Lapland on a Budget: How to Plan a DIY Trip with Kids

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Planning a DIY trip is a brilliant way to experience Lapland on a budget with the kids. Lapland is often seen as a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas trip but you don’t have to book an expensive package holiday to experience it. Whilst the excursions don’t come cheap, the bulk of the holiday needn’t be expensive. By arranging your own flights, accommodation and days out, you can decide exactly what you want to do, how long you stay and how much you spend. It also means that you can enjoy the magic of Lapland at your own pace rather than rushing between pre-booked activities.

We had an amazing trip to Rovaniemi in March 2026 with our two teenagers. So, here’s what we learned from planning a DIY Lapland break with kids – including travel & transport, where to stay, what to do and and practical ways to keep things on budget.

Visit Date: March 2026

Our trip at a glance:

To give you an idea of what our trip looked like and approximate costs, here’s a quick summary and I’ll break it all down as we move through this guide.

Visit date: March 2026
Destination: Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland
Travellers: Two adults and two teenagers
Length: Four nights, with three full days for exploring
Flights: easyJet from London Gatwick
Accommodation: A two bedroom apartment
Transport: Walking, buses, airport transfers and transport included with excursions – no hire car
Approximate Spend: £2,500

Why we chose a DIY Lapland trip

Package Lapland holidays can be convenient, particularly if you want accommodation, transfers and activities organised together. But planning everything yourself lets you choose where you stay, which experiences you pay for and how much time you have to enjoy them. For us, that flexibility was a big part of the appeal. We wanted a few special excursions, but also time to play in the snow, rest in our apartment and warm up between activities. Having four nights meant we could enjoy three full days of adventures without turning the trip into a whirlwind.

Booking independently can also help with costs. You can compare flights, choose self-catering accommodation and book shorter excursions rather than paying for a packed programme. It’s worth comparing the total with a package for the same dates and inclusions, but organising our own Rovaniemi break was much easier than I’d expected.

How to plan a DIY Lapland trip

Planning a Lapland trip independently is actually quite straightforward once you break it down into a few simple steps – here’s how to get started:

1. Decide on your destination:

The first step is choosing where in Lapland you want to stay. For families travelling independently, Rovaniemi is usually the easiest option. It’s the official hometown of Santa Claus and staying in the city centre works well for a DIY trip because you’re close to restaurants, shops and supermarkets – it’s a really walkable place. It has good transport connections, a short airport transfer time, plenty of accommodation, shops, restaurants and lots of activities nearby – we thought it was the perfect base and many excursions leave from meeting points in town.

Personally, I don’t think a car is needed in Rovaniemi and it’s likely more hassle than it’s worth! For families looking for a quieter setting Levi is popular too – though you’d likely need to factor in the cost of hiring a car.

2. Choose you travel dates:

Make sure you time your trip wisely – November can be too early for snow, peak December is often busy and pricey, and temperatures in January can drop to -30℃. I think late February – early March offers the best balance of budget, weather and fewer crowds. We visited in the first week of March and had thick snow, pleasant temperatures (typically between -3°C and 0°C) and plenty of daylight for exploring. You can still visit Santa Claus Village and Rovaniemi had a lovely festive feel during our stay. If you’re unsure, take a look at my month by month guide on the best time to visit Lapland for families.

The timing of your trip will impact your budget quite significantly. Prices for flights, accommodation and excursions are all inflated over the peak December season so you’ll need to consider this when choosing your travel dates. We were surprised to see that even the days out reduced in price nearer the end of the season. Take a look at GetYourGuide during your planning stages to see how excursion costs can vary – they add up quickly when you’re travelling as a family!

3. Decide how many nights you need:

I would recommend allowing three full days for exploring, with a travel day either side. Our four-night break gave us time for Santa Claus Village, a husky ride, Lapland Winter Park and snowmobiling, as well as free activities and breaks in the apartment. Make a rough list of what you’d like to do before deciding on the length of your stay. Remember to leave room for meals, journeys, warming up and simply playing in the snow. See my Three Day Rovaniemi Family Itinerary for the daily plan.

4. Compare flights and accommodation together:

We booked return flights with easyJet from Gatwick and spent around £650 for the four of us, including two checked suitcases and seat selection. Our midday flights worked well with the kids, but it’s worth comparing different times and departure airports if you have flexibility.

Use a flight comparison site to explore your options, then check accommodation prices for those exact dates before booking. A cheap flight won’t necessarily make the whole trip affordable if the places to stay are expensive. Include baggage and seat costs in your comparison. Snow suits take up a lot of space, so we wore our snow boots on the plane to save room in our cases. If you’re considering hiring winter clothing when you arrive, compare the hire cost with any luggage savings before deciding.

5. Choose accommodation that helps you save:

For a budget-friendly DIY Lapland trip, I would definitely look at self-catering apartments – they work perfectly for families. Having a kitchen meant we could prepare breakfast, pack lunches and head back for an easy dinner instead of eating out every day. Finland can be a bit pricey when it comes to food and when you’re feeding a family costs soon add up. Plus, after a busy day of excursions, putting a pizza in the oven and having a coffee in a nice warm apartment was absolute bliss!

We stayed at Piriko Apartments in Rovaniemi city centre and thought the location and amenities were fabulous. Our two bedroom apartment cost around £850 for four nights, and it even came with two sledges to borrow. Staying centrally made it easy to walk to supermarkets, shops and excursion pick-up points, and we got cheap Uber transfers to and from the airport. If you choose a cabin outside the centre, you’ll need to include the cost of getting around when comparing it with a city apartment.

If you’re travelling with grandparents or another family, sharing a larger apartment or cabin can also be worth investigating. Compare the total price, sleeping arrangements and transport needs rather than assuming separate rooms will be cheaper. Check out my guide on where to stay in Rovaniemi with kids to explore your options.

6. Pick a few paid experiences and build your itinerary:

You don’t need to book every excursion to have a magical Lapland holiday. Choose the experiences your family is most excited about, then balance them with free activities and time to relax. We booked our main paid activities easily in advance through GetYourGuide – things like a husky ride, snowmobiling and a day at Lapland Winter Park. Make sure you’re organised before you visit – most families will only stay for a few days so you want to make the most of your time.

A few short experiences can also be a good way to try something without committing to an expensive half-day tour. Our 2.5km husky ride lasted around ten minutes, which felt like the right length for us. Compare ride distance, time with the animals, transfers and any extras so you know what you’re paying for.

Remember to plan your transport and budget for those costs too. We used a bus to reach Santa Claus Village, while our Lapland Winter Park visit and snowmobiling excursion included transport. Before booking an activity, check exactly where the pick-up point is and whether transfers are included – a cheaper ticket might work out more expensive if you need taxis as well. My 3 Day Lapland Itinerary breaks down exactly what we got up to and the costs involved.

Here’s a quick glance at the most popular Lapland activities for families:

Husky safaris – a classic snowy adventure and one of our trip highlights.
Reindeer sleigh rides – an option to compare if your family wants a gentler ride.
Rovaniemi snowmobile tours – a big hit with our teenagers; check the operator’s age and passenger rules.
Lapland Winter Park – our favourite full day with sledging, cross-country skiing, ice-skating and reindeer feeding.
Snowman World – a fun option at Santa Claus Village to investigate for younger children; we didn’t visit it ourselves.
Aurora Hunting – you can book an excursion or hunt them out yourselves like we did (more on that below!).
You could also compare ice-karting, cross-country skiing or SantaPark, depending on your children’s ages, interests and the opening dates.

👉 My guide on the 15 Best Things to Do in Rovaniemi with Kids is the perfect place to start as I’ve covered activities for kids of all ages.

How much does a DIY Lapland trip cost?

The total cost of a DIY Lapland trip varies depending on when you travel, how long you stay and which activities you choose – to keep things on budget follow the ideas above and map out an itinerary for your trip to avoid surprise costs. Flights during peak winter season can be one of the biggest costs, particularly around December when demand is highest. If you’re looking to save some money booking anti-social flight times can cut costs, as can travelling after Christmas.

We spent approximately £2,500 for four nights in Rovaniemi, travelling as two adults and two teenagers in early March 2026. Here’s a quick summary of our own costs:

£650 on flights (with two checked suitcases and seat selection included)
£850 on a 2 bedroom apartment for 4 nights
About £150 on food
Around £850 on transport, airport parking and excursions

I would highly recommend spending a little more of your budget on accommodation for an extra night or two – many Lapland trips are really short so be sure to allow time for play, rest, walks in the beautiful scenery and warming up. Plus, check clothing and travel insurance separately when building your own budget, as they aren’t itemised here. The children’s ages matter too – having two teenagers meant some experiences charged us for four adults rather than two adults and two children. For a detailed breakdown, take a look at my article: How Much Does a Lapland Trip Cost for a Family of Four?

Ways to save money on your Lapland trip

Once you’ve organised the main bookings, there are plenty of ways to keep day-to-day spending down without missing out on the fun. The main benefit of booking your own DIY Lapland trip is that you can use your budget in the best way for your family and cut costs where you can.

Visit Santa Claus Village for free

Santa Claus Village is free to enter. You can explore the festive surroundings, cross the Arctic Circle line and enjoy the snowy atmosphere without buying an activity ticket. Meeting Santa is also free but official photos cost extra and you can’t take your own photos during that meeting. However, you can still take plenty of family photos elsewhere around the village. We brought our own marshmallows to toast on the outdoor fires, which made a lovely little activity without spending money on another excursion. Read my Santa Claus Village Guide before visiting so you can decide which extras are worth paying for.

Make time for sledging and free snow play

Some of our favourite moments were simply rolling around in the snow, making snow angels and sledging. Ask whether your accommodation has sledges to borrow – ours did and we made good use of them! (Or you can get some cheaply in the supermarkets.) We particularly enjoyed sledging at the Arctic Garden, around a 15 minute walk from central Rovaniemi. You can also investigate suitable sledging areas around Ounasvaara and local parks, depending on conditions.

Walks through snowy forests and along the river were lovely too. You don’t need to fill every gap in the itinerary with something that costs money. For more ideas read: 10 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Rovaniemi with Kids.

Try to see the Northern Lights without a tour

We chose to spend our excursion budget elsewhere and had our own Northern Lights adventure at the Arctic Garden. Seeing the aurora around midnight was a moment I’ll treasure forever – and getting there didn’t cost us a penny. There’s no guarantee of a sighting, with or without a tour. Keep an eye on the forecasts and cloud cover, and choose a suitable accessible viewing spot away from the brightest lights. Being able to walk somewhere nearby worked well for us, especially with the kids. My guide on seeing the Rovaniemi Northern Lights without a tour explains more about our experience and places to consider.

Compare combination tickets and included activities

Before buying several separate experiences, see whether an attraction or activity provider offers a combination ticket. Places like Lapland Winter Park are fabulous because they offer a lot of included activities – you can cross country ski, ice-skate, feed the reindeer and more – plus it’s home to the longest sledging hill in Rovaniemi! We spent an entire day there and bought the tickets which included the buffet lunch (it added around £12 per person) which was absolutely fabulous.

Younger ones might enjoy attractions like Snowman World which will offer hours of fun and better value for money compared to individual activities. Family tickets, included transfers, equipment and meals can all change the value of a booking.

Keep food and snack costs down

We spent around £150 on food during our trip by using supermarkets and cooking in our apartment, with some meals included in our activity bookings. We found supermarket prices a little higher than at home, but self-catering still worked well for our budget. Pack lunches when you’ll be out for the day, carry refillable water bottles and take a flask for hot drinks. I brought biscuits, marshmallows and skewers for snacks and s’mores from home, and we headed back to the apartment for meals when it fitted our plans.

Don’t forget food for the journey either – airport purchases can add up quickly. When I can’t be bothered to make sandwiches, I cook pizzas the night before and pack them with fruit, crisps and snacks! Taking a few easy meals back to the apartment also gave us a welcome break between activities.

What clothing do you need for a DIY Lapland trip?

Clothing is another part of the trip you can organise yourself – compare buying, borrowing and hiring. Our March visit was relatively mild so don’t assume you’ll have the same temperatures. Pack for the forecast and the activities you’re doing with layers you can adjust. The main items to plan for are:

Thermal base layers.
Warm mid layers, such as thermal leggings and a warm jumper or a tracksuit – opt for polyester or wool as cotton holds moisture which will make you cold.
A suitable winter coat and ski trousers, or a snow suit. You’ll need coats capable of keeping you warm as low as -20℃ / -30℃ depending on when you’re visiting.
Insulated snow boots and warm socks. (Snow boots are probably the most important thing you’ll need to purchase – winter boots or walking boots are not enough.)
Hats, gloves or mittens and neck warmers.

We saved money by looking out for winter sales. We found £80 snow boots reduced to around £30 and Heat Holders hats for £4 rather than their usual price of about £15. You can also compare winter clothing hire if you’d prefer not to buy it. Through Get Your Guide it starts at around £40pp for one day, with each additional day adding around £15. This includes: a winter jacket, winter trousers, snow boots, mittens and a tube scarf.

If you think you won’t use any of the clothing again, or have young children who it wouldn’t fit for long, then hiring the gear might work well. It also allows you to pack far less luggage to reduce costs there too. Some excursions provide overalls but you’ll still need suitable clothing for the rest of your holiday. Read my Lapland Family Packing List for more info.

Is a budget DIY Lapland trip worth it with kids?

For us, absolutely! Our Rovaniemi break wasn’t as cheap as our usual summer holidays, but it was one of the most memorable trips we’ve taken with the kids. The husky ride, snowmobiling and Lapland Winter Park were brilliant, but so were the free moments – sledging, snowy walks and our midnight Northern Lights adventure. I would definitely recommend planning a DIY Lapland adventure if you’re working to a budget to get the most from your money.

Planning a DIY trip meant we could spend on the experiences we wanted and give ourselves time to enjoy them. My biggest tip is to avoid packing too much into each day. Leave room for rest, warming up and playing in the snow because those simple moments might become your favourite memories. If you’re still undecided, my article: Lapland with Kids – Is it Worth the Money? could be a good place to start. I’ve also written loads of Lapland guides to help you to plan your perfect break, so check out my other articles too: