Most people don't come to Lapland looking for a property first — they come looking for peace and space to live. This page answers the questions people ask when they consider moving here or buying a second home, honestly, from people who live here.
Lapland has about two inhabitants per square kilometre. Nature here is not a weekend excursion — it starts at your door: trails, ski tracks and open water are part of daily life.
In small communities people know each other and look after one another. Children walk to school on their own, and helping a neighbour is the norm, not the exception.
For most people here, life is built around family, friends, nature and exercise. It is not about achieving more — it is a balance that people protect, and wish for each other.
I left because the world was in chaos during the pandemic, and our family was grieving. I felt I needed space and peace — for myself and my children — so I could hear my own voice again. I longed for a connection to nature and a safe environment. Lapland was the obvious choice: I had spent holidays here and worked seasons here when I was young.
We moved, and I have been surprised many times since. Surprised by how people here look after one another — and by how well things simply work. It often feels like living in a small utopia. People are friendly, open and honest.
For most of us, life here is a balance built around family, friends, nature and exercise — something we protect and wish for each other. It is easy to be a good person here. A simple life, in itself, makes you happy.
Tanja Sotka · Founder of Lapland LKV · More about Tanja
About 177,000 people live in Lapland year-round. The resort towns and Rovaniemi have schools, healthcare and shops, and roads are kept open all winter. Winter requires a car, proper heating and the right clothing — but everyday life works, and many find it smoother than city life: distances are short and queues are rare.
The polar night — kaamos in Finnish — is the period when the sun does not rise above the horizon. Its length depends on latitude: a few days around Rovaniemi, about a month in Levi and Ylläs, nearly two months in Kilpisjärvi. In practice there are several hours of blue twilight around midday, and snow, moonlight and the Northern Lights make winter brighter than most people expect. In summer the opposite happens: the sun does not set for weeks — for many, the nightless night is the bigger adjustment.
Resort towns and villages have good fibre and mobile connections, and working remotely from Lapland is common. There are three airports — Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Ivalo — and a night train runs from Helsinki directly to Rovaniemi and Kolari. Combining a second home here with a working life elsewhere is easier in practice than most people assume.
Most of our clients don't buy on their first visit, and they shouldn't. Rent a home for one season — ideally winter, so you experience both the high season and the polar night. Many start with a holiday, continue with a seasonal rental and buy only then: first a second home, sometimes later a permanent one. We will tell you honestly what everyday life is like in each area before you commit to anything.
Services, events and the fells in one village — with real quiet five minutes from the centre.
Next to a national park. Two villages where nature and skiing set the rhythm of the day.
A northern fell village beside Urho Kekkonen National Park — long aurora season, accessible prices.
City services, a university and an airport — with nature still ten minutes away.
Among the great fells where Finland, Sweden and Norway meet — for those seeking the deepest quiet.
Lake Inari, wilderness and silence — life on nature's terms.
Can you live in Finnish Lapland year-round?
Yes — about 177,000 people do. The resort towns and Rovaniemi have schools, healthcare and shops, and roads are kept open all winter. Winter requires a car, proper heating and the right clothing — but everyday life works, and many find it smoother than city life: distances are short and queues are rare.
What is the polar night really like?
The polar night (kaamos) is the period when the sun does not rise above the horizon. Its length depends on latitude: a few days around Rovaniemi, about a month in Levi and Ylläs, and nearly two months in Kilpisjärvi. In practice there are several hours of blue twilight around midday, and snow, moonlight and the Northern Lights make winter brighter than most people expect. In summer the opposite happens — the sun does not set for weeks.
Can I work remotely from Lapland?
Yes. Resort towns and villages have good fibre and mobile connections. Lapland has three airports — Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Ivalo — and a night train runs from Helsinki directly to Rovaniemi and Kolari. Many of our clients work remotely from Lapland for part of the year or full-time.
How should I try living in Lapland before buying?
Rent a home for one season — ideally winter, so you experience both the high season and the polar night. Many of our clients started with a holiday, continued with a seasonal rental and bought only then. We are happy to describe honestly what everyday life is like in each area before you commit to anything.
Can foreigners buy property and move to Finnish Lapland?
EU and EEA citizens can buy property freely and move to Finland without a residence permit. Citizens of other countries can also buy — real estate purchases may require a permit from the Finnish Ministry of Defence, while housing-company apartments are outside the permit requirement. Note that buying a property does not itself grant the right to reside in Finland: non-EU citizens need a normal Finnish residence permit to live here. Lapland LKV handles the purchase process entirely in English, including remote purchases with power of attorney.
Tell us what you are looking for — even if you don't know exactly yet. We will help you understand which area and what kind of home would fit your life. Full service in English.