Looking for a little bit of magic? The capital of Finnish Lapland is the place to go. Discover all the enchanting things to do in Rovaniemi with my guide, from husky sledding and snowmobiling to hunting the Northern Lights.
When I visited Rovaniemi in March, I fell in love. I timed the trip for the spring equinox to give myself the best possible shot at the aurora, and Lapland delivered: a mad geomagnetic storm, a glass-roofed suite at Apukka Resort, a day racing across the snow on a snowmobile and a husky safari through the forest.
Combine a love of winter sports with adorable animals like huskies and reindeer and you’re onto a winner. This charming little city sits right on the Arctic Circle and has lots of snowy fun to get involved with.
Aside from the furry friends, this is one of the best places in Finland to spot the Aurora Borealis, with many hotels in Finnish Lapland dedicated to seeing them. However, here, experiencing the hunt is part of the fun.
It’s tough to believe that this gorgeous town was almost entirely destroyed in the Second World War. Luckily, the official hometown of Santa Claus has been rebuilt and is thriving, and it’s perfect for a winter holiday.
Give yourself at least three or four days to explore, and a week if you want to try all the different snowy experiences. Winter (roughly November to March) is snow season, the aurora season runs from late August to early April, and June to August brings the Midnight Sun. I’ve organised this guide by season so you can see what’s on whenever you go.
Unmissable things to do
Go sledding with huskies
Huskies are to the Arctic what labradors are to water: they are happiest when fully submerged in colder weather. But they are also dogs that love being around people, and Finland has taken advantage of their loveable and energetic personalities.
With their widespread presence in Scandinavian and Nordic countries, huskies are a great way to move around the snowy forests here. So it’s no surprise that husky sledding is one of the top things to do in winter.
I did the self-driven husky adventure run by Apukka Resort and absolutely loved it. It was one of the highlights of my trip.
You’ll find many husky kennels around the city that are popular for their sled rides. Sledding is at its best in the winter months when there’s lots of snow. However, some farms run husky rides in autumn too, when the dogs pull a cart with wheels instead of a sled.
Some popular husky sledding tours include the Apukka Husky Adventure, the one I did, and a husky safari with 1, 5, 10 or 20 km options, where you can drive your own team on the longer routes.
Book the Apukka Husky Adventure Here
Top Tip
Book your husky tour well in advance, especially if you’re travelling over Christmas or in February half term, as the best slots sell out.
Sled with some reindeer
You can find reindeer all over the area. And the kicker is, you can go sledding with them.
Reindeer in Finland are semi-domesticated: they roam freely through the forests for much of the year, but every single one belongs to a herder. In Lapland, there are roughly as many reindeer as there are people. So if you want to go reindeer sledding, you start by going to a reindeer farm, where you will learn lots of reindeer facts and stories about herding life before the real ride begins.
Fun fact about reindeer: their winter coat is made of hollow hairs that trap warm air, which is how they cope with temperatures that would floor the rest of us. They’re also naturally shy, so make sure to be quiet and calm around them. And if you’re driving, watch out: reindeer wander onto the roads all over Lapland.
Book A Reindeer Farm Visit with Sleigh Ride Here
Enjoy a sauna like a local
We all know the stereotype by now: Finns love saunas. Fortunately, this is true, and when you’re in Finland, you sauna like the rest. There are around three million saunas in a country of five and a half million people, and Finnish sauna culture is on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Most places you stay will have a sauna. Even Finnish homes usually have built-in saunas. And this city is no exception, so if your hotel has one, it’s one of the best free things to do here.
One must follow the locals’ example to experience the sauna as the Finns do. Many locals spend around 15 minutes in the sauna getting hot, then go outside into the freezing weather, only to go right back into the sauna. Some go as far as rolling in the snow or plunging into a hole cut in a frozen lake before returning to the heat.
It may sound incredibly crazy, and you’re probably wondering why someone would do this. Well, it is crazy, but you must also try it. The feeling of your body temperature swinging from icy cold to sweltering hot is unlike any other. Just keep your dips short.
At Apukka, there’s a wood-heated lakeside sauna on Lake Olkkajärvi, and in winter they cut a hole in the ice so you can take an Arctic dip between rounds. If you’re staying in town, a popular option is a traditional sauna and ice swimming experience.
Book A Traditional Sauna and Ice Swimming Experience Here
Hunt for the Northern Lights
Ah, the famous Aurora Borealis. Seeing the Northern Lights is the main reason a lot of people visit Lapland in the first place, and I was no different.
The city is one of the best places to spot them, and you can usually catch the Northern Lights between late August and early April. They can be seen on around 150 nights a year in Finnish Lapland when the skies are clear.
I timed my trip for the spring equinox on purpose. Geomagnetic activity tends to be particularly high around the equinoxes in March and September, and the weather tends to be a bit kinder too. It paid off. I was incredibly lucky and saw a mad geomagnetic storm, with the lights swirling green over Apukka.
The key to seeing these lights is going outside the city where there is no light pollution. Also, make sure you go on a clear, starry night: you’re really chasing clear skies, not the lights themselves. I use the Aurora app to keep an eye on activity, and Windy.com Premium for hourly cloud forecasts. Read up on the best time to see the Northern Lights before you book.
If you’re not driving, I recommend you go on a Northern Lights tour rather than trying to find them alone. The guides know all the ins and outs of where to see them and will drive to wherever the skies are clearest. Many can rent you warm winter clothing too.
For a small-group hunt with photos included, I recommend the Guaranteed Northern Lights Hunt.
Book A Small-Group Northern Lights Hunt Here
Snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing
Snowmobiling in winter is a big deal in Finland. Loved by tourists and locals alike, it’s a fun way to discover new places, and I spent a brilliant day bombing across the snow on one. You can go on a snowmobile safari through the forests, head out ice fishing, or even cruise around the edges of town.
Skiing is also a popular activity. Ounasvaara, a fell almost in the centre of town, has a family-friendly ski resort with 11 slopes and 5 lifts. The 2026/27 season runs from 11 November 2026 to 17 April 2027, and there are cross-country trails too.
And finally, if you’re not into fussing around with a lot of equipment, skis or snowboards, you should try snowshoeing. You can strap a pair of snowshoes over your snow boots and head off. It’s a fun and low-maintenance way of getting around Finnish Lapland.
Book Your Snowmobile Safari Here
Brilliant things to see and do in winter
Visit Santa Claus
Rovaniemi has the nickname of the official hometown of Santa Claus. It sits on the Arctic Circle in Lapland and is what we imagined the North Pole to look like as children. So, of course, they had to play with that reputation. And thus came Santa Claus Village, one of the most popular things to do at Christmas.
Santa Claus Village is about 8 km north of the city centre. It’s open every day of the year, it’s free to enter and it’s free to meet Santa in his office (it’s the official photo package that costs). The Arctic Circle line is marked across the central square, so you can step (or cartwheel) over it.
There are also husky rides from the village’s husky park and reindeer rides in winter, so it really feels like you’re at the North Pole at Santa’s workshop. And if you want to send a letter or card, Santa Claus’ Main Post Office will stamp it with its own Arctic Circle postmark.
A couple of kilometres away, SantaPark is an underground Christmas theme park in a cavern beneath the Arctic Circle, with an Elf School, Mrs Gingerbread’s Bakery and a magic train ride. It reopens for the 2026/27 season on 31 October 2026. You can book SantaPark tickets here.
Book A Reindeer, Huskies & Santa Claus Village Experience Here
Don’t be put off visiting if you don’t have kids. This really is a spot for all ages.
Sleep under the Northern Lights in a glass igloo
If seeing the aurora is your top priority, stay outside the city in one of the glass igloos that Lapland does so well. During my visit, I stayed at Apukka Resort, about 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre and Santa Claus Village, and absolutely loved it.
I recommend the Lappish Kammi Suite (now listed as the Kammi Glass Igloo Suite), a glass-topped dome over two floors, filled with cosy furnishings and a roaring fire to keep us nice and toasty. The beds were uber comfortable, which was much needed after a day of snowmobiling, and the kitchenette was fully equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay. Apukka also runs its own husky, snowmobile and Northern Lights tours, so you can book everything in one place.
If you’d rather stay close to Santa, Nova Skyland Hotel is a stylish hotel a few minutes’ walk from Santa Claus Village, with contemporary Scandinavian rooms, a sauna and large windows for watching the sky. The staff can arrange reindeer farm visits, husky sledding and Northern Lights tours, and it’s handy for the airport.
Check Rates and Availability
On a budget? Hostel Café Koti on Valtakatu in the city centre has dorms and private rooms, a shared kitchen and lounge, and a sauna, and it’s about a ten-minute walk from Arktikum. The hostel allows pets (for a small fee), so you don’t have to leave your furry friend behind.
Check Rates and Availability
For more glass igloos and aurora cabins across Lapland, see my guide to the best places to see the Northern Lights in Finland.
Go ice fishing
You cannot go to Finland and not try ice fishing. An authentic Finnish experience, ice fishing is popular here, and there are many tours to take people fishing.
During an ice fishing tour, the guides will teach you how to ice fish like a Finn. You will learn how to drill a hole in the thick ice, how to fish with a short ice-fishing rod and lure, and what to do when you make a catch.
If you want, they will show you how to clean your fish, and on some tours you can cook it over a campfire and proudly chow down on your self-caught lunch.
Try the Ice Fishing Experience Tour for a fun few hours of catching fish and learning about Finnish culture.
Book An Ice Fishing Experience Tour Here
Eat in an ice restaurant at Snowman World
With temperatures sometimes dropping below -30°C, eating inside a block of ice sounds like madness. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Snowman World in Santa Claus Village builds an ice bar and snow restaurant every winter, along with ice slides and a skating rink.
For the 2026/27 season, it’s open from 6 December 2026 to 17 March 2027, weather permitting. Lunch and dinner sell out over Christmas, so book ahead.
Book A Snowman World Entry Ticket Here
Visit the Arctic SnowHotel
About 25 minutes’ drive from Santa Claus Village in Sinettä, the Arctic SnowHotel is rebuilt from snow and ice every winter. Inside, you’ll find an ice bar, an ice restaurant and even an ice chapel, plus a snow sauna (yes, really).
The snow hotel is open from 15 December to 31 March, and you don’t have to sleep in it to see it: day visits are available. If you do want to stay, its glass igloos are a warmer way to watch for the aurora.
Hike to the frozen waterfalls of Korouoma Canyon
About 105 km south-east of Rovaniemi, Korouoma Canyon is one of the most dramatic sights in Lapland in winter. Its waterfalls freeze into towering columns of blue and white ice, and ice climbers come from all over to tackle them.
A guided day trip takes care of the drive and the 4 to 6 km hike, with a barbecue in the forest along the way. Wear proper winter boots, as the trail is icy.
Book A Korouoma Canyon Frozen Waterfalls Hike Here
Hang out with polar bears at Ranua Wildlife Park
Located about an hour’s drive south of the city, Ranua Wildlife Park is a must-see. You can spot some of the most beautiful Arctic animals here. In fact, the park is home to around 50 Arctic species and about 150 individual animals.
Wolves, brown bears, otters, and lynxes can all be found at the zoo, but the most popular animal is the polar bear. And for a good reason: it’s not easy to spot polar bears outside of the Arctic, since they’re very limited in where they can survive. The park is open every day of the year.
So pack a flask and some snacks and take a trip to Ranua Wildlife Park. Just don’t feed the animals.
If you want a guided tour of Ranua Zoo, I recommend the Ranua Wildlife Park Day Tour.
Book The Ranua Wildlife Park Day Tour Here
Things to do all year round
Discover the Arctic at Arktikum
Arktikum is the city’s science centre and museum, and it’s the best place in town to get to grips with life in the far north. It houses both the Arctic Centre and the Regional Museum of Lapland, so you get Arctic nature and science alongside the history of the region and its people.
The building itself is a highlight, with a long glass-roofed gallery running through the middle. Tickets cost €22 and you’ll want an hour or two. It’s closed on Mondays for most of the year, so check the opening times before you go.
Book Your Arktikum Ticket Here
Explore Alvar Aalto’s Rovaniemi
When retreating German troops burned Rovaniemi in 1944, around 90 per cent of the buildings in the town centre were destroyed. The architect Alvar Aalto drew up the plan to rebuild it in 1945, with main roads that branch out like a reindeer’s antlers.
Aalto’s Administrative and Cultural Centre is still the heart of the city. Look out for the City Library (1965), Lappia Hall (1975), which is home to the Rovaniemi Theatre, and the City Hall, completed in 1986 after his death under the direction of his wife, the architect Elissa Aalto.
Cross the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge
This was a logging town, and logs were floated down the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers for decades. The Jätkänkynttilä, or Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge, completed in 1989, is a nod to that history.
Its two pylons are topped with lights shaped like a lumberjack’s candle: a log split in two with a fire burning between the halves. It’s especially pretty after dark in winter, and the riverside path below is lovely for a walk.
See art at Korundi House of Culture
One of the few buildings in town to survive the Second World War, Korundi was built in 1933 as a mail truck depot and later extended with bricks salvaged from the ruins. Today it’s home to the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra.
It’s a great rainy-day (or snowy-day) stop, with exhibitions of contemporary Finnish and northern art, concerts in the Korundi Hall and a café.
Cool things to see and do in summer
Paddle the rivers past Kotisaari Island
Kotisaari Island is a weird one. Loggers previously used this small island in the Kemijoki River as a base while they floated logs down the river. When trucks became the norm to transport logs, they abandoned the island.
For years, its restored boathouse ran as a summer restaurant you could only reach by boat, but it closed after the summer of 2026. You can still see the island and its old buildings from the water.
In summer, the best way to experience the area’s rivers and lakes is by canoe or kayak. Guided canoe trips run on Lake Olkka (right by Apukka) and on the rivers around town, and it’s a magical thing to do on a bright summer night.
Enjoy the Midnight Sun
Every year here, from early June to early July, the sun doesn’t set at all. This is the Midnight Sun, a phenomenon that only occurs in the Arctic Circle. Around the summer solstice, the sun stays above the horizon for 24 hours, and the bright, nightless nights last from late May into August.
There are plenty of places to experience the Midnight Sun. One of the most popular is Ounasvaara Fell, on the edge of town. It’s one of the more magical things to do at night here, even though it won’t feel like it’s nighttime.
So pack a picnic basket with snacks and Finnish beers, and experience the polar day known as the Midnight Sun. You can even join a midnight sun canoe trip or fell hike while the sun shines on you.
Go berry picking
From lingonberries to blueberries, you’ll find berries almost everywhere in Lapland. You can even spot the golden jewels known as cloudberries, an amber-coloured berry with a sweet-sour taste. Berry picking is one of the most fun things to do in summer.
Thanks to Finland’s everyman’s right, anyone can pick wild berries in the forest for free. The season runs from late July into September, depending on the berry.
Moose, bears and reindeer enjoy the berry season almost as much as the locals. This means it has to be worth an afternoon of picking. After all, it has the reindeer stamp of approval.
Go berry picking with a local guide to learn which berries are which and enjoy the incredible sweetness of Lapland berries. Just be sure to go before the moose gobble them all up.
Recommended tours
- Reindeer Farm Visit with Sleigh Ride
- Rovaniemi: Apukka Husky Adventure, Self-Driven
- Rovaniemi: Guaranteed Northern Lights Hunt, Small Group
- Rovaniemi: Reindeer, Huskies & Santa Claus Village
- Rovaniemi: Snowmobile Safari Adventure
Things to do in Rovaniemi: map
Discover more Nordic guides
- Why You Need to Visit Finland in Winter
- Best Time and Places to See the Northern Lights in Finland
- Unmissable Things to Do in Finland
- How to See the Northern Lights: My Top Tips
- 19 Incredible Things to Do in Tromsø in Winter
- Iceland Off The Beaten Path: Discovering Iceland’s Hidden Gems
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