Temperatures can plunge as low as -50°C in the winter and the sun is not seen for days on end during the polar night (''kaamos''). By contrast, summer brings out the '''Midnight Sun''' and temperatures can occasionally rise to 30°C, although summer temperatures in the 10-20°C are mostly the norm. July is the warmest month.
There is not too much history to see, because in the end of the Second World War the German troops burned and destroyed virtually every single village when moving to Norway. So especially for German visitors it's not a good idea to worry about the lack of old buildings around...
Summer and fall bring on the 'curse' of the '''Lappish mosquito''' (''hyttynen''), and if you think this sounds like a trivial nuisance you have never had to face up to the hordes that inhabit Lapland. Only hardcore hikers and fishermen visit the region then... or people in possession of a mosquito repellent, available in all stores. Mosquitos are far less present in the centers of the cities but it's virtually impossible to avoid the bite. Even though the mosquitoes' bites are itchy and their noise is irritating, they are completely harmless and contain no diseases.
After late August almost all mosquitoes are gone, and hiking in the middle of ''ruska'', the colourful time of autumn, is a worthwhile experience. The famous midnight sun is visible almost everywhere in Lapland. At Rovaniemi the sun doesn't set at all between the beginning of June and the beginning of July, with this period growing longer as one travels farther north. Some foreigners have difficulty sleeping during these night-less periods, though a simple sleep mask should go a long way.
If entering from Sweden, there is a gap in the network between the Swedish border at Tornio and Kemi, but the connecting bus is free with Inter Rail and Scanrail.
Stay very alert, particularly at dawn and dusk, for wild animals. '''Reindeer''' are a common cause of accidents, while collisions with much larger '''moose''' are rarer but very often lethal. If you hit a reindeer, you always must inform the locals, even if the animal seems to be unharmed, as they will in turn inform the owner of the deer. (You won't be charged with anything unless you were drunk or speeding.) Bring emergency supplies in case of a collision or breakdown, especially in winter. Locals will help if they can, but you may be in for a long, very cold wait.
Unlike moose which usually runs to the road suddenly and alone, the reindeers hang around peacefully in groups and collisions are usually easy to avoid when slowing down at once when first reindeers appear in sight.
Liikenneturva, the Finnish road safety agency, maintains a Tips for winter driving page in English.[http://www.liikenneturva.fi/en/safety_info/tips_for_winter_driving.php].
Bitterly cold in winter, usually not very warm in summer, and sparsely populated, the main draws for visitors are the desolate yet majestic '''nature''' and the unparalleled opportunities for '''trekking''' and '''winter sports'''. Several national parks can be found in Lapland with marked hiking paths and log cabins open to the public for free. But in contrast to Norway e.g. they are only equipped with an oven and wood for heating, no food is provided.
Bear in mind that Lapland consists of largely flat, vast forests and a lot of '''swamps''': there are no soaring mountains or Alpine skiing pistes here, just gentle, rounded '''fells''' (e.g. arctic treeless mountains, ''tunturi''). In the northenmost regions (Utsjoki and Enontekio) you will find also treeless areas, but real tundra is absent in Finland. Mountaineous views are mostly located in "the arm" at Enontekio, but because of the location of the road right next to the fells, best views are actually towards Sweden. Still there are magnificent environment available for hikers!
Finland's highest mountain, the '''Halti''' (1328m) in the farthest north west end of Lapland is not much more than a higher hill of loose rocks (this is due to its precence in the middle of highlands), the lower summit of a mountain with its top on the Norwegian side of the border.
Other Lappish specialities worth looking out for are '''snow grouse''' (''riekko'') and the delectable '''cloudberry''' (''lakka'' or ''hilla''), the world's most expensive berry. It grows in swamps, unripe it is red, ripe it is light orange, it contains a lot of vitamin C. In shops you find it most likely as jam (''lakkahillo'').
If you plan to travel alone or, for example in your own car, remember that distances are great and getting help for any unexpected situation may take time. Plan accordingly; take extra warm clothes in your car and tell the hotel staff where you are heading and when you expect to come back. One more thing worth mentioning is the hunting season: Natives are usually very keen of hunting, and the start of the season draws most hunters into the wilderness. Potential dangers can be countered by wearing a red cap or some other easily identified garment, and staying away from areas where hunting is allowed during the season.
Otherwise, there are few serious dangers to your well-being. Tap water and even water of lakes and creeks is potable (in most places, bottled water contains more harmful compounds than tap water) and foods are almost without exception safe to eat. Crime rates are low and people are helpful and nice in general but ''noisy'' foreigners on Friday night in a local pub/discotheque might be sitting ducks for harassment (in extreme cases; violent attacks) by drunken male villagers. This is mostly problem of skiing centers. Probability to get robbed or getting any other harm is still extremely low.