Rovaniemi, Finland has only around 65,000 inhabitants, yet one address here is known by almost every child on the planet. This is where Santa Claus lives. The capital of Finnish Lapland sits right on the Arctic Circle and is the easiest gateway into an Arctic winter fairytale you can imagine. Snow, reindeer, dog sleds, the northern lights, and on top of that a city that burned to the ground in World War II and was rebuilt by a famous architect in the shape of reindeer antlers. ☺️
In this guide you’ll find 15 of the best things to see and do in Rovaniemi, from Santa Claus Village and crossing the Arctic Circle to hunting the northern lights and husky safaris, all the way to the architecture of Alvar Aalto and frozen waterfalls. I’ll tell you the best time to visit, how to get there from the UK, where to stay and how much the whole thing will cost.
Rovaniemi is brilliant mainly because everything is within easy reach. The airport is ten minutes from the centre, Santa Claus Village is just outside town, and you can do most of the experiences without a car. If you’re planning a longer trip around the whole region, take a look at my big guide on what to see in Lapland.
TL;DR
- Don’t miss: Santa Claus Village and crossing the Arctic Circle, the Arktikum museum, hunting the northern lights, a husky safari and a reindeer sleigh ride.
- When: for the winter fairytale and northern lights, December to March; the best balance of daylight and price is February and March. Summer tempts with the midnight sun and river cruises.
- How to get there: direct winter charter flights to Rovaniemi from the UK, or via Helsinki (a short flight, or the overnight Santa Claus Express train). The airport is 10 minutes from the centre.
- How many days: 3 to 4 days is plenty for Rovaniemi and its surroundings; allow a week for all of Lapland.
- Northern lights: never guaranteed, so plan for several nights and trips out of town. There are spots right by the city too (Ounasvaara, Arctic Garden).
The best time to visit Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi has two faces, and which one you’re after will shape your timing. Winter season (December to April) is the headline act: snow, the northern lights, huskies, reindeer and the Christmassy atmosphere of Santa Claus Village. December and early January are the most festive, but also the priciest and darkest, with only a few hours of bluish twilight around the solstice.
For my money, the best compromise is February and March: there’s more daylight, the sky is clearer (which means better odds of catching the lights), there’s the most snow, and the cold is milder than in January. You can spot the northern lights roughly from late August to early April, with the statistically most active periods being September and March. And if winter isn’t your thing at all, summer serves up the midnight sun, river cruises and green hills, it’s cheaper and crowd-free, just without snow or the aurora.
How to get to Rovaniemi and how much it costs
Getting to Rovaniemi from the UK is easy. There are direct winter flights from London (typically with airlines like British Airways, Finnair or seasonal charters), and the flight takes around three to four hours. The other option is to fly via Helsinki, from where it’s just an hour and a half on to Rovaniemi, or you can add an extra experience and take the overnight Santa Claus Express train, which carries you from Helsinki in just under twelve hours (cabins from ~€49). You’ll find tickets on the VR Finnish railways website.
The great news is that Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) is just ten minutes from the centre and right next to Santa Claus Village. From the airport there’s the Airport Express shuttle running via the village into the centre (a ticket is around €8), and the year-round city bus number 8 links the centre with Santa Claus Village. So you don’t need a car at all unless you want to head out on more far-flung trips on your own.
Now for the money. Rovaniemi (and Finland in general) is one of the pricier destinations. Entry to Santa Claus Village is free, but the activities are expensive: a husky safari from ~€95, a guided northern lights hunt around €150, the Arktikum museum €30. For a sensible four-day trip for two with accommodation in town and two or three activities, budget from roughly €1,800 upwards. You’ll save by travelling in January, choosing accommodation with a kitchenette and making the most of what’s free.
Where to stay in Rovaniemi
Depending on what you want from your trip, a different type of accommodation will suit. Some people want a practical base in the centre to head out on day trips from, while others want to tick off a dream and fall asleep under a glass roof with a view of the northern lights. I’ve picked specific, well-rated options across categories. One word of warning: the most appealing places tend to be sold out months in advance, especially before Christmas.
In the centre, a reliable choice is Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus, which guests praise for its hearty breakfast and sauna, with everything within walking distance. Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna with its perfect location works equally well, as does Arctic City Hotel. If you’re looking to save, you’ll appreciate Hostel Café Koti. For a dream come true, I recommend Arctic TreeHouse Hotel with its private suites up in the treetops and a glass wall, the peaceful lakeside Apukka Resort, or the unforgettable Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos with its ice bar and glass igloos.
Santa Claus Village, the Christmas heart of Rovaniemi
Let’s start with the reason visitors flock here from all over the world. Eight kilometres north of the centre lies Santa Claus Village, a complex built right on the Arctic Circle, and everything Christmassy you can imagine revolves around it. Here are three spots you shouldn’t miss.
1. Santa Claus Village and crossing the Arctic Circle
Santa Claus Village is the most-visited attraction in all of Lapland and Finland’s biggest Christmas icon. The Arctic Circle is marked here by a line on the ground that you can ceremoniously cross, and the whole complex is open year-round. The best part: entry and meeting Santa are both free.
You only pay for the official photo with Santa, and it isn’t cheap (packages from ~€40–55), which tends to be an unwelcome surprise. In December and around Christmas the crowds and queues can be borderline maddening. 💡 Tip: come first thing in the morning right after opening. The complex also has the icy SnowmanWorld with slides and an ice restaurant. More on the official village website.
2. Santa’s main post office and a postcard with the Arctic Circle stamp
Right in the village sits Santa’s official main post office, which receives two million postcards from all over the world every year. Send a postcard home from here with the special Arctic Circle stamp you can’t get anywhere else, served up by “postal elves”. It’s a charming and, best of all, cheap experience.
You can also have a card written “from Santa” that arrives exactly at Christmas, which kids adore. And even if you turn up outside opening hours, the yellow postbox by the entrance will give your card that magical stamp too.
3. SantaPark, Santa Claus’s underground cavern
A short way from the village, SantaPark is carved into the rock, a Christmas amusement park hewn out underground. You’ll find an elf school, a gingerbread bakery, an ice gallery and a little train, and the whole place breathes Christmas whether you arrive in December or March. Unlike the village, there’s an admission fee here (from ~€49 per adult), but in return it’s indoor fun in any weather, which you’ll especially appreciate with kids.
The winter season usually runs from late October to mid-January, so check the current opening hours before you go on the SantaPark website.
Museums and architecture: Rovaniemi in any weather
Rovaniemi isn’t just about Santa. When it’s freezing or overcast outside, the city has plenty to offer indoors too, plus surprisingly interesting architecture. Here are three tips that’ll help you understand the city and the whole Arctic.
4. Arktikum: the museum where you’ll learn why the sky glows
The iconic glass building reaching towards the river houses Arktikum, a museum and science centre about the Arctic. Here you’ll learn about life in Lapland, about Sámi culture and about what actually causes the northern lights. It’s the best “any weather” tip and the ideal complement to hunting the aurora. When it’s overcast outside, at least here you’ll understand how that miracle comes about.
Admission costs around €30 for an adult, with a family ticket working out better value. A little further on you’ll also find the interactive science centre about the forest, Pilke (great for kids, everything is hands-on), and the Korundi culture house with its gallery. Details on the Arktikum website.
5. The Aalto Centre and a walk around the city
This is my tip for anyone interested in more than just Santa. Rovaniemi burned to the ground in 1944, and the famous architect Alvar Aalto designed its reconstruction, including an urban plan shaped like reindeer antlers. His hand also created the Aalto Centre with its gorgeous library, the Lappia theatre and the town hall. You can pop freely into the library, and the interior is well worth it.
You can walk the centre in half a day. On the way, stop at Lordi’s Square (named after the local metal band that won Eurovision), take a peek into the church with the monumental fresco “The Source of Life”, where you’ll find a reindeer instead of a lamb, and at the Marttiini shop you can pick up a traditional Lapland knife as a souvenir (just put it in your checked luggage, not your hand baggage).
6. The Jätkänkynttilä Bridge, a burning candle over the river
Rovaniemi’s signature silhouette is the Jätkänkynttilä Bridge, “the Lumberjack’s Candle” in English, suspended across the Kemijoki River. At the top of its two pylons sit flames that flicker to life after dark like giant candles, recalling the days when timber was floated down the river. It’s loveliest at dusk during the blue hour.
The bridge also makes a great photo spot for the northern lights over the river, because the water beneath it never fully freezes and the sky is clearly visible over the open riverbed. The walk here from the centre takes just a few minutes.
The Arctic experiences you come to Rovaniemi for
This is the heart of the whole trip. Rovaniemi is the ideal base for experiences you’ll never forget: silence broken by the panting of a dog team, a reindeer pulling a sleigh through snowy forest, and a sky glowing green. I’ve picked four you shouldn’t miss.
7. Hunting the northern lights right by Rovaniemi
The northern lights are the main winter draw, and seeing them live is something completely different from the photos. The important thing is to have realistic expectations: they’re not guaranteed, a clear sky is the deciding factor, and it takes patience and quite possibly several nights. The great thing is you can hunt them right from Rovaniemi. The most accessible spots are Arctic Garden by Arktikum and the Ounasvaara hill, which you can walk to.
For darker skies it’s worth driving about 20 minutes to the Arctic Circle Hiking Area or to Lake Olkkajärvi. If you’d rather not worry about the weather and forecast yourself, go for a guided tour (around €150), which will take you to wherever the sky happens to be clear. You can book specific tours in advance through GetYourGuide.
8. Husky safari, a ride with a dog sled team
If Lapland has one unmistakable sound, it’s the panting and barking of huskies just before the start, replaced by complete silence the moment the team sets off. Visiting a husky farm and riding the sled is one of the most authentic Arctic experiences there is. You can ride as a passenger or drive your own team.
A short ride near Santa Claus Village costs just a few euros, while a full self-drive safari runs from €95 to €200 depending on length. Bear in mind the ride itself tends to be shorter than you’d expect, but intense in the cold, and that they’ll usually lend you a warm Arctic overall.
9. A reindeer farm and a sleigh ride with the Sámi
If a husky safari is fast and wild, a reindeer sleigh ride is its calm, fairytale counterpart. The reindeer goes at a walking pace, the scene is quiet and snowy forest stretches all around. Visiting a traditional reindeer farm, often run by herding families for generations, is also the most authentic way into Sámi culture.
After completing the loop you get a jokey “reindeer driving licence” that delights kids and adults alike, and the herders will tell you about life with their herds around the fire. It’s an experience that warms your heart even in the deepest cold. ☺️
10. Snowmobiles across the wilderness
For adrenaline lovers there’s a snowmobile safari. On a guided trip you’ll zip through snowy landscapes you couldn’t otherwise reach, often combined with ice fishing or a northern lights hunt. Options range from gentle hour-long loops to full-day rides.
One important detail: anyone wanting to drive a snowmobile must have a physical category B driving licence and be over 18. Without one they’ll only take you along as a passenger. Prices are around €100–150 for a couple of hours.
Nature and day trips from Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a brilliant launch pad, and a few of the loveliest experiences lie just outside the city. When you have a spare day, head out into nature, see Arctic animals or visit frozen waterfalls. Here are five tips for day trips, plus what to do right in town at other times of year.
11. Ounasvaara: viewpoint, skiing and summer
Just across the river rises the Ounasvaara hill, the city’s sports and recreation centre with the best panorama of Rovaniemi and the confluence of the rivers from the observation tower. In winter there are ski slopes and cross-country trails, in summer trekking, mountain biking and a summer toboggan run. It’s a year-round playground just minutes from the centre.
The open slopes also give a good view of the night sky, so Ounasvaara doubles as an accessible spot for the northern lights. Access to the nature is free; you only pay for a ski pass if you want to ski.
12. Ranua Arctic Zoo and a polar bear encounter
An hour’s drive from Rovaniemi (about 80 km) lies the world’s northernmost zoo, Ranua Wildlife Park. It focuses on Arctic animals, so you’ll meet the only polar bear in Finland, along with wolves, lynx, wolverines, Arctic foxes, owls and reindeer. You watch the animals from snowy wooden walkways.
It’s a sure-fire hit with kids and an ideal backup for a day when you haven’t booked any big activity. Admission is around €24.50 for an adult, and there are daily buses too. Current prices on the Ranua Resort website.
13. Arctic SnowHotel and a dip in icy water
About 25 minutes from the centre stands the Arctic SnowHotel, which is re-carved from fresh snow every winter. You’ll find ice rooms, an ice restaurant, an ice chapel and an ice bar, where they serve your drink in a glass made of ice. And even if you don’t dare to stay overnight, you can come just for a tour (entry around €35).
A classic experience here is a Finnish sauna followed by a dip in a hole cut into the icy water. It sounds mad, but it’s unbelievably refreshing and the locals swear by it. Details on the Arctic SnowHotel website.
14. Korouoma: frozen waterfalls from another planet
About 110 km from Rovaniemi cuts the Korouoma canyon with Finland’s most striking frozen waterfalls. In winter the flowing water turns into blue-and-white walls of ice up to 60 metres high, drawing both tourists and ice climbers with their axes. Most people come on a full-day trip from Rovaniemi, which usually includes a trek between the ice falls and grilling around a fire.
The ice falls are at their finest from February to April and the trip costs roughly €130 to €190 per person. Equally enchanting but more accessible is the Auttiköngäs waterfall with a nature trail through old-growth forest. It’s one of those experiences that leaves you feeling like you’ve been on a completely different planet.
15. Rovaniemi in summer: river cruises and the midnight sun
If you think Rovaniemi is all about snow, I’ve got a surprise for you. In summer it transforms into a green city on the water and life shifts to the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers. You can head out on a scenic river cruise, go canoeing, or simply stroll along the waterfront past Arctic Garden.
And since you’re on the Arctic Circle, the midnight sun awaits, when around the summer solstice the sun never sets and night never fully falls. Cruising the river at midnight in full daylight is a surreal experience. Summer is also noticeably cheaper and crowd-free, just without snow or the northern lights.
What to eat in Rovaniemi (even as a vegetarian)
Lapland’s cuisine is hearty and warming. The local speciality is poronkäristys, sautéed reindeer meat with mashed potato and lingonberries, plus the ever-present salmon. I mention this mainly so you know what you’ll come across here. Lukáš and I are vegetarians, so if you’re in the same boat, I have good news: vegetarians will enjoy themselves here too.
The bistro Roka Street Bistro has excellent vegetarian and vegan options (try their mushroom risotto made with freshly foraged mushrooms), and the café WOODSS serves a mostly plant-based menu. For wood-fired pizza and veggie burgers, head to the cult favourite Kauppayhtiö, while Gustav offers modern Finnish cuisine. With your coffee, try the cinnamon buns korvapuusti, and in winter warm up with glögi mulled wine.
Where next: ideas for more Nordic trips
If Rovaniemi has cast its spell on you, here are a few more tips for the north that pair beautifully with it:
- Lapland: 20 things to see and experience (a big guide to the whole region)
- Iceland, Finland and Norway: how and where to catch the northern lights
- The Lofoten Islands in winter: northern lights, snow and where to see them
Frequently asked questions about Rovaniemi, Finland
When is the best time to visit Rovaniemi?
For a winter fairytale, northern lights and Santa Claus Village, go between December and March. December is the most Christmassy, but the most expensive and darkest. The best compromise of light, price and chance of aurora is February and March. Summer tempts with midnight sun and river cruises and is significantly cheaper.
How many days is enough for Rovaniemi?
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For Rovaniemi itself, Santa Claus Village and two or three activities (huskies, reindeer, northern lights) 3 to 4 days is more than enough. If you want to explore the surrounding area and wider Lapland or increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, it’s better to allow a whole week.
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Is entry to Santa Claus Village free?
Yes. Entry to the Santa Claus Village area and meeting Santa are free. You only pay for an official photo with Santa (packages roughly from 40 to 55 €) and for individual activities. The area is open year-round, but it tends to get very crowded in December.
How do I get from Rovaniemi Airport to the city center?
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Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) is only about 10 minutes and 10 km from the center. The Airport Express shuttle runs from here via Santa Claus Village to the center (ticket around 8 €). City bus number 8 also runs year-round between the center and Santa Claus Village, so you don’t need a car.
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Will I see the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi?
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You have a chance, but it’s not guaranteed, as the aurora depends mainly on clear skies and solar activity. The season runs roughly from late August to early April, with the most active periods typically in September and March. Give yourself several nights and head out of town (Ounasvaara, Arctic Circle Hiking Area) or join a guided tour.
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What to do in Rovaniemi with kids?
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Rovaniemi is ideal for kids. Besides Santa Claus Village and meeting Santa, there’s the indoor SantaPark, the icy SnowmanWorld, Ranua Arctic Zoo with polar bears, huskies and reindeer, plus the interactive Pilke Science Centre where they can touch everything.
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Is Rovaniemi expensive?
Yes, Rovaniemi and Finland in general are among the pricier destinations. Entry to Santa Claus Village is free, but activities are expensive (husky safari from ~€95, northern lights hunting around €150). You can save money in January after the Christmas peak season, by booking accommodation with a kitchenette and taking advantage of what’s free.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
🚗 Car rental on the roadVerified rental cars in FinlandSearch with the DiscoverCars comparison engine — it compares prices from dozens of local and international rental companies, and most bookings come with free cancellation.
Compare car prices in Finland →Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
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