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New Year in Lapland
Spend Christmas at home before extending the festivities in the most Christmassy place on the planet and start off the year by ticking the Lapland experience off your bucket list...
There’s no better way to beat down the post-Christmas blues than with a belated visit to Santa or a ride with his reindeer and huskies. For a bit of local culture, traditional Sami events include the Arctic Circle Ceremony, tin melting and fortune telling. Most resorts celebrate with firework displays, gala dinners and concerts too; Levi and Ruka usually have the liveliest party scene. If you’d rather escape the fireworks in the village and head out into the wilderness, this is also a super time to see the Northern Lights – Mother Nature’s very own firework display.
This is one of the coldest times of the year, so ask Father Christmas to deliver lots of thermals and warm layers before you jet off! Often snowsuits can be included in our holiday packages, which leaves room in the suitcase for any Christmas presents the kids can’t bear to part with. It’s this chilly climate we have to thank for the fantastic skiing conditions over here – while some resorts in the Alps have only had a few weeks of snow, parts of Lapland get snow as early as the end of August!
With only about 4-5 hours of daylight, much of the day is bathed in exquisite sunrise and sunset – this twilight time of the year is often considered one of the most beautiful times to visit and the many floodlights on the pistes means that none of your skiing time is compromised.
New Year snow and skiing conditions in Lapland
December Snow History
Top alt:720m
Average snow depth
December49cm
Bottom alt:200m
Average snow depth
December32cm
Resort alt:200m-720m
December ski rating
Tunturi Hotel
Ruka Parkside
Crazy Reindeer Hotel
Panorama Hotel and Apartments
Holiday Club Hotel
Hotel Kultakero
Ruka Ski Chalets
Tunturi Hotel Suites
Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki
Levi Hotel Spa
New Year in Lapland FAQ:
Lapland is a beautiful place to spend New Year, with the snowy landscapes and fantastic scenery you will continue to feel that special festive time of year spirit. There are not many other places in the world where you have a chance to see the Northern lights during a New Years eve fireworks display! There are plenty of Lapland activities to book, including Snowmobile safaris, Husky & Reindeer safaris, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing, and you can even spend some time on the ski slopes.
The bigger cities such as Levi and Rovaniemi will have more going on regarding bars and New Year celebrations. If you were looking for a quieter stay with more of a lost-in-the-wilderness feel, then the smaller villages of Ylläs and Salla will be more suited. We would highly recommend adding an overnight in an igloo for a once in a lifetime unforgettable experience.
There are options available for all price ranges. You can go self-catering from around £850pp with half board hotel options ranging up to £2,000pp. Please note that with us there are no short breaks available over New Year, just 7-night stays.
© 2026 SNO Group Ltd • company no. 5995288 • VAT no. 946 9394 63 SNO, Apsley House, 176 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 2SH.
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