THERE´S SO MUCH TO SEE IN THE CAPITAL OF FINNISH LAPLAND
Located just 8 km south of the Arctic Circle, the city of Rovaniemi is considered the capital of Finnish Lapland. With a population just shy of 62,000, it is the regional administrative and commercial centre as well as a major hub of tourism and recreation in the area.
Although there has been continuous human settlement in the Rovaniemi area since at least the Stone Age, few of the buildings date back before 1944 as most of the city was destroyed during WWII. When the city was rebuilt, it was designed with input by famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, who planned the city’s footprint in the shape of a reindeer’s head and designed several of its new structures.
Not designed by Aalto, but arguably the most popular attraction of the Rovaniemi area, is the Santa Claus Village. This whimsical place is open year-round for visitors of all ages to meet Santa and his elves. Another notable attraction is the Arktikum, a museum and science centre that hosts exhibitions about the culture, history and modern life in the arctic.
Other popular activities available near Rovaniemi include dog sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, reindeer farm visits and ice fishing.
7 Must-Do Summer Activities in Rovaniemi
Berry Nice Day – Guided Berry Picking Excursion in Rovaniemi
The forests of Finnish Lapland forests are full of wild berries, but without the expert help of a local, it might be difficult to spot the best berry places. On this 3 hour guided berry picking trip you will learn the basics about the superfoods which you can pick up totally fresh and pure from the bushes. Blueberries and cloudberries abound, and are waiting to be picked up! Enjoy your berries as a snack and savour a cup of traditional pot coffee cooked over an open fire while spending a splendid day outdoors in fresh air.
Midnight Sun Floating on a Rovaniemi Lake
Enjoy the evening sunlight in a forest far from the city noise, on a wilderness lake where the sun doesn’t set. There, float away in the middle of an arctic lake gazing at the nightless night sky, listening to birdsong, and experiencing nature from a different perspective. Dressed up in a floating suit, you’ll cosy, warm and dry when entering, and leaving, the lake. Your guide for the Midnight Sun Floating Experience prepares hot drinks over an open fire and you will toast the midnight sun. With a rested mind you head back to the city.
Arctic Survival Experience Excursion in Rovaniemi
Learn how to survive in the wild forest together with a guide on a 4 hour day trip called Arctic Survival Experience. Following a transfer from the city centre by car, you will build together an emergency shelter, make a fire without matches, forage for food from nature and prepare a snack of whatever is found. Try your hand on a target bird with an air rifle, and fish from a clear water pond, before preparing your catch before the fire. The day is suitable for the whole family!
Summer Delight – Visit Reindeer, Huskies & Santa Claus in Rovaniemi
The first stop is a visit to reindeer and husky farms, with guided tours at both. At the Summer Delight Tour you’ll meet an authentic reindeer herder and farmer, a professional husky musher, and of course meet the animals for photos. Before continuing your journey, relax by an open fire with a cup of coffee and hear stories of the year with the reindeer. The day ends with a visit to Santa Claus Village and the numerous souvenir shops, Santa’s Post Office and surely get to meet the man himself in his office.
Best of Rovaniemi Sightseeing Trip
Safartica’s 5 hour Best of Rovaniemi Sightseeing trip is perfect for visitors curious to discover the hidden gems in forests and hills surrounding Rovaniemi city. You will be driven around Rovaniemi to the places locals take their friends and family, their favourite picnic spots and hiking trails. Your guide will fill you in on the local lifestyles, and about life in Lapland. Your visit will include some of the region’s finest natural formations, ancient sites, and of course the best views over the wilderness landscapes for taking great photos!
Back to Nature Guided Tour in Rovaniemi
On this 3 hour Back to Nature tour guests experience the best of Finnish Lapland – its wild nature, arctic environment, and the purest and freshest air and water. The silence of the surroundings, the sound of wind in the trees, the taste of fresh running water from clear springs, the scent of new forest growth. Your guide will take through all these intangibles on a short trip out of the city, to experience the forest and all it has to offer.
Fat-Bike Day Trip in Rovaniemi
If you’d love to take a biking trip into a deep, wild forest then this 4 hour Fat Bike Trip is perfect for you. The bikes are taken by car to the beginning of a forest trail, and with a backpack of snacks, you set off for between 5 and 20 km of off-road riding on the numerous dirt tracks in the region. There will be time for a pit stop, to have coffee and grilled sausages over an open fire.