Panorama of the city from Jorma Eton tie with the Kemijoki river in the back
Rovaniemi is the administrative and commercial centre of Lapland province, Finland. It was rebuilt according to the urban dictates of the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. It Iìs surrounded by nature, and Lapland has some of the cleanest, freshest air in the world.
Urban Rovaniemi is easy to explore on foot within a short time. Two days can be enough to see everything, even the surroundings. With the Cultural Pass you can visit the most essential cultural establishment in Rovaniemi: the Artic science centre and museum Artikum, the forest-themed science centre Pilke and the Kourandi House of Culture.
Winter in Rovaniemi lasts seven months, from October to April. If you are seeking snowy experiences, like long snowmobile and husky safaris, March is the ideal month for your trip. Starting from January, accomodation is less expensive than in December. December is definitely considered high season and prices peak at that time.
How to best experience Rovaniemi?
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Most popular city pass for visiting Rovaniemi
Visit to Santa’s Village and Snowmobiling to Reindeer Farm
/5Discover the secrets of Santa Claus and his trusted helpers! Meet Father Christmas himself, visit Santa’s official Post Office, do some shopping, and enjoy a delicious lunch.
As low as
€204
on GetYourGuide.com
Top things to do & see in Rovaniemi
Select the following sights and activities to discover best tickets and tours available in Rovaniemi.
The city of Rovaniemi
| Country | Finland |
| Region | Lapland |
| Time in Rovaniemi |
UTC +02:00 (EET) Summer (DST) UTC +03:00 (EEST) |
| Language spoken | Finnish, Swedish |
| Currency | Euro (€, EUR) |
| Religion | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |
| Airport |
Rovaniemi Airport (10 kilometres north of the Rovaniemi city centre, it is the third-busiest airport in Finland) |
It is one of the most significant tourist city in Finland. It is famous for the numerous recreational opportunities and for being close to the Santa Claus Village. It is the second-largest city of Northern Finland after Oulu, and, together with the capital city Helsinki, it is one of Finland‘s most significant tourist cities in terms of foreign tourism.
There have probably been stable human settlements in the Rovaniemi area since the Stone Age. The deforestation of land for agricultural uses began around 750-530 BC. An increasing number of people from the east, Karelia, the south, Hämeth and the Arctic Ocean coast to the north settled in Rovaniemi starting in 500 AD. Lapland’s natural resources in the 19th century spurred the growth of the city. The gold rush and extensive logging attracted thousands of people to Lapland, and Rovaniemi became the economic center of the Lapland province.
Where is Rovaniemi?
It is located 4 miles (6 km) south of the Arctic Circle, at the confluence of the river Kemijoki and the Ounasjoki.
Enjoy the Midnight Sun
On the Artic Circle, the sun officially stays above the horizon for a full 24 hours on the summer solstice, 21st or 22nd June. However, the Midnight Sun period in Rovaniemi lasts for a month, from 6th June to 7th July. But in practice, the nights are white throughout the summer from late May until early August.
Experience the magic of the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi
The Northern Lights are visible up to two hundred nights a year in Finnish Lapland. In Rovaniemi it is possible to witness the enchanting astral show from both the city and its surroundings, from the end of August until the beginning of April. According to Sami folklore, the auroras are caused by a fox running on the heights of Lapland and whipping the snow with its tail making it lift and throwing sparks towards the northern sky. The sparks form an arc of fire, of different colours, which illuminates the dark landscape. The finnish name of the Northern Lights, “revontulet“, meaning “fox’s fire”, derives from this myth. For a more complete experience of the aurora, we highly recommend joining one of the many Northern Lights tours in Rovaniemi with expert guides that explain the scientific knowledge and myths behind this phenomenon.