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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.

©Roman Babakin/Shutterstock

Right by the Arctic Circle, the ‘official’ terrestrial residence of Santa Claus is the capital of Finnish Lapland and a tourism boom town. Its wonderful Arktikum museum is the perfect introduction to these latitudes, and Rovaniemi is a fine base from which to organise activities, visit Santa and generally get a taste for the Arctic.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

With its beautifully designed glass tunnel stretching out to the Ounasjoki, this is one of Finland’s finest museums. One half deals with Lapland, with…

Pilke Tiedekeskus

Downstairs in the Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest and Park Service) building next to the Arktikum, this is a highly entertaining exhibition on Finnish…

Konttaniemen Porotila

Meet reindeer (including adorable calves in season) and find out about their life cycle at this reindeer farm 7km northwest of Rovaniemi. Tours complete…

Rovaniemen Kirkko

Completed in 1950, this church replaced the one destroyed during WWII. The impressively large fresco behind the altar depicts a Christ figure emerging…

Rovaniemen Taidemuseo

A wide collection of contemporary Finnish art rotates in the clean white exhibition space of this gallery in an old brick truck depot. Performances by the…

Santa Claus Village

The ‘official’ Santa Claus Village is built atop the Arctic Circle marker, denoted by a line painted on the pavement (Arctic Circle certificates cost €4…

Built inside a cavern in the mountain, this Christmas-themed amusement park features an army of elves baking gingerbread, a magic sleigh ride, a carousel,…

Santa Claus Post Office

Situated within the Santa Claus Village, this post office receives over half a million letters each year from children worldwide. You can browse a…

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Latest stories from Rovaniemi

Festivals & Events

Nov 27, 2018 • 1 min read

Meeting Santa Claus in his Lapland home is a winter treat for many families, but thanks to unseasonably high temperatures that have struck Finland's far…

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Rovaniemi, Finland

Rovaniemi, the capital and the largest city in Lapland, is best known for being the official hometown of Santa Claus and welcomes thousands of tourists every year. As it lies just 6 kilometers (4 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi offers excellent viewing of the Northern Lights almost throughout the year, especially on clear nights between August and April. There is also the Midnight Sun phenomenon which occurs in Rovaniemi from June to July, where people can experience the sun that never sets. With its proximity to the North Pole, Rovaniemi is also an ideal destination for many winter activities like reindeer sleigh rides, husky sledding, ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and meeting Santa Claus . Since Rovaniemi's summers are filled with daylight and warmth, you'll never have to worry about running out of things to do. Hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, visiting museums and going on a river cruise are some of the activities you can enjoy during summer time in Rovaniemi.

A variety of accommodation types are available in Rovaniemi, such as modern hotels, apartments, and guesthouses, which often have convenient facilities and are situated around the city center. For a more immersive Arctic experience, consider staying in glass igloos, chalets, or snow hotels, an outstanding choice would be the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel , where you can see the Northern Lights directly from the comfort of your bedroom.

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Things to do in Rovaniemi Finland

Last updated: April 19, 2024 . 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 on Discover Cars here . They compare a range of providers so you can find the best deal for your trip.

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!

Further Reading

Hopefully this guide has covered all the major things you might want to do in Rovaniemi. It’s a really excellent base for visiting Finland, especially in winter, when there’s a huge amount going on.

Now you know what to do in Rovaniemi, you might want some more information to help you plan your adventure in Lapland. We’ve written a few more guides to help you, which we think you’ll find useful.

• Our guide to winter activities in Finland , which will give you lots of idea for what you can do in Finland in winter
• We have a detailed itinerary for 1 week in Finland in winter , to help you plan an epic winter adventure
• If you visit Finland in winter, you are going to want to dress appropriately! We have put together a detailed guide to what to pack for Finland in winter to help you out.
• We have a guides to visiting Porvoo , visiting Oulu and visiting Rauma
• Helsinki is the capital city of Finland, and one we definitely recommend you spend some time. See our guide to things to do in Helsinki , a suggested 1 day Helsinki itinerary , and our review of the Helsinki card to help you plan your time here
• Another of our favourite winter locations in Finland is Iso Syote. See our guide to visiting Iso Syote here .
• Finland is an awesome summer destination too. See our guide to visiting Finland in summer for more
• If you’re looking for a guidebook, you might checkout the Lonely Planet guide to Finland or the Insight Guide to Finland

And that’s it for our guide to things to do in Rovaniemi. As always, we are happy to answer your questions – just pop them in the comments section below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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Welcome to Rovaniemi - the home town of Santa Claus and the Northern Lights

Visit Rovaniemi / Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Dogsledding in Rovaniemi in a special winter activitiy

Snowmobiling is a great winter activity

Rovaniemi Travel Guide

Welcome to the hometown of Santa Claus. Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland is an adventure destination gathering many exciting experiences. Here you find topics and themes we hope an inspire and prepare you for travel experiences.

There are many reasons to visit Rovaniemi. First, it is the biggest city in Finnish Lapland with a population of 60.000 inhabitants, and here you can discover Lappish culture and traditions and several wild activities.

Lappi is the Finnish name for Lapland and is the northernmost region of Finland.

The Santa Claus Village 

Santa Claus Village is the top attraction here. Discover all about Santa through entertainment and adventures. Why not stay in one of the Arctic Santa Claus accommodations here too.

See more: Top Attractions in Rovaniemi

The Arctic Rovaniemi

In an Arktikum exhibition, you will find much more information about what's happening in the evolving Arctic region. The Arktikum Museum presents and provides information about Arctic issues and tells stories about Lapland. The Arktikum is a 10-minute walk from the centre.

Northern Light adventures

The seasonal Northern Light is a big attraction here, and Rovaniemi has some perfect spots to explore it. Local tour operators organise special Northern Light adventure tours, where you can get an unforgettable experience. 

Top activities

Rovaniemi offers activities and adventures from snowmobiling, ice fishing, skiing, husky tours, etc. This is the perfect destination to experience and get close to pure, raw nature.

Delicious local food

Lappish food tastes delicious in fine dining restaurants and by a campfire out in the wilderness. For culinary excursions into the local world of flavours, try the seasonal Lappi á la carte and Rovaniemi menus in the various restaurants around town.

The history of Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi traced its history back over 8,000 years and was earlier a trading centre for hunters and merchants. The German soldiers began systematically destroying the town in October 1944 and the old Church. Twenty-five thousand people were evacuated from Rovaniemi to Swedish Lapland and south to Finland's Ostrobothnia province, and 90% of Rovaniemi's buildings have been destroyed.

Stay in an ice hotel

Ice sculpture designers construct an Arctic Snow Hotel annually from November until March. This spectacular accommodation attracts many tourists from all over the world.

Transport to Rovaniemi with flight

It is easy to find excellent flight connections from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Within a short time, you can be in the natural element, where you will forget the busy life, annoying noise and agreements.

We can recommend Finnair - a Finnish company with connections to many countries.

TUI also has flight connections to Rovaniemi from the UK to Kuusamo, Kittila, and Ivalo airports in Finnish Lapland.

See more: How to get to Finland

What to See and Do

The Santa Claus Village

Rauna Wildlife Park

The Arctic Circle Borderline in Rovaniemi

The Arktikum Museum

Santa claus experiences.

Meet the real Santa Claus

Snowman World Igloo Hotel

Santa Claus Main Post Office

Discover lapland.

Northern Lights in Finland

The Midnight Sun in Finland

Finnish Lapland

Where to watch the northern lights.

Northern Lights in Norway

Northern Lights in Iceland

The Northern Lights in Greenland

Northern Lights in Sweden

Explore more.

• Finnair Destinations

Northern Lights

Summer in Rovaniemi

Wildlife Adventures in Finland

Arctic Snow Hotel & Glass Igloos

Rovaniemi Airport

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• TRAVEL INSPRIATION

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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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Rovaniemi Finland – Rovaniemi Lapland Holidays

Situated at the junction of the majestic rivers of Kemijoki and Ounasjoki on the Arctic Circle , in the midst of a captivating and rugged wilderness, Rovaniemi is Lapland’s capital city, an energetic jewel of the North which lays claim to being the home of Father Christmas . Indeed, visitors from all over the world travel here to meet him, at the famous Santa Claus Village or at Santa Park, located in a deep underground cavern, while many other winter tourists arrive to holiday at the Ounasvaara Ski Centre & Resort. Rovaniemi Finland also has a rich cultural life for your Rovaniemi Lapland Holidays with its own orchestra, theatre, 6 fine art galleries, 4 excellent museums and 2 science centres.

Rovaniemi Attractions | Ten Top Tourist Attractions in Rovaniemi

Meeting santa in santa claus village & santa claus office, 7 must-do summer activities in rovaniemi, guided winter tours in rovaniemi – taxari, a very finnish christmas, bearhill husky tours, aurora emotion – esled – electric snowmobile safaris in rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi in Finland is also famous for having 8 distinct seasons , each with its own distinct type of daylight, temperatures, and natural phenomena. These seasons are known as Christmas, Frosty Winter, Crusted Snow, Ice Breaking, Midnight Sun, Colourful Autumn, and First Snowfall, and each seasonal variation gives the opportunity to experience the city in a different light, literally! With each seasonal variation comes differing experiences to be had here, from cruises under the midnight sun, to the many types of snow related activities of the snow seasons. Key to Rovaniemi’s fame are the Aurora Borealis , or Northern Lights , which can be seen as many as 200 times a year in Finnish Lapland. Rovaniemi is a great destination for your Lapland Holidays .

Thanks to its average of over 180 days per year of having snow on the ground, Rovaniemi is very popular holiday destination with the skiing fraternity, and across the river from the town is the world famous Ounasvaara ski centre and resort. From atop the hill visitors can view one of Rovaniemi’s most prominent landmarks, the Jätkänkynttilä bridge, where the eternal flame burns over the Kemijoki river.

Much of Rovaniemi’s cultural life revolves around the Korundi House , which was restored by architect Juhani Pallasmaa. As well as housing the Rovaniemi Art Museum , Korundi is home to the Chamber Orchestra of Lapland and hosts other cultural events in the city. Rovaniemi has a well deserved reputation for the visual arts.

Visitors to Rovaniemi are most impressed by Arktikum which houses the Provincial Museum of Lapland and a permanent exhibition called ‘The Arctic in Change’ which allows visitors to learn more about ice caves, the arctic rivers, research stations, the arctic seasons and visit the northern lights theatre. Close by, the Pilke Science Centre’s permanent exhibition deals with sustainable forestry, and explores such themes as the ecology and biology of forests. A further treat for nature lovers is found at Ranua Wildlife Park , just 80 km to the south of Rovaniemi, with about 60 species of arctic and northern wild animals.

A little outside Rovaniemi , on the shores of Lake Lehtojärvi, lies the Arctic SnowHotel , fashioned entirely from snow and ice, where visitors can sleep snugly in rooms maintained at a steady -5ºC! For those who prefer to sleep in warmer environments, the SnowHotel is still worth visiting – enjoy a hot toddy at the bar, or dine in a restaurant adorned with ice sculptures.

Visitors to Rovaniemi who arrive in late March invariably enjoy the culmination of the city’s Spring Market Week, when the annual reindeer sprint race takes place – reindeer and their drivers race from Pohjanhovi to the Lordi Square! The city also hosts the Arctic Lapland Rally at the end of January.

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Embrace Adventure on the Edge of the Arctic

Welcome to Rovaniemi – the home of Santa Claus and the city where dreams come true! Rovaniemi is the Capital of Finnish Lapland and a gateway to your adventures.

Photo: Visit Rovaniemi, Visit Finland

Rovaniemi has it all — from the northern lights dancing in the sky on a winter evening to the Midnight Sun glowing all night long throughout the summer months; cold, crisp, snow-white days to lush green, long, sunny days; activities for those who are looking for adventure and activities for those who are looking to relax. For those seeking a unique experience, a once-in-a-lifetime activity and the opportunity to witness the magic of nature at its most beautiful; we have something for you in Rovaniemi. This is a international vivid city with soul of open-hearted village. 

Choose the best way for you to hunt the northern lights

Imagine standing on a silent, vast frozen lake just north of the Arctic Circle. The shadow of the trees of the shoreline in the distance in front of you, the white snow-covered ice stretching as far as the eye can see and the ink black sky above you dotted with more stars than one could ever imagine. Out of nowhere the green haze of light begins to show itself, growing in stature as the evening progresses and slowly starting its dancing of shimmering green skipping across the darkness of space. If you are lucky, colours of pink, blue and violet may even appear.

In Finland it was believed that the lights were caused by the firefox who ran so quickly across the snow that his tail caused sparks to fly into the night sky creating the northern lights. The colours most often associated with the northern lights are pink, green, yellow, blue, violet, and occasionally orange and white.

All Northern Lights tours

Santa Claus and Santa Claus Village

Eight kilometres north from Rovaniemi there is a village named after this noble old man: Santa Claus Village, which is a must see when visiting Lapland! In the center of the Village there is Santa’s Office where he meets guests for a quick chat every day of the year absolutely free of charge. As a perfect memory of your visit, you can purchase the photographs of yourself and Santa Claus for a modest fee.

If you wish to have a longer chat with Santa, check out our Santa Claus tours. The Village is also conveniently located on the Arctic Circle, which is marked through the Village with a white line on the ground and a line of lights above you. You can mark this occasion of crossing the Arctic Circle by getting the Certificate for yourself. After this the next stop is Santa’s Post Office. From here you can order a personal letter from Santa, to be delivered just before Christmas to your loved ones or send a postcard with a unique stamp from the Arctic Circle. In Santa Claus Village you can visit husky and reindeer camps, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. Our office is located in the Village as well.

Arctic Animals

If you are looking for more interaction with animals, check our reindeer and husky tours. These informative trips offer a deeper insight into the lives of these animals and the culture surrounding them; you will have the chance to experience exciting sleigh rides too! Husky and reindeers tours

Ranua Wildlife park is the home of over 50 arctic animal species For a chance to view some of them you need to get out to the forests and hiking areas. For those animals which are not normally found in the Arctic or are difficult to find then head to Ranua Wildlife Park, 80 km south. Here you can see polar bears, arctic foxes and 50 species of other amazing arctic animals. Ranua Zoo

Places to visit in Rovaniemi

Arktikum is a museum and science centre that tells about arctic nature, culture, traditions of indigenous Sami people, and life in the Arctic. It is also a perfect place to find more information about the northern lights. Pilke is a science centre that focuses on the forests of the Arctic and the connections we have with them as people living in the North.

Although Rovaniemi is not a large ski resort like Ruka or Ylläs, it has Ounasvaara ski centre where you can try snowboarding, cross-country and downhill skiing during winter and mountain/fat- biking or hiking during the summer. Lessons for both beginners and more advanced skiers or snowboarders are available through Ounasvaara ski school.

Korundi House of Culture is a space for art and people in Rovaniemi, Lapland. It is home to the Rovaniemi Art Museum and Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Every visit to Korundi is different. Changing exhibitions and unique concerts are a constant source for enlightenment. Korundi works globally: Rovaniemi Art Museum brings forth art from all over the globe, and Lapland Chamber Orchestra takes northern sounds around the world on its tours.The red brick landmark – a post bus depot that survived the second world war- is a stylish venue for meetings and functions, where first-class arrangements and service guarantee memorable moments.

Midnight sun

In summer months Rovaniemi cannot offer a northern lights show for you, however it has something else to surprise you with – the midnight sun! On the Arctic Circle where Rovaniemi lies, the sun officially stays above the horizon for a full 24 hours on summer solstice: 21st or 22nd June. The midnight sun period in Rovaniemi lasts for a month, from 6th June to 7th July. Why not sample a midnight sun picnic or a canoe trip down the Ounasjoki River. Have a look for more experiences during the period of the midnight sun. With the skies too bright to experience the northern lights the midnight sun is a wonderful natural phenomenon to enjoy during the summer.

Seasons in Rovaniemi

Summer facts.

June – August  Temperature +15 – +25 degrees (the hottest temperature recorded is +31,3 °C)

Daylight 24 hours Midnight sun brings with it wonderfully long sunlit days, meaning plenty of time for Summer Activities .

Activities include canoeing and boat trips on the lakes and rivers of the area, visiting huskies and reindeers, hiking, fat-biking, berry picking, sauna experiences and visiting Santa Claus.

AUTUMN FACTS

September – mid November  Temperature -5 – +15 degrees

People head to the forests in search of berries and mushrooms. Aurora starts to dance in the night sky. The first snowfall is usually experienced by mid-November. The autumn colours of oranges, reds and yellows start to appear. To witness this transformation of colour enjoy one of our tours visit Autumn activities. Activities include berry and mushroom picking, nature photography, sauna experiences and visits to a local museum.

WINTER FACTS

Mid-November – mid-April  Temperature -5 – -30 degrees (the coldest temperature recorded is -45,3 °C) with rivers and lakes freezing over.

The shortest day of the year is December 21st or 22nd (varies annually), and thanks to being located right on the Arctic Circle, on this day, the sun doesn’t rise at all in Rovaniemi. Beautiful winter landscapes highlighted by the brightness of the snow which on average stays for 183 days of the year.

See the vast selection of our Winter Activities .

SPRING FACTS

Mid-April – May  Temperature -15 – +15 degrees

The snow starts to melt although many winter activities can still be enjoyed. The days get longer and warmer, the ice starts breaking up in the rivers and moves downstream in great floes.

Nature (flora and fauna) wakes up and Rovaniemi starts to become green again. In Ranua Wildlife Park you can witness the animals getting ready for the summer. The focus of the Activities in Rovaniemi includes both winter and summer experiences during this indecisive period.

Activities and Tours in Rovaniemi

Winter Tours

Photo: Toinen Kuvaaja

Summer Tours

Autumn Tours

Arctic Expeditions in Rovaniemi

Mice and educational travel.

Wild Nordic’s expertise lies in creating itineraries with a twist on activities which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Lappish values like pure nature, unique activities and dedicated staff are in the core of our business. Our aim is to give your clients something priceless – the reward of motivating their company’s employees to desire to keep striving for the next reward.

Summer facts

June – August Temperature +15 – +25 degrees (the hottest temperature recorded is +31,3 °C)

Autumn facts

September – mid November Temperature -5 – +15 degrees

Winter facts

Mid-November – mid-April Temperature -5 – -30 degrees (the coldest temperature recorded is -45,3 °C) with rivers and lakes freezing over.

Spring facts

Mid-April – May Temperature -15 – +15 degrees

How to Get to Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is situated in Finnish Lapland, right on the Arctic Circle. Despite the northern location, getting here is easy – Rovaniemi is well connected to the rest of the world via various means of transport. From abroad, the easiest way to get to Rovaniemi is by plane, either via Helsinki or direct. Inside Finland, Rovaniemi can be reached by plane, train, coach or car.

Flight connections Daily flights between Rovaniemi and Helsinki are operated by Finnair and Norwegian throughout the year. During the winter season, November – March, EasyJet and Norwegian operate direct flights from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi.

Train connections Finnish railroads are operated by state company VR . Rovaniemi is easy to reach by rail from many Finnish towns, with several trains running to and from Helsinki every day and a night train every evening. Trains run year round, despite the harsh weather at times.

Coach connections The coach services operated by Matkahuolto and Onnibus cover most of Finland’s road network and provide a well-priced option for getting to Rovaniemi.

Road connections Rovaniemi is easy to get to by car from all directions although distances can be long. If you plan on travelling around Lapland by car, be sure to allocate enough time for the long distances and changing weather conditions, particularly in the winter. Note that during the winter period of snow and ice it is compulsory to have winter studded tires on your car. Up-to-date information on road conditions is published by the Finnish Transport Agency .

Privacy overview

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We are Open everyday

1st June- 31st Oct       Mon-Sun 11.00-16.00

         1st-30th November               Mon-Sun 10.00-17.00

1st December -6th January             Mon-Sun 9.00-19.00

7th January-31st March           Mon-Sun 10.00-17.00

1st April-31st May   Mon-Sat 11-16. Sun closed

If you have any other requirements please send us an e-mail: [email protected]

You can also book all winter Finland, Iceland activities from our website

If you want book Kirkence, Tromso,Lofoton activities and hotels

You can send email to us

[email protected] Arctic Circle Information team

Santa Claus Village

TOURIST INFORMATION

Arctic Circle Information is located in Santa Claus Village main building, 8 km north from Rovaniemi city centre. You can also easily reach the Arctic Circle by local bus number 8 and by the bus “Santa’s Express”.

Arctic Circle Tourist Information offers following services to our customers:

• Information and materials (maps, brochures) about Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi and different destinations in Lapland;
• Recommendations and booking service for different activities in Lapland (Rovaniemi, Kemi, Saariselkä, Ivalo etc);
• Arctic Circle Crossing Certificate (available in different languages);
• Possibility to buy souvenirs and postcards;
• Global Blue Tax Free Refund.

You can contact us in advance for guide services, tailor made programs for individuals or groups. We are happy to help!

BOOK ACTIVITIES

Experience the most popular activities Lapland has to offer! Including husky and reindeer rides, dinner in ice restaurant, northern lights flight, visit to Ranua zoo.

Safaris with Arctic Animals

Northern Lights

Sightseeing tours

Snowmobile safaris

Different possibilities to experience Northern Lights

Tours to Icebreakers

Arctic circle crossing certificate.

Crossing the Arctic Circle line in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi is a special memory. You can order certificate to accompany this memory: choose between two different designs and the language that suits you the best.

Arctic Circle Information

Joulumaantie 2 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland [email protected] Phone: +358 16 3562096

OPENING HOURS:

8 Jan – 30 Nov: Mon-Sat 11am – 17pm. ​1 Dec – 7 Jan: 9am – 7pm

• Arctic Policies
• Arctic Possibilities
• Customer Services
• Other languages

• General information
• adult education
• basic education
• building permits
• child day care
• cultural services
• driving licenses
• education and training
• exhibitions
• general information
• high school education
• higher education
• immigration service
• lapland university
• nature activities
• outdoor sports
• planning permission
• residents' parking
• residents' parking signs
• secondary education
• social services
• student housing
• university of applied sciences
• vocational qualifications
• vocational training
• youth centres
• youth committee
• youth services
• Friendship Societies
• Honorary Consulates
• Neustrelitz
• St. Johann in Tirol
• Cookie Declaration
• Beaches & Swimmingpools
• Golf & Tennis
• Fishing & Boating
• Trekking Areas and Lean-tos
• Rovaniemi Art Museum
• Exhibitions
• About museum
• The Forestry Museum of Lapland
• Rovaniemi Local History Museum
• Lapland Chamber Orchestra
• Alvar Aalto
• The Candle Bridge
• Ferdinand Salokangas
• Rovaniemi Church
• Travellers in Lapland
• Welcome to school in Rovaniemi -guide
• Secondary education
• Higher education
• Business development
• InfoFinland
• Garbage Services
• Recycling Services
• Problem situations
• Sport and Leisure Time Services
• Demand for rectification of a parking ticket
• Transportation
• Daycare Service
• Youth Services

In the embrace of two great rivers, Ounasjoki and Kemijoki, a growing city strong in international trade, administration and education has taken form. Rovaniemi has always been a gateway to Lapland, and it served as the administrative centre of the Province of Lapland since 1938. Rovaniemi received city status in 1960. Later, the city and rural municipality were joined to form the new City of Rovaniemi in 2006. Thanks to its location, Rovaniemi has grown naturally into the capital of Lapland with a pulse of its own that is suitably calming yet rousing – it is the beating heart of Lapland. Here, you can enjoy eight staggeringly different and equally beautiful seasons. At its best, nature is a source of strength and inspiration. Residents of Rovaniemi are urban people with a positive Laplandish spirit. The city centre is surrounded by a vibrant countryside with numerous villages. This rural aspect is also a very natural and characteristic trait of Rovaniemi. Forests, mires, meadows, fields and small lakes form an image of Lapland and Rovaniemi, whose appearance and nature change with the seasons creating new kinds of atmospheres. Within ten kilometres of the city centre, you can find undisturbed nature and a busy international airport. The colours of Rovaniemi speak to Finland and Europe about a northern and Arctic culture and people that are perfectly adapted to nature. General information Area and population • 16th most populous city in Finland • Population density 31 December 2012 - Central area 85.7 residents/land km2 - Entire city 7.94 residents/land km2 • Households 30,704 (2016)  Distances: Helsinki 815 km Oulu 207 km Population (2016): • 62 231 inhabitants • Foreigners: 2.5% of the population 

Decision-making and municipal administration

Rovaniemi City Council Centre Party 16 seats National Coalition Party 10 Social Democratic Party of Finland 10 Left Alliance 6 True Finns 4 Green League 3 Christian Democrats 2 Total 51  Chairperson of the city Council: Heikki Autto, National Coalition Party 

Rovaniemi City Board Centre Party 4 National Coalition Party 3  Social Democratic Party of Finland 2 True Finns 1  Left Alliance 1 Total 11 Chairperson of the City Board Liisa Ansala, Centre Party City administration The Mayor of Rovaniemi Esko Lotvonen Trades • Primary production 2,1% (2015) • Processing 12,5% • Services 84,2%      

• Arctic Centre
• Arctic Finland
• Arctic information
• Lapland Region
• Lapland TE-Centre
• Lapland University of Applied Sciences
• Lapland Vocational College
• Moninet – A bridge to multicultural Lapland
• University of Lapland
• Rovaniemi Development
• Calendar of Events
• Information about Finland
• Local traffic Trip Planner for Rovaniemi
• Play Rovaniemi-Quiz
• Tourist Information

Visit Rovaniemi

Welcome to the Official Hometown of Santa Claus! Visit Rovaniemi is the local tourist board of the Rovaniemi region in Lapland, Finland. Below you’ll find information on what we are and do as a company, staff member presentation as well as our contact and billing details.

Visit Rovaniemi – the Rovaniemi region tourist board

Established in 2007, Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism and Marketing Ltd.) is the local tourist board of the Rovaniemi region in Lapland, Finland. Visit Rovaniemi engages in image- and event marketing, media visits, communications and PR, tourist information.

Visit Rovaniemi’s tasks in brief

• Uphold and strengthen the “Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus”  brand
• Promote Rovaniemi as an international travel destination
• Coordinate regional joint marketing efforts
• Maintain Rovaniemi a subject in international media
• Provide tourist information services for Rovaniemi
• Handle sales of tourism related products and services

Contact details

Street address: Visit Rovaniemi Koskikatu 12 96200 Rovaniemi FINLAND

+358 40 829 0676

Email and online: info(at)visitrovaniemi.fi www.visitrovaniemi.fi

Billing details

Business ID (Y-tunnus): 1839934-7

Electronic invoices : Apix Messaging Oy (003723327487)

OVT 003718399347

VAT number (Y-tunnus) FI18399347

Email invoices : [email protected]   PDF ONLY

emails: [email protected]

Lyyti Mäkiniemi

Annukka Jarkko

Katja Koskinen

Salla Tauriainen

Janne Pallari

Sofia Ahvenainen

Sanna Kärkkäinen

Visit rovaniemi board of directors.

Mr. Esko Määttä, Chairman of the Board/ Mr. Janne Sandgren , Alternate member Mr. Antti Määttä, Member/ Mr. Matti Impiö, Alternate member Ms. Susanne Hulbekkmo, Member/ Ms. Sanna Sandgren, Alternate member Mr. Matti Kuru, Vice Chairman of the Board/ Mr. Veli Moilanen, Alternate member Ms. Petra Kurtti, Member/ Mr. Pekka Rinne, Alternate member Mr. Ilkka Länkinen, Member/ Mr. Mika Kulmala, Alternate member