Driving in Lapland is much easier than you would imagine. In winter all cars have winter tires that are fitted with metal studs. They give you great grip and make winter driving much safer. You will be amazed how easy it is.
Traffic in Lapland is generally very quiet but you need to watch out for animals on the road. You might see reindeer or moose, so keep the speed down. In winter the general speed limit is 80 km/h on main roads but match your speed with weather conditions and never go above the speed limit - the limit is there for a reason. The speed limits in Finland are policed and fines are some of most expensive in the world. You have been warned.
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Is it easy to drive in winter?
It’s not difficult to drive in winter, however you need to be much more careful driving in snowy conditions as fresh snow on the road will be slippy. Driving in snowstorms is tricky. The windscreen can ice up and visibility is very low. Conditions can cause a form of aquaplaning on snow. So keep speeds down, brake softly and much earlier than normal. When driving in winter the road edges are marked with orange sticks. There will be soft snow at the edges, and if you get too close you can find the car being pulled off the road by the soft snow. Stay within the markers and you will be fine. Make sure you read all about safety driving in our Lapland guide.
When snow falls the main roads are usually cleaned in a matter of hours with minor roads not far behind. It’s something to behold when a giant snowplough comes through and amazing to see how quickly everything is cleared up. In general we drive on uncleared roads too. It’s not unusual to see an old family hatch car happily making its way through 30cm snow.
Do I need 4x4 to drive in Lapland in winter?
You don't need a 4x4 to drive safely in Lapland, a regular front wheel drive car will be just fine. To stop the engines freezing most cars in Finland will have an engine heater fitted. These work by plugging them into a power socket. The system then warms the engine block. Differnet heaters work in differnt ways but all work from an external electric power supply. You will see the outlets for these heater electrical supplies in many parking areas. They are the little grey boxes in front of the parking space. They are not for charging electric vehicles. Some people fit cabin heaters also. These work like a hair dryer warming the cabin of the car stopping ice forming on the windows and keeping the computers and electronic in the dashboard of the car from freezing. When driving in Finland side lights must always be switched on so you can been seen!
Roads in Lapland
In Lapland there are no motorways or duel carriageways and no complex roads systems to navigate. There are only three main roads to take you to the North from one along the Swedish border from Tornio, one through the middle of the country from Rovaniemi and one to the east of the country from Sodankylä. There are no traffic lights believe it or not, the last one is in Rovaniemi!
You might wonder how is it possible that snow stays white on the roads in Lapland all winter. First of all there is no salt put on the roads. Instead, the snow is compacted by the traffic forming a hard crust of ice that the spiked tyres grip so well to. As it’s so cold here the ice doesn’t melt becoming slippery, instead it’s actually kind of grippy. Moreover, when it snows, it’s white everywhere so there is no way to get the roads dirty.
Renting a car in Lapland
We frequently get asked whether it's advisable to rent a car in Lapland. Renting a car offers the flexibility to explore the area. But if you are not comfortable driving in Arctic winter conditions, never fear, there are many taxis, airport buses and ski buses. Make sure you read the 17 pages long chapter in "Our winter guide to Levi Lapland"Â where we give you advise on driving here in winter including all important information about safety, where not to drive, car rental, petrol stations and moving around Lapland. So please read before you decide to rent a car. Most important - stay safe.
For more detailed information refer to our comprehensive Lapland guide.
Our extensive local knowledge and years of experience are poured into the pages to help you save time and reduce stress whilst planning your trip. This is the most comprehensive Lapland guide that is written by locals and includes all the information that you need for your Lapland trip.
Happy reading
Aggie, Paul & Gooseberry
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