Ask a Finn what makes a winter trip complete and the answer is almost always sauna. We grew up with it, and it is the one experience we tell every visitor not to skip. The question is how to fit it around the aurora without turning the trip into an exhausting checklist.

Our advice is to give them separate evenings, or at least separate halves of a day. Here is how we would plan it.

Why these two belong together

Both experiences are about slowing down in the dark. One is warmth and quiet, the other is waiting and looking up. Together they make a short trip feel properly Arctic. Done carelessly, they leave you too tired to enjoy either.

What the sauna experience includes

According to the StayLapland listing, the Traditional Finnish Sauna Experience lasts 4 hours, is rated very easy and starts from €149 per adult. It includes a traditional wooden heated sauna, a lake for swimming, instructions on how to use the sauna safely, light snacks and drinks, towels, and pick-up and drop-off on request within 10 km of Rovaniemi centre. Booking closes 3 hours before the start.

We have not described a specific visit to this exact sauna, so what follows is local advice from two people who use saunas weekly.

Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

First-time sauna etiquette

Finnish sauna is quiet and unhurried. Heat for a while, cool down, drink water, repeat. No one is competing. The listing notes that you can bring a swimsuit if you want and that clothes are optional at this private experience, so you decide what is comfortable.

If you try the lake, go in slowly and get out when you feel the first strong chill. Do not push it, and never go in alone without a guide present. Afterwards, sit and let your body settle before dressing.

Choosing the aurora partner

The simplest pairing is the Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5, a 3-hour tour from €99 with a guide, snacks and drinks by the fire. If you want a roaming hunt, the bus hunting tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is 5 hours from €109 and lists a refund if no aurora photos are captured. If you prefer a warm base, the cottage aurora tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is 3 hours from €109.

None of these can promise the lights, because nobody can. Spread your chances over more than one night if you can.

Sequencing: what goes when

Our order of preference is sauna in the afternoon and aurora in the evening, with a proper meal in between. If you do the sauna after the aurora, you may be too tired to enjoy it. If you do them the same evening, leave at least a two-hour break.

On a three-night trip, the sauna can be the last evening, as a slow way to finish. Our our guide to activities in Rovaniemi shows how to build the other days around it.

Budget for the pair

For two adults, the sauna at €149 each and the campfire aurora tour at €99 each come to €496 before your 5% code, excluding food and transport. If that feels like a lot, pick the one that matters more and treat the other as an optional extra.

Listing prices are starting prices, so confirm the final amount in the live calendar.

Combining with something active

If you want a day with more movement, the Snowshoeing Tour in the Private Kuoksa Wilderness5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is 3.5 hours from €89 and is a good prelude to a sauna evening. For a bigger day, the Kuoksa Husky & Reindeer Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is 5 hours from €349.

We like activity first, sauna second. The warmth feels earned.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in the sauna experience?
The listing shows a traditional wooden heated sauna, a lake for swimming, safety instructions, light snacks and drinks, towels, and pick-up and drop-off within 10 km of Rovaniemi centre on request. It is 4 hours from €149 per adult. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Do I have to swim in the lake?
No. Swimming is optional, and many first-timers just sit in the sauna and cool down on the shore. Go at your own pace.

What should I wear?
The listing says to bring your own swimsuit if you want one, and that clothes are optional at this private sauna and swimming experience. Towels are included.

Is there a minimum group size?
The listing mentions a minimum number of people for the tour to run. Check the live booking window for the rule that applies to your date.

Can I do the sauna and the aurora on the same day?
Yes, but we would not stack them back to back. A sauna in the afternoon and an aurora evening later works well if you leave a gap to eat and rest.

When do I book by?
The listing says booking closes 3 hours before the start time, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the activity.

Our pick

If you only have two evenings, give one to the lakeside sauna5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and one to an aurora tour, with a gap between. It is the most Finnish pairing there is, and neither experience competes with the other.

Check the live calendar below, and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off. Booking runs through this page and we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.