Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland and the gateway to the Arctic Circle. The city is located near the Arctic Circle and about 200 km south of the North Pole. Rovaniemi is visited by millions of people each year, making it a favorite holiday destination at the North Pole.
Rovaniemi has also become a popular tourist destination for its northern lights during wintertime. It is one of the places to watch the northern lights in winter, as the town has a northern location and good accessibility to cities like Helsinki or Tampere. But one of the best places to see the Northern Lights is in the nearby town of Levi in Lapland. Find out more here.
The Finns are a bit of a strange lot, but they're very friendly and welcoming to visitors. They also love to drink beer and good food, so you'll find plenty of bars and restaurants to visit as well. There's an excellent museum in the city that explores Lapland's history; it's worth checking out if you have time!
What have we learned about Rovaniemi? We tell you the 7 facts below:
1. Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, and it is the gateway to Arctic Circle
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, and it is the gateway to Arctic Circle. The town has over 100 000 inhabitants, with an additional 20 000 in the surrounding area. The city is located in the north of Finland and has a climate that supports agriculture. The growing season is short but warm — it's possible to grow strawberries, even at high latitudes!
2. Rovaniemi is located near Arctic Circle and about 200 km south of the North Pole
The city is located near Arctic Circle and about 200 km south of the North Pole. It's a perfect destination for winter sports, with the nearby ski resorts of Levi and Saariselkä within easy reach.
It is also conveniently located between Helsinki and Amsterdam, making it an ideal base for exploring Finland's capital city as well as Northern Europe's busiest airport hub. The city itself is easily explored on foot or by public transport (including trams!), so you can take in some sights while waiting for your flight home.
Rovaniemi arctic circle crossing has been visited by millions of people every year making it the North Pole's favourite destination. With the arctic circle crossing you’ll be able to enjoy the frozen lakes, snow-covered forests, beautiful blue sky and crystal clear air at night which makes it an awesome place for northern lights.
3. One of the famous places in Lapland to see Northern Lights
The city is one of the popular places to see the Northern Lights in the wintertime of its northern location and good availability from cities like Helsinki or Tampere. It is located near Arctic Circle, which means that the sky is dark enough for Northern Lights to be visible.
This fact makes this city a popular destination during wintertime when you can enjoy snowmobile safaris, husky dog sledging or simply relax at one of many restaurants or bars with a view over vast landscapes. But one of the best and exclusives places to see the Northern Lights is in the nearby town of Levi in Lapland.
A local travel company in Lapland, Scandinavian Travel Group, offers 2 unique northern lights tours, for just €75 per person:
Northern Lights tour Polarman’s Camp, Levi
Northern Lights tour Polarman’s Camp and Snow Igloo Park
Here are some things you should know before going on your trip:
The best time for seeing Northern Lights is from mid-September until March; however, it can be seen anytime when weather conditions permit (you must check the weather forecast in advance). Find out more about the northern lights in this article.
4. Rovaniemi city is known as the home of Santa Claus
Santa's village and Santa park are located in Rovaniemi, Finland. Father Christmas Village has an igloo hotel, good gift shops and other attractions related to Father Christmas. Santa’s Village is a holiday destination in Lapland.
It’s a place where you can experience the magic of Christmas and learn about the traditions of Lapland. It has Santa's great souvenir shops where you can buy Christmas decorations or even a Santa suit if you feel like dressing up like Santa Claus on your next holiday.
If you're travelling with a family and haven't had time to book a family hotel in Rovaniemi, we recommend staying at the family resort of Levi, from where you can book a unique and inexpensive program with a transfer to Santa Claus Village.
5. Santa Park is an underground fairytale park that offers magical joy for children of all ages
Santa Park is an underground fairytale park where you can find nice souvenir shops and many other attractions related to Christmas and Santa Claus. The park is located in Rovaniemi and has a lot of activities for children to enjoy. Santa Park is open all year round and has a gift shop where you can purchase souvenirs. The park contains hundreds of thousands of lights, decorations, and figurines.
6. Snowmobile safaris are one of the most popular activities in Lapland
Snowmobile safaris are one of the most popular activities in Lapland. If you're looking for an adventure, a snowmobile tour is for you! The Levi area (not far from Rovaniemi) has about 1000 km of scenic snowmobile trails, the main principle of which is safety. Select a unique family snowmobile experience with a great deal of early booking.
Throughout Rovaniemi and Levi, many operators are offering different kinds of tours. But one of the leading operators is the Scandinavian Travel Group, which offers exclusive tours for families with children at significantly lower costs while maintaining a high quality of service. These can take anywhere from one day to several days, depending on how much time you have available and what kind of experience you want to have.
Some companies, including STG (Scandinavian Travel Group), will take you on cross-country trips through the wilderness; others might make shorter trips that centre around reindeer herding or visiting Santa Claus Village (Santa Claus is a fictional character created by American writer Clement Moore in 1823).
7. Husky and Reindeer safaris are also popular in Lapland and available around Rovaniemi
While you're in Rovaniemi, why not take a trip a little further north to Lapland Finland and visit Levi village? There are plenty of husky and reindeer safaris available here, so you can experience nature up close:
Husky safaris
Reindeer safaris
You can even find out how Father Christmas lives in his secret house!
Book your next vacation to Rovaniemi Lapland now!
If you are planning your next holiday to Lapland, Finland and want to find the best deals on hotels and other travel products, have a look at Scandinavian Travel Group.
Its partnership with more than 200 hotels in Rovaniemi and Levi will help you find accommodations that are as unique as the destination itself. Scandinavian Travel Group offers some of the best prices, so when you get there, all you have to worry about is what adventures await you.
If you need a turnkey tour to Rovaniemi, Levi (or anywhere else in Finland), just contact a Scandinavian Travel manager via the contact details on the website. Rovaniemi is a beautiful city with a rich cultural heritage and stunning nature. The best time to visit this place is during the winter when you can enjoy northern lights, snowmobile safaris and many other exciting activities.
#WinterWonderland #FamilyHolidays #LaplandTours #ScandinavianTravelExcellence #Visitfinland #Lapland #Finland #NorthernLights #AuroraBorealis #Rovaniemi
This article contains photos used with permission from ©Visit Rovaniemi and @STG.
