By air
Rovaniemi (RVN), ~10 km
Europe · Finland
Rovaniemi, Finland
Lapland's aurora and Santa's village
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to March for snow and the aurora
Don't miss
Santa Claus Village
The Arktikum
The Arctic Circle
The Ounasvaara hill
Things to do
Northern lights
Husky and reindeer safaris
Crossing the Arctic Circle
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Tom Corser · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Serious winter gear
A quieter corner
The frozen waterfalls of Korouoma canyon
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time for the aurora in Rovaniemi?
December to March, for snow and the aurora. Bring serious winter gear.
What is there to do in Rovaniemi?
Watch for the northern lights, go on a husky or reindeer safari, and cross the Arctic Circle. Try reindeer and cloudberries while you are there.
Which sights in Rovaniemi should I see?
Santa Claus Village, the Arktikum and the Ounasvaara hill. For something quieter, seek out the frozen waterfalls of Korouoma canyon.
How far is Rovaniemi's airport?
Rovaniemi (RVN) is about 10 km away.
About Rovaniemi
- Riverside
- Forest
Where it is
Rovaniemi is the capital of the region of Lapland in northern Finland, where the Ounasjoki river joins the Kemijoki, about 6 km south of the Arctic Circle amid boreal forest and low fells.
History
Rovaniemi grew in the 19th century as logging and the search for gold drew thousands of people to Lapland. During the Lapland War in 1944 about 90 per cent of its buildings were destroyed, and the town was rebuilt with the help of the architect Alvar Aalto.
People
Rovaniemi's people speak Finnish, and forestry and tourism are important livelihoods, while reindeer herding continues in the surrounding countryside and the University of Lapland brings many students. A classic Lappish dish is sautéed reindeer with mashed potato and lingonberries.
Known for
- Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle
- The northern lights
- Husky and reindeer safaris
- The Arktikum science museum
- Skiing on Ounasvaara hill
Did you know?
Alvar Aalto's post-war plan for Rovaniemi laid out the city in the shape of a reindeer's head, with the main roads as its antlers and the sports stadium as its eye.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.