Did you know?
The annual festival of Poikkinainti in Pello celebrates cross-border marriages by conducting a wedding ceremony in the middle of the river.
Language
Sami dialects, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian.
Getting there
To get to Lapland via Sweden, fly to Stockholm and take a connecting flight to Kiruna. Via Norway, fly to Tromso or to Oslo and take a connecting flight or train north. Via Finland, fly to Helsinki and take a connecting flight to Rovaniemi or Kemi. There are also several trains from capital cities including a 14-hour journey from Helsinki to Kemijarvi.
Finland - two hours 50 mins, Sweden - two hours 30 mins, Norway - two hours.
Getting around
There is an extensive bus network, but some services are infrequent so check before you travel. A system of post buses, similar to the
UK, serve more outlying areas or you may prefer to rely on a car. Even in snowy winter, roads are kept clear. As there are so few cars on the roads, you're unlikely to meet any traffic jams. Trekking is one of the most popular ways of getting around - along the way you'll find many wilderness huts to rest or overnight in.
Currency
Finland - the euro, Sweden - the Swedish Krona, Norway - the Norwegian Krone.
Costs
Will vary from country to country but as a rough guide a beer is about £2, a moderate restaurant meal for two £20-£30, a litre of petrol 75p, a short taxi ride £7 and a roll of film £3.
Weather
Lapland's proximity to the Arctic Circle means there's little sun in winter - on December 21 it doesn't rise at all and for two months there's almost no daylight. It's the reverse in summer, when for two months the sun doesn't set. Winter starts in October, quickly followed by the first heavy snowfalls. January is the coldest month with temperatures ranging from -11 to -14C. Lakes are frozen for around six months in southern Lapland and as much as eight months in the north. The average July temperature is 12-16C.
Time difference
Finland is two hours ahead of GMT, Sweden and Norway are one hour ahead.
International dialling code from the
UK Sweden 00 46, Norway 00 47, Finland 00 358.
Opening hours
It varies depending on which part of Lapland you are in. Post offices generally open 9am to 8pm, banks at 9.15 or 9.30 am to 3pm or 4.15pm, shops 9am to 5pm or 6pm and until 1pm on Saturdays.
Health - Before you go
Finland, Sweden and Norway have reciprocal medical arrangements with the
UK but take a completed EHIC form (from post offices) with you.
Health - When you are there
When trekking in remote northern areas, guard against hypothermia. At the other end of the scale, mosquitoes are rampant in June and July, so take a good insect repellent.
Warnings
If trekking, don't leave litter, be careful with fires and don't tease the reindeer if you want to stay friendly with the locals. Take a good map if you are trekking in remote national park areas.
Emergency
112 for general emergencies, 10022 for police and 10023 for a doctor.
Customs
Yoiking is the Sami tradition of telling stories, describing nature and people and recalling events in song. This distinctive style of singing was banned by Christian missionaries in earlier centuries as they saw it as sinful and heathen.
Pets
Sweden, Finland and Norway are all participants in the Pet Travel Scheme but this takes months to set up so see your vet early for details.
Tipping
Most restaurant and hotel bills include service. Round taxi fares up.
Tourist office
The Finnish Tourist Board, PO Box 33213,
London W6 8JX, tel: 020 7365 2512. Or try The Swedish Travel and Tourism Council, 11 Montague Place,
London W1H 2A1, tel: 020 7870 5600