to unwind with exclusive sauna and spa experiences. Or just hop into your own private hot tub as the Northern Lights dance above
- Get off the beaten track and escape into nature. Let our guides lead you through a world of frozen waterfalls and snow-laden trees, sharing tales of the local culture and the natural world
Where will I stay?
Finnish Lapland offers an array of unique accommodation. Wooden houses on stilts. Glass igloos with panoramic views of the night sky. Cosy log cabins with a roaring fire.
You can also stay at boutique hotels, in family-friendly villas and at eco-friendly resorts. Many accommodation options come with their own saunas and hot tubs.
There’s accommodation suited to every type of traveller. From couples to families to groups of friends travelling together. So just tell us your requirements and we’ll find the perfect fit.
What’s included in your classic short break in Finland packages?
Our classic short breaks to Finland include the following as standard:
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Half-board or full-board dining (as per your preference)
- Arctic clothing for the duration of your trip
- Your choice of guided Arctic activities
Please note that flights are not included in our Northern Lights holiday packages. But if you’d like advice on the best airports and airlines to use when travelling to Finnish Lapland from the UK or the US, just let us know. We’ll be happy to help.
Can I plan a Northern Lights short break to Helsinki?
Helsinki is located in the south of Finland. Its location and high levels of light pollution mean you rarely see the Northern Lights on a Helsinki city break.
If you’d like to see the Northern Lights and Helsinki, a longer Northern Lights holiday is the best option. On a longer trip, you have time to explore Finland’s capital city before travelling north in search of the Northern Lights.
What should I wear on a Northern Lights classic short break in Finland?
During winter, Finnish Lapland is very cold. Temperatures rarely rise above freezing. So people tend to dress for comfort and warmth, even when dining out in the evenings.
We provide Arctic outerwear for the duration of your trip. This includes a snow jacket, thermal overalls, snow boots and Arctic gloves.
Underneath, you should wear plenty of warm layers, including thermal base layers. A hat, gloves and warm socks are also essential. And you’ll need a warm winter coat for transfers to and from the airport.
Read more: What to wear on a Northern Lights trip
Will I definitely see the Northern Lights?
Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee it. However, we do everything we can to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights on your short break in Finland.
You’ll stay at remote lodges and hotels, in areas renowned for their Aurora sightings. We can arrange Northern Lights wake-up calls and book accommodation with panoramic night sky views.
Our expert Aurora guides will also take you on exciting excursions to chase the Northern Lights. They’re experts at finding clear, cloudless skies where the Northern Lights shine brightest.
Why book your classic short break to Finland with Aurora Nights?
When you book a Northern Lights short break with Aurora Nights, you can count on:
- Tailor-made trips — we tailor our short breaks in Finland to include your wish list destinations, accommodation and activities
- Exceptional experiences — with in-depth knowledge of Finnish Lapland, we offer a selection of exceptional hand-picked adventures
- Expert local guides — our experienced guides show you a lesser-seen side of Finland — and they’re great at tracking down the Northern Lights too
- A hassle-free holiday — we carefully craft your itinerary so you can relax and enjoy your Northern Lights trip
How do I book?
Choose from the list of tours above and click Enquire Now. We’ll use this tour as a basis for your bespoke trip, customising it to perfectly meet your requirements.
Can’t see a tour you like? Then just get in touch with the Aurora Nights team and we’ll design a long weekend in Finland just for you.
You may also like to browse our other short winter breaks:
Reviews
See what our clients say
1. Gourmet Cabins was excellent and Johan was a friendly and knowledgeable host. The food, cabins, hot tub and sauna were brilliant.
2. Dog sledge was a fantastic experience and we were given the opportunity to drive our own sledge
3. Snow Mobile – really got off the beaten track and into the spectacular mountains
4. Saw the Northern Lights twice in two days. There is no description that can really do them justice
Nigel Longton
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Sarah Brooks
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The Abisko Mountain Lodge was fantastic, every member of staff was friendly welcoming and charming. Accommodation, upgraded room was excellent. The food in the lodge definitely deserves the high reviews. Good breakfast, great hime made lunch soups and extremely tasty evening dinners.
The included trips were great. The only let down was the camera night, couldn’t see the lights no one fault, but we were walked through thigh high snow to be left on a frozen lake for the duration of the trip. There was no warning of the difficult walk and we had a 91 year old with us and I have hip problems! That said the guide was great, as were the ones on the skimobile and husky rides. We went up to the sky station in a snow storm with high winds, added to the experience!
Would go back in a heart beat.
We had little communication with Weekend a la carte, no need as all communications were clear and contained all the information we needed. Very informative emails
Would use again if going back
June Day
My wife and I had an awesome and memorable trip to Iceland thanks to Alex at Aurora Nights. Alex tailored the itinerary to exactly what we wanted to see and chose excellent hotels to stay at. We totally enjoyed the city of Reykjavik and the many beautiful waterfalls. He went above and beyond to not only recommend sights to see around the Golden Circle and Ring Road, but also mapped it out so we were prepared to drive through the country during unpredictable weather and road conditions. And we were especially pleased to see the Northern Lights on our visit. Alex was very flexible to make changes to our plans and choosing the wonderful Sky Lagoon to replace our tickets for the Blue Lagoon due to the closure from the volcanic activity. We highly recommend Alex and Aurora Nights.
Lisa Kovens-Harris
Overall very good. Staff excellent and helpful. Accomodation basic but was what we expected. Tour guides very good (nature walks, snow mobiles, dog sleighs). Sky station disappointing as we never got to go up due to the weather and this seem to be a recurring feature.The alternative walk at night and meal was a let down as a result.Overall would recommend to others.
John Kirby
Cannot thank this company enough. Our break to Iceland was the second time we’ve let them organise everything for us and once again they didn’t disappoint. Everything ran seamlessly and the organised tours were wonderful. This company knows what they are doing. If you want to experience the geysers, the volcano, the northern lights and all the other exciting things that Iceland has to offer then this is the company to use.
Carol Wrack
Superb holiday to Iceland, well organised, advice regarding trips informative and far exceeded our expectations (Glaciers and ice Cave) run by South Coast. Hotel Ranga is a lovely hotel, perfect to see Northern Lights (which we did see on our 3rd night), very comfortable, food excellent, staff helpful and informative. SouthCoast Adventure tour company were excellent, guides knowledgeable, and clearly very experienced.
Helen Middleton
I appreciate the fast response to my inquiries regarding my trip. It would take decision making faster on my part, and plan my itinerary and activities being offered by the company accordingly.
Joey Emmanuel Serrina
Latest from our Blog
Ready for an aurora adventure?
Book with Aurora Nights, the Northern Lights holiday experts. We will personally plan your bucket-list Northern Lights adventure holiday to Swedish Lapland, Iceland, Norway and Finland.
