Rovaniemi Travelers Recommend

Situated just below Finland’s Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi offers visitors the chance to enjoy snowy fun, hunt for the Northern Lights, and discover the city’s claim-to-fame as the home of Santa Claus. Read on for how best to fill three days in the northern Finnish city.

Day 1: Snow, Sights, and Northern Lights

Get oriented in Rovaniemi on a sightseeing tour that provides an overview of the city. Check out Rovaniemi’s highlights during a panoramic drive; visit the ice-carved Snowhotel; and try snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Several tours combine husky-sledding and reindeer sleigh rides with Rovaniemi’s cutting-edge Arktikum—a museum spotlighting Arctic culture and wildlife—and the Santa Claus Village, where you can meet Santa Claus and shop for Christmas gifts.

Rovaniemi is well-located for spotting the Northern Lights, so devote your evening to hunting the natural phenomena. Set up vigil on a darkened fell or join a photography tour that comes with tips for capturing the lights on camera. Or, optimize your chance of sightings with a 3-day Northern Lights pass, which includes three consecutive evening hunts, nightly campfires, and return transport. 

Day 2: Go All Out for Snow

Dive headfirst into Rovaniemi’s winter fun on day two. Topping the list for many are reindeer- and husky-led sled rides, so book a combo tour to experience a sleigh ride by both creatures. Another option is an ice-fishing experience, during which you’ll drill a hole in a frozen lake and drop lures to snare fish. Alternatively, take a snowmobile safari and soar through snowy woods for the ultimate adrenaline fix.

Increase your chance of seeing the Northern Lights by joining another hunt in the evening. Tours vary from wait-and-watch-by-the-campfire trips to more adventurous expeditions, such as snowshoe or reindeer sleigh safaris that search for the display.

Day 3: Wildlife and Winding Down

Branch out and enjoy sights outside Rovaniemi on your final day. If it’s fall, take a nature tour to explore pristine Arctic forests and natural springs. Or, discover Ranua Wildlife Park, where you’ll see more than 50 wildlife species in habitats that replicate their natural environments. Glimpse brown bears, wolves, moose, owls, and Finland’s only polar bears.

Come evening, dine out in the mystical surroundings of the Snowland Restaurant—an igloo-shaped eatery sculpted from ice and furnished with ice tables. Alternatively, if tonight happens to be December 31, sign up for an open-air party outside Rovaniemi, welcoming the New Year with a burst of fireworks, ice bars, a snow disco, and an appearance by Santa himself.

Two days in Rovaniemi—the capital of Finnish Lapland—lets you enjoy its snow adventures, top sights, and Arctic culture. Ride a husky sled, admire local wildlife, dine in an igloo, and more. Here are our ideas for getting the most out of 48 hours in Rovaniemi.

Day 1: Sleighs and Sleds

**Morning:**Start your visit with one of Rovaniemi’s top winter attractions—a sled ride. Hold tight as a husky-drawn sleigh speeds you across frozen plains, or slow the tempo with a jingle-belled reindeer-sleigh ride through the woods—perfect for the kids. Alternatively, double up with a tour that incorporates both of these snow adventures in one outing.

**Afternoon:**Continue your exploration of Rovaniemi’s outdoor pursuits this afternoon, either drilling into a frozen lake and dropping a hook into the water on an ice-fishing adventure or whizzing through the forested fells on a snowmobile safari.

**Night:**As dusk falls, maximize your chances of seeing the northern lights by joining a guided search. Book a photography-themed tour to help you capture the lights’ full glory or a trip focused on the Finnish folklore around the phenomenon. Alternatively, choose a snowshoe trek, tramping through the snow while you scan the skies. 

Day 2: City Sights, Culture, and Santa Claus

**Morning:**Widen your horizons with some sightseeing today. Observe Arctic polar bears at Ranua Wildlife Park, or opt for a Rovaniemi city tour. Some combine sleigh rides with time at the fascinating cultural exhibitions of the Arktikum museum, while others include visits to Rovaniemi’s Santa Claus Village and ice-built Snowhotel.

**Afternoon:**If you haven’t already, make tracks for Santa Claus Village. Join a tour that begins with snowmobile and reindeer-sleigh rides before showcasing this fairy-lit Christmas park, where the kids can meet Santa Claus and mail a Santa-postmarked postcard.

**Night:**Mark your last night in style at the Snowland Restaurant outside Rovaniemi. Constructed entirely out of snow, this igloo eatery promises a magical evening. Savor exotic local dishes at an ice table and drink from ice glasses—a fitting finale to your stay.

Nestled in northern Finland, Rovaniemi comes into its own in winter when Arctic Circle snows, the northern lights, and Santa Claus attract visitors. From reindeer-sleigh rides to chasing the aurora borealis, here’s how to get the most from a day in the city.

Morning: Go for the Snow

Begin your day in authentic Lapland style, with a reindeer safari on Rovaniemi’s fells. Head into the snow-laden countryside, meet the animals, and take a sleigh ride through the woods to the jingle of reindeer bells. Alternatively, up the pace with a husky-sled ride—dashing through the snow pulled by these ever-energetic dogs—or pair up both activities on a combo trip, enjoying a reindeer-sleigh circuit before skidding over the frozen waste behind a team of huskies.

Afternoon: Sightseeing, Santa, or More Snow

Double down on Rovaniemi’s snow sports this afternoon, adding a touch of discovery or Christmas magic while you’re at it. Learn about the Arctic’s wildlife and culture on a city tour that includes Rovaniemi’s Arktikum museum before continuing to Santa Claus Village—a theme park where the kids can meet Santa. Pack a lot into your afternoon with a tour that rolls a snowmobile trek, reindeer-sleigh ride, and visit to the village into one outing, or, if it’s just speed you’re after, book a snowmobile safari and zoom off through the wooded fells.

Evening: Seeking Out the Northern Lights

This evening, seize the chance to sight the northern lights—and snap brilliant shots of them—on an evening photography tour. You’ll set up camp on a fellside with a photography guide and watch for the lights as you get photo tips on how to best capture them. Those interested in Finnish culture can choose a tour focused on the Finnish folklore that surrounds the aurora borealis, hearing the ancient legends that still swirl around this natural phenomenon. For the ultimate northern lights hunt, however, go by reindeer sleigh, scanning the skies from a sled as it glides through the snow.