“What clothes do I need for Lapland?” is probably my most Googled question of 2023. When I was planning our family trip with Santa’s Lapland last year – which you can read all about here – I spent a ridiculous amount of time worrying about what clothing we needed and whether my kids were going to get severe frostbite through my terrible choices.

The good news, that did not happen, and we all got through our Lapland adventure without any cases of hypothermia. In fact, we hardly felt the cold – seriously. And that’s all down to layers. Yep, layering is key when it comes to keeping cosy in Lapland and I promise you you don’t need to spend a fortune on high-spec gear. Let’s face it, you’ve already forked out enough on the holiday without adding even more expense on clothing. 

What clothes are included on Santa’s Lapland holidays?

We did the Santa’s Lapland Santa’s Magic 3-day/2-night package, which included some essential snow gear in the price. We were each given:

• A thermal snow suit
• Thermal outdoor boots
• Thick wool socks
• Leather mittens with a thermal lining

Most Lapland holiday providers will provide hire of these essential clothing items as part of the package, but if you’re planning a DIY Lapland holiday then you’ll need to make sure you pack these yourself.

Lapland packing list for children

Here’s a breakdown of what I packed for each of our two children on the 3-day Santa’s Magic holiday and whether they were needed or not:

• 1 pair of glove liners each – ESSENTIAL. The kids wore these under their mittens for an extra layer of warmth. Best thing we packed.
• 2 pairs of waterproof ski gloves/mittens – USEFUL. As the kids had been given mittens already these weren’t strictly essential, but I found having extra pairs of gloves helpful if the original pair got wet with snow.
• 2 x Warm hats with ear flaps – ESSENTIAL. These were worn constantly. I’d definitely recommend hats with ear flaps for extra warmth, and so worth bringing a spare in case they get wet.
• Snow boots – NOT ESSENTIAL. I read so many reviews insisting snow boots were needed for getting off the plane and while waiting for the hired boots, but my kids literally wore these for 5 minutes. Handy to have in general for at home, but if you’re on a budget don’t bother. Normal boots are fine.
• 2 x Fleecy snoods/neck gaiters – ESSENTIAL. Couldn’t have been without these. Much easier to keep on children than scarves and are great for keeping cheeks and noses protected on freezing cold husky dog rides! Worth having a spare as these get a little wet.
• 2 pairs of Merino wool socks – USEFUL. Although the kids were given a pair of wool socks from the hire company, I did find it useful to have a couple of pairs of merino wool socks for them anyway. You want their feet to be as cosy as possible and these definitely did the trick.
• Merino wool base layers: 2 x long sleeve tops and 2 x leggings. ESSENTIAL. These are must-haves for layering under normal clothes.
• Fleece-lined or fleece joggers. USEFUL. I’m sure normal thick joggers will be absolutely fine, but this extra layer of warmth definitely kept the kids cosy.
• Zip-up fleece. ESSENTIAL. Perfect for layering over base layers.
• Winter coat. ESSENTIAL. Take a winter coat on the plane, so the kids are warm enough before they get their thermal suit from the hire company.

Lapland packing list for adults

Here’s a breakdown of what I packed for myself on the 3-day Santa’s Magic holiday and whether they were needed or not:

• 1 pair of glove liners – ESSENTIAL. 
• 1 pair of waterproof ski gloves – NOT ESSENTIAL. I didn’t wear these all holiday, I just wore the mittens provided.
• Warm hat with ear flaps – ESSENTIAL.
• Fleece snood/neck gaiter – ESSENTIAL.
• 2 pairs of Merino wool socks – USEFUL.
• Thermal ski base layers: 2 x long sleeve tops and 2 x leggings. ESSENTIAL. 
• Fleece-lined or fleece joggers. USEFUL – although normal joggers would probably have been fine.
• Zip-up fleece. ESSENTIAL. 
• Winter coat. ESSENTIAL.

Is it expensive to buy clothes for Lapland?

It can be, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. Vinted was a lifesaver for picking up bargain fleeces for the kids, and many outdoor stores have great deals on base layers if you get in early before winter hits.

Do my Lapland base layers have to be made from Merino wool?

This was another thing that cropped up a lot during my packing research. Merino wool is amazing for base layers as it’s particularly moisture wicking, meaning that if you sweat the material will pull it away from the skin so you don’t get cold. Sounds perfect, right? The problem is that Merino wool base layers are way more expensive than basic ski base layers. I didn’t want to take any chances with the kids’ comfort or warmth so decided to fork out on Merino wool base layers for them (sadly Vinted turn up no gems for me). For myself and my husband, we opted for the most breathable thermal base layers we could find and thankfully had no issues at all. 

So there you have it, my no-nonsense guide on what to pack for Lapland and my honest option on what’s worth spending money on. 

If you’re still deciding what family Lapland holiday is right for you, make sure you take a read of my review of the Santa’s Magic package with Santa’s Lapland.

FYI. This post includes affiliate links, but I wholeheartedly recommend every item.