15 Top Things to Do in Rovaniemi, Finland

Discover the top things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland, from Santa Claus Village and husky rides to Arctic museums, saunas and Northern Lights adventures.

I spent seven days in Rovaniemi last November, and I went there with one main goal: to hunt the Northern Lights. Ironically, although the solar activity was very strong during almost my entire trip, thick clouds covered the sky every single night.

Seven nights in Lapland and not one proper Northern Lights show! It was definitely disappointing, especially when aurora hunting was the main reason I had chosen Rovaniemi in the first place.

However, by the end of the trip, I actually felt quite lucky that I had chosen Rovaniemi. Unlike some places where the Northern Lights are almost the only reason to visit, Rovaniemi has so many other winter experiences that my trip never felt wasted.

There was Christmas atmosphere, Arctic nature, reindeer, huskies, snowy forests, Finnish sauna culture and plenty of activities to fill the days. If you are planning your first trip to Finnish Lapland, here are my top things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland, including the experiences I think make the city worth visiting even when the aurora refuses to appear.

Why Visit Rovaniemi?

Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and sits right around the Arctic Circle. It combines a small city with easy access to forests, rivers and winter landscapes, so you can spend the morning in a museum or café and the afternoon somewhere that feels completely remote.

Of course, Rovaniemi is most famous as the official hometown of Santa Claus. Santa Claus Village is open throughout the year, and the city becomes especially atmospheric as the Christmas season approaches.

But Rovaniemi is much more than Santa Claus. Husky safaris, reindeer farms, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, Finnish sauna, Arctic museums and Northern Lights tours give you plenty of alternatives.

This became especially important during my own trip. After the first few cloudy nights, I realised that building an entire Lapland holiday around seeing the Northern Lights is risky because no matter how strong the aurora forecast is, you still need a clear sky.

How to Get to Rovaniemi

By Plane

Flying is the easiest option for most international visitors. Rovaniemi Airport is around 10 kilometres from the city centre, and there are regular connections from Helsinki as well as direct seasonal flights from several European cities.

From the airport, you can continue by taxi or bus. There are connections between the airport, Santa Claus Village and central Rovaniemi, which makes visiting without a rental car quite manageable.

By Train From Helsinki

Another very Finnish way to arrive is by overnight train from Helsinki. Sleeping cabins are available, so you can leave southern Finland in the evening and wake up in Lapland the next morning.

This can also save you one hotel night. If you are travelling around Finland before visiting Lapland, I would definitely compare the night train with flying rather than automatically choosing a flight.

By Car

Renting a car gives you much more freedom once you reach Rovaniemi, particularly for Northern Lights hunting and visiting places outside the city. However, winter driving in Lapland is completely different from driving on dry European roads, so I would only choose this option if you are comfortable driving in snow, darkness and icy conditions.

You do not absolutely need a car in Rovaniemi. Many tours include transfers from central hotels, and the main attractions can be reached using public transport, taxis or organised excursions.

Where to Stay in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi City Centre

For a first visit without a car, I think the city centre is the easiest base. You are close to restaurants, supermarkets, tour meeting points and attractions such as Arktikum, while buses and organised tours can take you to the major sights outside town.

This is also practical if you are staying for several days rather than spending your whole holiday around Santa Claus Village. You will find hotels, apartments and budget accommodation directly in the centre.

Santa Claus Village

Stay around Santa Claus Village if the Christmas atmosphere is one of the biggest reasons for your trip. You can walk around the village early in the morning or later in the evening after many day visitors have left.

This is especially attractive for families with children. The downside is that you are farther from Rovaniemi city centre, so consider how often you expect to travel between the two areas.

Ounasvaara

Ounasvaara is a good choice if nature is more important to you than being directly in town. The hill is only a few kilometres from central Rovaniemi but offers forest surroundings, hiking trails, ski facilities and winter recreation.

For me, this is probably the nicest compromise between convenience and a more peaceful Lapland atmosphere.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Rovaniemi?

The best time depends completely on what you want to experience. If your priority is snow, Christmas atmosphere, huskies, reindeer and other classic Lapland winter activities, December through March is the safest period.

November is a little more unpredictable. This was when I visited, and it is still considered early winter. Temperatures can already be very cold, but permanent snow conditions are less predictable than during the middle of winter.

This is something I would pay attention to when booking activities. Some companies can operate certain winter experiences using stored snow, but natural snow conditions can still vary significantly during early winter.

September and October are interesting if the Northern Lights are your priority but you do not need a snowy landscape. Aurora season has already started, while autumn also gives you colourful landscapes and considerably more daylight.

If you dream about deep snow, frozen landscapes and the complete winter wonderland look, I would personally choose January, February or March. December is magical too, but Christmas makes it one of the busiest and most expensive periods.

Top Things to Do in Rovaniemi, Finland

1. Visit Santa Claus Village

Even if you do not normally care much about Christmas attractions, Santa Claus Village is one place you should visit while in Rovaniemi. It sits around eight kilometres from the city centre, directly on the Arctic Circle, and is open throughout the year.

The village includes Santa Claus Office, Santa Claus’ Main Post Office, souvenir shops, restaurants and different winter activities. You can easily spend several hours here rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

I would definitely keep Santa Claus Village in a Rovaniemi itinerary even for adults travelling without children. It is touristy, of course, but it is such an important part of Rovaniemi that skipping it would feel strange.

2. Cross the Arctic Circle

One of the simplest things you can do at Santa Claus Village is also one of the most symbolic: cross the Arctic Circle. The marked Arctic Circle line runs through the village, making it easy to take that classic Lapland photo.

It only takes a few minutes, but I think it is one of those little experiences that makes the trip feel real. You have travelled all the way north to the Arctic Circle, so you might as well celebrate it!

For photographs, try arriving early or later in the day when the area around the line is less crowded.

3. Meet Santa Claus

Yes, adults can meet Santa too. Santa Claus Office operates at Santa Claus Village throughout the year, and meeting Santa himself is one of Rovaniemi’s most famous experiences.

Entrance to meet Santa is generally free, while professional photographs and videos are optional paid products. Check the current opening hours before your trip because they can vary depending on the season.

It might sound like something purely for children, but once you are surrounded by snow, Christmas lights and wooden buildings in Finnish Lapland, it becomes surprisingly easy to accept the whole Santa experience.

4. Send a Postcard From Santa Claus’ Main Post Office

While you are in Santa Claus Village, stop at Santa Claus’ Main Post Office and send a postcard home. It is an official Finnish post office, but naturally it comes with a very strong Christmas theme.

This is a much nicer souvenir than buying another magnet. Send one to your family, your friends or even yourself so that you have something waiting when you return home.

You can also choose postcards to be delivered closer to Christmas, which makes this a fun surprise for friends or family several weeks after your trip.

5. Hunt the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights were the main reason I went to Rovaniemi, so naturally this has to be high on my list. Unfortunately, I stayed for seven nights with strong solar activity but had cloud covering the sky every night.

That experience taught me one important lesson: a strong aurora forecast is useless if you cannot see the sky. November is already within the Northern Lights season, but the weather will always have the final say.

If you do not have a car, joining an aurora tour is convenient because guides can drive away from the city lights and potentially search for clearer skies. If you rent a car and are confident driving in Arctic winter conditions, you have more flexibility to check cloud maps and move independently.

Most importantly, never make seeing the Northern Lights the only measure of whether your Rovaniemi trip was successful. I didn’t see them during my seven days, yet Rovaniemi still gave me plenty of reasons to enjoy the trip.

Learn more: How to Hunt Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

6. Go on a Husky Sled Ride

Few activities feel more connected to Lapland than travelling through a snowy forest behind a team of huskies. Rovaniemi has everything from short introductory rides to much longer husky safaris.

Before booking, check how long you actually spend on the sled because two tours with similar descriptions can offer very different riding times. I would choose a longer forest route if your budget allows rather than the shortest possible experience.

Also check how the kennel operates and how the dogs are cared for. A responsible operator should be happy to explain the dogs’ routines, training and living conditions.

7. Take a Reindeer Sleigh Ride

If husky sledding is the faster Lapland experience, a reindeer sleigh ride is the peaceful one. Sitting under warm blankets while moving slowly through a snowy forest feels much closer to the traditional image of northern Finland.

Some experiences also include a visit to a reindeer farm where you can learn about reindeer herding and how important reindeer have traditionally been to life in Lapland.

This is especially nice if you are travelling as a couple or with young children and want something quieter than snowmobiling.

8. Try Snowmobiling Through the Lapland Forest

If you want more speed, book a snowmobile safari. Snowmobile tours are among the classic winter activities in Rovaniemi and can range from short beginner trips to longer journeys through forests and frozen landscapes.

For first-time riders, a guided tour makes much more sense than trying to arrange everything yourself. Operators normally provide Arctic clothing and safety equipment, but always check exactly what is included before booking.

Remember that conditions depend on snow. If you visit during early winter like I did, confirm that the activity is operating normally before making your plans.

9. Experience a Finnish Sauna and Ice Swimming

You cannot really come to Finland without experiencing sauna culture at least once. Rovaniemi offers traditional wood-heated saunas, modern sauna retreats and winter experiences where you can alternate between a hot sauna and an icy river or lake.

Ice swimming sounded slightly crazy to me the first time I learned how normal it is in Finland, but pairing a cold plunge with the heat of a sauna is definitely one of the most memorable ways to experience local culture.

You do not have to force yourself into icy water, either. Simply spending an evening in a Finnish sauna after being outdoors in freezing temperatures is already wonderful.

10. Explore Ounasvaara

You do not have to travel far from Rovaniemi to find proper Arctic nature. Ounasvaara is only a few kilometres from the city centre and offers forests, viewpoints and year-round outdoor activities.

During winter, you can walk through snowy forests or try activities such as skiing and snowshoeing. It is an easy place to escape the city for a few hours without committing to a full-day excursion.

I like places like Ounasvaara because they give you a break from organised tours. After several scheduled activities, sometimes the best thing to do is simply walk through a quiet forest.

11. Learn About the Arctic at Arktikum

For a cold, cloudy or snowy day, go to Arktikum Science Centre and Museum. It explores Arctic nature, northern science, the history of Lapland and life in the far north.

I think this kind of museum is particularly useful near the beginning of a Lapland trip. Understanding more about the Arctic environment, local history and the Northern Lights adds context to everything you see afterwards.

Do not save every indoor attraction for bad weather, though. In November, when daylight becomes quite short, museums are also a good way to use those darker afternoon hours.

12. Visit Arctic SnowHotel

If you visit during the main winter season, Arctic SnowHotel is one of Rovaniemi’s most unusual attractions. The hotel is rebuilt each winter using snow and ice, with individually decorated rooms, ice sculptures, an Ice Bar and an Ice Restaurant.

You do not have to sleep there to see it. Day and evening visits are available, and some experiences combine a hotel tour with dinner or other winter activities.

This is one activity I would not plan for an early-November trip because the SnowHotel normally opens later in the winter. If your visit falls between December and the end of the snow season, however, it is definitely worth considering.

13. Take a Day Trip to Ranua Wildlife Park

If you have more than three or four days in Rovaniemi, Ranua Wildlife Park makes an easy day trip. The park specialises in Arctic and northern animal species, including polar bears, lynx, reindeer, wolves and snowy owls.

You can join an organised day tour from Rovaniemi or drive independently if you have rented a car. Give yourself enough time because this is not somewhere I would rush through in an hour or two.

I would put Ranua lower on the priority list for a very short Rovaniemi trip, but with seven days like I had, you have enough time to include one or two longer excursions outside the city.

14. Go Snowshoeing or Cross-Country Skiing

You do not need a snowmobile to explore Lapland’s forests. Snowshoeing is slower, quieter and often gives you more time to notice how beautiful the snowy landscape actually is.

Cross-country skiing is another very Finnish experience, and there are plenty of opportunities around Rovaniemi and Ounasvaara. Beginners can also join guided introductions if they have never tried either activity before.

For me, these quieter activities are a nice contrast to husky rides and snowmobiling. Even a short trip into the forest can be memorable when everything around you is completely covered in snow.

15. Try Ice Fishing and Enjoy a Campfire in the Snow

Ice fishing is probably one of the slowest activities you can do in Rovaniemi, and that is exactly the point. After drilling through the ice, you sit quietly beside a frozen lake and discover a very different side of Arctic life.

Many winter excursions combine outdoor activities with a fire, hot drinks or simple food in a traditional-style shelter. After spending hours outside in Lapland temperatures, even a basic hot drink beside a fire suddenly feels amazing.

You do not have to fill every day with high-adrenaline experiences. One thing I appreciated about a seven-day trip was having enough time to enjoy the slower side of Lapland as well.