The Ultimate Travel Guide to Rovaniemi, Finland

As the capital of the Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi is a fascinating destination to visit. From meeting Santa Claus to riding on a reindeer sleigh, the city has SO much to do and see! In this handy guide to Rovaniemi, I will share with you everything I wish I’d known before visiting. From the best things to do, to practical travel tips, you’ll find it all right here.

When is the best time to visit?

Winter is probably the best time to visit Rovaniemi. Visiting around Christmas will add that extra bit of magic if you plan to visit Santa Claus Village. Of course, this means that this you’ll be visiting during high season, where there’ll be tons of other tourists too.

So, if you want to avoid the crowds a bit, but still have a beautiful, snowy winter experience, visit from mid- to late January. During February, you’ll still find snow, but in the beginning of the month, the sun comes out a bit more, starting the ‘snowy spring’ season.

In general, winter is the recommended season to visit Rovaniemi, because many activities and attractions are snow-based – like husky sledding, reindeer sleighs, and snowmobiling.

If one of your bucket list items is seeing the Northern Lights, Rovaniemi is a great destination. The Aurora may be visible from late August to early April, but the best time to visit for this is during September/October and March/April. But we visited in December and got to see the Northern Lights (it’s really a game of luck)!

All that being said, Rovaniemi is still a wonderful summer destination. It’s not as crowded, and there’s TONS of nature to explore in the surrounding areas. If you want a trip consisting of exciting hikes, visiting stunning waterfalls, and experiencing the midnight sun, visit sometime from June to August.

How to get to Rovaniemi

The best way to get to Rovaniemi is by traveling via Helsinki, the capital of Finland. From here, you can easily find flights and trains to take you to Rovaniemi. Why not combine a trip to Rovaniemi with a trip to Helsinki?

By Plane

FinnAir and Norwegian both offer daily flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Rovaniemi.

If you want to travel directly to Rovaniemi without stopping in Helsinki, there are many European cities where you can find direct flights, including Paris, London, Berlin, and Vienna. These operate less frequently and are more expensive.

How To Get From the Airport to the City

Rovaniemi Airport is about 15 minutes away from the city. Your first (and cheapest) option is to take the Airport Express (shuttle bus), which leaves after each flight. The trip takes about 15 minutes and costs about 4€.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi service. This is a great option because a taxi will bring you straight to the accommodation – but it’s a bit pricier at about 20€. Still, I think it’s always important to be prepared with a back-up plan to public transportation by downloading local taxi apps before visiting any destination.

In Rovaniemi, Menevä is the most widely used app. Download it (and make sure you’ll have internet in Finland) before you even leave. Bolt is also a reliable service I like to use.

You can also arrange a private transfer by calling ahead of time, or even call the taxi service once you land (you’ll find cards with the number to call right at the exit).

Another great option is to rent a car and drive to Rovaniemi on your own.

By Train

Trains to Rovaniemi operate from all over Finland, but also from Norway and Sweden.

Of course, you can always combine a flight to Helsinki with a train to Rovaniemi – this option may save you some money.

Check the Finnish railways website for tickets. It’s a great way to see some of the beautiful landscapes, and it takes about 8-12 hours. But don’t worry – there are night trains available.

If you want a really unique experience, take the Santa Claus Express. Check the website for tickets here.

The Best Things to do

Northern Lights, Ultimate Guide to Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi has a ton of beautiful things to experience. Some of the best things to do in and around the city are:

Visit Santa Claus Village to meet Santa himself.
Go husky sledding.
Ride a reindeer sleigh.
Find waterfalls on the beautiful hiking trails.
Observe the Arctic wildlife at Ranua Wildlife Park.
See the Northern Lights.
Stay in a glass igloo or an ice hotel.

For a detailed guide to 14 exciting activities and attractions in Rovaniemi, check out my post here.

Where to Stay

Glass Igloos, Ultimate Guide to Rovaniemi

For comparison’s sake, all the prices in this section are per night for 2 people. The prices vary highly according to season and up to date as of February 2025 – check the websites for specific prices.

In Rovaniemi

Staying in the city itself is best if you’re on a budget and if you’re relying on public transport. Check out these accommodations for your trip:

Budget Options (perfect for young & solo travelers):

Hostel Café Koti (from 95€)
Hostel Tikka (from 100€ in winter, 60€ in summer)
Capsule Hotel Ibedcity (price available upon request)
AirBnBs or privately hosted apartments

Mid-range Options (best for families and if you’re looking for a private room):

Arctic Light Hotel (from 168€ in summer, 374€ in winter)
Scandic Rovaniemi City (from 163€ until November, 350€ in winter)
Arctic City Hotel (from 146€ in summer, 398€ in winter)

Glass Igloo, Ultimate Guide to Rovaniemi

Glass Igloo Options (open only from September-April):

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos (from 249€)
Apukka Resort (from 240€)
Nova Galaxy Village (from 268€)

In Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Holiday Village (from 130€)
Nova Skyland Hotels (from 355€)
Santa’s Luxury Boutique Villa (from 990€ for the whole apartment – the smallest apartment available is for 6 people, so this one’s perfect for bigger groups)

Guide to Getting Around Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi isn’t a big city and it’s very walkable – we opted for walking 90% of the time. However, if you want to explore some of the surrounding nature on your own, renting a car might be worth it.

If you plan on mostly visiting well-known spots like Ranua Wildlife Park and Santa Claus Village, check the public bus schedule – it will be a great guide to help you navigate while in Rovaniemi. Buses run regularly to these attractions and are quite affordable.

The bus operator is Linkkari, and you can buy tickets either on the bus or on the Waltti app (download it before your trip).

Alternatively, book tickets to popular attractions through a third-party tourism company (check Get Your Guide and Viator), because many of these include transport to and from your hotel.

If you want a convenient option and don’t mind paying a bit extra, consider using taxi or ridesharing services. I think it’s always worth having in your back pocket in case public transport doesn’t work out.

Download the Menevä and Bolt apps (these work very similarly) before your trip.

The Best Foods to Try

Finland, and particularly Lapland, has some of the most delicious, hearty food I’ve ever tried.

Here is my guide to the best foods to try when visiting Rovaniemi:

Poronkäristys: Sautéed reindeer, usually served with mashed potatoes and lingonberries.
Lohikeitto: Creamy Salmon soup (my personal favourite), made with potatoes and dill.
Leipäjuusto: Squeaky cheese, served warm with cloudberry jam.
Ruisleipä: Traditional rye bread, usually eaten with butter and fish.
Blueberry juice: The not-official official drink of Finland, enjoyed both hot and cold.

Here are some of the top restaurants in Rovaniemi that serve traditional food:

Nili Restaurant: Rustic and traditional Lappish restaurant.
Roka Kitchen & Wine Bar: This restaurant puts modern spins on traditional dishes.
Santamus: A unique experience that includes combining your meal with visiting a sauna.
Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi: A cozy restaurant with a very traditional style.
Arctic Restaurant: A fine dining restaurant that refines the traditional homey dishes.

Other Essential Tips

Here are some other important things to help guide you when visiting Rovaniemi:

If you’re visiting during winter, dress warmly – bring thermal layers, well-insulated anti-slip shoes, warm gloves, and head- or ear coverings.
Check public bus schedules and book taxis ahead of time, because transport can be infrequent and you want to avoid getting stranded.
If you want to visit remote destinations but don’t want to rent a car, consider paying a bit extra for guided tours which include transport.
Pack a powerbank! You phone battery will die faster in the cold weather.
Be careful when driving – during winter, roads may be icy and slippery. Also, watch out for reindeer on the road.
Service charges are included at restaurants – don’t worry about tipping.
Mosquitoes are rampant during summer – pack or buy insect repellant, especially when you’re hiking.