The ‘Official Home of Santa Claus’ Is Also a Northern Lights Destination — How to Visit

Rovaniemi wasn’t always known as the home of Santa Claus. It only took on the title in the 1980s, four decades after the city was destroyed during World War II. As Rovaniemi rebuilt itself and became a tourism destination — spurred by a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt in 1950 — it entered a new chapter, one that became firmly associated with the man in the red suit (outside of local traditions and folklore) when Santa Claus Village opened in 1985.

Located on the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Village is an amusement park that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. While meeting Santa and sending a letter from the famous Santa Claus Post Office are certainly festive ways to celebrate the winter season (or whenever you choose to visit), there are several more reasons to travel to the capital of Finnish Lapland.

“Wherever we live in Rovaniemi, nature is very close,” says the chairman of Rovaniemi Guides, Kati Nivala, who has been a tour guide in the city since 2009. Walking from the city center, she says, you can be “in the forest, or by the lake, or by the river” in just 10 minutes. Hiking, hunting for the northern lights, ice floating, dog sledding, and cross-country skiing are all activities that will immerse you in the great outdoors — but make sure you bring the proper attire.

“The most important thing to think of before traveling to Rovaniemi is to prepare for the weather,” says Kyle Miller, the Finland Pack Leader for Flash Pack. “While a massive down coat is nice, it’s much smarter to dress in layers. A nice wool base layer, followed by a down coat, and, lastly, a waterproof coat will see you through in style.”

If you’re hoping to embark on an extra-memorable, albeit cold, winter vacation this year, Rovaniemi is the perfect choice. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip. 

Best Hotels & Resorts

Arctic Light Hotel

Miller calls Arctic Light Hotel the “best hotel within the city.” The boutique property offers its guests an impressive (and complimentary) buffet breakfast, and the 57 guest rooms are outfitted with Ritual toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers. In true Finnish fashion, there’s also a sauna on property.

Arctic SnowHotel

If you’ve ever wanted to sleep inside a hotel completely made of ice, you’ll want to book a stay at Arctic SnowHotel between Dec. 15 and March 31. At any given time, the temperature within the hotel (which is carved to look different each year) is between 23 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit, though guests stay warm and cozy within their sleeping bags. Another option would be to book the glass-roofed igloos — open to guests from Sept. 1 — and doze off under the stars and northern lights.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Travelers who’d rather sleep among the trees should look no further than the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. The standalone tree houses were built with expansive windows, and the larger Arctic GlassHouses even come with their own fireplaces, saunas, and kitchenettes.

Hotel Vartiosaari

Billed as a “private island hotel experience,” the 11-room Hotel Vartiosaari is located on an island in the middle of the River Kemijoki, just 10 minutes from Rovaniemi’s city center. The Scandinavian-style rooms feature neutral colors, natural woods, and plenty of light, and guests are encouraged to discover Finnish sauna culture during their stay.

Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara

Sky Ounasvaara comes recommended by Nivala. The property is relatively remote and sits atop Ounasvaara, a hill, ski resort, and recreation center. One of the most notable features of the property is the fact that more than half of the rooms have their own saunas — which is a welcomed activity after a day out skiing, biking, or hiking.

Things to Do

Go on a husky safari.

“Husky safaris are a popular choice and for good reason. There is something magical about whisking through the Lapland scenery at speed, led by an adorable team of huskies,” says Miller. There are several different ones to choose from — including both private and group tours.

See the northern lights.

According to Nivala, you don’t need to book a tour to see the aurora borealis: “If you can see the stars in the sky, you can also see the northern lights, if they are active.” If you do want to head out of town to potentially spot them, you can find everything from snowmobiling and skiing tours to those specifically created with photography in mind.  “2024 is one of the best years in decades to see the northern lights, too,” adds Miller.

Spend an afternoon cross-country skiing.

“Skiing may be an underrated activity for Rovaniemi, but it’s also a local highlight; it’s such an important part of Finnish culture,” says Miller. “It’s all about immersion in nature, the Finnish way, and it feels really authentic.” Arctic Fox Expeditions leads tours across frozen lakes and through snowy forests.

Explore Santa Claus Village.

Is Santa Claus Village touristy? Definitely, but Nivala says it’s “worth the trouble,” adding that grabbing a photo with “the one and only ‘real’ Santa” is a highlight for many travelers.

Visit local museums.

Nivala recommends carving out time in your trip schedule to visit Arktikum and Pilke. The former is a science center and museum that covers the nature, culture, and history of the Arctic and its people. Pilke, on the other hand, is dedicated to educating people about the forests in Finnish Lapland.

Best Shopping

Shopping Malls

Nivala says you can find “everything that you need” in the shopping malls located in Rovaniemi’s city center. Rinteenkulma and Sampokeskus both have a roster of shops and boutiques selling clothing, shoes, sporting gear, souvenirs, and more.

Prisma

To understand a destination, the best place to shop is often the local grocery store. “In all honesty, I think a fun place to go is Prisma, which is just our main grocery store. But it’s exactly this kind of neighborhood staple that’ll give you a genuine snapshot into local life and culture. For example, here in Lapland, our main grocery store has an entire aisle dedicated to cross-country skiing wax,” says Miller.

Best Restaurants

Restaurant Nili

For traditional Finnish food, Nivala suggests Restaurant Nili. “It’s not very big, but it’s very popular. So I would recommend you make a reservation,” she says. The menu features items like reindeer, salmon, and braised bear steak.

Gustav Kitchen & Bar

“Gustav’s is located in the heart of the city center and uses fine local ingredients for a true culinary delight,” says Miller. Expect fresh, hearty delicacies from the kitchen — lamb shank, scallops, a good portion of the sourdough Knut bread, named after Gustav’s grandfather, and homemade butter.

Ravintola Roka

“Ravintola Roka is a street bistro offering delicious Finnish fare at a reasonable price,” says Miller, who warns that “it can get busy, so aim to arrive early if you can.” The street food menu includes a variety of sandwiches (reindeer included), and the bistro offers traditional Finnish salmon soup, salad, steak, and a couple of different desserts.

Best Time to Visit

“While most places in the world have four seasons, I often joke that Rovaniemi has 12,” says Miller. “Each month offers a completely different experience, from changing local landscapes to the weather.” For a true winter wonderland, plan your trip between December and March.  “In March, the days are already getting a lot longer. There’s a lot of sunshine and there’s a lot of snow… You can go skiing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling… husky tours, reindeer tours — everything is still available,” explains Nivala.

Don’t sleep on the shoulder seasons, though. “Most people picture Lapland in terms of snow-covered forests in January, but September is also a great time to visit this region [with] everything from scenic river trips to woodland saunas,” says Miller. Nivala agrees, sharing that mid-August until November is a great time to visit, especially if you want to see the aurora. Her reasoning is two-fold: one, the nights will be getting darker, and, two, there’s a lack of ice on the rivers and lakes: “So if there are auroras in the night, they reflect from the water, and that is something that is very nice to see,” she says.

How to Get There

Travelers coming from outside of Finland typically fly into Helsinki Airport (HEL). From there, you can either fly to Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) or take the train. The first option is quick; Finnair and Norwegian both serve RVN, and the flight is about an hour and a half. The train is another possibility. The ​InterCity train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi takes anywhere from 8.5 to 10 hours during the day, and the overnight routes end up being around 12 hours long.

How to Get Around

If you’re planning on staying in the city center, you don’t need a car. Everything is either walkable or accessible by bus (the only form of public transport in Rovaniemi). One-way bus tickets, which can be purchased from the driver, cost €3.60 for adults and €1.80 for children. Timetables and routes can be found online.