How to Travel to Lapland Without Flying: We share our journey from Kraków to Kuusamo by land – an easy and relaxed way to reach Lapland without flying.
We want to show how surprisingly easy and relaxed it is to travel to Lapland without flying, along with tips on connections, places to stay, and what to see on the way.
Is Traveling to Lapland by Land Still Possible?
Most of us, when we think about going somewhere, immediately check flight websites. This time, we looked into the past—how people traveled before flying became the default option. We chose land!
We actually made this journey both ways—first from Finland to Poland. But in this article, we want to focus on the way back, from Poland to Finland, to show how easy and stress-free it is to travel from Europe to Lapland by land.
As a kid, I spent a lot of time on buses, trains, and ferries. Of course, it was boring sometimes and I irritated my mom with questions like, “Are we there yet?” or “How much longer?”—a bit like Donkey from Shrek. But I kept a sentiment for this way of traveling: looking through the window, counting cows in the fields, or watching roe deer run into the forest. We wanted to come back to those moments and slow down during our free time. Not run and stress before, during, and after a flight—wondering if we will make it on time, how to get to the airport, or if our luggage will end up in the same place as us.
In this article I want to answer the following questions:
- How to Travel to Lapland Without Flying?
- How long does it take?
- How do you organize it and how far in advance?
- What can you do while traveling?
- What can you see and visit along the way?
- Does it actually make sense?
We live 35 km from Kuusamo in a small village called Vasaraperä, and the total distance between Kraków and our home is about 2200 km. By car it takes around 26 hours, and by public transport about 1 day and 21 hours—quite optimistic. Still, we didn’t want to rush ☺ So how did we do it, and how long did it take?
Planning the Trip: Tickets, Timing and Tips
First step: research transportation. We needed to cross four borders and five countries to get back home. It sounds like an impossible task, but it is easier than you think. To make it clearer, I created an overview of public transport options from Kraków to Kuusamo.
Poland – Lithuania:
- Train from Kraków to Vilnius (booked via PKP Intercity or LTG Link).
You board in Kraków and have one change in Mockava, Lithuania. The connection is simple—just a short walk across the platform.
Tip: On the Polish website you can book in advance. If you need help, you can contact me—I know some Polish.
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia:
Yes—just one ticket for all three Baltic countries for around €39. The trip takes a bit over 10 hours, with one train change in Valga. You simply walk to the other side of the platform—literally a few steps.
Tip: You can usually book this train about two weeks in advance, so please set a reminder.
Estonia – Finland:
- Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki.
This part of the journey feels more like a small cruise than transportation.
Finland:
- Public transport from the harbor to Helsinki city center (easy with the HSL app).
- Train from Helsinki to Oulu (booked on VR).
- Bus from Oulu to Kuusamo (booked on Matkahuolto). Another option is via Rovaniemi to Vasaraperä.
Tip: From Helsinki to Oulu, Rovaniemi, or Kemijärvi, you can book a night train with a bed—or even a private cabin with a bathroom. Very comfortable: just jump in, sleep, and wake up in the north.
If you book 2–3 months in advance, prices are very low. And with flights, you usually plan ahead as well—so this is not an excuse 😉
And that’s it—you just traveled 2200 km in about 3 days.
And no worries, we were not sleeping on railway stations. Next to them you can find nice and comfortable hotels that are not expensive, where you can rest and stretch your legs. At the same time, you get to see something new—very different from airports and stressed people running from gate to gate.
Where to Stay Along the Way
Kraków, Poland
We love small boutique hotels where the service is personal and the atmosphere feels more like home. It’s also a good idea to book directly through the hotel’s own website—that way, they keep more of the profit.
Vilnius, Lithuania
A “must” from our list: the boutique hotel Moon Garden in the city center, about a 10-minute walk from the station. For one night we paid €64 for a double room. Prices vary by season, but it is really worth it.
Tallinn, Estonia
We recommend Economy Hotel Tallinn—just 50 meters from the railway station, 500 meters from the Old Town (UNESCO-listed), and 1 km from the harbor. There is also a marketplace nearby with great food. Prices are around €30 per person, depending on the season.
Helsinki, Finland
Many options depending on your budget. The Omena Hotel is a chain that offers comfortable rooms at a good price.
What to See and Do on the Way
Kraków, Poland
Kraków, the former capital of Poland, is full of history, churches, and museums. It is also connected to very difficult parts of history that we should remember. At the same time, there is much more to experience:
- Museum under the Old Town
- St. Mary’s Basilica and the altar of Veit Stoss
- Wawel Castle
- Wieliczka Salt Mine (UNESCO site, with underground chambers and even a church)
- A cocoa café run by Michał Depta, who learned traditional cocoa-making in South America—highly recommended
Feel like mountains? You can reach Zakopane in the Tatra mountains by bus from Kraków in about 2 hours. Zakopane is the gateway to amazing adventures. Multiday hikes, day hikes, climbing, caving, as well as many forms art, like architecture and painting.
Vilnius, Lithuania
- Old Town full of great places and atmospheric pubs
- “Pirmas blynas” – a wonderful place where people with disabilities work as staff. Great initiative and amazing pancakes, located in a former church
- “Halės Turgus” – a market full of local food
- Gediminas Castle – beautiful view over the city
Tallinn, Estonia
- A vegan restaurant we visited—one of the best meals we’ve ever had. Small, friendly place with passionate people.
Old Town—beautiful, historic, and UNESCO-listed.
Helsinki, Finland
You definitely need to see Oodi, the modern library in front of the Parliament House. It’s much more than a library—you could spend hours there immersed in crafts, gaming, printing etc.
Also worth visiting:
- Finnish Museum of Natural History
- Suomenlinna (fortified island)
- Löyly public sauna (a must in Finland!)
Why Traveling to Lapland Without Flying Is Worth It
Most of us are so used to the stress of flying that we don’t even realize traveling doesn’t have to feel like that. The stress is not only mental but also physical, and our bodies need time to recover afterward. Skipping flights is an eco-friendly option, but it’s also about giving ourselves a more pleasant and relaxing experience while on the journey.
Highlights of traveling by land:
- No baggage stress or airport hassle
- Always having your luggage nearby
- Dreamy landscapes along the way
- Traveling among locals, their culture and language
- Arriving right in the center of every city
- Feeling rested when you reach your destination
Final Thoughts: A Stress-Free Way to Reach Lapland
The conclusion of our trip from Finland to Kraków and back?
It actually left us feeling rested when we returned home.
We had a culturally rich experience, and it gave us a deeper understanding of how far we had traveled. This journey has inspired us to explore more destinations by land—how exciting is that!
