places to visit in rovaniemi finland

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15 awesome things to do in rovaniemi (finland).

As the official capital of Lapland and unofficial gateway to the Arctic , Rovaniemi is easily one of the most popular places to visit in Finland .

Cazzy and I have been to Rovaniemi 3 times in total, and we have plans to keep returning, which means we definitely know the BEST things to do there!

It’s certainly one of the best places to stop off at in Lapland, and even a great place to base yourself for a Christmas visit to Lapland .

Well, it’s perfectly situated, close to many of the area’s best sites.

As well as a great base for tours and experiences that allow to capture the true beauty and essence of northern Finland.

We've visited in October, November and December!

15 awesome things to do in Rovaniemi

@dreambigtravelfar 8 things to do in Rovaniemi • • • • • #lapland #finland #vanlife ♬ Santa Tell Me - Ariana Grande

Now, let’s get down to business! What to do in Rovaniemi ...

1. Go on a husky ride

When you think of Lapland, one of the first things that comes to mind (at least for me) are huskies!

These cute, fluffy creatures have long been a popular presence across Scandinavia, and are a convenient way to get around the snowy tundra.

But nowadays, it’s easy for tourists to find a fun (and ethical) place to go on your own husky ride! Just like this one here .

We decided to go with Bearhill Husky, located a few minutes outside town with acres and acres of surrounding forest and trails.

The perfect place for a snowy (or not-so-snowy) husky ride.

You can read about our full experience here .

Or you can also check out the many tours on offer, such as this one here and also this one here from GetYourGuide .

They all offer pick up from locations around Rovaniemi and offer the chance to do a ride and meet the huskies.

As well as offering different lengths of trip depending on how epic you want your visit to be.

On our second time in Rovaniemi, with our niece, we did a 1.5 hour ride across a giant frozen lake and it was magical.

It was actually so rhythmic and cosy in the sled that our niece fell asleep halfway through!

Though she did love it when awake. Even today, when she sees us she still brings up this experience.

In particular, she remembers the moment when one of the huskies licked her face , it was such a great moment to watch her surprise!

2. Visit the reindeer

Okay, now what else do you think of when you imagine snowy Lapland?

That’s right, reindeer!

For centuries now, they have faithfully served Santa and helped to deliver gifts to billions of children all around the world.

So, it’s only fitting that you pay them a visit on your trip to Rovaniemi.

It’s possible to see wild reindeer at the side of the road all over Lapland; once you venture just a few minutes out of the city, there’s a good chance you will see them at the side of (or in the middle of) the busy roads.

Alternatively, pay a visit to Santa Village where they have reindeer on-site; even offering sleigh rides .

We did this on our third visit to Rovaniemi ( yep, we love it that much! ) where we took our niece with us.

The first question she asked as we starting riding away ...

"Bradley, why isn't he flying?"

Need I say more ... Take your kid here, they will love it!

For a more in-depth 5 hour trip including the chance to do a snowmobile ride, check out this awesome tour here .

3. Take a day trip to an amethyst mine

The Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, located about an hour and a half outside Rovaniemi, is one of the most unique experiences we had during our 3 months in Scandinavia .

As well as being able to learn more about the amethysts in an active mine, you even get the chance to mine your own amethysts!

Afterwards, you can take home one that you find, so long as it is no bigger than the size of your fist (which is still pretty big).

From Rovaniemi, there are plenty of tours running most days, or you can instead drive yourself there if you have your own set of wheels.

Cazzy put together a pretty epic guide on the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine in Finland , so I recommend checking that out if you’re interested.

Unless you have your own transportation, then it's best to visit the mine via tour guide!

4. Stay in an aurora cabin

Looking for another unique thing to do in Rovaniemi?

Well, how about staying in a glass igloo hotel!

These are purpose-built glass-roofed cabins, perfect for laying back and watching the Northern Lights dance across the sky.

We actually stayed in 3 glass igloo hotels in Finland , each one unique and inspiring in its own way.

They are the coolest way to chill while you wait (hopefully) for the green auroras to come out.

If you want to stay near Rovaniemi, then the glass igloos at Arctic Snow Hotel are your best bet.
If you want to spend the night near the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, then check out Pyhan Asteli .
Or, if you are venturing away from Rovaniemi, then you have the Northern Lights Ranch , located just outside of Levi in the north.

5. Or, visit an ice hotel!

Between the end of November and the start of March, you have the opportunity to visit, and even stay in, an ice hotel!

It’s located at, you guessed it, The Arctic Snow Hotel , just 20 minutes north of Rovaniemi.

Every year the design of the ice hotel changes, and even if you don't sleep here, you can still do a tour through it. These run all throughout the day for a few months every year when the hotel has been built.

It’s a really unique experience and well worth visiting.

I can’t comment on what it’s like staying in one but, don’t worry, they give you a well insulated sleeping bag and thermal gear to keep you warm and cosy all night!

6. Head to Santa Park (and go to Elf School!)

For me, one of the most memorable parts of our 3 visits to Rovaniemi was the Elf School at Santa Park.

Santa Park is a big underground park, located just outside of the main city centre.

Though the main audience is obviously kids, there are plenty of adults who go without any children, and take part in all of the activities there (like us).

Including things like gingerbread decorating, meeting Santa and watching live performances.

The whole atmosphere is incredibly Christmassy, with the best part being Elf School, where two of Santa’s elves give you a crash course on becoming a certified elf.

I won’t give any more away, least to say that it’s hilariously entertaining, regardless of how old you are!

I recommend spending at least half a day down in Santa Park, and there are lots of gift shops, ice displays, rides, and even a fake snowball fighting arena.

7. Spend the day at Santa Village

Located not far from Santa Park, you have Santa Village .

And yes, they are two completely different places.

Whilst Santa Park focuses on being an underground experience, Santa Village is a larger campus-type attraction, offering everything through from husky rides to cute cabins to stay in for the night.

We have visited now on two occasions, and again you are going to want at least half a day here. Preferably a full day.

If you are staying in Rovaniemi city, you can jump one a tour like this which takes you to the Village and includes visits to many of the top sights.

Here is a rundown of just a few of the amazing things you can do at Santa Village:

Meet Santa Claus - This is a really epic experience, though the queues do get very long. That being said, the queue actually winds through Santa's workshop so even while queuing you get to feel like you are truly in the midst of the action. Put it this was, queuing to see Santa is an experience in itself!
Go on a Reindeer ride - I did already mention this above, but within Santa Village is a large circular reindeer route where you get to ride behind one of Santa's very own reindeer.

Meet Mrs Claus - Mrs Claus has her own special log building, where you can go and meet her alone. Much the same as a visit to her husband, you get some private one-on-one time with the real Mrs Claus and can even have your photograph taken.
‍ Snowman World - This is a giant ice park built within Santa Village that has a whole range of indoor and outdoor ice slides. The ones outside are particularly fun, with giant tubes that hurl you down the large slopes pretty dang fast! Kids absolutely love this place (and adults too) and it is 100% worth visiting. ‍
Post a letter to Santa - Santa Village is home to the official Santa Claus post office. A grand building all on it's own, and the place where we posted our niece's Christmas list to Santa. Inside, you can also buy a range of souvenirs.

Viator actually offer an amazing tour which includes a visit to the village, as well as visiting huskies and doing a reindeer ride, all bundled into one convenient tour!

8. Experience the Christmas opening ceremony

If you time your visit to Rovaniemi just right, you can take part in the Christmas opening ceremony!

It’s held in November every year, and the one and only Santa Claus, walks the stage and gives a speech to declare the Christmas season officially open.

There are other live performances as well, including dancing, singing and, in 2019, even a fire display!

Be sure to check the official Santa Village website to check and see when the official date of the ceremony is for this year.

9. Have lunch at the Arctic TreeHouse hotel

On our first visit to Rovaniemi, we were fortunate enough to be able to spend a night at the famous Arctic TreeHouse Hotel .

Though not a glass igloo, per se, this is one of the most wonderful accommodations we have stayed in anywhere in the world.

With giant glass windows floor to ceiling, and a large cosy bed right in front, you can lay in bed, staring at the trees outside and gazing out at the glorious Northern Lights (if you are lucky).

But as well as offering wonderful accommodation, we absolutely fell in love with their restaurant.

It has the most amazing vibe inside, with a large cosy fire and a truly wonderful vibe.

On our second visit to Rovaniemi, we made a point of re-visiting just to have lunch here and to experience the atmosphere again.

So even if you can't afford a night here (I don't blame you, it is very expensive) then take the time to dine in. I plan to style our future eco-home on this very decor, that's why I am so fond of it.

10. Go on a wilderness tour

A wilderness tour is something that can be enjoyed from Rovaniemi all throughout the year.

We went on a Northern Lights wilderness tour with Wild About Lapland , and it was a highly memorable experience.

As you’d imagine, much of the focus here was on seeing the Northern Lights, and offering tips and tricks for how to best see and photograph them.

But it also includes a key wilderness element, where our guide taught us more about Finnish nature , and how the locals have survived here for hundreds of years using only what nature provides.

If you visit in the warmer months, you get the chance to venture deep into local forests, learning more about local berries, and picking your own tasty treats along the way.

11. Try your luck at spotting the Northern Lights

By far one of the best and most famous things to do in Rovaniemi is to try and spot the Northern Lights!

As it’s located so far north, the Northern Lights are easily visible from around Rovaniemi many nights of the month, usually between August and April.

There are two main ways to try and spot the Northern Lights from Rovaniemi.

One is to go on your own Northern Lights tour, just like the one we did .

This is your best option if you are only in Rovaniemi for a few days and don’t know where to begin with regards to seeing them.

They will take you to the best spots outside of Rovaniemi to see them, and also help you to stay warm, by building campfires and providing warm arctic suits.

Your other option is to rent a car or camper and head out around Lapland on your own.

We also had this opportunity, and spent many incredible nights camping all over Lapland, trying our luck at seeing the Auroras.

There is a lot that goes into seeing the Northern Lights, with one of the most important being the need to get outside of the city, where light pollution spoils your chances of seeing them.

For more help, check out this awesome guide I wrote on 10 top tips for seeing the Northern Lights in Finland .

12. See polar bears at the Ranua Wildlife Park

polar bear at Ranua wildlife park in Finland

Located only about an hour south of Rovaniemi, taking a day trip to the Ranua Wildlife Park is an awesome experience!

And if you don't have your own vehicle, don;t worry. There is this tour here which picks you up and drops you off back in Rovaniemi.

We’ve been to a few wildlife parks around the world now, but most of them in Asia, where you see a similar array of animals.

On the contrary, Ranua is home to only Arctic animals (makes sense) , so it’s a fantastic way to see all kinds of animals you will unlikely see elsewhere in the world; such as brown bears, wolves, wolverines and even polar bears!

13. Experience sauna like a local

Finland is famous for a number of things, but perhaps sauna is the most famous!

Finnish people absolutely love saunas, with a large number of homes even having their own private saunas built onto the sides of their homes!

A number of the best hotels in Rovaniemi have access to saunas for their guests, and it’s worth giving it a go.

From speaking to a number of locals, one thing they seem to like doing is spending 15 or 30 minutes getting really hot in the sauna, and then heading outside into the freezing cold and then heading once again back into the sauna.

Some go so far as to jump in the freezing lake or roll around in the snow, before returning to the heat.

We actually gave this a go when in Finnish Lapland, by creating our own makeshift sauna in a cabin, by getting the fire roaring hot.

We then ran outside and rolled in the snow, before returning back inside, dripping wet, with the exhilarating feeling as your body temperature slowly starts to warm up again.

Sound crazy? It was!

14. Try some local delicacies

When you’re done rolling around in the snow like a lunatic, it’s worth heading to a local restaurant and trying some Finnish delicacies.

Two of which I highly recommend are reindeer and fire-roasted salmon.

You’ll find reindeer being served almost everywhere in Finland, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I particularly liked cold, smoked reindeer; though Cazzy couldn't bring herself to eat any of the cute fluffy animals!

The salmon was a massive shock to me as, up until that point I had never really enjoyed it.

However, I can honestly say that freshly caught and then fire-roasted salmon is amazing!

15. Go ice floating

Full disclosure, this is the one thing I haven't yet done on this list.

But I desperately want to!

There are a number of tours that offer this ( like this one here ) where you get to lie in the ice in a fully protective cold weather suit, and just stare up at the stars.

I imagine it to be a deeply satisfying and calming experience, connecting in a truly magical way with the wonderful nature that Finland offers.

They even take place at night time, offering you the chance to see the Northern Lights in possibly the most unique way imaginable.

For more information, you can check out this listing here .

How to get to Rovaniemi, Finland

By car - If you are driving through Finland, like we did, then getting to Rovaniemi is pretty straightforward. There are tonnes of main roads that head here, unsurprising as it’s the capital of Lapland and one of the biggest cities in the country. If you’re coming from another city and don’t have your own vehicle with you, then I recommend Rentalcars as a great place to find a vehicle for a few days.
Fly - Holidays to Rovaniemi are really popular, as it’s the main base for visiting many of the best sites in Lapland. You can get either direct or indirect flights here, depending on where you are coming from. For a full range of flights and the best possible prices available, I recommend using Skyscanner (we use them 100% of the time for booking flights anywhere in the world!)

Where to stay in Rovaniemi

1. our private cabin.

Pictured above is the landing outside the private secluded log cabin we stayed at on our third visit to Rovaniemi.

It was actually very affordable and we had the most wonderful time the three of us, curled up in the evenings watching Christmas movies by the fire.

And outside you have your own private landing. Plus it's far enough outside the city that you can see Northern Lights in full force when they are out.

Though you will need your own vehicle as it's about a 1 hour drive from the city, the hosts by the way are very friendly. Here is the listing for it .

Amazing igloos

When we visited Rovaniemi for the first time, we had our own campervan, and used that to stay just outside the city at an incredible wild camping spot for a few nights ( view it here ). We also stayed for 2 other nights in two local aurora cabins. I highly recommend both of them, as they were so unique and memorable; and also the coolest way to see the Northern Lights in Finland !

Arctic Treehouse Hotel (pictured above) - The most striking feature of the rooms here are the full-sized glass wall, offering wonderful views out over the Finnish countryside. It’s also won numerous luxury hotel awards in recent years, and even hosted the awards in 2019 when we visited! As well as incredible rooms, I fell in love with their dining area; a mixture of modern design and old-school Finnish wooden cosiness. It’s superbly located just outside the city, but right above Santa Claus Park (one of the top Rovaniemi attractions listed below). Read my full review of Arctic Treehouse Hotel here .
Arctic Snow Hotel & Igloos (pictured below) - Just 20 minutes up the road from Rovaniemi, the Arctic Snow Hotel is one of the top places to visit in Rovaniemi! It’s built every year in November, and is usually open until the following March/April when it starts to melt. You can choose to stay either here, or in one of their few dozen glass igloos; complete with electric beds & Aurora alarms, for maximum comfort when spotting the Northern Lights. I also loved their on-site restaurants where we had smoked salmon, before heading off for an evening in the sauna and hot tub! Read our full review of Arctic Snow Hotel & Igloos here .

For a full range of hotels and other accommodation Rovaniemi, I recommend using Booking.com .

They have the biggest range of accommodation options and always tend to offer the lowest price deals.

Where to after Rovaniemi?

Many people seem to visit Rovaniemi and then return back home; however, I must say that if you are able to venture a little further outside of the city then you really should!

Lapland is a truly incredible and unforgettable place to visit, especially in the winter months when covered in snow.

It isn’t very highly populated, meaning you can drive for hours between the towns and cities, taking in breathtaking views on all angles.

You also get the chance to spot wild reindeer everywhere you go; a memorable experience in itself.

From Rovaniemi, we zigzagged our way north, stopping off along the way at popular regions and towns before heading into Norway.

Salla, Levi, Inari and Luosto are amongst just a few of the places I must recommend visiting if you have the chance; and having your own vehicle to drive to them is almost certainly the best way to experience Lapland to the fullest.

You can pick up a cheap rental from Rovaniemi with Rentalcars .

For a better look at what else to see, here are 3 other guides we have written that will help you plan a journey further north from Rovaniemi:

3 Week Finland Road Trip Itinerary
Best Things To Do In Finland
Guide To Spending Christmas In Lapland

Well, that’s about it!

If you've been to Rovaniemi and have any other recommendations on where to visit, please do let me know below ...

Let us know what you think.

5 million people can't be wrong

Sights and attractions

There are scores of sights and attractions in the Official Hometown of Santa Claus – please find them listed below. Christmas magic can be experienced year round in places like Santa Claus Village and SantaPark.

As the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi is home to Lapland’s Provincial Museum Arktikum, the forest-themed Pilke Science Centre and the Korundi House of Culture. For animal lovers, the various reindeer and husky farms are a must along with Ranua Zoo that specialises in Arctic fauna; its ‘royal residents’ are the mighty polar bears and their cousins, the Finnish brown bears. Bordering on the Arctic, Rovaniemi is an exotic place of snow and ice in winter – you can even eat and sleep in buildings made of them.

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51 attractions

Winter tips for tourists 2023-2024

Fall in love with Rovaniemi! We have put together 50 winter tips for an enjoyable winter holiday in Rovaniemi.

Santa Claus Village

You can meet Santa Claus and cross the magical Arctic Circle every day at the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

Santa Claus Office

Santa Claus Office is the official place to meet Santa in Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus’ Main Post Office

Santa Claus’ Main Post Office is the only official post office of Santa Claus. Here you can feel the Christmas spirit every day of the year and be served by the merry post office elves in several languages!

SantaPark – the Home Cavern of Santa Claus

Underneath the Arctic Circle, deep beneath the ground, lies Santa’s secret cavern where it’s Christmas all year round!

Arktikum Science Centre and Museum

Arktikum entrance ticket gives an access to Arktikum museum and science centre during opening hours.

Korundi House of Culture in Rovaniemi

Korundi entrance ticket gives an access to the art exhibitions during opening hours.

Science Centre Pilke

Science Centre Pilke tells stories about the northern forests and the many connections we have with them.

Culture Pass

Culture Pass: 3 top attractions in Rovaniemi with one ticket!

Ranua Resort – Wildlife Park

Ranua Wildlife Park offers tourists and nearby inhabitants the opportunity to observe arctic animals throughout the year, in an as authentic environment for the animals as possible.

Santa’s Pets Visit

Meet domestic animals next to the Santa Claus Office. Tickets are valid all day!

Husky Park visit

Come and see the life in Husky Park! You can take photos, visit our beautiful park and meet the genuine Siberian Huskies.

Santa Claus Reindeer

Reindeer rides and experiences with Santa´s reindeer in Santa Claus Village all year round.

Ounasvaara Ski Resort

Ounasvaara Ski Resort is a family outdoor resort close by the city of Rovaniemi at the Arctic Circle. Besides the downhill skiing slopes there are also several maintained cross-country skiing tracks in the area.

Santa Claus Secret Forest – Joulukka

Santa Claus Secret Forest is an exclusive destination where you can experience the magic of Christmas either privately or in small groups.

Local Heritage Museum

Local Heritage Museum illustrates life in the house and outbuildings of a wealthy farmer over 150 years ago.

Forestry Museum of Lapland

Forestry Museum of Lapland is one of a kind; there is no museum like ours anywhere else in Finland. During one museum tour you can get a wide perspective of how people worked and lived in forests here in Lapland during 1870’s until 1950’s.

Roiske – centre of summer activities

From our watersport activities you can choose huge floating waterpark, SUP-boards, kayaks, rowing boats, electric surfboards, wakeboarding and of course the most Finnish thing besides these – a sauna!

Ounasvaara summer sled track

Ounasvaara Summer Sled Track is an exciting way to descend the huge hill landscape. The scenery lift also takes you down, if you just want to enjoy the fantastic views.

Arctic Adventure Park Huima

Experience a great adventure at Arctic Adventure Park Huima and see the Lappish nature from totally different angle – from the tree tops of Ounasvaara!

Ounasvaara Nature Trail

The Ounasvaara Nature Trail is 2.9 km east of the city centre of Rovaniemi. It is an ideal day-trip destination because of its easy accessibility.

Ounasvaara year-round Winter Trail

The nearest point of the year-round Ounasvaara Winter Trail is 1.6 km east of the Rovaniemi city centre. Ounasvaara, year-round recreation area near the city center, with marked and maintained trails and several great vantage points.

Arctic Circle Hiking Area

Spectacular rapids and aapa mires close to Rovaniemi – Enjoy Lapland in the Arctic Circle Hiking Area at half an hour’s distance from Rovaniemi!

Koivusaari Nature Trail

Photogenic Koivusaari Nature Trail is a popular day hike destination nearby Rovaniemi city in Lapland, Finland.

Jennie Wanders | Sustainable & Mindful Travel

18 Unmissable Things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland (2023)

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

Looking for the best things to do in Rovaniemi? Known as the capital of the Arctic, it’s one of the most magical places on Earth. In this post, I’ve listed all the things to do in Rovaniemi that you’re not going to want to miss out on.

Rovaniemi is known as the gateway to the Arctic. It’s one of the most special places to visit in Finland, and easily one of the most magical places in the world!

If you’re visiting Rovaniemi or Finnish Lapland for the first time , there are so many things to do and see. From meeting the ‘real’ Santa Claus at Santa Claus Village to spotting the Northern Lights , a trip to Rovaniemi is not something you’re going to forget!

However, backpacking or visiting Rovaniemi is not cheap . Scandinavia is one of the most expensive areas in Europe, and Finland is no exception. It’s not quite a budget-friendly destination, but it can be done.

So, let’s get started and find out the best things to do in Rovaniemi!

Visiting Finland? Check out my other posts!

What to Wear in Lapland: Finland Winter Packing Guide
16 Fun Things to do in Helsinki in Winter
11 Top Tips for Visiting Finland for the First Time

Want to see epic photos and videos from these experiences?

Follow me on Instagram! As we travel, I post everything live on Instagram, so check out my recent highlights and posts. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, drop me a DM!

Things to do in Rovaniemi: A Summary

Where to stay in rovaniemi.

If you’re travelling around Finland and to Rovaniemi for the first time, these are some of the best hotels and hostels.

⛄️ Apukka Resort : for a once-in-a-lifetime stay in a winter wonderland. Truly one of the best resorts we have ever stayed in. ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

🪵 Arctic Treehouse Hotel : another bucket-list, glass igloo stay where you can watch the Northern Lights from under the duvet. ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

❄️ Nova Skyland Hotel: If you want to stay within Santa Claus village (perfect for Christmas time!) this is one of the most magical and incredible stays. ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

💸 Hostel Cafe Koti : perfect for backpackers in Lapland! ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

Getting around Rovaniemi and Finland

You can travel around Finland in multiple ways. Depending on how much time you have, your budget and where you want to visit , the easiest ways to travel around Finland are by rental car , train or plane .

Rovaniemi is a regular city (despite the snow), with trains, buses and Ubers.

We were able to catch local buses to wherever we needed to go, or cabs if we needed to travel at night (to the airport or to a resort etc).

It’s easy to get around Rovaniemi, and if you have a higher budget, there is the option of hiring a car.

➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in Finland now!

Do I need a car to travel around Finland?

This is down to personal preference. We found Finland easy enough to travel around via buses , trains and even flying (for example, from Helsinki to Rovaniemi ).

But, driving in Finland is safe and straightforward. Some of the main towns and cities are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car .

🇫🇮 If you’re looking to hire a car in Finland, we rent our cars from this company . They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in Finland now!

Getting to Rovaniemi from Helsinki

🚗 GETTING TO ROVANIEMI BY CAR

If you are hiring a car for your Finland trip, you can drive directly from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. This should take just under 10 hours and is 830km.

➡ Book your rental car for Finland now!

🚝 GETTING TO ROVANIEMI BY TRAIN

If you are visiting Rovaniemi via train from Helsinki, take the overnight 13-hour journey that costs around £100 ($110) each way. There are 3 train departures (3 hours apart) from Helsinki daily. You can also upgrade your ticket to have your own cabin or bed.

➡ Book train tickets from Helsinki to Rovaniemi here!

✈️ GETTING TO ROVANIEMI BY PLANE

Travelling to Rovaniemi from Helsinki via plane is the quickest, easiest and most common way to travel. The average flight time is 90 minutes, and there are four flights per day. The drive to Rovaniemi town centre from the airport is around 20 minutes, depending on the weather.

If you’re flying from the UK, there is the option to fly directly to Rovaniemi. However, this is a much more expensive option, and you can expect to add an extra £200 to each flight (rather than flying to Helsinki first).

➡ Book plane tickets from Helsinki to Rovaniemi here!

Bucket list tours to do in Rovaniemi

Looking to book a tour in Lapland? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!

When travelling, we use this company to book our tours . Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else!

Some of the best tours in Finland include:

Ultimate Northern Lights tour: check prices!
Reindeer sleigh ride with a hot drink and cookies: check prices!
Incredible Husky Safari in the snow: check prices!
Santa Claus Village with Huskies AND Reindeer! Check prices!

➡ Check out more tours for your trip here!

Things to do in Rovaniemi: The Capital of Lapland

1. go on a husky ride.

One of the best things to do in Rovaniemi is to go on a husky ride. And I challenge anyone to tell me it isn’t!

We didn’t really know what to expect when we boarded our wooden sleigh in the snow to the sound of excited dogs, but wow, did it exceed every expectation!

As you enter the husky farm, you’ll be greeted by friendly faces and wagging tails jumping up and down wanting to meet and please you.

Huskies are historically known as working dogs and can pull up to 136kg of weight without stress or discomfort. The dogs need exercise and have a lot of energy to burn, so they love pulling you along through the snow on the sledge!

We did our husky ride from Apukka Resort , which I highly recommend. The resort treated the huskies so well and showed us just how much love they receive from everyone around them.

You’ll board your handmade wooden sleigh, be taken on a bumpy 6km husky ride through the forest, and you get to play with the huskies afterwards. The tour ends with hot juice around an open fire as you’re all wrapped up in the snow.

💸 The trip costs about £110 ($140 USD) , and is worth every penny.

You can book the trip through Apukka if you are staying there, or if you’re staying elsewhere, you can book it online here !

Finland isn’t the only place to have an incredible dog sledging experience! Check out Tromso Dog Sledding for dog-friendly tours in the incredible Tromso, Norway! Plus, Tromso is another place where you can see the Northern Lights!

2. Stay at the bucket-list Apukka Resort

The Apukka Resort is located around 20 minutes from the main centre of Rovaniemi, and is worth staying in, even if it’s only for a night. It is on the higher side of the budget, but the accommodation is an experience in itself.

If you have enough money saved, stay in a glass igloo and watch the snowfall and the Northern Lights from underneath your duvet.

But if you don’t, staying in a small cottage at Apukka is just as special. Our room had a fully working kitchen, bathroom, and heated floors which is dreamy when it’s -10°C. The small cottage was also located in the same place as the igloos, so the only thing we missed out on was the glass roof.

We visited in February 2022 and paid just over £100 ($130 USD) for the night.

Apukka is located in the heart of the Finnish countryside, so you’re away from any light and noise pollution . During the day, you can walk for miles through the snowy countryside, and in the evenings, you can watch the Northern Lights from your doorstep.

They also have a delicious buffet, which we ate every night. It’s £30 for as many servings as you’d like, and you even have the opportunity to try reindeer pizza and spaghetti!

➡ Book your stay at Apukka Rovaniemi here!

Bonus reasons to stay at Apukka :

☁️ The views. You are totally surrounded by nature. No towns, cities, crowds of people. You’re in the heart of the Finnish countryside.

🌅 The sunset/sunrise. With little to zero buildings around, you get a 360 view of the sunset/sunrise. If it’s clear enough, you’ll be treated to bright purple skies as the sun goes down. It really is something.

🔮 One of the best chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi. Due to Apukka being further out into the countryside and past the edge of the Arctic Circle, you have a higher chance of spotting those sought-after Northern Lights. On a clear sky, they’ll light up the sky and you’ll be able to see them from anywhere on the resort.

🛷 Endless activities. If you stay at Apukka, you can book your activities directly through the hotel. Even though we only stayed for a night and then moved to Rovaniemi centre, we booked all of our activities through Apukka.

🏂 A totally free snow slide with sledges. Apukka has their own mini hill to slide down, with tons of rubber rings and sledges to choose from. And it’s completely free!

🐟 THE FOOD! Oh my God, the food. Apukka put on an INCREDIBLE buffet of food every lunch and dinner time, with traditional Finnish elements, as well as your standard western food.

It’s only around £30 (33 EUR) and includes all of your drinks (non-alcoholic), starters, desserts, coffee and cheese. And it’s unlimited.

3. Go on a reindeer sleigh

Riding on a sleigh pulled by reindeer has to be one of the best activities to do in the Arctic Circle!

Our reindeer trip was again, incredible, and we had the most amazing time getting to know the animals. The reindeer were friendly and enjoyed interacting with us.

To ensure the reindeer are comfortable and happy, the sleigh ride is only short (approx 15 mins each way) and you’ll stop off at a campsite, drink hot chocolate and cook sausages over an open fire.

Again, we did our trip from Apukka , but you can look at other operators. However, Apukka had a great tour guide who told us about the origins of the site and some Finnish traditions, as well as how much they loved the reindeer!

💸 The trip cost roughly £100 ($130 USD) and lasted 2 hours. You can book your once-in-a-lifetime reindeer experience here.

4. Visit Santa Claus’ Village

If you’re as big of a fan of the holiday season, don’t miss a visit to Santa Claus’ Village. Famously known as one of the best things to do in Rovaniemi, you can visit Santa and his elves 365 days a year for FREE . Yes, a free thing to do in Rovaniemi!

If you’re staying in Rovaniemi city centre, you can catch the Santa Claus bus or the number 8 bus from the main railway station . The journey takes around 15 minutes and will drop you off at Santa’s door.

Santa Claus Village resembles a theme park made up of everything Christmas. From snow slides to reindeer, husky sledging to ice bars, giant igloos, pizza buffets, souvenir shops and everything Christmas-related, it’s a big kids’ perfect day out.

We also spent a lot of our time walking around the grounds of Santa Claus village, as it’s surrounded by forest. As backpackers, we were on a budget, so we actually spent very little visiting the village.

Just be sure to wrap up warm , as you’ll be spending most of your day outside. You can check out my essential Lapland packing list here.

Santa Claus Village Tours: Our Top Picks

Santa Claus Village Tour with a guide and roundtrip transfer
Santa Claus Village Visit with a guide, hotel pickup and drop-off
Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle (guide, lunch, pickup and drop off are included)

5. Spot the Northern Lights

When visiting the Arctic Circle and Rovaniemi, seeing the Northern Lights should be one of the highest priorities on your list.

Unfortunately, no matter the time of year you visit, there are no guarantees to see them. But the best months to see the Northern Lights in Finland is December until March.

We booked our tour through Wild About Lapland , and although we didn’t see the Northern Lights, it was one of the best trips of the week. You’re taken around 45 minutes into the heart of the Finnish countryside to avoid all light pollution and increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

You’ll drink hot chocolate and eat sausages over a campfire, as you learn about the science behind the lights from a local Finnish tour guide. If you’re an avid photographer, you’ll also get to test your night photography skills in the snow.

So even if you don’t see the lights, just being in the Finnish countryside late at night is pretty cool. I’d still recommend it! And who knows, you could be luckier than us and see them the first night you arrive!

✨ Check out Beyond Arctic’s detailed guide about chasing the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi here.

6. Experience a sauna like a local

Saunas in Finland are viewed as spiritual and well-respected places, and there are over 3.3 million of them all over the country! Bearing in mind there are only 5.5 million people in Finland…that’s a lot of saunas.

With temperatures regularly dropping to near -30°C during winter, a popular evening activity is to jump into a sauna and warm up. Most apartments and hotel rooms will include their own saunas. Bigger resorts like Apukka will have onsite saunas that you can use freely.

Just don’t be shocked if you see naked people in saunas. Swimsuits aren’t always a thing in Finland!

7. Enjoy Rovaniemi town centre

If you have some spare time, take a trip to Rovaniemi’s town centre. Almost totally destroyed during the Second World war, Rovaniemi is now a busy city centre known as the capital of Lapland.

Walk across the famous Lumberjack Candle Bridge (or view it from the riverside), drink a pint in an Irish pub or go shopping in the mall.

We had a walk around Rovaniemi and stopped off for a coffee and a cake at a cute independent shop in the centre. There isn’t a huge range of things to do in Rovaniemi city centre, but it’s still worth seeing.

But even if you’re unsure of what to do in Rovaniemi city centre, walking around and enjoying the atmosphere is enough.

Need somewhere to stay in Lapland?

I highly recommend staying at Apukka in Rovaniemi. Even if you don’t have the budget to splash out on a glass igloo, their regular cabins are just as incredible. Just being in the heart of the Finnish countryside makes it all worth it. You can check rates and availability here!

8. Walk through the woodlands in the snow

One of the best things to do in Rovaniemi is to just walk around the woodlands. If you visit during the winter months, the snow can be as deep as 2 metres, which is very fun to walk through (and lay in!)

It’s also nice to take some time out and just appreciate where you are. For me, this was one of the most special things about Lapland and Rovaniemi.

Apukka Resort has a lot of surrounding woodland, and you can even walk to a frozen lake. If you’re staying at Santa Claus Village, or are planning on visiting for the day, I’d recommend taking some time away from the village and heading into the forest!

9. Visit a giant ice igloo

If you visit Santa Claus Village, you can pay extra to walk around a giant igloo, fit with an ice bed, ice bar and giant snow slide. There’s a large snow slide for an adrenaline rush and a smaller ice slide for others (like me).

Entry to the ice igloo is around £15. You’ll be given a wristband to re-enter the igloo as many times as you’d like.

Catch the Santa Claus bus or the number 8 bus from the main railway station to Santa Claus Village. The journey takes around 15 minutes to reach the main entrance, and the igloo is just inside the park.

10. Post your Christmas mail ready for December

If you visit Santa Claus Village, you can post Christmas mail to your loved ones , in order for it to arrive during the holiday season. Whether you visit in January or July, your mail is posted directly from Lapland and to arrive around December 25th.

Postcards and letters will be officially marked with Lapland stamps, and cost under £5 to buy and send, which is a great low-budget activity!

Plus, walking around Santa’s post office is an experience in itself. You’ll get to see all of the thousands of letters Santa receives on a daily basis, and how the elves work tirelessly to reply to all of them.

Send your Christmas wishes in, folks!

11. Try some traditional Finnish food

Finland is known for its fresh fish, rye bread and rice pies, and if you hunt out the local favourites, you can experience some delicious Finnish cuisine.

If you stay at a resort like Apukka or Santa Claus Village , you’ll get to taste some Finnish food in their restaurants.

Check out the Rovaniemi International Grand Market for some other Finnish traditional foods!

Don’t forget insurance!

Whilst you’re backpacking, you will always need insurance. We use SafetyWing, for the most flexible, reliable and budget-friendly options. They have the best cover for worldwide, long-term trips, and at the most affordable backpacker prices! You can check out their cover here.

13. Take a trip to the Ranua Wildlife Park

Another highly recommended thing to do in Rovaniemi is to visit Ranua Wildlife Park. The park is open daily from 10-4pm, and is the only place nearby where you can spot polar bears and other rare Arctic animals. It’s home to over 200 animals and is set up in spacious enclosures in the middle of a forest.

There’s also a large Finnish restaurant on site, serving lunch and dinner buffets. You can get to the Ranua Wildlife Park from Rovaniemi city centre by driving roughly 60 minutes south.

➡ Need to hire a car in Rovaniemi? I recommend this company for the cheapest car rental deals all over the world.

14. Drive a snow-mobile

Where else would you want to speed around on the snow in a snowmobile than in capital of the Arctic Circle?! One of the most incredible experiences and things to do in Rovaniemi is to rent a snowmobile and drive in the snow.

You must have a driving license, and trips of a few hours can cost upward of £100, but if you’re a driving fan, it’s not one you’re going to want to miss!

Most major resorts will have their own snowmobiles to rent, or you can rent directly from Rovaniemi city centre.

Booking hostels?

Choosing the right hostel as a backpacker is crucial to how successful your trip will be. Always use Hostelworld.com for the cheapest rates, widest availability and most importantly – honest reviews from other travellers! Click here to view the best hostels for your trip.

15. Try snow-shoeing

Snowshoeing is a popular thing to do in Rovaniemi. Snowshoes give you a little bit of extra assistance when walking over thick snow, as the large footprints spread out your weight when travelling.

You can book a tour to snowshoe in Lapland and spend a few hours walking through the forest at ease with the funny-looking webbed plates on.

Again, if you stay at Apukka , this is one of the tours they can organise for you. ➡ Book your stay at Apukka Rovaniemi here!

16. Go ice fishing

Ice fishing involves travelling to a safely frozen lake and learning the basics before trying to catch your own fish. You can book a tour to go ice fishing from any of the major resorts or shops in town.

17. Take a Finnish culture tour

If you enjoy learning about a country’s history and culture, I recommend booking a Finnish culture tour as part of your trip.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the Arctic, the people and the land itself. Most tours also include a museum visit. If you book through Apukka Resort , you’ll have the chance to meet two local artists, and learn about their heritage and story through their workshop.

You’ll even have the chance to work with your hands and sculpt something special of your own to take home. You can book your tour here.

18. Ride through the forest on a horse sleigh

Last but not least, if you’re a fan of horses, I recommend you book a tour to ride on a horse sleigh!

Some of the horses we saw in Rovaniemi were some of the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen. If you book a tour, you’ll get to interact with the horses and ride a sleigh through the woodlands. Again, a once in a lifetime experience in Rovaniemi!

Things to do in Rovaniemi: FAQs

1) is it worth visiting rovaniemi.

Yes! Rovaniemi is the capital of the Arctic, and a place where you can tick off lots of bucket list experiences! The city centre itself isn’t a must-see, but the surrounding woodlands and countryside are like something out of a fairytale.

If you have the budget to stay at the Apukka Resort , I highly recommend it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the middle of the Finnish countryside, with glass igloos and cosy cottages. It’s somewhere I’ll remember forever!

2) How many days do you need in Rovaniemi?

It depends on your budget and how many activities you would like to book. The city centre itself needs no more than a day to explore. Experiencing Lapland and all it has to offer? Budget at least 5 days and a minimum of £800 per person.

3) Can you see the Northern Lights from Rovaniemi?

Yes, on a clear night, it is possible to see the Northern Lights from Rovaniemi. The lights can be spotted over the bridge and city centre, as well as further out in resorts like Apukka and Santa Claus Village.

4) What is there to do in Rovaniemi at night?

Most activities you can do in Rovaniemi and Lapland are actually available to do at night. Horse sleighs, snowmobiles, snow trains…they all have a nighttime option, as they are regarded as ‘Northern Light’ tours, and take you further afield to try and spot them.

If not, you can go out for dinner in Rovaniemi city centre, or take it easy in the sauna.

5) What time does Santa Claus Village open?

Santa Claus Village is open 365 days a year, opening at 10 am daily. Most shops and cafes shut around 5 pm, but the restaurants and resort are open until late. Santa’s last meet and greet is at 5 pm.

6) Where can I sleep in Rovaniemi?

Rovaniemi is a busy city centre, so there are many hotels and Airbnbs to choose from. I highly recommend finding somewhere near the main train station, as most buses run from there.

Hostel for solo backpackers in Rovaniemi: Hostel Cafe Koti

Hotel for couples/groups in Rovaniemi: Apukka Resort

7) Do I need a SIM card to travel around Finland?

Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive.

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Things to do in Rovaniemi in the summer

Most of these activities are for the snowy weather, but some can be done in the warmer months and seasons like summer and spring. If you’re visiting Rovaniemi in the summer, here are some of the best things to do:

Experience the Midnight sun (the sun that never sets)
Visit the reindeer at a reindeer farm
Take a trip to some of the local museums
Do some watersports on the lake
Visit Santa Claus village (why not?!)
Go berry picking
Learn about Finnish culture
Visit the Ranua wildlife park
Walk with the huskies
Go on a hike or bike ride
Take a forest walk
Eat in the local food markets
Take some time out in the sauna

As you can see, there are many things to do in Rovaniemi – even in summer!

Package holidays to Lapland, Finland

One of the best budget ways to visit Lapland in Finland is via a package holiday. With prices starting at just £579 per person, this is an amazing way to see the country without breaking the bank!

What does a package holiday to Finland include? The package holidays will include both flights and accommodation. They’re also all ATOL protected, and you can book with a simple low deposit, spreading the total cost of the holiday across a period of time.

➡ You can look at incredible package holidays to Lapland here!

Volunteering or house-sitting in Finland

The most budget-friendly options for staying in Finland on a budget include either volunteering or pet-sitting . Both of these options will give you free accommodation in return for your services. So, how do you find these opportunities?

🥕 Volunteering: Use Worldpackers . They’re a trusted site with volunteering opportunities all over the world. You can choose the job you do, how long for and how many hours you work per day. Check out Worldpackers opportunities here! (Plus my link gets you $10 off your membership!)

🐈 House or pet-sitting: Use Trusted Housesitters . We have used this company all over the world in exchange for free accommodation. Use the website to find a suitable house sit for you (dogs, cats, lizards, chickens), set the dates you’ll be there and how long for, and apply for a sit!

Things to do in Rovaniemi: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! The best things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland. It really is a magical place and is one of the best trips we’ve ever been on.

If you need any local, up-to-date information from the official Rovaniemi tourism page, you can access it here.

Make sure you wrap up warm (see my packing list here !), save lots of money to enjoy yourself and have the trip of a lifetime.

Don’t forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter packed full of travel inspiration and blogging tips!

As always, if you have a question about what to do in Rovaniemi (or anything else travel or blogging-related) you can contact me over on Instagram or on my contact me page.

Happy travelling!

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MEET THE AUTHOR!

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).

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Things to do in Rovaniemi Finland

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

The city of Rovaniemi is found just within the Arctic Circle in Finland. This location makes it the perfect place for taking part in a range of winter activities in Finland .

Whilst it’s popular in winter for things like Northern Lights watching, husky sledding, and snowmobiling, there’s a lot more to Rovaniemi than just winter activities.

There are some excellent museums and other cultural attractions as well as a great food and cafe scene. Being surrounded by nature means there’s also plentiful opportunities for hiking and cycling throughout the warmer months as well.

We’ve visited Rovaniemi a number of times, and wanted to share with you some of our favourite things to do in Rovaniemi in both winter and summer to help you plan your own trip.

As well as things to do, we’re also going to share some tips on where to stay, how to get here and away, and some suggested tours. This should give you all the information you need to visit Rovaniemi, whatever the time of year.

Things to do in Rovaniemi

This list of things to do in Rovaniemi covers a range of activities. Rovaniemi has for a long time been most popular as a winter destination. As a result a number of the activities in this list are winter specific.

However, there is lots to do year round, so don’t count Rovaniemi out as a summer destination. Many of the activities and attractions below are possible at any time of year.

Visit Santa (Year Round)

Rovaniemi’s most famous resident has to be Santa Claus. Yes, the man himself has his home base just outside Rovaniemi at the Santa Claus Village.

There is a lot to do at the Santa Claus Village . First, of course, you can actually Santa in the Santa Claus Office. And this is something you can do year round!

Wd did this and I have to admit it was a lot fun meeting Santa and his elves. You can meet Santa every day, and doing so is free of charge. However, if you want photos and/or video, there’s a fee for this.

After meeting Santa, you will probably want to visit his post office. This is the heart of Santa’s operation, and if you write a letter to Santa, this is where your letter is going to come!

Santa’s post office has a range of cards, gifts and stamps. There were two things I really like. First, you can order a Santa Claus letter. This is a letter that Santa himself will send just before Christmas to any address in the world, and it makes for a really fun gift for a friend or relative.

You can also write your own Christmas cards and put them into the special red post box. These will be kept and mailed just before Christmas. So you can get all your Christmas wishes sent in advance!

Whichever option you choose, Santa’s Elves will stamp it with the Arctic Circle postmark so the recipient will know where it came from.

So what else can you do at Santa’s Village? Well, quite a lot!

First, you can take your picture standing on the Arctic Circle marker, to show you made it to the Arctic Circle.

The Arctic Circle is a line of latitude which runs around the earth. Above the arctic circle you get the true midnight sun, meaning that in summer the sun will be visible 24 hours a day for at least one day of the year. Conversely, in winter you will get at least one day where the sun never actually rises!

Once you’ve had your photo taken, there are a few more activities you might be interested in.

Some of these will vary in availability depending on the time of year, but you can meet Santa’s reindeer, have a reindeer ride, take a husky ride, or go snowmobiling.

In summer, there are no rides but you can meet the huskies and the reindeer

There’s also a small on-site snow play park called Snowman World, a snowmobile museum, shops and restaurants, as well as a number of accommodation options including glass igloos .

Suffice to say, there is a lot to do at the Santa Claus Village, and it’s a good option for a base with plenty of activities on hand.

Northern Lights Watching (Winter Only)

If you visit Rovaniemi from late August through to mid April, then you are absolutely going to want to try and see the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.

This incredible phenomenon can be seen from all over Finland, but the further north you are, the better your chance of seeing them. Being on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is an excellent place for Northern Lights watching.

To see the Northern Lights, you need a few things. You need a clear sky, you need recent solar activity, and you need to be away from man-made lightning.

If you want to photograph the Northern Lights, you’ll also want a camera that can take long exposures like a mirrorless camera or DSLR camera, and a tripod. I have a full guide to photographing the Northern Lights that will give you all the information you need to get great photos, including camera settings and suggested equipment.

If you are in Rovaniemi, you don’t need to go far out of the city to see the lights. If you head down to the lake shore by Arktikum, this can be a good place to see them. Just be sure to wrap up very warmly as it gets very cold in Finland in winter. See our guide to what to pack for Finland in winter for some tips for what to bring to keep you warm.

A better option for seeing the Northern Lights is to take a specific tour. There are quite a few of these, but they should all get you to a good viewing spot away from the lights of the city where you can get a nice unobstructed view of the display. Some tours will include warm clothing as well.

I took a snowmobiling tour in Rovaniemi to see the northern lights, which was a lot of fun. Driving a snowmobile is really fun anyway, and using them to get to a great viewpoint for the Northern Lights is just a bonus.

It’s also possible to take other forms of transport to see the Northern Lights, from snow shoes to reindeer sleds.

Here are some tours from Rovaniemi to see the northern lights that you might consider.

A 3 hour tour where you have the chance to watch the Northern Lights whilst floating in an icy lake
A 5 hour tour where you look for the Northern Lights whilst having a traditional firewood sauna experience
A quad biking tour to see the Northern Lights
A photography focused Northern Lights tour , a great option for the shutterbugs amongst you.
There are lots more Northern Lights tours from Rovaniemi to choose from, which you can see here .

Finally, another popular way to see the northern lights is to stay in a glass igloo lik e these . These glass built buildings offer comfortable accommodation with a clear glass roof.

This means you can watch the northern lights whilst you’re in bed! See the section of this post on glass igloos for options near Rovaniemi.

Whatever option you choose, even if you take a Northern Lights tour, it’s worth bearing in mind that there is no guarantee of seeing the Northern Lights. You need the right conditions in terms of clear skies and good solar activity.

Some tours offer the option to take a second tour if the tour is unsuccessful, but this isn’t always the case, especially for the tours which offer combined activities.

Experience the Midnight Sun (Summer Only)

If you visit Rovaniemi in summer, especially around the time of the summer solstice in June, then you will have a chance to experience the midnight sun.

This is the time of year when the sun doesn’t actually go below the horizon, so even at midnight on the 21st or 22nd June, the sun will not set.

Even if you don’t visit on these exact dates and the sun does go below the horizon, it will only be for a brief period and it won’t get dark. So you’ll be able to watch sunset and sunrise within minutes of each other. This is pretty cool, and makes for some nice light for photography as well.

One thing to be aware of when visiting Rovaniemi at this time of year is that sleep can be difficult. Not every accommodation you stay in is guaranteed to have black out blinds or curtains. If you find it difficult to sleep in a bright room, you will likely want to bring along an eye mask.

We love our eye mask from Manta Sleep which is the only one we’ve found that is both comfortable and actually blocks out all the light. However there are lots more options online .

Arktikum (Year Round)

Before I get carried away with all the winter activities in Rovaniemi, I do want to make it clear that there’s lots to do in Rovaniemi in the other seasons as well. There are lots of excellent museums and other outdoor activities that you can experience too.

First of these that I’m going to recommend is Arktikum . This is both a museum and a science center, and the building itself is also impressive.

There are a number of exhibitions you can see in Arktikum. Permanent exhibitions include Northern Ways, which tells the story of the people and history of Lapland, as well as the animals and nature in this region.

Arctic Change is another permanent exhibition which focuses on the most northerly region in the world, and how life has evolved to live here. It also covers the challenges faced by this region such as climate change and globalization.

There are also other exhibits, both permanent and temporary, as well as a café. Arktikum is open throughout the year but opening hours vary depending on the month. In some months it’s closed on Mondays. You can see opening hours and other information for your visit here .

There’s a fee to visit Arktikum. If you plan on visiting a few museums in Rovaniemi, then you might consider the Rovaniemi Culture Pass which includes admission to Arktikum, Korundi and Science Centre Pilke. You can buy this from any of these three attractions.

If you’re in Finland visiting more locations, including Helsinki, then you might instead want to invest in the Finland Museum Card . This covers access to 300 museums across Finland and is valid for a year, and it covers all the major museums in Rovaniemi.

Pilke Science Centre (Year Round)

The forests in Finland are a big part of life in the country, with forestry being a major part of the Finnish economy.

If you want to learn all about forestry in Finland, you will want to visit the Pilke Science Centre , which is just next door to Arktikum.

There’s a lot to do here, with a focus on hands on activities. My favourite thing was by far the forestry machine simulator. This features an actual cockpit from the large forestry machines that are used to cut trees.

In the real world these take years to fully master, so they aren’t exactly something you can normally have a go on. But the simulator was a huge amount of fun!

There’s plenty more to see and do here, and this is a really family friendly experience. There’s also a cafe on site.

The Pilke Science Center is open year round, but is closed on Mondays during parts of the year. You can see all the opening times and prices here . There’s a fee to visit, and it’s also included on the Rovaniemi Culture Pass and Finland Museum Pass.

Snowmobiling (Winter Only)

One of my absolute favourite winter experiences in Finland was snowmobiling. The first place I tried snowmobiling was in Rovaniemi, where I took a night time snowmobiling tour to see the northern lights.

I then took more snowmobiling tours, including a number of day and night tours during our time staying at Iso-Syote .

Every time I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and I am sure you will too.

There are no shortage of snowmobiling tours to take in Rovaniemi. Many of them include other activities, like a visit to a reindeer farm, Northern Lights viewing, ice fishing or the opportunity to meet huskies.

So really the main decision is how long you want to go for, and which additional activities you are interested in. We’d recommend choosing a tour that runs for at least 2 hours so you can really enjoy the experience.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that most snowmobiles hold two people, so obviously one will be the driver and one will be the passenger. So a longer tour will give you both plenty of chances to drive. Alternatively you can usually pay a supplement to have your own snowmobile without a passenger.

Here are some options to consider:

A 2 hour tour which focuses on the snowmobiling experience, and is a great introduction to snowmobiling
A half day tour which includes snowmobiling, a visit to a reindeer farm, and a husky and reindeer sled ride. A good way to get a lot of activities done in one go
Another half day tour which includes snowmobiling, ice fishing, campfire, and lunch.

Note that generally snowmobiles can’t be driven by children under the age of 15, and there are also restrictions on children as passengers. If you are travelling as a family, you will want to check that the tour allows children, like this one .

Alternatively, there’s a child friendly mini snowmobile course at Santa’s snow village, available for children from 4-13 years. You can see more information on that here .

Finally, snowmobiling isn’t possible in the summer as there’s no snow. However, you can still go quad biking on a tour like this , which is also a lot of fun!

Architectural Highlights

Lovers of architecture will enjoy their visit to Rovaniemi. The city was almost razed to the ground during World War 2, but as a result of this destruction, there was scope for a new city to rise.

Many of the buildings and features that you can see today in Rovaniemi were designed by Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s leading architects of the 20th century. He was responsible for the Aalto Centre, which includes the City Hall, City Library, and Rovaniemi Theatre, amongst other buildings.

Other interesting building in the city include Arktikum, which is designed to symbolise the arctic itself, the Korundi House of Culture building, Science Centre Pilke, and the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge. We also liked Rovaniemi’s church.

You can take a self guided tour of the architecture in Rovaniemi – just visit the Rovaniemi Tourist Information for a map and information. This can be found on Lordi’s Square in the centre of town.

Ice Fishing (Winter Only)

A popular pastime in Finland in winter is to go ice fishing. This sport involves drilling a hole into a frozen lake and then using a special ice fishing pole to try and catch a fish.

These fish live underneath the frozen surface of the lake, with perch and pike being two of the more common fish you can catch.

We went ice fishing in Finland, and whilst we didn’t actually catch any fish, we did have a great time learning about the process, drilling our little ice holes, and drinking large quantities of hot coffee to stay warm!

The Finns are very keen on their right to access the land, and ice fishing is actually classed as a public access right. This means anyone can go ice fishing without needing a license. All you need is an ice drill, fishing pole, and plenty of warm clothing.

In theory you could rent all these items and just head out onto a frozen lake, but we’d advise against this. Heading onto a frozen lake is obviously a potentially hazardous activity, and so taking a tour is going to be the safest way to go ice fishing.

There are a number of tour companies from Rovaniemi that offer ice fishing. As with other activities on this page, some of these combine a number of winter activities in Finland into one tour. When we did ice fishing, it was as part of a snowmobile tour for example.

Here are some ice fishing tours from Rovaniemi to consider.

This is a 2.5 hour tour which focuses on ice fishing. There’s also a camp fire, on which your fish will be cooked if you catch any!
This 4 hour tour includes both snowshoeing and ice fishing, with a campfire and snacks
This 6 hour tour includes ice fishing and a traditional Finnish sauna experience as well as a BBQ lunch – which will include your fish if you catch any!
There are also snowmobiling tours with ice fishing. For example, this is a 5 hour snowmobile and ice fishing day.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to ice fishing in Rovaniemi!

Forestry Museum of Lapland (Summer Only)

If you prefer you museums to be of the outdoor variety, then you will likely enjoy a visit to the Forestry Museum of Lapland . This is open throughout the summer, and is just 3.5 kilometres from the city centre.

Here you can learn about the history of forest work in Finnish Lapland, a story that is primarily told through a collection of artifacts and buildings from the forestry industry.

What is particularly nice is that you can go inside all the various buildings to learn what they were used for.

There’s a small fee to visit the Forestry Museum, and it’s included on the Finland Museum Card. You can see full opening times and pricing information on the Finnish Museum card website here .

Husky Sledding (Winter Only)

Next on our list of winter activities in Finland is another of our favourites – husky sledding!

Huskies are a special breed of dog which are very energetic. They love to run, and with the right training, they can be used in teams to pull sleds across the snow. They’ve been used in this way as a means of transport in subarctic communities for centuries.

We’ve been husky sledding a number of times in Finland, and I’ve written all about my experience dog sledding in Lapland here .

In Rovaniemi, there’s no shortage of husky sledding opportunities. The company I have used and can recommend is Bearhill Husky. These guys get excellent reviews and really care a great deal about the welfare of their dogs. They offer a number of tours, including:

This morning tour , which includes 45 minutes of dog sledding over a 2.5 hour visit where you also have the opportunity to meet and hang out with the dogs. Great for families or those just looking for an introduction to husky sledding. They also have a similar afternoon version .
This longer full day tour which includes around seven hours of husky sledding as you cover a distance of 30-40km. Also includes a campfire lunch, hot juice, and cookies.

There are also a number of other husky sledding operators running tours in and around Rovaniemi. Here are some other options to consider.

A husky trek that also includes time visiting with the husky and learning about husky sledding
This evening tour which includes husky sledding in the forest, hunting for the Northern Lights, and a Lappish BBQ with hot drinks.
This 2.5 hour tour from Rovaniemi which includes a husky sled ride and a reindeer sleigh ride.

Hopefully one of these husky sledding options will work for you. Also, whilst husky sledding itself is usually only available in winter, you can usually meet the huskies year round!

Food Scene (Year Round)

All of these activities and sights are bound to make you hungry. Well, the good news is that there are plenty of dining options in Rovaniemi where you can fill up on delicious food.

There are quite a few options to choose from, but here are a few to consider:

Cafe & Bar 21 – these guys specialise in savoury and sweet waffles, and I found the food here to be excellent value and really tasty
Pure Burger – If you want a burger whilst you’re in Rovaniemi, this is the place to come
Hostel Cafe Koti – this is a hostel, but the cafe / restaurant here is also excellent, and great value too
Rakas – found within the Santa Claus Village, this restaurant is well known for traditional Finnish dishes

Another popular food based activities in Finland is to go foraging for food, including berries and mushrooms. Obviously this is something you’ll want to do with an expert as picking the wrong types of mushrooms or berries can be deadly!

If this is something you are interested in, tours such as this one are run in the summer months, and have you exploring the woods for food, as well as eating a meal and partaking in other traditional Finnish activities like having a sauna.

Sauna (Year Round)

Whatever time of year you visit Rovaniemi, you might want to try a Finnish Sauna.

The sauna is pretty much at the heart of Finnish life. They are a social activity and a cultural institution, and they are believed to date back as far as 7000BC!

Historically, the sauna was the first part of a Finnish home to be built. This was quite practical if you think about it – saunas are warm, you can use them for a variety of hygiene purposes, and they were a sterile location for giving birth.

Whilst saunas today aren’t utilized quite as much for all the purposes listed above, they are still a central part of life in Finland. In fact, there’s estimated to be one sauna for every two Finns!

Suffice to say, having a sauna in Finland is definitely one experience you don’t want to miss.

There are a number of different ways you can experience a sauna in Finland. Most likely, your accommodation provider will have a sauna, so that is an easy way to do it.

However, for the truly brave, a winter Finnish sauna experience also includes a dip in a frozen lake to really get the juices flowing. We’ve done this, and can confirm it is both rejuvenating and cold.

If that sounds like fun to you, then this tour from Rovaniemi includes a typical Finnish sauna, ice swimming, and a Lappish dinner. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see the Northern Lights.

Korundi House of Culture (Year Round)

If you would like to experience art whilst you are in Rovaniemi, then you’ll want to head straight for the Korundi House of Culture .

This is the home of two institutions, the Chamber Orchestra of Lapland and the Rovaniemi Art Museum.

The Lapland Chamber Orchestra is an 18 piece orchestra that performs across Finland and abroad. Naturally they also perform at Korundi, so if you want to see some local orchestral music, you can check their schedule and buy tickets here .

The Rovaniemi Art Museum is the main art museum in Rovaniemi. It focuses primarily on Finnish contemporary art, as well as art from the northern latitudes of the world.

It’s home to one of the best collections of Finnish contemporary art in the world, with over 3,000 pieces in the collection.

The museum is open every day except Mondays, and you can see opening hours here . There’s a fee to visit, and it’s included on the Rovaniemi Culture Pass and Finland Museum Pass.

River Cruises and Fishing (Summer Only)

If you visit Rovaniemi in the warmer months (basically when the rivers aren’t frozen over!), then you might want to spend some time on the water.

There are a variety of summer activities you can do that involve time on the water.

For example, you can take a Sauna Boat scenic river cruise , which lets you have two wonderful Finnish experiences in one, a scenic river cruise and a relaxing sauna.

You can also take a riverboat cruise to meet Santa and his reindeer, you can take a fishing trip , or you can canoe to a husky farm !

As you can see, there’s no shortage of river based fun to be had in Rovaniemi in summer.

Sleep in a Snow Hotel (Winter Only)

Have you ever thought about sleeping in a hotel that’s made entirely out of ice and snow? Well, in Rovaniemi you can!

There are quite a few ice hotels across Finland, and the experience is fairly similar for all of them. The hotels are built for the winter months only, and are usually sculpted from ice and snow.

The beds are usually made from snow too, although there will be plenty of insulating layers between the bed frame and you, often reindeer hide or other warm layers. You’ll also be provided with a very warm sleeping bag, and it’s recommended that you sleep in thermals and a warm hat.

I have slept in an ice hotel (and a real snow igloo), and whilst it is definitely cold in the hotel (usually around -5C/23F), once you are in the bed and warmly wrapped up it’s not too bad.

Obviously, this is a winter only activity as it needs to be cold so the ice hotels don’t melt. In Rovaniemi there are a few snow hotel options nearby as follows:

Arctic Snowhotel – found 30 minutes north of Rovaniemi this snow hotel is built every year. A variety of rooms are available. If you don’t want to stay the night, you can visit during the day and tour the hotel for a small fee. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, and a variety of activities can be booked.
Apukka Resort Ice Cabin – 15 minutes from Rovaniemi this resort has ice cabins. These are made from blocks of ice and each cottage is individual, making this quite a unique property. There’s also a restaurants on site and activities can be booked as well.
Kätkävaara Aurora Apartments and Igloos – if you want an even more traditional Arctic accommodation option, then you’ll want to stay in an igloo! This hotel offers actual igloos in the winter months. I’ve slept in an igloo, and the experience is similar to that of a snow hotel, but as it’s an individual structure it felt a bit more cosy somehow. This hotel also offers a restaurant and winter activities. Located about a 1 hour drive from Rovaniemi.

Of course, many snow hotels are open for visitors, and for a fee you can usually tour the rooms before the guests check in. This tour from Rovaniemi includes a snow hotel tour and dinner, so you can see what the experience is like without having to get too cold!

Sleep in a Glass Igloo (Winter Only)

If the idea of a snow hotel seems a bit cold, there’s another way to get a unique nights sleep in Rovaniemi. This is to sleep in a glass igloo!

A glass igloo is basically a standalone hotel room which is constructed out of glass. This is perfect for watching the Northern Lights or star gazing, as you get a lovely view of the night sky.

More importantly, glass igloos are not made of a substance that will melt, so they can be heated! Meaning you can be cosily tucked up in bed whilst looking up at the stars.

I’ve stayed in a glass igloo at Kakslauttanen Artic Resort , and it is definitely a worthwhile and unique experience.

There are many glass igloo experiences across Finland. They vary in design – some of them are full glass, whilst others may just have a glass roof above the sleeping area or another part of the building.

They can also vary in amenities and level of luxury. The full glass igloos tend to be more basic – just because it’s challenging to include things like a shower and a bathtub in a glass igloo!

Here are a few glass igloo and similar style properties to think about that are in the Rovaniemi region.

Santa’s Igloos – Just next to the Santa Claus village, these are chalet style rooms with a glass igloo sleeping area
Glass Resort – Another option found in the Santa Claus Village, all the rooms have floor to ceiling glass windows
Arctic Snowhotel – we listed this under snow hotels but they also have glass igloos on site. These are full glass igloos, and the resort is around 30 minutes from Rovaniemi.

Hiking and Cycling (primarily Summer)

I’ve listed this as a summer activity, but if you get snowshoes or a bike with fat tires, you can go hiking or cycling in the winter months as well.

Still, for the most part I think it’s more applicable for summer as it’s warmer and you don’t need to prepare for the cold quite so thoroughly!

There are lots of hiking and cycling trails close to the city. A popular option is the Koivusaari nature trail for hiking, which is found on Koivu island. This is an easy hike, and is a nice way to see some of the local wildlife, especially bird species.

Another popular hiking destination is Korouoma National Park, 160km from Rovaniemi, which has lots of trails and waterfalls. It particularly popular as a winter hiking destination, as you can visit a number of frozen waterfalls – 14 in total!

If you want to visit the frozen waterfalls, we’d advise doing it as part of a tour so you have a safe experience with all the right equipment. Tours also include round trip transport from Rovaniemi.

For example this is a full day tour to the frozen waterfalls .

Another good destination for hiking in Finland that is within a 90 minute drive of Rovaniemi is the Pyha-Luosto National Park. This is popular for skiing in the winter, as well as for visiting the amethyst mine (year round).

Ranua Zoo / Wildlife Park (Year Round)

Whilst this isn’t exactly in Rovaniemi, we think this wildlife park – the second most northern in the world – deserves inclusion nonetheless.

The Zoo is home to around 50 species of animal, which include the only polar bear in Finland as well as brown bears, grey wolves, reindeer and many more.

Ranau Wildlife Park is about an hour south of Rovaniemi. There are buses from Rovaniemi that stop right next to the zoo, so transport is easy. You can see timetables for the buses here . Alternatively, there are tours which run from Rovaniemi to Rauna, such as this one which includes transport, entry and a BBQ lunch.

Ranau Zoo is open year round, and there’s an entry fee. You can see more about pricing and opening times on the official website here .

When to Visit Rovaniemi

The main question you have to ask yourself when planning to visit Rovaniemi is what sort of holiday you want to have.

If you’re after a snowy adventure with activities like Northern Lights watching, husky sledding and snowmobiling, then you are going to want to visit Finland in winter.

Whilst snow is possible from October through to April, you will likely want to visit from late November to mid-March for the best guarantee of snow.

If you want to chase the Midnight Sun, visit outdoor museums, go hiking, and do water based activities like a river cruise, then you’ll want to visit in summer. This period usually runs from June through to early September.

Where to Stay in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi has a wide range of accommodation options, and we’ve stayed at both hotels and apartment rentals in the city.

We’ve already covered some of the more unusual accommodation options in the city, including snow hotels and igloos, so this list is more focused on slightly more traditional options. The following are ordered approximately from budget options through to more expensive choices.

Hostel Cafe Koti – known for its restaurant, this is also a centrally located and very well rated hostel option. Has it’s own sauna and kitchen facilities, with both private and dormitory rooms available.
Guesthouse Borealis – conveniently located for the train station this guesthouse offers great value en-suite rooms with free WiFi and parking. Breakfast is included.
Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus – this is a well rated mid-range hotel. Three on-site restaurants serve a range of cuisines, and the hotel is in the centre of Rovaniemi.
Arctic Light Hotel – a well rated boutique hotel in the middle of Rovaniemi. A variety of room types are available, including some with private saunas. Breakfast is included.
Arctic Treehouse Hotel – just outside of the Santa Claus Village, this hotel offers unique rooms nestled among the trees. The glass fronted rooms offer wonderful views of the night sky and surrounds, and there’s an excellent restaurant on site.

Hopefully this list gives you a good idea of the accommodation options available in Rovaniemi. We can also recommend seeing what’s available on Vrbo in the city if you’re looking for more of an apartment.

How to Get To Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is a well connected city and is relatively easy to get to from both inside Finland as well as from other countries in Europe.

By plane, you can fly directly to Rovaniemi from Helsinki. There are usually multiple flights a day. You can also fly directly to Rovaniemi from a number of other countries including Ireland, Belgium, the UK, and Turkey.

Note that some of these flights may be seasonal, usually operating over the more popular winter months. You can check flight times and prices, and book online here .

If you are already in Finland, you can also take a train to Rovaniemi from Helsinki. This train route is operated by VR, the national rail company. There’s an overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, known as the Santa Claus Express. You can see timetables and book this train online here .

Finland is also a country that is well-connected by public bus routes. You can reach Rovaniemi by bus from a number of cities in Finland. Check bus times and prices, and book tickets here .

Finally, you can also drive to Rovaniemi from various locations in Finland. From Helsinki, it’s around a 9.5 hour drive.

Given the long drive from Helsinki and southern Finland, if you want a car while in Rovaniemi, we’d generally recommend flying or taking a train here and then renting a car. You can check car rental prices here .

How to Get Around Rovaniemi

Despite its city status, Rovaniemi is not very big, and the centre of the city can easily be walked.

However, many of the attractions, such as the Santa Claus Village, are a little out of town. So you will need to drive, take public transport, a tour, taxi, or a shuttle to get to them.

There’s an excellent public bus system, which will get you to many of the locations you might want to visit. You can see bus timetables here . There are also direct shuttle buses which operate to some places such as Santa Claus Village.

We aren’t aware of any ride sharing services in Rovaniemi, however there are a number of taxi firms including Taxi Lähitaksi Rovaniemi and Rovaniemi Taxi Service.

For those planning to rent a car, be aware that there are parking charges to park in most areas of Rovaniemi. Some places also require the use of a parking disc, so be sure to pay attention to signs.

Tours from Rovaniemi

Throughout this post we have recommended a number of tours for various activities and adventures you can do in Rovaniemi. Here’s a summary of some of those for your convenience.

A photography focused Northern Lights tour , a great option for the shutterbugs amongst you
A 2 hour snowmobiling tour which is a great introduction to snowmobiling
A longer 5 hour snowmobiling tour which includes snowmobiling, ice fishing, campfire, and lunch.
A quad biking tour , perfect for visiting Rovaniemi in summer
A 2.5 hour Ice fishing tour
A morning husky sledding tour for those of you looking for a taster of husky sledding with our recommended husky sledding company
A full day tour husky sledding tour which includes around seven hours of husky sledding
A food foraging tour for those of you who want to get out into the woods and learn about sourcing your own food
A tour which includes a Finnish Sauna experience, a swim in a frozen lake and a Lappish dinner
A canoeing tour to a husky farm

That should give you plenty to do when you visit Rovaniemi!

Things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland: Exploring the Gem of Finnish Lapland

Looking for a little bit of magic? The capital city of Lapland, Rovaniemi, is the place to go. Discover all the enchanting things to do in Rovaniemi with my comprehensive guide.

When I visited Rovaniemi in early 2022, I fell in love. Combine a love of winter sports with adorable animals like huskies and reindeer and you’re onto a winner – this charming little city has lots of snowy fun to get involved with.

Aside from adorable furry friends, Rovaniemi might be the best place to spot the Aurora Borealis, with many hotels in Finland dedicated to seeing them. However, in Rovaniemi, experiencing the hunt is part of the fun.

It’s tough to believe that this gorgeous town was destroyed in World War II – though, luckily, the hometown of Santa Claus is here and thriving and is perfect for a lovely winter holiday.

What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready to visit Rovaniemi with the help of this guide.

Looking for a place to stay while in Rovaniemi? Apukka Resort offers an ice sauna, Northern Lights tours and husky safaris. I loved my stay there and would highly recommend it.

Top 5 Things to Do in Rovaniemi

Go sledding with huskies.

Huskies are to the arctic what labradors are to water—they are happiest when fully submerged in colder weather. But they are also dogs that love being around people, and Finland has taken advantage of their loveable and energetic personalities.

With their widespread presence in Scandinavian and Nordic countries, huskies are a great way to move around snowy Rovaniemi. So it’s no surprise that husky sledding is one of the top things to do in Rovaniemi in winter.

You’ll find many husky kennels that are popular for their sled rides. It’s prevalent in the winter months when there’s lots of snow. However, you can still have husky sled rides during spring and summer, they’ll just be pulling a different type of sled with wheels.

Some popular husky sledding tours include a carriage ride under the Northern Lights and a one-hour self-drive sledding experience .

Book A One-Hour Self-Drive Sledding Experience Here

Sled with Some Reindeer

You can find reindeer all over Rovaniemi. And the kicker is, you can go sledding with them.

Most reindeer spend their lives wild in the wilderness, so I do not recommend you try to hook a sleigh on one of them—that’s a sure-fire way to get kicked. If you want to go reindeer sledding, you start by going to a reindeer farm. There you will learn lots of reindeer facts and stories before the real ride begins.

Fun fact about reindeer: their fur is the warmest of all the animals in Finland. They’re also naturally shy, so make sure to be quiet and calm around them.

Book A Reindeer Farm Visit with Sleigh Ride Here

Enjoy a Sauna Like a Local

We all know the stereotype by now—Finns love saunas. Fortunately, this is true, and when you’re in Finland, you sauna like the rest.

Most places you visit will have a sauna. Even Finnish homes usually have built-in saunas. And this city is no exception. It’s one of the top free things to do in Rovaniemi.

One must follow their example to experience the sauna as the Finns do. Many locals have said they spend around 15 minutes in the sauna getting hot, then going outside in the freezing weather only to go right back into the sauna. Some have even gone as far as jumping in the snow or a lake before returning to the sauna.

It may sound incredibly crazy, and you’re probably wondering why someone would do this. Well, it is crazy, but you must also try it. The feeling of your body temperature rising from morgue-like cold to sweltering hot is unlike any other. Just make sure you don’t get hypothermia.

Even though you can find a free sauna to use, a popular option is to have a private Snow Sauna Experience with Dinner .

Book A Snow Sauna Experience with Dinner Here

Hunt for the Northern Lights

Ah, the famous Aurora Borealis . Nobody can visit Finland without seeing these majestic natural lights. It’s a cardinal sin.

Rovaniemi is one of the perfect places to spot them, and you can usually catch the Northern Lights between August and April – it’s one of the more popular things to do in Lapland’s Rovaniemi.

The key to seeing these lights is going far outside the city where there is no light pollution. Also, make sure you go on a clear, starry night. You can even download an app to help you predict the best time to see the Northern Lights .

However, I recommend you go on a Northern Lights tour rather than trying to find them alone. The tour guides know all the ins and outs of where to see them and when the best time to go is. They will also ensure you stay warm by providing arctic suits and building campfires.

For a fun once-in-a-lifetime experience, I recommend the Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari & Campfire BBQ .

Book An Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari & Campfire BBQ Here

Snowmobiling, Skiing, and Snowshoeing

Snowmobiling in winter is a trendy sport in Finland. Loved by tourists and locals alike, it’s a fun way to discover new places. You can go on a snowmobile safari in your quest to find the Northern Lights, go ice fishing, or even cruise around Rovaniemi.

Skiing is also a popular activity. There’s a family ski resort close to the Rovaniemi city centre called Ounasvaara Ski Oy, but it’s not the only resort in that area.

And finally, if you’re not into fussing around with a lot of equipment, skis or snowboards, you should try snowshoeing. You can strap a pair of snowshoes over your snow boots and head off. It’s a fun and low-maintenance way of getting around the Finnish Lapland.

Book Your Snowmobile Safari Here

Brilliant Things to See & Do in Rovaniemi in Winter

Visit santa claus.

Rovaniemi has the nickname of the hometown of Santa Claus. It’s located in Lapland in the Arctic Circle and is what we imagined the North Pole to look like as children. So, of course, they had to play with that reputation. And thus came Santa Claus Village , one of the most popular things to do in Rovaniemi at Christmas.

Located close to Santa Park, the Village is a campus-type attraction with many activities for people of all ages.

Mrs. Claus bakes cookies and tells stories about Lapland in her cosy little cottage. Santa will then explain how he and his hardworking elves prepare for Christmas yearly. If you ask him nicely, he may even tell you the secret of how he gets the reindeer to fly.

There are also husky sled rides and reindeer walking around – it really feels like you’re in the North Pole at Santa’s warehouse. And if you want to send a letter to Santa, the main post office has a direct mail route to him.

Book A Reindeer, Huskies & Santa Claus Ice Village Experience Here

Note: Don’t be put off visiting if you don’t have kids, this really is a spot for all ages.

Go Ice Fishing

You cannot go to Finland and not try ice fishing. An authentic Finnish experience, ice fishing is popular in Rovaniemi, and there are many tours to take people fishing.

During an ice fishing tour, the guides will teach you how to ice fish like a Finn. You will learn how to cut a hole in the thick ice, the best method for fishing (usually a net), and what to do when you make a catch.

If you want, they will show you how to clean your fish, and then you can have it smoked or prepared to take home where you can proudly chow down on your self-caught dinner.

Try the Ice Fishing Experience Tour for a fun day of catching fish and learning about Finnish culture.

Book An Ice Fishing Experience Tour Here

Hang with Polar Bears at Ranua Zoo

Located about an hour south of Rovaniemi, Ranua Wildlife Park is a must-see. You can spot some of the most beautiful arctic animals here – in fact, the park boasts around fifty wild animal species and over two hundred individual animals.

Wolves, brown bears, otters, and lynxes can all be found at the zoo, but the most popular animal is the polar bear. And for a good reason, it’s not easy to spot polar bears outside of the arctic since they’re very limited in where they can survive.

So grab a picnic basket, fill it with goodies and take a trip to Ranua Wildlife Park. Just don’t feed the animals.

If you want a guided tour of Ranua Zoo, I recommend the Ranua Wildlife Park Day Tour .

Book The Ranua Wildlife Park Day Tour Here

Cool Things to See & Do in Rovaniemi in the Summer

Visit kotisaari island.

Kotisaari Island is a weird one – loggers previously used this small island in the Kemijoki River to transport logs along the river. When trucks became the norm to transport logs, they abandoned the island.

Now, it’s a great place to experience Finnish history. On the island, you’ll find traditional Finnish buildings in good condition – one of these buildings is an old smoke sauna.

You can visit the island by using either a kayak or a rowboat. However, I recommend joining a tour of the island to hear the stories of these old buildings – and to take the stress out of crossing the water.

Enjoy The Midnight Sun

Every year in Finland, around the 6th – 7th of July, the sun doesn’t set at all. This is the Midnight Sun, a phenomenon that only occurs in the Arctic Circle. In Rovaniemi, Midnight Sun can last from around May to July; thus, you can experience it for longer.

Rovaniemi has many places to experience the Midnight Sun. Of course, the most popular site is Ounasvaara Fell, the tallest mountain near Rovaniemi. It’s one of the more magical things to do at night in Rovaniemi, even though it won’t feel like it’s nighttime.

So pack a picnic basket with snacks and Finnish beers, and experience the polar day known as the Midnight Sun. You can even float on a lake while the Midnight Sun shines on you.

Book A Midnight Sun Forest Lake Float Here

Go Berry Picking

From lingonberries to blueberries, you’ll find berries almost everywhere in Lapland. You can even spot the golden jewels known as cloudberries, an amber-coloured berry with a sweet-sour taste. Berry picking is one of the most fun things to do in Rovaniemi in summer.

Moose, bears and reindeer enjoy the berry season almost as much as the people of Rovaniemi. This means it has to be worth an afternoon of picking—after all, it has the reindeer stamp of approval.

Go berry picking with a local tour guide and enjoy the incredible sweetness of Lapland berries. Just be sure to go before the moose gobble them all up.

Book Berry Picking Here

Things to Do in Rovaniemi: Practical Tips for Your Trip

How long to visit rovaniemi .

It takes around 3-4 days to explore Rovaniemi fully; however, I recommend you take a week to try out all the different snowy experiences.

Best Time to Visit Rovaniemi

Since there are many different activities to do in both summer and winter, it depends on what you want to do. In summer, the best time to go is between June and August. If you go in winter, go between November and February.

Where Should I Stay in Rovaniemi?

Hostel café koti (budget).

Located about a 12-minute walk from the beach in central Rovaniemi, Hostel Café Koti is the perfect place to stay if you’re visiting on a budget. You will feel entirely at home with Scandinavian-style rooms, dormitories, and a Finnish sauna.

You can choose between a private room with an ensuite bathroom or a shared dormitory with shared bathroom facilities. The kitchen is communal and shared with all guests. The hostel allows pets, so you don’t have to leave your furry friend behind.

Apukka (Mid-Range)

As I’ve already mentioned, during my last visit to Finland I stayed in Apukka and absolutely loved it. I recommend the Lappish Kammi Suite, a glass-topped dome filled with cosy furnishings and a roaring fire to ensure we were kept nice and toasty.

The beds were uber comfortable (much needed after a day of sledding) and the kitchenette was fully equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay.

Nova Skyland Hotel (Luxury)

Nova Skyland Hotel is a gorgeous five-star hotel located in Santa Claus Village. With a stunning contemporary Scandinavian design in the rooms and excellent amenities, it’s a popular place to stay when you visit Rovaniemi. There’s even a sauna on the grounds, and the rooms have a large window perfect for watching the Northern Lights.

You can ask the staff to arrange many activities for you, including reindeer farm tours, husky sledding, and Northern Lights hunting tours. The hotel is quite close to the airport, Arktikum Science Centre, and, of course, Santa Claus Village. So grab the best luggage on the market and book a stay at Nova Skyland Hotel for the ultimate treat.

Recommended Tours in Rovaniemi

Reindeer Farm Visit with Sleigh Ride
Lapland: Husky Carriage Ride Under the Northern Lights
Rovaniemi: Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari & Campfire BBQ
Rovaniemi: Reindeer, Huskies & Santa Claus Village
Rovaniemi: Snowmobile Safari Adventure

Things to do in Rovaniemi: Map

Rovaniemi, Finland: Discover More Nordic Guides

Why You Need to Visit Finland in Winter

8 Incredible Northern Lights Hotels in Finland

15 Incredible Things to Do in Tromso, Norway in Winter
Iceland Off The Beaten Path: Discovering Iceland’s Hidden Gems

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Things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland Exploring the Gem of Finnish Lapland

I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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11 Top-Rated Things to Do in Rovaniemi

Written by Emma Yardley and Lura Seavey Updated Jul 13, 2022

Rovaniemi is the capital of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland , and is also known worldwide as the hometown of Santa Claus . The city also provides unparalleled access to the Arctic Circle (Rovaniemi lies just 6.4 kilometers south of the line) and all the unique attractions it has to offer.

In summer, it's an ideal spot for fishing and hiking enthusiasts, but Rovaniemi in winter is when this arctic area really shines – even with the reduced hours of daylight. From staying up late to spot the colorful waves of the aurora borealis to taking sightseeing day trips out in the wilderness of Finnish Lapland, see our list of things to do and places to visit in Rovaniemi.

1. Santa Claus Express

2. santa claus village, 3. reindeer sled rides, 4. visit a village made of ice, 5. korundi house of culture, 6. cross-country skiing, 7. strap on snowshoes, 8. sauna time, 9. hunt for the northern lights, 10. drive the arctic ocean highway, 11. visit the ranua wildlife park, map of things to do in rovaniemi.

Train tracks in the snow on the Santa Claus Express

Since Rovaniemi is the official home of Santa Claus, the sleek double-decker train that runs from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is affectionally known as the " Santa Claus Express ." With up to two daily departures, the later nighttime departure is the most popular with locals and tourists alike: snuggle down into your private two-bunk sleeping cabin and wake up the next morning to the snowy landscape of Finnish Lapland.

The journey is about 885 kilometers and takes eight to 10 hours depending on the scheduled stops. Each sleeper car has a shared bathroom, but the cabins are kitted out with their own sink, fresh linens, power outlets, and a window. Sure, it's dark when you board the train, but the thrill of waking up to see the sunrise over snow-covered pine trees while hurtling towards the Arctic Circle is truly unique.

Tip : For easy access, have your toothbrush and nighttime gear in your hand luggage before boarding the train. Your main luggage will be stored under the bunkbeds with no room in the cabin to fully open them.

If the chance to meet Old St. Nick has you (or your kids) giggling with anticipation, a visit to the Santa Claus Village won't disappoint - after all, Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus in Lapland .

Just eight kilometers north of Rovaniemi city (either take Highway 4 towards Ivalo or hop on the local #8 bus labelled "Santa Express"), this festive holiday village is where you'll find all things Christmas and Kris Kringle related. The Main Post Office has a direct mail route to Santa himself, Mrs. Claus bakes traditional gingerbread cookies and tells stories about Lapland at her Christmas Cottage , and Santa explains how he and his jovial elves prepare for Christmas each year in his work chambers.

This is also where you can take a photo (and get a certificate) of yourself stepping over the Arctic Circle, with a painted sign marking the circle of latitude that runs 66°33'45.9" north of the Equator.

Tip : To see Santa face-to-face in a timely manner, be ready and waiting in line as soon as visiting hours begin. If you push it until later in the day, the line could take hours.

In Lapland, there's a roughly a one-to-one ratio of residents to reindeer, as the region's indigenous Sami people have a long and intimate history with these gentle beasts. While you may spy reindeer wandering unaccompanied through the snowy woods, they are actually owned by a specific Sami herder (they have special identifying marks on their ears) and are rounded up each year.

Reindeer sleds have been transporting families and goods across Europe's Arctic for as long as there have been people to pull. Settling into one of these specially designed wooden sleighs piled high with pillows and blankets behind the furry tails of a well-trained reindeer feels like you're a part of living history. As their hooves quietly pad through a snowy forested trail and their harness bells gently ring, it's hard not to be swept away in the picturesque magic of it all.

From Rovaniemi, there are plenty of options when it comes to visiting a local reindeer farm and booking a sleigh ride, such as Christmas House Safaris and Raitola Reindeer and Husky Farm .

Tip : Reindeer are naturally shy, and it takes years of training to get them to be comfortable around humans and sled ready, so remain as quiet and calm as possible - and always respect the driver's directions.

Nearly a two-hour drive north of Rovaniemi city limits, you'll find something quite extraordinary - a breathtaking resort complex constructed from 44 million pounds of snow and 772,000 pounds of natural ice. Almost every year, Lapland Hotels designs and builds a new SnowVillage , complete with hotel rooms, a wedding chapel, and dozens of mind-blowing snow and ice sculptures for day-pass visitors and overnight guests to enjoy.

While the hotel rooms are kept below zero, the beds have real mattresses and sub-zero bedding (plus, guests have access to a warmup room if it becomes too frigid). The team of talented Finnish designers and builders comes up with a theme, then spends a whole year bringing it to life. The theme in 2018/19 was Game of Thrones , featuring complicated figures of fearsome dragons, throne rooms, and a life-sized "weirwood" tree. In the 2019/2020 season, the theme is "Illusions" where designs will trick and tease the mind.

Tip: Be sure to go around lunchtime to enjoy a large bowl of traditional reindeer soup with a hearty slice of butter bread at the on-site, not-made-from-ice cafeteria.

One of the best places to visit in Rovaniemi to get yourself acquainted with the local culture and history is the Korundi House of Culture , made up of the Chamber Orchestra of Lapland and the Rovaniemi Art Museum , located on the edge of the downtown core of Rovaniemi city.

The art museum is housed in an old bus depot, one of the few buildings that survived the devastating bombing of Rovaniemi (and much of Lapland) in WWII that destroyed 90 percent of all buildings in Rovaniemi city. The permanent and rotating collections focus on contemporary Finnish art from the 1940s onwards, with a special consideration for northern-born artists, even featuring a local artist of the month.

The 340-seat Korundi concert hall hosts various events throughout the year and is the home of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra.

Tip: Before heading to Rovaniemi, check out Korundi's events calendar for upcoming shows and book your tickets in advance to experience the musical and dramatic arts of Finnish Lapland.

Rovaniemi is considered the "gateway to the Arctic" and provides a great jumping-off point for all the wintertime outdoor pursuits this unique area of the world offers. One of the most popular winter pastimes in Finnish Lapland is cross-country skiing, with one in five Finns identifying as active skiers. It's no wonder - with its dry, consistent snow and mostly flat or gentry rolling landscape, Lapland was built for this sport.

Add in an extensive network of government-maintained ski trails along the main highways, side roads, and through the region's extensive wooded parklands, and you have the perfect combination for a ski-obsessed nation (Finland constantly finds itself on the podium at the Winter Olympics for the sport). Most resorts and hotels offer ski rentals to guests, as do local sports shops and tour operators.

Tip : If you've never skied before, consider taking a lesson with a trained ski instructor before hitting the trails on your own - your legs will thank you.

If you don't think you'd be comfortable on skis or fussing with multiple pieces of rented equipment, snowshoeing makes a great mode of self-propelled transport across the well-groomed snow trails that zigzag through Finnish Lapland. Simply strap on a pair of lightweight aluminum snowshoes over your own snow boots and step out into the paths that follow the curves of Rovaniemi's Kemijoki River with very little fuss (or snowshoeing knowledge).

If you want to get off the beaten track, hook up with a local tour company to organize a day trip a little farther out into the Arctic Circle. These seasoned guides know where to go to give you the best views and increase your chances of seeing arctic animals, and are fully trained to help you if something goes amiss while trekking through the silent wilderness. Plus, your guide will likely be carrying tasty snacks and drinks (hot loganberry juice is a Lappish favorite) in their backpack to hand out as needed.

Tip : Make sure your boots are comfortable and fully insulated to keep you warm and cozy on the trails. If they aren't, you can likely rent a different pair from the outdoor outfitters.

Sauna culture has been a staple of life in Finland for a very long time - the first written record of Finnish people sweating it out in a sauna dates back to 1112. Nowadays, there are an estimated two million saunas in Finland - almost every house, apartment building, and hotel has one (or three) - and with a population of 5.5 million people, that's one sauna for every 2.75 people.

There is a process to the Finnish sauna , which includes heating up a wooden room to 230 degrees Fahrenheit, using silver-birch branches to gently whack your skin, and then either plunging into freezing water or diving into a nearby snowbank to cool off, before doing it all again.

In Rovaniemi, there are plenty of options when it comes to trying out this Finnish tradition, from organized day trips out to a secluded Lappish lakeside sauna to simply using the one at your hotel or resort.

Tip: There are often strict rules and etiquette when it comes to what to wear and how to manage the heat inside the sauna, so make sure you are familiar with the rules before stripping down.

While the northern lights are visible in Finnish Lapland year-round, you can significantly up your chances of a shimmery sighting by planning your trip between September and March, when the sky really starts to light up. Most Rovaniemi adventure companies provide specific nighttime aurora borealis tours out into the surrounding Arctic Circle wilderness via snowmobile, snowshoeing, or skis.

The key to having the best view of Nature's light show is to wait for a clear, starry night and make sure you're far away from ambient light thrown off by streetlights or building windows. Also, get to an elevated location with clear, tree-free sight lines - think the top of a hill or on the edge of a lake.

There are also a number of apps, such as the My Aurora app , that predict the likelihood of seeing the northern lights and give you the best viewing window daily by tracking the solar winds and weather systems in your specific area.

Tip: Put on more layers than you think you'll need - you'll be standing or sitting out in freezing conditions for a number of hours, waiting and not really moving too much. Plus, make sure you have a hot drink on hand for immediate warm-ups.

Linking Rovaniemi to the Liinakhamari port on the northern coast of Lapland, the Arctic Ocean Highway opened in 1931 and became the world's first highway to stretch all the way north to the Arctic Ocean . Built on ancient 16 th -century cart tracks that were used to connect the trading routes that stretched from Russia to Norway, it's the continuation today of Finnish National Road 4 , which begins in Helsinki.

Zooming along this double-lane, snow-packed highway in the dead of winter gives you the scoop on the icy landscape and a sense of open space that can only be found above the Arctic Circle. As you can see, our list of things to do in Rovaniemi is as varied and extensive as this area of the world is wild and wonderful - no time like the present (especially if it's wintertime) to check out this fascinating Arctic area.

Tip: To tackle this strip of remote road, which ends at the north coast of Finland, rent your own 4x4, hop on a tour bus in Rovaniemi, or reach out to a private transport company to get you up there.

Around an hour's drive from Rovaniemi, the Ranua Wildlife Park has a population of more than 200 animals representing more than 50 species of arctic wildlife. Some species live in enclosures, while others have a little more free reign in the wildlife preserve areas of the park.

Among their most popular residents are Finland's only polar bears , Manse and Venus, who live happily together in a spacious habitat.

The park is also home to reindeer, including wild forest reindeer, as well as white-tailed Siberian musk, and roe varieties of deer. Among other large animals are brown bears and moose, and smaller mammals include lynx, otter, mink, wild boar, grey wolf, and the tiny stoat. The park also has a significant bird population, with eight different varieties of owl, four types of geese, golden and white-tailed sea eagles, buzzards, ducks, and raven.

Visitors can explore the park on their own with a downloadable audio tour or, for an additional charge, take a guided tour led by naturalists. Those who really want to immerse themselves in the experience can take a behind-the-scenes wildlife safari or camp at the park. The park also has a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch, as well as a gift shop that supports the animals.

Address: Rovaniementie 29, 97700 Ranua, Finland

Official site: https://english.ranuazoo.com

Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and is located right on the Arctic Circle.

Welcome to rovaniemi.

Arctic town Rovaniemi offers many unique venues for meetings and conferences, including Arktikum, Korundi, the Town Hall and the Alvar Aalto-designed Lappia Hall. There’s also Lappi Areena, a huge sports complex that can be transformed for conferences, events and exhibitions, as well as Santa Park and Joulukka. The latter is one of the largest snow huts in Finland, making it the perfect place to host some very “cool” events.

Where in Finland?

Population : 64 000

Reindeer : 14 000

Flight connections : Rovaniemi airport lies a 10-minute drive away from the city centre.

Distance from Helsinki :

– Plane 1 hour – Train 12 hours – Car 825 kilometres, 10 hours

Visit Rovaniemi Events Sales Manager Katja Koskinen [email protected]

Eight seasons

It’s true: Rovaniemi has eight different seasons, each with its own kind of daylight, temperature and natural phenomena and offering new opportunities to see the town from a totally different angle.

During frosty twilights, you can ride a snowmobile through the snow-covered forests or over the frozen Ounasjoki River, and during the Midnight Sun, you can take a cruise on the very same body of water. Hiking, mountain biking, summer sledging, skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are also popular pastimes.

Santa’s headquarters

Although Christmas only comes once a year, you can experience it every single day in Rovaniemi. After all, this is the hometown of Santa Claus, and his office on the Arctic Circle is open to visitors all year round.

Lapland’s business centre

The capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi is the centre of trade and logistics for local businesses and consumers of the region. Its central location and excellent travel connections make it easy to capitalize on all that the Barents Region has to offer.

In addition, Rovaniemi offers many opportunities for enterprises and investors in numerous sectors, including tourism, industrial production, information technology, cold testing, commerce and creative services.

A lively university town

Rovaniemi is home to a variety of educational institutions. The University of Lapland has faculties of Law, Education, Art and Design, and Social Sciences. The Arctic Center at the University of Lapland is an international hub of information that conducts multidisciplinary research in changes in the Arctic region.

Opportunities also abound in the national defence and creative sectors, as well as in cold technologies and tourism. Home to the University of Lapland, the University of Applied Sciences and the Vocational College, Rovaniemi has student population of approximately 10,000.

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Rovaniemi Attractions | Ten Top Tourist Attractions in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi Attractions – Highlights

The popularity of Rovaniemi as a tourist destination has much to do with the city being the hometown of Finland’s best known resident, Santa Claus . There are a number of the Rovaniemi attractions are Santa themed, including the world-famous Santa Claus Village where you’ll find the great man’s very own Post Office , which deals with hundreds of thousands of letters from children from all over the world every year. Other main attractions include the Arctic SnowHotel , SantaPark , Snowman World , and Arctic Adventure Park Huima . Easily accessible by coach from the city are the Ranua Wildlife Park and the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine .

Rovaniemi is also home to Arktikum , which houses the the Arctic Science Centre and the Regional Museum of Lapland , and Science Centre Pilke , housed in famous Pilke House , a modern office and museum structure made entirely from wood. One of the few buildings in Rovaniemi that wasn’t destroyed in World War II was the post bus depot, which has been remodeled to become today’s Korundi House of Culture , now home to the Rovaniemi Art Museum and an excellent venue for concerts where the Lapland Chamber Orchestra perform regularly.

Rovaniemi – Capital of Lapland

The city of Rovaniemi is located on the arctic circle, and is well-known as the capital of Finnish Lapland. With a population of around 61 thousand, it is the 16 th largest city in Finland, but is visited by around half a million people annually, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Finland. Rovaniemi is a modern city: much of it was destroyed in 1944 during the Second World War. The rebuilding process began soon after, led by Alvar Aalto whose vision saw the town plan shaped like a reindeer’s antlers. Aalto also contributed with the designs of Rovaniemi City Hall, Rovaniemi City Library and Lappia House, as well as a number of residential buildings. Aalto’s contemporary Ferdinand Salokangas also played a key role, designing Rovaniemi Fire Station and the Town Hall of Rovaniemi among others.

Santa Claus Village

The most visited Rovaniemi attraction is the Santa Claus Village located right on the Arctic Circle, where Santa himself spends most of the year available to meet and greet visitors from all over the world. The site includes Santa’s main Post Office, a colourful Christmas world of beautiful cards, stamps and unique gifts, where visitors can sit by an open fireplace and write to friends and family back home. There are cheerful Postal Elves on site who will post your greetings for you, and everything sent from here gets stamped by hand using the special postmark of the Santa Claus Post Office .

Santa Claus Village also has a number of excellent souvenir shops, cafés and restaurants. Christmas House hosts a unique Christmas-themed exhibition, which introduces Finland’s most beloved Christmas traditions, as well as numerous very different traditions from across the globe, and a photography service with Santa Claus. There are five different restaurants or cafés to choose from, featuring traditional Lappish dishes and also more modern cuisine. Santamus provides gourmet dining with additional services like gold panning, live music, sauna, and jacuzzi, and can be pre-booked for private events.

Santa’s House of Snowmobiles is a permanent exhibition in Santa Claus Claus Village , which presents the different “snowmobile treasures” of Lapland and other arctic regions. The exhibition is a tribute to the snowmobile, which is a very important vehicle in the arctic regions. Nearby visitors will find the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park which organises snowmobile safaris, and other activities, and has special programs for children too. For visitors who would prefer something a little less noisy, there are opportunities to take a ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, or mush a sled pulled by huskies through the local wild terrain.

Snowman World

Located right next to the Santa Claus Village complex lies another of the most popular Rovaniemi attractions, styling itself as “the merriest place on the Arctic Circle”. Snowman World is a family oriented tourist attraction of snow and ice. Alongside an art gallery boasting a wide array of incredibly detailed ice-sculptures you will also find an Igloo Hotel and a delightful Ice Restaurant and Ice Bar . There are plenty of activities here for kids and adults, including an ice hill for tobogganing, an ice rink for skating, as well as the opportunity to try your hand at snow sculpting and other fun Lappish games. The newest activity is the popular ‘bag jump’!

Located a little closer to Rovaniemi than Santa Claus Village you’ll find the delightful SantaPark , an underground cavern packed with cheerful elves who will ensure every family has a fun day of activities and entertainments. In SantaPark you can attend an Elf school, learn how to make delicious cookies in Mrs. Gingerbread’s Bakery, enjoy the Angry Birds Activity Area, visit Santa’s office, visit the Calligraphy School, enjoy the amazing Ice Princess Ice Gallery and the Ice Bar , take a ride on the Magic Sleigh, drive the Fairytale Train, and check out the Elf Workshop and their Post Office. All of which is bound to build an appetite, and at the SantaPark Café you can enjoy mouthwatering delicacies throughout the year, while the elves present their dance show on the main stage.

Home to the Regional Museum of Lapland , the Arctic Science Centre , and a high-tech conference centre, Arktikum is another of the top Rovaniemi attractions, and an architectural gem to boot; well worth a visit by any tourist interested in the region’s fascinating nature, culture and history. The permanent exhibitions in the Regional Museum of Lapland provide a review of the history of Finnish Lapland that spans from Rovaniemi to Upper Lapland and from prehistory to around the 1970s. The Arctic region is examined in light of the Arctic research of today and the future. There are also numerous temporary exhibitions focusing on Northern and Arctic life and culture during the course of the year.

Science Centre Pilke

Situated adjacent to Arktikum (making it the ideal place to visit either before or after), Science Centre Pilke introduces forests and forestry like you’ve never experienced them before. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece, entirely made of wood, 90% of which has come from Finnish forests. In addition to providing exhibitions, Pilke House is the home of Metsähallitus , the government agency that manages Finland’s National Parks, World Heritage Sites, National Hiking Areas, and Wilderness Areas. Pilke Science Centre also has a souvenir shop and café.

Korundi House of Culture

The old post bus depot in the heart of Rovaniemi is one of very few buildings in the city to survive WWII. After the war the building was expanded using bricks collected from the ruins of the decimated city. It was expanded again between 2009 and 2010, and continues to successfully marry local history with modern architecture. Today Korundi House of Culture is so named because its core function is to provide a home for, and support, two nationally significant and internationally interesting art institutions: the Lapland Chamber Orchestra and Rovaniemi Art Museum . The Lapland Chamber Orchestra perform regularly in Korundi’s concert hall, a top-class, multi-purpose venue with 340 seats. The main focus of Rovaniemi Art Museum is on Finnish contemporary art and Northern art. The annual exhibition program introduces work by artists who have either been born in the north or are working there. In addition, the museum exhibits pieces from the extensive Jenny & Antti Wihuri Foundation Collection.

Arctic Adventure Park Huima

Just across the majestic Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge, on the slopes of Ounasvaara Hill, families will find an adventure park that features eight different tree-top courses of varying difficulty. Perhaps tree-top is stretching it a bit; the courses are at most seven metres above the ground. Adventurers move between living trees using ropes, beams, bridges and nets that are spanned from tree to tree. The adult courses requires participants to be over 130cm (4’3”) tall, while the kids course is for those over 110cm or 3’6”.

Arctic SnowHotel

Located around 26km from the city on the shore of Lake Lehtojärvi in the village of Sinettä, the Arctic SnowHotel is another favourite Rovaniemi tourist attraction, which will remain open to the public until March 31 st . The complex features a Snow Hotel , the Lumikartano party venue, an Ice Bar , an Ice Restaurant , Restaurant Kota , and a Snow Sauna . Of course not everyone wants to spend a night in a Snow Hotel , so the complex welcomes visitors daily, and provides a range of activities such as ice fishing or snowshoe hiking.

Lampivaara Amethyst Mine

The Lampivaara Amethyst Mine , located in Pyhä-Luosto national park, can be reached from Rovaniemi by bus. The amethysts of the Lampivaara fell began their process some 2 billion years ago deep in the heart of the ancient mountains. Today there is a gem mine atop the fell which can be sustained for hundreds of years to come, and where visitors are welcome to come and try their luck digging for these beautiful gemstones! The guided tour includes a discussion of the geology, history and nature of the area, as well as a talk on the properties of the gems and the uses of amethyst. Throughout history there have been folk tales and stories about, and beliefs in, amethyst and its positive attributes, in many cultures. Did you know, for instance, that Leonardo da Vinci kept an amethyst on his work-desk? He wrote in his diary: “Amethyst dispels evil thoughts and speeds up thinking”.

Ranua Wildlife Park

Located some 80km south of Rovaniemi, with a regular bus service between the two, Ranua Wildlife Park provides visitors the opportunity to observe arctic animals throughout the year, in an as authentic environment for the animals as possible. Ranua Wildlife Park is open every day of the year. The park also provides safaris and other quality services for the family. There are approximately 50 different animal species living in the park, and in the summer there is also a domestic animal park and petting zoo.

Rovaniemi is easy to reach all year round, having excellent connections to all major European and Asian airports, with three to six daily flights to and from Helsinki. Many tour operators have seasonal charter flights to Rovaniemi, mainly during the Christmas and winter season. The airport is only 8 km from downtown Rovaniemi. There are also daily connections by rail from Helsinki and other cities.

Guided Excursions in Rovaniemi:

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46 Fun Things to Do in Rovaniemi, Finland

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Nestled between the Ounasvaara and Korkalovaara hills, and only 6 kilometers away from the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is the capital city of Finland’s northernmost province called Lapland.

Due to its closeness and easy accessibility to the Arctic Circle, visitors will have an incredible time enjoying all the activities and cultural experiences not to miss while visiting Rovaniemi.

From learning about the origin of the Lumberjack on Kotisaari Island, making gingerbread cookies with Mrs. Claus at Santa’s Village, to hopping on an Icebreaker Cruise and catching the spectacular Northern Lights inside your cozy and warm glass igloo, here is the list of 46 fun things to do in Rovaniemi , that you must add to your itinerary.

Want to dive straight in? Browse our catalog now!

Rovaniemi tours

1 – Visit Lordi’s Square, named after a Finnish rock band

A visit to Rovaniemi isn’t complete without a stroll through Lordi’s Square, located in the heart of Rovaniemi, and known for being named after the Eurovision Rock bank winners from Finland, Lordi.

Also known as Lordin Aukio, before the triumphant win of the Finnish heavy metal/rock bank in the 2006 Eurovision competition, the square was called Sampo Square.

Today, visitors stroll through the plaza and stop by the commemorative Lordi Square wall where the handprints of the musicians are on display, as well as the plaques sharing a bit more about the plaza’s story.

Near Lordi’s Square is a small but prominent shopping district called Sampokeskus. Here, you must check out different local shops selling souvenirs as well as significant brand stores, fast dining restaurants, and a movie theater.

If you visit during the summer, make sure to stop by and check out the different events, especially relating to music that happens at the famed plaza.

To make sure that you don’t miss it, consider booking a city tour of Rovaniemi, and get all the scoop on the plaza, and other fun things not to miss while visiting the square.

city tours in Rovaniemi

2 – See how Artic culture influences Finland at the Artikum

Located just a 7-minute walk from the city center of Rovaniemi is Artikum , a wonderful and complete museum and science center that specializes in offering a close encounter and experience of learning about the fascinating arctic.

Known as the Provincial Museum of Lapland, the museum is divided into various sections from nature, culture, history, science, and more.

You can walk through the various permanent exhibits sharing the influence of the arctic on Finland, and vice versa, how the arctic has changed according to science and data, as well as learning about the cultural impacts and influences of the arctic on “northern life”.

Don’t miss Tiedekeskus Pilke , Metsähallitus (The Pilke Hous) where you’ll be able to learn about the northernmost forests within Lapland and even shop some of the products locally produced from the forest.

Arktikum Arboretum (Arktikum Beach) is considered one of Rovaniemi’s most scenic parks along the Ounasjoki River, showcasing trees and other plants that uniquely thrive in such harsh, cold climates.

Make sure to visit it, only an 11-minute walk from the Artikum, and make sure to do a walking tour of the whole complex.

walking tours in Rovaniemi

3 – Have the ride of your life at the Reindeer Farm and Husky Park

Have a truly northern experience at the Reindeer Farm and Husky Park , where you’ll be able to arrange a reindeer and husky sledge ride, enjoy the magic of the snow-covered forest, and feel at one with the magic of Lapland.

Book your experience to visit a reindeer farm and husky park, where you’ll get to interact with and be one with the beautiful winter animals, learning more about the interesting and survival skill of husky and reindeer mushing, as well as the importance of these animals in the Lapland.

If you wish to book a memorable reindeer and husky sledging experience, make sure to plan your visit around the months of August-May, when the temperature is cold enough for this experience. Book a nocturnal sledging experience, and you may get a good chance of capturing the stunning Northern Lights.

If you’re visiting during the warm summer months, make sure to book a leisure and calm canoe ride through the quaint lakes of Lapland, also known as the 1,000 Lakes, with the guidance of a professional.

4 – Visit Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer at Santa Claus Village

Go visit the magical, and very real town dubbed Santa Clause Village, located a 6-minute drive from the city center of Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle.

Tap into your inner child-like wonder, and rediscover the magic of winter and Christmas, strolling through the wintery streets of Santa Claus Village, and stopping by the official Santa Post Office , a real, functioning post office that works 365 days a year.

Write a letter to send to your friends from Santa Claus’s post office, marked with the official postal stamp and greetings from Santa himself.

You can even request for the card to be sent out before Christmas, no matter what time of year you visit.

Stop by to visit Santa’s reindeer at Santa Clause Reindeer , no matter the season, where you’ll get to pet the lovely animals, and interact a bit with them.

Pay a visit to Mrs. Clause at her Christmas Cottage inside the village, and have a chat with her, take a photo, or ask her anything you’ve ever wanted to know about Santa, herself, the reindeer, and more.

If you’re traveling with children, make sure to bring them to Snowman World , where memories will be created in the various winter activities, from ice skating with the snowmen, or playing in the winter playground. Parents can also enjoy the fabulous Ice Bar and Snow Restaurant onsite as well.

Learn about the invention of the snowmobile, and the impact it has had on transportation within the Artic Circle, as you browse through the permanent exhibits showcasing different snowmobile models. Also learn about the special clothing and equipment utilized to use the snowmobile, inside Santa’s House of Snowmobiles.

Lastly, get to feed the reindeer and alpacas at Elf’s Farmyard , and as a bonus, you’ll even get to take a walk or ride with them! This activity is available in both the winter and summer months!

Santa Claus Village tickets

5 – Enjoy the abundant activities on a day trip through Lapland

Enjoy a day trip through the region of Lapland, where you’ll become immersed in the wild and wonderful winter wonderland, and where you can even catch the Midnight Sun and the famous Northern Lights.

Considered to be the northernmost region in Finland, Lapland has a unique charm that can only be experienced in person, from its natural phenomena to learning about the indigenous Sámi group of the land, to dining and enjoying the local cuisine and so much more.

At only a 2.5-hour drive north of Rovaniemi, consider booking a day tour from Rovaniemi that will help guide your experience, and provide you with transportation to and from your hotel with ease.

Enjoy booking various experiences at Lapland, from hiking and snowshoeing, to braving the cold and doing some ice swimming, or indulging in a relaxing sauna before dinner, and then catching the Northern Lights.

Make sure to add a snowmobile experience or a trek through the mystical frozen waterfalls to your growing list of things to do in Rovaniemi, sure to make your day trip to Lapland much more enriching.

Lapland day trips from Rovaniemi

Read more: Best Places to Visit in Scandinavia

6 – Immerse yourself in the art culture of Rovaniemi at Culture House Korundi

The Culture House Korundi is a must-stop place to view examples of Lapland culture through modern art and music, as it also houses the Lapland Chamber Orchestra.

Enjoy the permanent exhibits at the Culture House Korundi, ranging from physical pieces like a mail truck that survived WWll, artfully converted into a socially-conscious art piece, to modern art displays and arrangements provoking contemplation and curiosity amongst museum visitors.

Consider booking tickets to grace your entertainment plans with a night listening to the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Check out their seasonal concert schedule, offering orchestra concerts, movie concerts, jazz, ballet performances, and much more.

Situated next door to the Culture House Korundi is the Rovaniemi Art Museum , displaying various art pieces and paintings specifically from local Finnish artists, tying together Finnish culture and art in a visually appealing way that needs no language translation.

Enjoy a hot latte or tea to warm up inside the chic Corundi Kitchen & Café, and a few small bites to replenish with, and stop by to browse the curious souvenirs at the Corundum Shop.

7 – Finally see the Northern Lights on a tour

Have you ever seen a picture of the Northern Lights and wondered how to see it yourself?

It’s an experience not to miss while visiting Rovaniemi, and one of the best ways to make your Northern Light dreams a reality is to book a Northern Lights experience.

Spend the night in an Aurora Cabin, a completely transparent, glass igloo that will literally have you sleeping under the stars, and the Northern Lights from all angles.

When it comes to choosing the best Aurora Cabin, consider the Arctic Snow Hotel , which offers remote-controlled beds, easily giving you access and visibility to different viewing angles of the Northern Lights.

To make sure that you don’t miss the Northern Lights while you’re sleeping, the igloos come with an Aurora Alarm, which you can set up to wake you up whenever the Northern Lights become visible.

The Kakslauttanen Artic Resort is another great glass igloo option, offering optimal views of the sky as you’re laying cozy in your bed, but also access to the world’s largest smoke sauna, and a chance to book your reindeer and husky experiences, or ice-fishing excursions.

Offering a budget-friendly glass igloo stay is the Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos , offering glass ceilings inside their igloos to catch the Northern Lights, as well as a great opportunity to learn more about the Sámi culture and people via their culture tours, and ice-fishing excursions.

Don’t forget to book your sleigh ride , offering an unforgettable moment gliding through the snow routes, while on a snowmobile driven by an expert, as you sit back and take in the light show above you.

Ice floating is another must activity, where you’ll bundle up in special insulated suits, and float in the icy waters of a private lagoon, as you look up and see the magical Northern Lights.

Northern Lights tours

Hot tip: The Finnish Lapland, particularly around the area of Rovaniemi, stands out as one of the best places to see the Northern Lights around the globe , offering a mesmerizing display over snowy landscapes.

8 – Jet off on the snowy routes of Rovaniemi on a snowmobile

Book one of the most popular adventurous activities in Rovaniemi, riding a snowmobile.

Many snowmobile adventures in Rovaniemi include a myriad of other activities including the snowmobile experience, as well as ice-fishing, visiting a husky and reindeer farm, Santa’s village, and much more.

Choose your own snowmobile adventure, which usually also involves a warm and hearty meal, in order to regain strength and warmth to return back to your starting point, after driving some 2-3 hours into the wintery wilderness.

Learn about Finnish culture, survival tips that only the Finnish know from living in arctic climates, and so much more.

Drive with a professional, as you get the chance to look up and around you, at the snow-dusted pine trees, and endless winter magic, or drive yourself depending on the experience you opt for.

If you do decide to go with an experience where you’ll be the one driving, make sure to verify that your license is valid in Finland, and if it’s not, arrange that short process before your booking.

snowmobile in Rovaniemi

9 – Admire the beloved “Source of Life” fresco at Rovaniemi Church

A quick 16-minute walk from the city center of Rovaniemi is Rovaniemi Church, a 72-year-old church that was built to replace the original church that was built in 1817 after it was burned to the ground during the Lapland War by the Nazis.

Let your eyes make out the beautiful and impressive fresco located behind the altar, called The Source of Life created in 1951, and check out the massive 45-key organ inside, which you can hear for yourself if you attend church or walk by from the outside Sundays at 10 am.

If you’d just like to visit the church, it is open between June-August, Monday-Friday from 10 am – 1 pm. The church is also open in December every day.

Check out their official website to see upcoming activities and events, such as the Rovaniemi Parish Concerts, from a full choir performance to Finnish music concerts, and much more.

10 – Appreciate the history of the city at the Rovaniemi Local History Museum

Situated inside a series of buildings located 4.3 kilometers south of the city center is the Rovaniemi Local History Museum , which houses various examples and displays of what life was like between the 19th and 20th centuries, especially consisting of farmer and villager life.

Also known as Pöykkölä, walk around and take a look at the different pieces of farming machinery and equipment as well as learn about the most popular work roles of the times, from cattle farming to reindeer farming, and fishing and hunting.

Stop by the storage shed, which has been converted into a photograph gallery, sharing the history of Rovaniemi in a visual way. Other than the museum’s exhibits available all year round, make sure to visit during special events taking place at the museum.

Some of the events include the celebration of Midsummer’s Eve, which involves the hoisting of the flag event, and other cultural and local events not to miss if they coincide with your trip dates.

11 – Break the ice as you meet new friends on an Icebreaker cruise

A little ice formation on the lakes near Rovaniemi won’t stop the locals from having fun, and enjoying what nature and seasons bring every year, and in this case, the fun is hopping on an Icebreaker Cruise.

Book an unforgettable boat tour sailing through the icy Bothnian Sea on an Icebreaker Cruise, on a specialized boat that will travel the crisp and cold waters, as you take in the soft glows of the sun bouncing off the white ice, creating a truly magical landscape to see for yourself.

Take a guided tour of the boat itself, learn about the special water vessel used for these types of excursions, and enjoy a lovely, hot lunch on board as you mingle with your new friends on the experience.

The experience usually lasts around 3 hours, and in many cases may include the opportunity to do some ice floating, where you take a dip in the icy water wearing a special insulated suit to keep you warm and afloat.

Icebreaker cruises start at $400 USD and include ground transportation, bonus activities, and safety equipment and guides.

boat tours in Rovaniemi

12 – Cross a bridge or two while in Rovaniemi

Cross the emblematic Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge (Jätkänkynttilä), a perfect backdrop to a picture to commemorate your trip to Rovaniemi. Walk across the pedestrian-friendly bridge, take in the stunning sights below with the icy water during the winter months, and above and around during golden hour. The bridge is a popular resting place for a large variety of migrating birds, so if you’re an avid bird-watcher, don’t forget to add visiting this bridge to your Rovaniemi itinerary.

Ounaskoski Railway bridge is another brilliant bridge recently reconstructed in 1951 after it was completely destroyed during WWll, spanning around 404 meters long. The bridge is a local masterpiece for its double-decker build, offering transportation for cars and trains, as well as pedestrians and cyclists. Make sure to take a stroll through the car deck, offering a sidewalk to take in the splendor of the river below, and nature all around.

13 – Do a bit of Ice fishing

Learn all about the art of Finnish ice fishing, from finding the perfect spot to fish, learning how to carve out the hold in the ice, and other fascinating, survival, and cultural components of this thousands-year-old practice.

If you book a tour to do this experience, you will take a snowmobile ride out with a professional driver and fisherman, to the perfect frozen lake to do your fishing. You’ll learn how to carve out the fishing hole and try your luck at catching your own fish.

While you’re trying to catch dinner, don’t forget to look up and around, taking in the scenic and quaint location, breathing in the brisk and fresh air with a bit of smokiness from the bonfire being prepared by professional guides.

Huddle up with your new friends, have a delicious dinner and share fishing stories and legends with the group.

Ice fishing experience starts at $100 USD, and usually includes other activities, a meal, and ground transportation.

ice fishing in Rovaniemi

14 – Learn about Lumberjack history on Kotisaari Island

Known as a lumberjack capital during the 1800s was the island of Kotisaari, located 2.4 kilometers south of Rovaniemi, on the Kemi River.

The history and main use of the island were to produce lumber and take it to the mainland, via boats and with the work of lumberjacks. Since the 1980s, this process stopped due to the modernization of trucks to fulfill the job.

Today, you can visit the island, which is only accessible with a tour guide, and take in the history and local culture still alive on the island, as well as grab a drink at the local watering hole, which used to be the main boathouse-turned tavern.

Access to the island is only granted between the months of May to October.

15 – Gain the health benefits of a sauna experience

A sauna experience is something not to be missed while in Rovaniemi, as it is a deeply ingrained Finnish tradition and practice that goes back many years, and is believed to help the heat penetrate into your muscles, especially during the cold winter months. It’s also a social practice amongst the Finnish people.

A great and unique experience that involves saunas is to book a sauna boat cruise , which consists of a wood-fired sauna, situated on a boat, that you can hop into and cruise along while taking in the incredibly stunning sights of the Arctic Circle.

No matter the season you are visiting, this practice is year-round, so be sure to add this experience to your list of things to do in Rovaniemi.

For those with an adventurous spirit, take the dare and plunge into a chilly lake for some ice swimming , believed to also have immunity-boosting properties, especially when done before a steamy sauna. This practice increases other health benefits.

Sauna experiences like these start around $100 USD.

sauna experiences in Rovaniemi

16 – Visit the top Christmas destination in the world, SantaPark

Located only a 5-minute drive from the city center of Rovaniemi is SantaPark , a beloved, and locally-favorite Santa Clause-themed amusement park, enchanting visitors and locals since November 1998.

Take your children to the “heart of Christmas” otherwise known as the Home Cavern of Santa Clause, inside an indoor amusement park, jam-packed with dozens of attractions, games, and activities for children, and the child in every adult.

Feel the Christmas magic any time of the year, as you enroll in Elf School to learn how to become one of Santa’s helpers, and even graduate with your diploma, take an overall joy ride through the park on the Magic Train, or do some gingerbread cookie decorating inside Mrs. Gingerbread’s house, or take a look through the Ice Princess’s Ice Gallery, oohing and ahhing at every icy sculpture.

The possibilities and experiences are endless and sure to cater to everyone’s enjoyment.

Tickets for this magical Christmas experience start at 39 euros per adult and 33 euros for children 3-12 years old.

17 – Visit the 2nd northernmost zoo in the world, Ranua Wildlife Park (day trip)

Take the journey of 80 kilometers north of Rovaniemi to the country’s northernmost zoo, Ranua Wildlife Park, where you’ll find a variety of 200 arctic animals, coming from 50 different species, all housed within their native habitat and climate for your eyes to see.

Explore a whole day of trekking through snow-covered paths within a mystical white forest, taking in the sights and sounds of native animals of this part of the world, from polar bears to arctic foxes, huskies, caribou, and more.

Book an exciting full-day tour to Ranua Wildlife Park, and enjoy the included transportation to the zoo, hiking through the Ounasvaara Winter Trail , a 6-kilometer-long nature trail taking you through forested paths of dust-covered trees, lined with safety trail markers.

Afterward, enjoy time at the zoo with a guide, and then relish a cozy lunch meal served at the zoo.

Day trips to Ranua Wildlife Park start at $155 USD and include all the services to make your trip enjoyable and easy, especially if you’re traveling with young children.

Ranua Wildlife Park day trips

18 – Be in awe of the bright architecture of the Rovaniemi City Library

Visit the architecturally stunning Rovaniemi City Library, which was completed in 1968, after the original library dating back to 1860 was destroyed during the Lapland War.

Step inside, and take in the design details, from the long hallways to the bright, and airy spaces with large windows, created with the intention of allowing the most amount of sun to enter the space, and highlight the books inside.

Walk through the fan-shaped curvature of select hallways, and while you’re visiting the library, check out some books to add to your list of personal reading materials.

The library is free to enter, and it is located just an 8-minute drive south of the city center of Rovaniemi.

19 – Make your trip memorable with a Dog Sledding experience

Feel the rush of excitement and adrenaline, mushing through the wintery paths where huskies have trod before on a dog sledding experience.

Pet and connect with the cute husky dogs, and hop onto a traditional dog sled, while getting briefed on safety rules and protocol to follow once you take off with the dogs.

The journey sledding and admiring the pristine and snowy scene of wintry pine trees and frozen lakes takes around 20-30 minutes.

Make sure to bring your fully-charged camera to capture the moments when you stop for the occasional photo ops along the way. Also, consider packing extra warm clothes for this trip such as a warm jacket, pants, hats, and gloves.

Book an unforgettable dog sledding experience in Rovaniemi, which oftentimes also includes either lunch or a warm drink and snack at the end of the experience.

Dog sledding experiences start around $100 USD, and children are able to participate with an adult.

dog sledding in Rovaniemi

20 – Enjoy all the fun at the Angry Birds Playground

Make plans to stop by the live action at Angry Birds Playground, situated a 4-minute drive from the city center of Rovaniemi or a 10-minute walk.

Whether you have children, or you love the game Angry Birds, this park is not one to miss while you’re visiting Rovaniemi. Take advantage of the multiple games and activities from slides and swings taking you up and away, to walking across a short distance on a rope, and so much more.

If you have children, they’ll also enjoy the wide open space available for them to play and run and make new friends.

Entrance into this fun park is free, and the park is open all year round.

21 – Hike your way to the Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls on a day trip

Be sure to book your day trip adventures, hiking through the largest natural parks and attractions in the Lapland area, Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls.

See the scenes of frozen lakes, deep and icy canyons, and the preserved crystal-like frozen waterfalls of Korouoma while you hike with a small group and guide, breathing in the fresh air with each step you take.

While on your excursion, take a look at the local animals peeping their heads like the arctic fox, golden eagles, deer, and more. When you arrive at the frozen waterfalls, you may even spot a few climbers, braving the ice and rising to the challenge of climbing frozen water.

If you book a Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls day trip experience, your ticket will also include a cozy BBQ lunch on site, as well as special warm overalls and equipment to help make the hike easier, smoother, and warm for you.

Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls day trips start at $123 USD, and usually last 5-10 hours. No previous climbing experience is required.

Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls day trips

22 – Climb up the Ounasvaara Observation Tower

Make your way to some of the most beautiful bird’s eye views of the city center and river by climbing up the Ounasvaara Observation Tower, situated 3 kilometers east of the city center of Rovaniemi, on the rocky hillside of Ounasvaara.

Climb up the steps and catch an expansive view, perfect to see especially during sunset hours, or early in the morning around sunrise, to witness the soft glow of orange and yellows highlight even more as the lights get cast on the white snow everywhere.

Catch the views taken straight out of a winter movie of frozen lakes, snow-covered pine trees and forests, and even the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge. The Ounasvaara observation tower is 3 flights of stairs, making it an easy trek for anyone to climb, and get some of the nicest views of nature around.

The observation tower is open 24 hours a day and is free of charge to climb up and bask in the views.

23 – Snowshoe through the Arctic Circle

Hike through the picture-perfect winter scenes of snow-covered trees, and frozen lakes, in what feels like a private, secluded winter wonderland with an exciting snowshoeing activity.

Get the best views and experience hiking through Lapland, usually taking around 2-3 hours. Strap on your special snowshoes put on your specialty warm overalls and jacket (provided by the tour organizers), and get ready to walk through the frozen Arctic Circle.

Learn about the history of snowshoeing from your guide, from the purpose of the practice to other fascinating and important historical facts. Many tours will include a hearty lunch afterward, usually a BBQ or other options catering to any special diets, with hot tea.

Make some memories of snowshoeing, while making new friends, and enjoying the cozy fire after the exciting journey through the Arctic Circle.

snowshoeing in Rovaniemi

24 – Thrift some treasures at Varastotien Kirppis

With more than a few second-hand shops in Rovaniemi, don’t hesitate in checking out a few thrift shops like the Rovaniemi Second-Hand Market, Varastotien Kirppis.

Rovaniemi Second-Hand Market offers a unique selection of gently loved items and unique treasures you have to check out for yourself. Everything from second-hand clothing, accessories, jewelry, and even home decor and more are available inside Rovaniemi Second-Hand Market, located in the heart of the city center.

If you forgot to pack in a warm coat and don’t want to pay much for a new one, consider stepping inside a Varastotien Kirppis to find your warm coat for half or less of a new coat or any warmth accessory you may need.

Some second-hand shops also have a café inside, mimicking a bit of a mall experience, making it a perfect cherry on top of your day of thrifting and finding your unique pieces and souvenirs to take back home.

The thrift shops are located scattered around the heart of Rovaniemi, including the shopping center close to Lordi’s Square, making them pretty easy to find.

25 – Dig up your own lucky crystal at the Amethyst Mines on a day trip

Crystal lovers, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to enter a real mining cave where you’ll be able to see and extract your own Amethyst crystal while learning about the mining practices in Lapland, and how the mine was discovered.

Open all year round, spend the day uncovering beautiful purple stones yourself, enjoying the jaw-dropping gorgeous views near the mines.

Take a scenic snow train to see a little bit beyond what’s immediately close to the mines, and gather at the end of working the mines around a warm fire, sipping tea, and exchanging experiences with your new friends.

The Amethyst mines in Rovaniemi are the only ones accessible in Europe, so this is your chance to extract your own stones yourself.

Stop by the Amethyst shop to find beautiful works of art and jewelry created with the Amethyst stones dug in the same caves you were just in, and consider taking some for your friends and family back home.

Amethyst Mines day trips start at $160 USD and include roundtrip ground transportation.

Amethyst Mines day trips from Rovaniemi

26 – Hang on tight on a quad tour through icy wilderness

Trek the snow-covered rocky paths of Rovaniemi’s wilderness on a fun and thrilling quad tour experience, allowing you to see more, faster, with the safety guidelines of a professional along for the ride with you.

Usually taking around 2-5 hours, and also including a warm snack afterward, a quad tour also includes ground transportation that will safely take you to the point of departure on your quad tour.

An experience not to miss, feel the rush of excitement as you pass through dense forests covered in snow, stop by the magical and crystal-like frozen lakes, and drive next to the jagged rocks and cliffs, while taking in the sights of wilderness through the journey.

Safety equipment like helmets, outer clothing, and snow shoes are included in the price you pay to attend the tour. The bikes come with 2 seats, meaning that each person will take a turn driving the bike, stopping around midway to make the switch.

If you visit during the summer, you’ll be able to splash through some of the shallow rivers and take in a slightly greener forest, also full of charm and natural beauty.

quad tours in Rovaniemi

27 – Plan a day trip to the fairy-tale like Kemi Snow Castle

Enjoy the icy yet majestic Kemi Snow Castle on a day trip from Rovaniemi, around 1.5 hours away from the city center and close to the Gulf of Bothnia.

Inside the Kemi Snow Castle, you will be amazed at what many say is the world’s most beautiful ice and snow castle, where you’ll be able to closely analyze the details of the ice sculptures, enter the Snow Chapel, and simply walk through the snowy grounds, taking in the sight of colorful lights illuminating further the beauty of the chilly walls.

Observe the beautiful art carvings onto the castle’s walls, designed by local Finnish artists that will take your breath away, as well as the transparent ice cubes decorating the staircases inside.

Bring your charged camera to capture the moment of you sitting on a completely ice-made chair, or setting your chilled drink on an ice-made table.

By booking a Kemi Snow Castle tour, you get access to roundtrip transportation, entrance inside the castle, a traditional lunch, a guide, and even special clothing to withstand the cold temperatures inside the castle.

Day trip experiences to the Kemi Snow Castle start at $203 USD.

Kemi Snow Castle day trips

28 – Raft through the Arctic Rivers of Rovaniemi

Enjoy the white-water rafting fun on the arctic rivers, on a 3-hour journey that involves excitement, bravery, and a team mindset.

Raft through the waters of the Raudanjok river, known to never freeze over even in the winter, while being surrounded by the Rovaniemi wilderness. No matter the season you may be visiting, rafting through some of the arctic rivers will always be a possibility.

Get trained and informed on how the rafting experience will be, as well as learn your important role within the rafting team.

As part of your rafting experience, you will have access to special equipment including a life vest and helmet, an English-speaking tour guide, and even a light snack afterward. Children are allowed on the rafting experience from the age of 7 and up, always accompanied by an adult.

When packing for the rafting experience, make sure to bring a spare change of clothes, towel, sunscreen, and a waterproof sack to keep your phone safe.

Rafting experiences on the Arctic Rivers start at $87 USD.

rafting in Rovaniemi

29 – Feel the exciting challenges at Adventure Park Huima

Let the exhilarating times roll at Adventure Park Huima , where you and your friends can engage in some challenges together, climbing up ropes, going down slides, managing your balance walking across unstable net bridges, all while wearing a safety harness, and a helmet.

Children starting from the age of 4 and up are welcome to join the fun on their own obstacle course (track), and children 14 and over along with adults, can choose between the 10 different obstacle courses (tracks) spread out through the treetops of a beautiful forest.

In addition to the different tracks, other activities like bowling, minigolf, the pool and spa, and even gym facilities are available and may be subject to different hours of operation, so make sure to double-check before booking.

The Adventure Park itself is open from Spring to the end of September.

When planning your trip to Adventure Park Huima, make sure to wear appropriate clothing like sneakers and if possible, athletic clothing to help you as you crouch down, or climb up things in order to make the experience enjoyable.

30 – Earn bragging rights after winning the Karting on ice games

Karting on ice is essentially a similar concept to go-karting on a race track, where you will be able to hop on your own special go-kart designed to glide through the snow and drive on one of the specific tracks onsite.

Get into the competitive spirit as you challenge your friends or family members to a friendly ice-karting lap around the icy track, giving you a unique opportunity to go-kart on ice using a miniature version of a snowmobile, in the middle of an enchanting winter forest.

Children over the age of 10 that measure a height of 150 cm and over are welcome to join in on the fun. You will be provided with special warm clothes and a helmet as part of your experience, as well as 2 racing laps, each one consisting of 20-25 minutes per session.

Some bookings may also include other activities as a bonus such as ice fishing, and will also provide you with a warm beverage and light snack. See who out of your group ends up taking the number one spot in the special awards ceremony to close off your exciting time ice karting.

karting in Rovaniemi

31 – Learn about Lappish culture and history at the Forestry Museum of Lapland

A perfectly encompassing space where you get to truly learn about Lappish history, and the lives and work of the people of the 19th century in Lapland, is a visit to the Forestry Museum of Lapland . The museum is located only an 8-minute drive from the city center, near Salmijärvi lake.

Walk onto the museum grounds, which have the original homes that used to be utilized for forestry as a way to earn money in the 1870s up until the 1950s. Take a look at the special equipment used to create this industry that became part of the Lappish culture, and is still preserved all this time.

The museum is known to be one of the most authentic museums showcasing a lot of details and visual examples of the hard labor conditions that people had to work in, especially in the Arctic Circle. Learn about the lumberjacks, logging, and step inside what used to be real homes, adorned with details representative of the times.

Your visit will not only teach you about this important piece of local culture but also help continue keeping the museums open for others to learn.

32 – Enjoy some breathtaking kayaking

Pine forests, wildlife, and expansive views of the horizon fill your vision as you kayak here – it’s little wonder that it’s such an appealing sport!

This is the perfect vessel for enjoying some classic Finnish experiences; paddle under the endless sun of summer evenings, or paddle right up to a reindeer farm!

If you’re traveling with kids aged 4 and up, you’ll enjoy this experience together with your guide, as you traverse the Finnish Lapland, and then afterward, enjoy a few Finnish snacks!

The best part about booking a kayak tour is that additional bonuses like roundtrip transportation, and more are included in the price, which makes this experience less complicated, and smoother!

The gorgeous sights and peeks into local culture are unbeatable!

33 – Do some stand-up paddleboarding under the Midnight Sun

Enjoy a memorable experience of stand-up paddleboarding through the quaint lakes of Lapland, especially during the Midnight sun, between the months of June-July/August.

Explore as you learn how to balance on your paddleboard, and take in the miraculous sight of the glowing sun for 24 hours during the special Midnight sun.

A great way to connect with nature, and listen purely to the sound of water against your board as well as the animals nearby, a paddleboarding experience is perfect for you whether you’re a newbie or you’re a professional.

A Midnight Sun paddle board experience starts at $50 USD and includes ground transportation guide, snacks, a life vest, and the paddle board.

Children are welcome to take part in paddleboarding if they are age 14 and older, and accompanied by an adult. Make sure to pack your own swimsuit for this experience, as well as sunscreen.

paddleboarding in Rovaniemi

34 – Search for moose on the move

As some of the largest (and most adorable) native animals, moose are practically a mascot of the north; and no visit to this area would be complete without a safari to see them!

Enjoy a thrilling ride out into the wilderness, watching for these iconic creatures in their natural habitat when you book a Moose Safari! Be taken out to the Finnish wilderness with a professional tour guide, straight to the places where these incredible animals gather. Tucked inside a heated minivan, you’ll have no problem keeping warm while observing!

You’ll learn useful and interesting information regarding the moose, and other animals you may spot, all while enjoying a Finnish snack!

There’s nothing like seeing some of these massive mammals pass by!

moose safari in Rovaniemi

35 – Check out what’s happening at Lappi Areena

Lappi Areena is Rovaniemi’s largest indoor arena, where different activities and events take place all year round, from concerts to expos, sporting events, and more.

One of the most common and popular activities not to miss at Lappi Areena is a hockey game.

Located 3.5 kilometers on the other side of the Kemi river, the Lappi Areena is a modern areena, created to host a variety of events comfortably, with a capacity of 3,500 people, and has a large gym, 3 ice rinks, multiple meeting spaces, and even a restaurant and pub inside.

You can also rent an “ice shift” and reserve a time frame on the ice where you can train or simply skate around the ice rink, available on their website.

So whether you’re wanting to find an event to buy tickets for or you want to find a gym class, there are many different uses available for you to take advantage of at Lappi Areena.

To find out what upcoming events they have, make sure to head over to their official arena website, and make your plans accordingly.

36 – Making dinner plans at the best restaurants

Indulge in the perfect aromas blending together native Lappish ingredients like berries with grilled beef at Arctic Restaurant . Serving seasonal dishes, and utilizing meats from local providers, you can rest assured knowing that you are about to enjoy an authentic Lappish dish.

Aitta Restaurant welcomes you with its fresh twist on Nordic class dishes, like the classic hearty stews, and braised beef dishes. Enjoy getting cozy in front of the central fireplace, as you sip on some regional wine made from arctic berries like blueberries and cloudberries.

For a fusion of flavors, check out Käyrämön Keidas , offering a magnificent flavor combination of Chinese dishes and Finnish delicacies. From buffet to a la carte, and even a cafe, enjoy both of these exquisite cuisines under one roof. Due to its location, this makes Käyrämön Keidas (Panda Restaurant) the northernmost Chinese restaurant in the world.

It goes without saying that Ice Restaurant will by far be one of the coolest restaurants you’ve ever visited (pun intended), greeting guests with meals prepared with local ingredients, and perfectly concocted cocktails. Though the air may be chilly, each guest will be offered proper clothing as well as a blanket for themselves or to share with their partner. The restaurant may be cold, but the hospitality is very warm and welcoming.

Ice Restaurant experience

37 – Book a ski lesson at Ounasvaara Ski Oy

Have you ever wanted to get on a snowboard and glide through the slopes like the pros? Then don’t think twice about visiting and booking a skiing class at Ounasvaara Ski Oy , a ski resort located only 5.2 kilometers from the city center.

Catch spectacular views from the slopes down below of frozen lakes, snow-covered trees, and the city on the horizon, before tearing up the slopes and catching some major adrenaline on the way down.

Open all year round, the winter months are some of the most popular times to visit the ski resort for the purpose of skiing as well as winter tobogganing,

However, during the summer months, you can hop on the ski lifts which will take you up the slopes and gift you with some of the most sweeping views of the city below and the natural beauty around. In the summer you can also rent a bike or mountain bike and bike your way down the slope using the specific bike trails, and even enjoy some summer bobsledding.

Enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea inside the cafe on the resort, helping you keep warm after spending time outside, which offers an inviting ambiance to relax your bones a bit.

38 – Create magical memories on a horse riding tour

If you’re looking for a romantic activity to share with your partner while in Rovaniemi, don’t hesitate to book a horse riding tour with a guide that will take you through the magical winter landscape of the local wilderness, taking in the fresh air, under the glowing sun.

Saddle up on top of Irish Cob horses, a unique horse breed meant for these types of harsh climate conditions, and take to the snowy paths, coming face to face with the beauty of Rovaniemi and romanticizing the moment while on horseback.

Go all in and book a memorable nocturnal horse-drawn carriage ride, where you’ll be able to possibly catch a few glimpses of the Northern Lights as you comfortably sit back and get cozy, listening to interesting facts, stories, and legends.

If you plan to do this activity, please make sure to pack comfortable shoes and clothes to smoothly ride along for the typical duration of 1-2 hours. Perfect for families, friends, or partners, a horse riding tour in Rovaniemi is an experience not soon to be forgotten.

horse riding in Rovaniemi

39 – Pack your hiking boots to walk the Nature trails

Stretch your legs, and breathe in all the fresh natural air of the arctic embarking on a hike on one of the many nature trails in Rovaniemi.

Walk through the beautiful fells surrounded by rivers, stunning forestry, and deep valleys at the Koivusaari nature trail, situated near the Pisavaara Strict Nature Reserve (Europe’s most protected nature reserve).

Take a stroll through the 7 kilometers of nature path that runs along the sea, and stop for a moment at the log house where many other hikers stop to create fire to get warm for a bit before taking off again.

The trail is less than 3 kilometers away from the city center.

Situated 1 hour from Rovaniemi is the Kätkävaara walking path , offering visitors a view of the local flora and fauna of the area, a great bird-watching viewpoint not to miss, and a monument to commemorate the old railroad that was there and served a great purpose.

In the summer, enjoy the picturesque view of sheep on the fields, and all throughout the year, catch sights of various other animals like mute swans and glaucous gulls. The trail is around 2.5 kilometers.

40 – Interact with wolfdogs at the Arctic Wolfland Sanctuary

Animal lovers, you’ll want to see this! Experience an afternoon interacting with a family living in the countryside of the Laplands with their wolfdogs and farm animals when you book a guided visit to the Artic Wolfland Sanctuary !

In this experience, you’ll get to interact with the beloved wolfdogs, while learning and seeing how they live and work on a daily basis on the farm. You’ll also get to meet the family, and learn more about their story, and how they decided the countryside in the Lapland was for them!

You’ll also get to join the family on a walk through the woods with their wolfdogs, or even opt to spend a whole day with them to really go for the full experience!

Artic Wolfland Sanctuary tours

41 – Take an e-bike through the woods

With hearty tires and a helpful motor, e-bikes are the perfect vehicle for exploring the hushed vastness of the Arctic woods.

Moving through the tundra, you’ll see full blooms of lichen, skinny pines, and great overlooks that show off the tundra in all of its glory.

The best way to maneuver through the dense woods is on an eBike wilderness tour, which will support you as you make your way through rugged terrain, without costing you too much effort. This way, you’re able to see more, and faster!

Along with a group and your guide, you’ll go off into the deep forest with confidence, feeling excitement when you reach the impressive views in no time!

It’s certainly good motivation to keep pedaling!

bike tour in Rovaniemi

42 – Be a guest at the Snow Hotel

Another truly unique and incredible hotel experience not to miss is the Snow Hotel, only a 20-minute drive from the city center.

Take the opportunity to see what it feels like to sleep on a completely ice-made bed, as you look around and take in the carved art pieces, illuminated beautifully in your room. Each guest will be equipped with proper and specialized sleeping bags lined with fur perfectly keeping you warm safely throughout the night.

If you’ve ever wanted to stay in an igloo, then you got it as an option at the Snow Hotel, where you’ll be able to share a room with one other person inside.

Before the night ends, stop by Ice Restaurant, offering an incredible variety of hot Lappish food, in an icy environment where you’ll be seated on an icy chair and eating from an icy table.

To ensure that you don’t miss the beauty of the Northern Lights, each room has an Aurora Alarm, which will scan the skies for you and wake you up just in time to catch the lights, if you wish to set it up.

Make sure that even though you are equipped with special sleeping bags, you also pack long sleeve shirts, pants, hats, and gloves to ensure extra warmth. Please be aware that due to the cold nature of the hotel, guests can only book a one-night stay.

Snow Hotel tours

43 – Perfect your swing at Santa Claus Golf Club

A great way to enjoy some time under the Midnight sun is going golfing at Santa Claus Golf Club , located only 8 minutes away east of Rovaniemi!

Enjoy golfing in one of the most beautiful and fresh golfing courses, surrounded by the Lapland woods, and minor hills, and not to mention breathing in the cleanest air while playing, which creates the perfect atmosphere for some golf!

To book your tee time, make sure to head to the main website, and check out availability, as well as green fees and rental equipment fees. Reservations are required, so please make sure to make them following the instructions laid out on their website.

And don’t forget to take some breaks in between to try some local delicacies!

44 – Visit Finland’s largest glacial pothole at Giant’s Kettle, Sukulanrakka

A geologic phenomenon not to miss is the sight of the impressive vertical holes called Giant’s Kettle, said to have been created through the consistent and forceful movement of rocks onto the bedrocks, over time creating the holes.

Today, the largest pothole is called Paholaisen liemikirnu, or the Devil’s soup churn, and measures a staggering 15 meters deep below the surface and 8 meters in diameter.

Some of these potholes are around 10,000 years old, and nearby the potholes, you can see a few of the rocks said to have been the cause of the creation of these holes over time.

There are stairs that allow you to go down a bit more to see what it feels to be inside these potholes and imagine the magnitude of nature’s force to create these holes in the ground.

Located only 25 minutes from the city center, this is a fascinating natural occurrence that you must see with your own eyes, and learn more from the guides.

45 – Experience a night in a Yurt at District Rovaniemi Oy

Have you ever wanted to stay the night in the middle of the Lapland? Consider staying a night or two at a Yurt, which is an insulated round tent, with all the amenities you could need for a comfortable overnight stay.

What’s better about staying in a yurt than a traditional hotel is that you’ll get to enjoy stargazing like nowhere else, as the District Rovaniemi Oy has yurts located in secluded areas of the woods, making it prime viewing spots for stargazing!

Choose to stay in a Hilltop Yurt for optimal sky views, and enjoy the comforts given to you by the District Rovaniemi Oy.

Pro tip: Yurt stays are available all year long, so no need to wait for the winter!

see price & reviews

46 – Make your nights go on at the best bars and nightclubs

Enjoy the fresh and delicious drinks at Roof Terrace Mökki , a small, cozy, and very Finnish rooftop offering a comforting vibe, where you can escape for a bit from the busy city life, and into a quieter ambiance.

Grab some snacks and drinks at Uitto Pub , while playing a rousing game of darts or board games with friends in a cozy and friendly ambiance. Enjoy some classic drinks, or order a Finnish beer like a Karhu or Sahti.

Feel the luxurious vibes inside Frans & Chérie chatting with friends over delicious foods, exceptional drinks, and select French wines. Ask your waiter to help you choose a wine that will pair well with your meal to further elevate your experience.

If you’re looking for a fun night of dancing and drinks, don’t hesitate to go to the Night Club and Karaoke Bar where the most action happens on Fridays and Saturdays. Meet up with friends to dance the night away, or go on your own and meet new people. The Night Club and Karaoke Bar offers craft cocktails, as well as a great selection of Finnish beers.

How to get to Rovaniemi?

To get to Rovaniemi, visitors fly into Rovaniemi Airport (RVN), situated around 10 kilometers north of the city center of Rovaniemi.

Some of the most common ways to get to Rovaniemi from the airport is via the bus, which costs anywhere from 2-15 euros and takes around 30 minutes. Another great option to take you from the airport to the city center is looking into airport transfers in Rovaniemi .

An airport transfer will take you to the city center in around 10 minutes, and will usually cost as low as $44 USD for a family, which will drop you off at your desired location.

Where to stay in Rovaniemi?

Enjoy the cozy and chic Nordic lodging decor at Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets , rated highly for its location next to the Ounasvaara Ski Center perfect for those traveling to Rovaniemi for its skiing. Enjoy the picture-perfect views from your private terrace, available in each room, as well as the in-house restaurants, Restaurant Rantasauna and Restaurant Thulia. Those who are looking to stay somewhat near Santa’s Village will love staying at this hotel, as it’s only a 10-minute drive.

Take advantage of the free bike and Nordic walking stick rentals available at the Scandic Rovaniemi City Hotel . Known for its beautiful and modern interior decoration, you’ll feel welcomed the moment you step inside the lobby. Enjoy the in-house restaurants, as well as the proximity to the Arktikum Science Museum and the Rovaniemi Train Station. Don’t forget to take advantage of using the Finnish sauna inside the hotel.

Situated only a 5-minute drive from the Rovaniemi Airport and Santa’s Village, the Arctic Light Hotel is the perfect stay for those travelers looking to remain in the middle of the city. Enjoy the bright and airy rooms, some even including a kitchenette, and enjoy the beautiful views from your private terrace every morning with your cup of coffee. Lastly, refuel for the day ahead enjoying breakfast at the hotel, offering a great mix of American and Finnish dishes by a chef.

How about a stay inside an igloo while in Rovaniemi? Check out Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle , equipped with all the amenities you would need, and more from a typical hotel – from fast wifi, a flat-screen TV, breakfast, a modern, private bathroom, and more. Don’t forget to set your Aurora Alarm located in your room to wake you up in time to catch the amazing Northern Lights above you.

best hotels in Rovaniemi

Where to go next?

While you’re planning your trip to Rovaniemi, don’t forget to check out some of Finland’s other hot spot cities not to miss.

Contemplate checking out all the amazing things to do in Kiruna , known to have the world’s largest Iron-ore mine which welcomes tourism, and another hot spot to catch the Northern Lights between September-March.

Don’t forget to see all the cool things to do in Helsinki , Finland’s capital city! Aside from the ample history museums to discover in Helsinki, the city is also known for its cutting-edge modern art scene, and beautiful Nordic architecture! Consider multi-day trips from Rovaniemi , to plan and organize various other popular day trips near the city! Ride comfortably and securely as you visit some of the most highly coveted destinations in Finland, to make the most out of your time there.

Final thoughts

Rovaniemi is a winter wonderland destination that you have to visit at least once in your life.

Whether it’s checking into the Snow Hotel and spending the night sleeping on an ice bed with a special sleeping bag, it’s getting your Elf diploma at SantaPark, or it’s mushing through the Finnish wilderness – your senses will surely be captivated.

We hope you enjoyed this comprehensive list of 40 fun things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland, and that you’ve found more than enough inspiration to book your trip to this magical natural destination.

Happy travels!

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Places to Visit in Rovaniemi

Places To Visit

Rovaniemi Tourist Places

Here's the list of best places to visit in rovaniemi:.

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Angry Birds Park

Pilke Science Centre

Lordi's Square

Ounasvaaran Hiihtokeskus Oy

Rovaniemi Church

Auttiköngäs

Arctic Circle Line

The Arctic Circle Monument in Rovaniemi, Finland, marks the spot where the Arctic Circle crosses the Earth's surface. It's about eight kilometers south of Rovaniemi city center. The monument is a big white line on the ground, surrounded by a nice area with Arctic-themed landscaping.

People visit the monument for a few reasons. One is because of the Midnight Sun. In summer, the sun stays up all day and night in this area. So, visitors come to see the sun shining even at midnight, which is a unique experience.

Besides the cool sun phenomenon, the monument is also a starting point for outdoor adventures and learning about the Arctic. There are lots of fun things to do nearby, like hiking, fishing, and learning about the Sami culture, the indigenous people of the region.

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Top 14 things to do in and around Rovaniemi | Complete Guide

BY SANCHI LOHIA - Sep 12, 2020

The magical city of Rovaniemi is the official home and office of Santa Claus. It is indeed a winter wonderland. Endless ice with its beautiful wilderness, the innumerable winter sports, huskies and reindeer carrying people everywhere and the northern lights enlightening the sky all night, this place is straight out of a fairy tale book. With so much to do, here is a list of unmissable things to do in and around Rovaniemi.

THINGS TO DO

1. santa claus village.

I’m sure you have picked up a pretty swell idea by the name itself. Its a theme park which houses the official home, office and post office of Santa Claus. No matter what time of the year you visit its always Christmas, just imagine!! Those childhood stories suddenly seem real now, right?
Here you can get a photo clicked with Santa but, he has his own photographer (which is chargeable) so you won’t be able to click it yourself. Millions of letters to Santa are addressed to the post office in this park. Their staff at the theme park try to reply to as many as possible.
Another super exciting thing to do here is officially crossing the Arctic circle. Yes, you read that right. The Arctic circle crosses the town of Rovaniemi through the Santa Claus village. This specific point is well marked in the park, which you can cross and get a certificate of crossing the Arctic circle.
There are a lot of other things to do here. To get all the additional information, please visit the Santa Claus Village website.

Aerial view of Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi

2. Ride a Snowmobile (Winter only)

The snowmobile is like a bike which moves through the ice. It is one of the most exciting mode of transport through ice-filled roads. What a better place to try riding it than the Arctic circle? Riding a snowmobile in Rovaniemi is like visiting Eiffel tower in Paris, you just have to do it. Trust me, it will be an experience of a lifetime!
There are various companies providing snowmobiles for hire and snowmobile tours. If you know how to ride one and you know the trails than you can simply take one for hire which is obviously the cheaper option.
Otherwise, just opt for a guided tour. There are plenty of tour options for every kind of rider from beginner to expert. The tours for beginners generally involve riding for around 2 hours in a fixed area. Then it progresses to tours offering a ride for hours in the trails of wilderness. Many such tours offer riding over frozen lakes with stunning views of endless ice and snow-covered trees. You can even do a northern lights chasing tour on a snowmobile.
As mentioned, there are many companies providing tours. I personally did it through Lapand Safaris, and I have no complaints at all, there are amazing. You can visit their website for the tour options and booking.

3. Ride a Reindeer and Husky Sledge (Winter only)

There is an abundance of reindeer in Lapland. In fact, there are more reindeer than people there. Riding a reindeer sleigh and enjoying the stunning view of endless ice and wilderness all around is one of the most famous things to do in Rovaniemi.
There are many tour options provided by many companies. The basic tour involves around a 2-hour ride. These rides also include a stop for tea and cookies by a bonfire. The guide narrates some stories of the local Sami people along with the music. Talking about chilling like a pro. You can also opt for tours that offer more ride time and take you to deep forests with more splendid views.
For tour options, please visit the Wild Nordic website which is one of the companies providing great tours.

4. See the northern lights(or aurora borealis) (Winter only)

Northern lights is a breathtakingly beautiful natural display of light in the sky. Just imagine gazing the endless sky full of stars and suddenly you see green hues floating along like liquid electricity, wouldn’t that be the best thing ever?
Roveniemi is one of the best places on Earth to see the northern lights. There are certain areas or spots which not only has the highest probability of seeing them but also offer the best views of it. So you can simply opt for a Northern Lights tour provided via several companies. As mentioned earlier, seeing them is not a guarantee no matter which tour you take, so pray to the lords that you get to see it.
There are various options for guided tours of Northern lights. You can go on a husky/reindeer sleigh, snowmobile, car etc. The tour operators generally pick a spot in the woods which is hours away from the city centre. These tours also offer snacks and tea served by a born fire as the guide narrates stories about the northern lights. For the tour options, please visit the Wild Nordic website.

Photo of northern lights clicked from Rovaniemi

5. Midnight Sun (Only summers)

Due to the North Pole (and countries in the Arctic circle) being exposed to 24 hours sunlight during the summer season, you can experience, the midnight sun in various such places in the Arctic circle. You can literally see the sun setting a little bit at midnight, only to shine bright again after some time. This is an experience you should have in a lifetime, no matter where you choose to see it.
There are many companies operating tours for this, I will recommend Lapland Safaris . These tours take you places offering perfect landscape options to experience the midnight sun, sunset and sunrise .

Aerial over Rovaniemi shot during midnight sun, just before a rainstorm.

6. Stay in a Glass Igloo and see Northern lights

This is a thing which should be on your things to before I die list. As I mentioned above, there are plenty of tours you can take to see the Northern lights. Well, how about skipping that tour and seeing the Northern lights right from your bed! Doesn’t that sound like a fairy tale?
Lapland is home to many hotels and resorts providing glass igloo accommodation. These individual igloos are generally built with an all-glass exterior with the bed in the centre. So the view from your bed is a sky full of stars which you can gaze all night long. And wait for the showstopper, Northern lights.
Such resorts are not exactly in Rovaniemi, but a few hours away. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort and Arctic Fox Resort and the two most famous igloo accommodations near Rovaniemi.

7. Finnish traditional sauna and snow sauna

Finnish people love the sauna! So much so that you will find a sauna in almost every Finnish home.
They have 2 types of saunas. One is the traditional sauna cabin made of all wood which is generally heated by a wooden stove.
The other is a snow sauna (we cannot recommend this enough). These are small cabins which are made entirely out of ice except the wooden benches. The wooden stove generates heat while the ice walls contrast giving cold air. This combination is pure magic. The maximum time is 10-15 mins because if you extending it more than that will break melt the ice walls.
Now the most interesting part, you can combine the above-mentioned saunas with a superb cooling method like sitting in an outdoor Jacuzzi surrounded by all ice or jumping in a nearby lake or river or wrapping yourself in a blanket of snow! Doesn’t that sound interesting?

8. Experience sauna in a gondola

Yes, you read that right. As mentioned in the last point, Fins have their exiting and beautiful variations to the sauna. But they didn’t stop there. Lapland is home to the world’s one and only sauna gondola.
This gondola is located at the Sport Resort Yllas , a ski resort, which is about 2-hour drive from Rovaniemi. It offers you the unique experience of the sauna while enjoying 360° views of the endless ice and wilderness surrounding the ski resort. The gondola starts from the top, where the resort is located and offers a round trip experience to a maximum of 4 people at a time. You can club this activity with other types of saunas followed by rolling in the ice and end it with a hot water Jacuzzi as per your preference. Various combinations are listed on the resort’s website so you can chose whatever you like.

Sauna Gondola at Yllas Sport Resort near Rovaniemi

9. Ski Resorts

Rovaniemi is one of the best winter destinations in the world so naturally, it is also home to many ski resorts.
Ounasvaara Ski Resort is the best ski resort in Rovaniemi (in my opinion). It offers activities like downward skiing, snowboarding and lots more.
Yllas , which is around 2 hours drive from Rovaniemi, is home to two ski resorts, Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo and Sport Resort Yllas, which are one of the best and largest in Lapland. They have a wide range of winter and summer services many hotels, restaurants, different saunas including the sauna gondola, skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking and lots more.

10. Polar Explorer Icebreaker

This is one of the most unique experiences you can ever have and it should definitely make it to your ‘things to do before I die’ list. Cruising in the sea is one thing, but have you ever imagined cruising in a frozen sea?
As the name suggests, the Polar Explorer is an icebreaker cruise which runs in the Bothnian sea in Lapland. It moves forward by breaking the ice underneath so that it can access the water. As it is breaking the ice and moving simultaneously, it moves very slowly. The views it offers seems unreal. Just frozen water for as far as you can see, it is just breathtaking!
The cruise makes a stop literally in the middle of nowhere to offer you the opportunity to walk on a frozen sea. Not only you can walk, but you can also swim! The narrow cut made by the cruise’s path provides enough area to swim. They provide special survival suits for swimming in the dark, icy water. Doesn’t that sound super exciting and unique?
Polar Explorer and Arctic Explorer are the same kinds of cruises operating from different locations in Sweden. Polar Explorer is a 2 hours drive from Rovaniemi and hence closer. The company also provides shuttle service from few cities of Finland and Sweden including Rovaniemi at additional cost. The price for the polar explorer starts at 200 Euros. Please check their website for additional information.

11. Ice Restaurant and Bar

This is one of the coolest things we did in Rovenami, literally. Many cold regions around the world including Lapland offer many ice restaurants and ice bars. The fascinating thing about them is that the entire structure of it including the walls, chair, table, glasses and everything else is made of snow or ice.
There are many such restaurants and bars in and around Rovaniemi. I personally went to Snowman World located in Rovaniemi which was amazing.

12. Sleep the night in an Ice Hotel

Now, this is a different level of unique. Like ice bar and restaurant, Finland (and many other countries around the world) is home to many ice hotels. An ice hotel is made entirely of ice including the bed. So basically you are going to sleep for the whole night in a room made entirely of ice.
Ice hotels generally have a separate warm non-icy area where you can keep the bags, change, use the loo and more. The ice rooms are just meant for sleeping. They provide ice sleeping bags for comfortably sleeping through the night.
The best option near Rovaniemi is the Arctic Snowhotel . However, if you don’t mind the distance and little more in terms of tariff then Lapand Snow Village is the best place to be. It’s about a 2 hours drive from Rovaniemi.

13. Ice Fishing

The art of ice fishing is carried out on frozen lakes or rivers. People drill holes in the lakes/rivers to uncover the water underneath and then fish like in usual fishing. While it seems very similar to usual fishing, the tools used and the whole experience is completely different.
Standing on a frozen lake/river in the wilderness while admiring the spectacular views, and waiting for the fish in such extreme cold conditions is an unmissable experience. Again, many companies provides tours for ice fishing. I am giving the link for one of them below.

Man doing ice fishing on a frozen lake in Rovaniemi

14. Snowshoeing

Snow shoes are footwear used to walk over snow. These are usually used in areas where snow layer on the ground gets more than 5-6 cm thicker. They provide a wide base so that the foot doesn’t sink in the snow. They are used in combination with sticks for balance.
As there is nothing complicated about this, you can simple hire one and start exploring. Snow shoes are generally more used in the forest areas or area away from the city as ice from the city roads are cleared from time to time. You can explore such area by yourself if you are sure about it, or you can always sign up for a guided tour. Such tours takes you to quaint places in the forest where you can snowshoe around while admiring the beautiful views of the Rovaniemi wilderness.

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Finland » 9 Great Things to do in Rovaniemi in Summer

9 Great Things to do in Rovaniemi in Summer

What's In This Guide?

The ultimate rovaniemi summer guide.

Rovaniemi is the entry point to Lapland, the northernmost province in Finland. It is located right on the arctic circle, surrounded by scenic lakes and tranquil forests, stunning landscapes, and millions of mosquitoes.

In the summer months, Rovaniemi never has a dark night sky. Just as the sun sets it begins to rise again. For a few weeks in the middle of summer, the sun won’t set at all. Crazy right?

Rovaniemi is best known as a winter destination when tourists flock north to see the iconic Northern Lights. However, they also need to deal with up to 23 hours of darkness per day, and temperatures as low as -40 degree Celsius with additional wind chill factor. That’s not my ideal trip.

Summer on the other hand? Well, that’s what this epic guide to summer in Rovaniemi is all about! Not many people seem to be talking about the long days, warm weather and abundance of outdoor activities that Rovaniemi has to offer. Oh, and did I mention that some of these glass igloos are half price in the summer?

Here I’m going to give you 9 great things to do in Rovaniemi in the summer. Though at least half of these are applicable in the winter months too.

Things to do in Rovaniemi

Husky Kennel

There are several husky kennels (or husky farms as they’re commonly called) around Rovaniemi. We visited the Bear Hill Husky Farm which is home to just over 120 Alaskan Huskies. The kennels are most popular for their sled dog rides in the winter months when there is plenty of snow and freezing cold air temperatures.

During the spring and summer months, the huskies still do sled rides, however, they pull a different type of sled fitted wheels. The rides can go up to a few kilometers in through the forest.

On the rare occasion that the temperature exceeds 16 degrees Celsius, the huskies will not do sled rides as it is too hot for them. During our visit to Rovaniemi, the air temperature was 29 degrees Celsius. A huge heatwave across Europe.

Cross the Arctic Circle

The arctic circle is the point at which there will be one day of no sunset in the middle summer or no sunrise in the middle of winter. More specifically it is the latitude of 66° 33′ N But if you weren’t very good at geography in school, then it just means you’re very far north.

There are arctic circle markers at various points along the line across Finland. The easiest place to find the arctic circle line as at the Santa Claus Village. You won’t have to go trespassing onto someone’s farm or stop dangerously in the middle of the highway to get a nice photo of your northerly adventure here.

It’ll only take you a minute to cross the arctic circle and continue to the Santa Claus Village next door.

Santa Claus Village

During the winter there are huge lines where you’d wait for hours on end to snag a quick chat with Santa Claus himself. However, in the summer you’ll almost have the village to yourself, the line to meet the man himself was under 10 minutes.

Have a chat with Santa and tell him all the things you want for Christmas (in my case it is to be with my family and have a huge lunch… and perhaps another camera). Meeting and greeting are free, a professional photo will cost, but then where in the world won’t it?

Next, pop into the arctic circle post office and send a postcard with the official Santa Claus Village stamp. You will also see some crazy statistics up on the wall, like the 20 million letters which have been received addressed to Santa over the years.

See a Reindeer or Two

Next door to the Santa Claus Village, you will find an enclosure with some fairly domesticated reindeer. You can feed them a bunch of tasty looking leaves and snap away loads of close-up photos. If you don’t get to see a reindeer in the wild, then this is one easy place to tick that off the list.

Remember to hold the leaves low as reindeer will jump for a feed.

There are up to 350,000 reindeer roaming around Lapland. However, to see these ones will need to head further out of town. Most of these reindeer are not wild but farmed and allowed to roam free.

We encountered lots of reindeer on the road between Rovaniemi and Kuusamo, about 100 kilometers out of town.

If you love encountering wildlife on your travels, then I highly recommend bear watching in Finland too. However, you will need to head aa few hours south of Rovaniemi towards Hossa for that.

Arktikum Museum

The Arktikum Museum and Science Centre is located right by Rovaniemi’s city center. You can easily walk there if you are staying in town. This was far more impressive than I had expected.

Did you know? Rovaniemi was occupied by the then allied German soldiers during World War 2 but burnt to the ground by them when Finland signed a peace treaty with Russia. What was once a nice old wooden town (like Kokkola, Rahe, and Porvoo) is now gone and has been rebuilt in years gone by.

There is lots of information about the Sami people (the indigenous people of Lapland), and also on the logging industry around Rovaniemi and further north. You will even find plenty of old portrait photos of people which give you a great insight into life in Finland as far back as the mid-1940s.

Visit Kotisaari Island

Kotisaari Island is a small island located in the Kemijoki River about 2 kilometers south of the town center. The island was previously used by lumberjacks transporting logs along the Kemijoki River from further up north. Over time trucks became the main method of transporting logs and the island was no longer used.

Today there a few traditional Finnish buildings remaining on the island and preserved in good condition. Unsurprisingly, one of these is a proper Finnish smoke sauna. You can visit Kotisaari Island independently by rowboat or kayak, however, you can only enter the historical buildings by joining an organized tour.

We visited Kotisaari Island with a Midnight Sun Excursion by Lapland Safaris . The tour included a huge Finnish dinner on the island, and a trip to the top of Ounasvaara Fell afterward to watch the late sunset.

Swimming at the Lake or Beach

Rovaniemi’s summers can occasionally get quite warm. When we visited in July the midday temperature reached 30 degrees Celsius. Perfect weather for a swim!

There are lots of great beaches around town on the shores of the Kemijoki, Ounasjoki, and Sinetta Rivers. Many locals go to one of the popular beaches near Rovaniemi such as Koskipuisto Park (i.e. Rovaniemi Beach), Kirkkolampi Park, or Ounaspaviljonki. On hot days these places tend to get a little crowded.

I prefer to go further away to escape the crowds and have a place to myself. The beach at Olkajarvi is the perfect place! Olkajarvi is located about 20 minutes northeast of Rovaniemi, along route E75 heading towards Kemijarvi.

You can swim either at Olkajarvi’s public beach (search for Ounasvaara Winter Trail) or from Apukka Resort if you’re staying there. We did both, but I preferred the public beach as it is more scenic.

Watch the Sunset (Midnight Sun)

The summer days in Rovaniemi are long with beautiful late sunsets. From 6 th June to 7 th July the sun doesn’t set at all, this is known as the Midnight Sun which only occurs within the arctic circle. These epic long summer days make Rovaniemi one of my favorite destinations in Finland!

There are plenty of amazing places around Rovaniemi to enjoy the Midnight Sun, such as Ounasvaara Fell, the tallest mountain near to town. There are also lots of scenic locations along the Kemijoki River (pictured above) and the nearby lakes like Olkajarvi.

Pack yourself some dinner, some Finnish beers and lots of mosquito repellant, then laze back and enjoy the scenery for a few hours. You will find plenty of Finns enjoying the summer in Rovaniemi like this too.

Hiking Trails

The region is surrounded by forest, so you can imagine there are some beautiful hiking trails in Rovaniemi to be explored. One area with lots of trails is Napapiirin Retkeilyalue otherwise known as the Arctic Circle Hiking Area which is located about 25 kilometers north-east of town on route E75. That’s just past Olkajarvi the swimming location I mentioned earlier.

There are several walking tracks here ranging in length. For a shorter walk try Könkäänsaari Nature Trail (1.5km loop), it’s an easy walk through the forest on an island. It’s also wheelchair accessible, so perfect for all people of all ages.

Keen for a long walk? Try Könkäiden Polku (10km one-way) a more demanding hike which will take you across a series of rapids, islands, and mire landscapes. This is a great half-day activity, perfect for the sunny summer days.

Where to Eat in Rovaniemi

If you haven’t been to Finland long, you will soon learn that the Finns love their buffet lunches, and the Nova Skyland is one of the best of the best. The lunch buffet runs daily from 11am to 3pm with a menu which changes daily. It is amazing value for 15 euros including lunch, dessert, tea, and coffee. You can really eat as much as you want.

Looking for a cheaper place to eat? There are cafeterias at the Revontuli Shopping Centre and other shopping centers in town. The larger petrol stations like ABC and Teboil also commonly offer a buffet for lunch and dinner.

Hotels in Rovaniemi

Being a popular tourist destination, there is no shortage of hotels around Rovaniemi. However, during the winter months, you will need to book more popular hotels and resorts weeks if not months in advance. Take that as a warning and book now.

Finding accommodation in the summer months can be difficult for the opposite reason, many of the resorts are closed because there just aren’t enough tourists around. However, those that are open generally have great deals through websites like Agoda (which I use for all my bookings).

We stayed in one of the glass igloos as Apukka Resort for 3 nights. Sure, they are designed for watching the northern lights from your bed, but still just as cool in the summer when you can go to bed under the sunrise. Apukka Resort also has direct access to water at Olkajarvi with a lakeside sauna.

There are more budget hotels and hostels in town. Check out the listings at Agoda here for options under $50 per night.

Click Images to Book Apukka Resort

How to get to Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is the largest city in the north of Finland, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. There are plenty of ways to get to Rovaniemi including car, bus, plane, and train.

Plane – there are multiple daily flights from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Finnair and Norwegian Air both fly direct with a flight time of about 1hr 15min. Norwegian Air tends to be the much cheaper option, typically around 1/4 of the price.

Car – it’s a fairly long drive from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, about 10 hours direct without breaks. We rented a car at Helsinki airport (my article shows exactly how I saved over $1000 on car rental) and made a road trip around Finland for two weeks. The scenery and culture between the two cities are stunning. I highly recommend doing the drive if you have the time.

Train – there is a direct intercity train which runs between Helsinki and Rovaniemi on a daily basis. The trip takes about 15 hours one way, then the train continues on to Kemijarvi as its final destination. Tickets are about 80 euro per person and can be booked on Finland’s Rail website .

…….

Disclosure: Our activities were sponsored by VisitRovaniemi as part of their Rovaniemi Summer Ambassador program. As always, all opinions are my own.

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Home » Blog » Ultimate Guide to Rovaniemi, Finland in Winter

Ultimate Guide to Rovaniemi, Finland in Winter

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When assessing epic winter travel destinations, Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle in Finland should be at the top of your bucket list. From gorgeous snowy landscapes, to the northern lights, to husky dog sledding rides, Rovaniemi in the winter has a little bit of adventure for everyone.

In this ultimate guide to Rovaniemi , we’re sharing everything you need to know for planning your own trip to Finnish Lapland in the winter time. We’ll go over how to get there, recommended accommodations to stay at while chasing the elusive Northern Lights , and all trip planning logistics so you can have the best trip to Lapland.

Riisinsutri National Park near Rovaniemi Finland

What to Know Before Your Trip Rovaniemi, Finland

This beautiful area of Finnish Lapland really appeared on the radar when it became known as the official home to Santa Claus. Rovaniemi is a true winter wonderland that makes you feel like the Christmas spirit actually lasts all year long.

Best Time to Visit Rovaniemi

Visiting rovaniemi to see the northern lights .

If you’re looking to visit Finnish Lapland, there’s a few things to consider when it comes to timing. If you’d like to experience the Northern Lights, most blogs recommend visiting from October to April. However, upon talking to locals and from our own experience, the best time to visit Rovaniemi to see the northern lights is actually during late September – early October and late March. More solar activity tends to occur during the autumn and spring equinoxes.

That being said, you can still see the Northern Lights during the rest of the winter time frame. However, the winter weather can diminish your chances of seeing them quite a bit. We were, unfortunately, only able to see the Northern Lights once out of a whole week of attempts due to the clouds being too bad in Rovaniemi during our time there.

Snowshoeing and Hiking around riisitunturi national park winter

Visiting Rovaniemi for Winter Activities

If you want to visit for the winter activities in Finnish Lapland, then you’ll want to plan your trip to Rovaniemi from December to March. After that, most resorts and hotels close down for the rest of the year until tourism picks back up again.

The last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January are the busy season due to Christmas and New Years. If planning on visiting then, as Rovaniemi is known as the home of Santa Claus, you’ll want to make sure you plan your accommodations and activities far in advance to prevent your desired activities from being fully booked.

We visited during the third week of January and it was not crowded at all. Many hotels will also be running discounts, packages, or promotions after the second week of January as the slower season starts.

How Much Time to Spend in Rovaniemi?

We would recommend staying in Rovaniemi for 4-7 days to truly experience everything the area has to offer. This is mainly because visiting Rovaniemi in the winter means that there’s less daylight to explore, so having more time will work in your favor to see and do more things. You really don’t need more than a week here to get the full winter wonderland experience.

Reindeer at Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi

How to Get to Rovaniemi & Finnish Lapland

We opted to fly all the way to Rovaniemi via Finnair. We flew from LAX to Helsinki and then took a flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi . Connecting in the Helsinki airport was rather painless – we only had a 1 hour layover and were able to make it to our flight in time even with additional customs and passport control. The nice thing about the Helsinki airport too is that if you have a short connection time they do have a specialized lane to help expedite you through security to make your connection.

If you have some extra time while connecting in Rovaniemi, there’s 3 great lounge options for AMEX Platinum Holders. You can use our referral link to get an additional bonus offer when you sign up! It’s our go to travel credit card.

You can also drive from Helsinki to Rovaniemi; however, that would take about 9.5 hours of your time versus a 1 hour flight. Or, you can take the magical Santa Claus Express Train from Helsinki, which takes anywhere from 8-12 hours.

Snowmobiling around Rovaneimi Finland in the winter

How to Get Around Rovaniemi

Do you need a car in rovaniemi.

Technically, no – BUT we’d highly recommend it if you want more flexibility on your winter vacation or if you’re hotel hopping.

Originally, we were not planning on renting a car in Rovaniemi seeing as there are a ton of free shuttles at most of the touristy resorts and most tours offer pick up/drop off included in their pricing. However, we ended up booking a rental car through Enterprise last minute and were so happy we did.

Having a rental car in Rovaniemi gave us a ton of flexibility when we wanted to go out for a bite to eat, head out to the nearby national parks , and when we wanted to go Aurora hunting on our own without a scheduled tour. We should note, gas is much more expensive here than in the USA, so we opted to rent a hybrid to save some money on that end.

Parking in Rovaniemi is free with most accommodations. If you head into the downtown center, you do have to pay for almost all street parking, however, it’s fairly inexpensive.

Rideshare in Finnish Lapland

Contrary to what we read online, there is no Uber, Lyft, or ridesharing in Rovaniemi so it would have been much more difficult to get around when we had free time to explore. There are taxis available though that you can hire, but depending on how often you go into town or explore, you might end up being better off cost wise with a rental car.

Tips on the Winter Road Conditions Around Finnish Lapland

Despite it being winter, we found the roads were much more manageable to drive in snow than we expected. Most of the main roads are plowed a minimum of twice a day.

However, we did notice that a lot of the less popular roads did have more of a snow build up. This was especially apparent on our day trip to Riisitunturi National Park . Just be careful and slow down if you are driving a few hours away at a time as roads can get icy and slippery. The rental cars all have snow tires on which performed phenomenally and we had no issues at all.

How Expensive is a Winter Trip to Rovaniemi?

Finland is on the Euro system for currency. If you are balling on a budget, we hate to say Rovaniemi is probably not the best option for you. There are definitely ways to save some money by only using free transportation, cooking your own food, and staying in AirBnBs instead of hotels and resorts, but the area in general is pretty pricey.

Almost all places we went to in Rovaniemi accept credit cards, although some don’t take AMEX, however we didn’t need to take cash out at all on this trip. Tipping is also already included in most things and is not as customary as in the USA, so you won’t typically have to add additional expenses on top of the price you’re paying for restaurants and activities.

Aurora Glass Igloos at Apukka Resort Rovaniemi

Where to Stay

What are the best hotels in Rovaniemi, Finland? Aside from trying to chase the Northern Lights, Rovaniemi has some of the coolest, most unique accommodations in Lapland. We had the opportunity to stay at some bucket list worthy spots around Rovaniemi. We booked stays from aurora cabins to a hotel made entirely out of snow and ice.

There’s a ton of options to choose from, but most do opt to stay in an aurora cabin during the winter time. If you’re trying to visit Rovaniemi in the winter on a budget, try checking out non-aurora related stays and AirBnBs.

Unique AirBnBs & Hotels in Rovaniemi

Aurora Igloo Dome AirBnB : This was the cheapest option of the properties we stayed in for the week. It had heated floors, a heated blanket, and was lit primarily by candles and a fireplace for a fun and romantic ambience. There was a kitchenette where you could make coffee and heat up some food – but not a full kitchen to cook! This location was great as it was about 20 minutes away from the airport and 10 minutes from downtown Rovaniemi.
Apukka Resort : Apukka was probably our favorite accommodation in Rovaniemi that we stayed at in the winter. Not only were the Lappish Kammi Suites beautiful, but there was also such a plethora of things to do here. Their activities list to choose from was massive so you could do everything from a traditional lakeside sauna, to husky sledding, to snowmobiling, and so much more! The best part is they gave us a coupon code for our readers. When booking straight on Apukka Resort’s website www.apukkaresort.fi with the code LATEWINTER you’ll get a 20% discount on all accommodation for stays between March 27-April 10, 2023. A night in an Aurora Cabin glass igloo now starting from 288.80€/night!
Arctic Snow Hotel : It’s not every day you can stay in a hotel that is entirely made out of snow and ice. This experience was definitely for the bucket list! Every year this hotel is only available from December – March before it closes down and melts. Each room is totally unique and the hotel actually changes every single year! We booked the 5 Senses of Ice Package and were able to sleep in a snow room one night, go ice fishing, eat at the ice restaurant and drink at the ice bar, and relax in the world’s only snow sauna.
Glass Igloos: After our stay in the snow hotel, we finished at the same resort’s glass igloos. Similar to Apukka, they had a beautiful panoramic ceiling for aurora viewing.
Arctic Tree House Hotel : This ultra luxury resort is a gorgeous getaway for those looking for more private views of the auroras.

The Lovers Passport at the Airport with suitcases

Weather & Packing for Your Winter Trip to Finland

Keep in mind, the weather in Finland during the winter is no joke – it gets very cold. Typically, temps get to -30 to -40 degrees Celsius in January and February. You will want to make sure that you are prepared when you are packing.

Daylight Hours During the Winter

When visiting Lapland in the winter, it’s also good to know that daylight typically only lasts for about 3-4 hours! The sun rises around 10:30am and sets around 2:30pm. You’ll want to schedule most of your outdoor activities during those hours if you aren’t doing an aurora hunt.

Average Weather in Rovaniemi, Finland

Below are the average minimum and maximum temperatures you can expect from Rovaniemi’s winter weather when you visit:

Rovaniemi Finland Weather November: 32°F / 22°F
Rovaniemi Finland Weather December: 24°F / 11 °F
Rovaniemi Finland Weather January: 18°F / 4°F
Rovaniemi Finland Weather February: 22°F / 7°F
Rovaniemi Finland Weather March: 32°F / 14°F

We’d recommend using these temperatures in Rovaniemi in the past as guidelines for your packing. We’d keep track of the weather in real time using the app Windy, as that’s what the locals recommended to us! You’ll definitely want to try to pack several layers to accommodate various possible weather conditions from rain, wind, and snow. Also, make sure you pack lots of waterproof apparel and merino wool materials to stay dry and warm.

Stephen and I opted to bring all of our own winter clothes. If you’d like to see what we packed, you can check out our full winter packing list for Finland .

Renting Winter Clothes

The nice thing is that if you do book tours or stay at resorts around Rovaniemi you can likely rent snow apparel for free. Most places do offer outfittings for free in an accommodation or tour package. If you feel that you don’t have the right clothes and don’t want to spend a ton of money ahead of time to get some, this is a great option.

Seeing the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi in the Winter

Conditions You Need to See the Northern Lights in Finland

Although you are in the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, there’s no guarantee that you’ll see the northern lights. There are 3 conditions that you need to have prime Aurora viewing:

Cloud Free Sky: When visiting Rovaniemi in the winter, this is going to be your biggest battle. We visited for one week in January and didn’t have a single non-cloudy day all week. It’s still possible to see the northern lights if there are breaks in the clouds, it’s just much more unlikely if there is 90-100% cloud coverage.
High Aurora Index: There needs to be enough solar activity for the aurora to show up. You can check the KP Index which measures the activity on a scale of 0-7 on any northern lights apps. We’d recommend using apps like Aurora and Northern Lights to track the probabilities of aurora. They also allow you to get real time alerts when they are visible in your area.
Dark Sky: You need to have a completely dark sky so you’re able to see the stars and Aurora. That’s why you can’t see them during the day time. The most optimal viewing times are typically around 10pm-3am.

Light Pollution in Rovaniemi

Something that was super surprising to us was that Rovaniemi had a lot of light pollution in the city center area despite being known as a top Northern Lights viewing area. It is still possible to see Aurora from the city. However, you do have to drive further away by 20-30 minutes for better viewing conditions.

Finnish Lapland Winter Photography Tips

Winter photography.

When taking photos out in the snow during winter, you’re going to want to make sure you camera gear is weather proof or weather resistant. We use the Canon R5 and love that it’s weatherproof so we can use it out in winter conditions.

Because of the extremely cold temperatures, your camera batteries are also going to die much quicker than usual. We will typically take the batteries out when we aren’t using them and keep them warm in our pockets.

When it comes to drone photography in Finnish Lapland, you can actually do a lot! Finland has some of the least amount of restrictions to fly. Since we only travel with a drone under 250g , we didn’t need to register it. However, if yours is heavier than that you’ll need to register it in advance .

Northern Lights Photography

Pro Tip: Your best chance at capturing the most epic Northern Lights photos in Lapland will be during October or March around the equinoxes. Here are a few things you’ll need to take the best photos of the auroras:

Extra Batteries
Wireless Bluetooth Remote or Self-Timer
Microfiber Cloth

If you book an aurora photography tour in Rovaniemi , they’ll typically have additional tripods and headlamps for you to borrow.

We brought our full adventure photography camera gear setup with us. In reality, the most important thing to bring is your camera with a wide lens with the lowest aperture you have. Want to be a pro photographer in time for your trip to Finnish Lapland? Check out our travel photography e-book , where we teach you the essentials on how to shoot in manual mode.

Reindeer in Finland at Arctic Snow Hotel in Rovaniemi

Booking Tours vs. Exploring On Your Own

The great thing about visiting Rovaniemi in the winter is that there are SO many different activities and excursions you can do during your trip! Whether you are into snowshoeing, snowmobiling, going on a husky tour, or just hunting for the Northern Lights, there are enough activities to keep you busy every day for a week. Stay tuned for our full blog post on the best things to do in Rovaniemi in the winter!

However, just because there are a variety of tours, doesn’t mean you should limit yourself to strictly doing them during your time in Finnish Lapland. We found every guided aurora group activity to be a lot of the same. You are basically guaranteed to end your night with sausages, warm berry juice and a campfire in teepee.

We’d honestly not recommend booking any Aurora related tours depending on weather. If the weather in all of Lapland ( Norway , Sweden, and Finland) has a 100% cloud coverage forecast or is snowing, you’re basically guaranteed to not see any northern lights and will be wasting your time and money. Otherwise, you will spend another night just sitting in the teepee with sausages and no aurora for a hundred dollars.

If you’re really stubborn and want to still hunt despite a bad weather forecast, opt for a real Aurora hunter. We’d recommend Arctic Road Trips . They will cancel your tour if they genuinely think you will not have a shot at seeing the auroras.

room at the arctic snow hotel in rovaniemi

Rovaniemi in the Winter | FAQs

Still, have some questions about visiting Rovaniemi in winter? Below are some of the frequently asked questions about a winter visit to this beautiful area of Finnish Lapland.

Where is Rovaniemi in Finland?

Rovaniemi is located right above the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. It’s sandwiched right in the middle of the country, adjacent to Sweden and Russia.

What languages do you need to know in Finland?

Obviously, most people in Finland speak Finnish. However, if you know English, you will be perfectly fine getting around! Almost everyone speaks English, especially those in the tourism industry.

Is Rovaniemi, Finland safe?

We felt super safe during our whole trip to Finland. Whereas most locations we don’t recommend doing this, we were able to leave our luggage in the car without any fear of people stealing it or breaking our car windows. We’d definitely say Rovaniemi is solo traveler friendly.

What’s the food like in Finland?

You will find most food available in the Rovaniemi region focus around reindeer, salmon, elk, or fish. Pizzas and soups are also very popular. They also harvest a ton of fresh berries and make delicious berry juice and jams from these in the region.

What time zone is Rovaniemi on?

Rovaniemi is on Eastern European Time which is GMT+2.

Are you ready to visit Rovaniemi in the Winter?

We hope this blog post was a good starting place for your Rovaniemi, Finland trip planning. Let us know in the comments if there is something specific you would like us to share about our experience. And, keep an eye out for our future guide on the best things to do in Rovaniemi!

Looking for other great winter destinations? Check out our other winter travel guides to Snowmass , Edmonton & Jasper & Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks .