Table of Contents
| You haven’t been to Rovaniemi if… FOOD – you havent’t tried the grilled salmon at Santa’s Salmon Place! ATTRACTIONS – you haven’t snowshoeed in the Lappish forest! SOUVENIRS – you did not send a postcard from the official Santa Claus post office with the Arctic Circle stamp! |
Introduction
Do you want to live a fairytale in a snow-covered setting? Well, then, this article is for you! We’re so excited to tell you all about what to see in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, in winter. Start planning your wonderful trip with us today!
With a conference scheduled for the end of November in Tampere, a Finnish city an hour’s train ride north of Helsinki, Claudia and I took the opportunity to plan a few days in Rovaniemi, where Santa Claus lives and where millions of tourists, young and old, go every year to breathe in the magical Christmas atmosphere.
Below some essential information and a handy 3-day itinerary about what to see in Rovaniemi in 3 unforgettable days. We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments box so we can make this itinerary as complete as possible!
When to go in Rovaniemi
Just a quick note to say that Finnish Lapland is one of the most expensive regions in the world. If you’re looking for a super cheap trip, we’re afraid this might not be the ideal destination for you. But if you’re still looking to save some money, we’d recommend coming here in November or April.
This way, you can enjoy the stunning scenery without emptying your wallet! However, just a heads-up: some experiences, like driving a snowmobile in the snow, might not be available in the medium and low seasons. But don’t worry! You’ll still be able to enjoy all the main attractions the destination has to offer, including Santa’s village (it’s free and open all day).
How to get to Rovaniemi
There are so many ways to reach Finnish Lapland. If you’re looking for the fastest and most expensive way to get there, you can fly! There are lots of flights from the main European cities to Finnish Lapland, with a stopover in Helsinki.
Since we were able to travel in November (mid-season), we decided to go for the multimodal flight + night train option, which turned out to be a lot cheaper than the combination of multiple flights!
We left at 4:15 pm on 24 November. We reached Helsinki airport after a 3-hour flight with Ryanair from Bergamo (we opted for the priority option and two handbags to be able to fill the trolley with warm clothing suitable for the cold Arctic). As soon as we arrived in Helsinki, we headed straight to the train station, which was conveniently located inside the airport.
From here, at 11.42pm, our adventure began aboard the legendary Santa Claus Express Train towards the great North. After approximately 11 and a half hours, we arrived at our destination. So, for this night stage, the best solution is this special train that connects the Finnish capital to Rovaniemi. It crosses almost the entire country from south to north, which is really handy! You can easily buy your train ticket on the Finnish national railways website.
You can also manage your booking directly via the super-efficient VR Matkalla app. We’ve got a great range of prices for you to choose from. For just €49, you can enjoy a private cabin for two people, while a cabin with shower is just €69.
Where to stay
The following morning, we arrive at the lovely little station of Rovaniemi, right in the heart of Finnish Lapland. We hop in a taxi and head to the Hotel Aakenus, where we’ve booked three nights (around €340 for the double room).
We booked our accommodation quite quickly, so we didn’t have much choice, but we selected this place because it’s basic but has all the comforts you could need, it’s clean and, most importantly, it’s in a great spot, just 10 minutes’ walk from Lordi’s square, the city’s main square.
We wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to stay in Rovaniemi and enjoy its beauty without spending a fortune. However, we would highly recommend booking in advance to have more options available to you.
How to get around in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a lovely university town with just over 63,000 inhabitants. It’s a great place to live thanks to the many Erasmus students who choose to spend their study abroad period here.
You’ll love exploring the town on foot! Walk along Koskikatu, the main street, from top to bottom and cross Lordi’s square, the pulsating centre of the town.
Of course, if you’re keen to explore the surrounding area, home to some of the most incredible natural attractions and the magical Santa Claus Village, you can rent a car right at the airport. However, in winter, with icy roads, it might not be the best idea. Alternatively, you can rely on public transport, which is really efficient and quite cheap.
We decided to go for the second option, which was to hop on the bus (number 8) from the city centre. This bus takes you right to the entrance of the Santa Claus Village for just €7 each way. Another great option is taxis! They can be a great choice if you have lots of luggage and can’t wait to get to the hotel (the average cost of a ride is around €25).
If you’re looking for a convenient way to get to the Santa Claus Village from the centre of Rovaniemi, we’ve got you covered! You can find the bus timetable and route here.
What to see in Rovaniemi: our 3-day itinerary
We didn’t rent a car, so we mainly used guided group excursions, both in the evening and during the day. This was such a great way to explore the most spectacular surroundings of Rovaniemi and discover hidden corners of rare beauty that we would have hardly been able to reach independently. We did three in total, all booked through GetYourGuide:
1. Lapland: Northern Lights Tour with BBQ (from Rovaniemi)
2. Rovaniemi: Snowshoeing and Hiking in Lapland
3. Discover the Nothern Lights Photography Tour
Day 1 – Rovaniemi and BBQ in Sami tent
On our first day in Rovaniemi, we had a quick visit to the city and its most recognisable symbol: the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge, under which the Kemijoki river flows. That evening, we joined a guided excursion with a group of lovely people from all over the world who were all keen to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
The lovely guides picked us and the other participants up from the hotel in a minivan and took us to the banks of a beautiful lake surrounded by the Lappish forest. Once we arrived, we found a large Sami tent where we were treated to a delicious barbecue of local delicacies. Unfortunately, the sky was covered in clouds, so we didn’t get to see the magnificent display of the Northern Lights.
We were really unlucky with the weather, but it was great to spend time with such passionate people from all over the world. We’d like to thank Nordic Unique Travels for making this experience possible.
Day 2 – Hiking in the Lappish forest
The next day, we woke up bright and early for our second excursion: a lovely hike in the Lappish nature. We were absolutely blown away by the truly enchanting setting, just a few kilometres from Rovaniemi. The lovely walk in the woods was a wonderful way to breathe in the pure, fresh air of the Arctic Circle and spot some local animals.
Our lovely adventure (about four hours) finished with a delicious Lappish meal, accompanied by the most refreshing blueberry tea, all prepared by our wonderful guides right on the banks of the Vaattunkijoki river. We were really lucky to have the wonderful folks at Nordic Unique Travels as our guides for this experience.
In the evening, we’ll be going on another organised tour in search of the Northern Lights, with the lovely folks from Wild About Lapland. They’re a professional photography agency, so we’re in good hands! This company is all about putting together small, intimate tours for tourists. They really want to make sure you get the most out of your experience, with lots of attention to detail.
Despite the lovely photos taken by the photographer, we were sadly unlucky and the Northern Lights didn’t make an appearance this time.
Day 3 – Santa Claus Village
We’re absolutely thrilled to be spending our third day in Rovaniemi at Santa Claus Village! Santa Claus Village is an amazing Christmas theme park that attracts visitors from all over the globe. Inside the village, you’ll find Santa’s office, where you can meet the lovely old man in person and take some photos with him (for a small fee!). And there’s more! Santa’s Village has gift shops, restaurants, and a whole range of activities for you to choose from.
To reach Santa Claus Village we took bus number 8 from the center of Rovaniemi, which takes you to your destination in just 10 minutes (8 km north-east of the city).
What to do in Santa Claus Village?
- Santa Claus’ Office: you can meet Santa Claus (the real one!) and take a photo with him. The cost of downloading the photo is absolutely in line with Finnish prices, i.e. very high! (€35 for A4 and €40 for A6).
- Santa’s Post Office: here you can send postcards and letters to your loved ones directly from Lapland. The post office has a unique Arctic Circle postmark.
- Arctic Circle Crossing Ceremony: you will receive a certificate and souvenir to commemorate your crossing of the Arctic Circle Dividing Line, which runs right through Santa Claus Village.
- Christmas House: this is a shop where you can buy Christmas souvenirs and gifts, such as handmade decorations and traditional Finnish clothing.
- Reindeer Sleigh Rides: you can experience an exciting reindeer sleigh ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Arctic Circle. You can also feed and pet the reindeer.
- Husky sleigh rides: another very popular activity, especially with children, where you can enjoy an exciting ride pulled by a team of huskies.
- Snowmobile tours: snowmobile tours are available to explore the village and the beautiful surrounding Arctic landscape.
- The Snow and Ice Hotel: here you can live a unique and magical experience in a hotel made entirely of snow and ice and decorated with magnificent ice sculptures.
- Sauna Experience: experience the Finnish sauna culture with a sauna session, complete with outdoor hot tubs and the chance to cool off in what’s effectively a frozen lake.
Although some consider Santa Claus Village to be a tourist trap, we can say the opposite: it is a very suggestive place, especially for children, and it was impossible to resist its magic every time we had the opportunity to visit it (for whatever reason, we went there every day!). It was undoubtedly the coolest attraction we came across in Lapland. We highly recommend a visit, with or without children! An added bonus is that the park is completely free to enter, with only individual activities and experiences requiring payment.
Tiziano’s Shopping Advice
I highly recommend these Columbia snow boots, perfect for snowy landscapes in Northern Europe. Ever since I bought them, they’ve become an essential for my travels to these cold destinations. These boots are incredibly reliable, especially during this time of year when snow and icy conditions are common.
What I love most is their waterproof design—your feet stay completely dry no matter how much snow you trek through, allowing you to fully enjoy your vacation without worrying about wet or cold feet. If you’re heading to these latitudes, these Columbia boots are a must-have for comfort and peace of mind!
Where to eat in Rovaniemi
The place that really won us over is Santa’s Salmon Place, located in the heart of Santa’s Village. This place (which is actually a large Sami tent) specialises in the preparation of a single delicious dish: a slice of salmon cooked Finnish style, accompanied by a cheese-based dessert and blueberry tea, simply sublime! It is well worth the long wait to get in, especially in high season. The interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting, with typical Lappish furniture and open fireplaces. Santa’s Salmon Place is open all year round for lunch or dinner, but we recommend booking in advance during the high season!
Having bought three guided tours, we also benefited from as many meals as possible being included in the price, which allowed us to save on lunch and dinner. Nevertheless, there are several restaurants in the city that serve both Nordic and international specialities.
The cost of eating out is always quite high and is around €30/€35 per person.
Extra-tip: we recommend eating at Santa’s Döner Kebab, a very nice and cheap place on Koskikatu, the main street of Rovaniemi.
How much do you spend?
This is the cost of our trip to Rovaniemi, excluding flights, for two people:
- Return night train Helsinki Airport – Rovaniemi: €98
- 3 nights at Hotel Aakenus: €339.66
- 3 guided excursions: €566
- Food and transport: approx. €200
The total therefore comes to around €1200 per couple, to which the cost of the return flight from Italy to Helsinki must be added. As mentioned above, depending on the time available and the budget, it is also possible to take a direct flight to Rovaniemi or a combination of two flights with a stopover in Helsinki.
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Conclusions
Finnish Lapland is well worth the long journey to get there. If you are prepared to spend a little money (but not too much!) and venture out, you will be fascinated by amazing landscapes that seem to have come straight out of National Geographic.
Here you can immerse yourself in the unspoilt beauty of nature, with the snow as a backdrop, and breathe in a fairytale atmosphere that will stay with you forever!
We really hope this guide about what to see in Rovaniemi in 3 days will help you plan your trip! Leave a comment in the box below indicating what you liked most about this article and don’t hesitate to ask any questions. We’re here to help!
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