May you never be too grown up to look for answer of why did Cinderella’s shoe fall off if it fit perfectly. May you never be too old to search the skies on Christmas eve. You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming? That’s where Rovaniemi welcomes you. That’s where I’ll take you all today.
“Do you know there is a place called Santa Clause village where there is Christmas year-round? Virushka are celebrating their honeymoon there.”
I was on my way to a Monday morning Office (Before Covid-19 made work from home a new normal) when I received the text from my wife. Annapurna also sent a photo of the couple. But I was not impressed. Neither by the photo which had nothing but snow nor by the fact that two celebrities are there in the photo (P.S. Those who don’t know Virushka is the nickname of an Indian celebrity couple, Virat Kohli, an Indian cricketer and Anushka Sharma, a Bollywood actress). I am quite against following celebrity but I am glad that Annapurna gathered this information. Because It’s not everyday that you expect a sending postcard bearing Arctic Circle stamp from Santa Claus Official Post Office. It’s not everyday you get a chance to shake hand with the official Santa Claus in his very hometown.
Why should I visit Rovaniemi? Is it only because I can meet the big man the world know as Santa Claus? Can I ride Reindeer Sledge? Can I be a musher with Siberian Huskies? How cold is it in Winter? Is it always dark? Can I get to sleep inside an Igloo House? Wait, you’re saying it’s in Arctic circle, can I see the Northern lights?
In this Article, I will answer all your questions. I will explain how you can reach this winter wonderland, what you should wear for outdoor activities, how many days you need to plan, where to eat in the village, where to store luggage, what all places, or even countries you can plan along with Rovaniemi and last but not the least, what the heck is Finnish Lapland and my niche tricks to save money and time.
After a stressful full week work, we spent the Friday night at Helsinki Airport (Yes, we had a layover of around 12 hours) – Later write an article about sleeping at Helsinki airport and give the link here. Well, although Helsinki is perfectly equipped for sleeping at completely free of cost, when we boarded the flight to Rovaniemi, we were drowsy, not knowing whether or not we would be able to enjoy Rovaniemi. But as we stepped out of the air-bridge at the Santa’s home airport, tiredness evaporated. Through the glass, we were seeing things we never saw in any airport. An unbelievable beauty waiting to be explored and we got reminded – when snow falls, nature listens. Finnish Lapland is the place where your snow filled fantasy comes into reality. Read on to explore the best of Rovaniemi with me.
If you are familiar with my writing style, you know I always provide an one pager downloadable and printable ready to use Infographic. Download it and you will never miss the highlights. Save it offline in your smartphone and refer it while you are in Rovaniemi or maybe while you are just planning your itinerary.
Rovaniemi - Best Things To Do
In May 2019, my assignment for a long term deputation to the Netherlands was still under discussion but every night we were noticing that flight fare from Helsinki to Rovaniemi was increasing slightly. We tried our luck and booked two cheap non-refundable return tickets between Helsinki and Rovaniemi for January 2020. My idea was if I wait till I reach the Netherlands and then book the tickets then the fare difference would be same as the amount of loss I would face if I can’t travel. Boy, I actually made profit. In July 2020, when my assignment was final, the price was more than double for January next year. So, tips for you – Book Early, I mean damn early. Book your tickets to watch how the Sun rises in Pink sky at the Arctic in Winter. Book your tickets to get lost in the frozen landscape in a reindeer sledge with your beloved one. Book it to watch Narnia in real life. To find the legend of the firefox whose tail causes spark in the night sky. Come here to spend a night in an Igloo. Come here to revive your childhood. To get reminded that you have not forgotten dreaming.
Rovaniemi does not need a list of places to visit. Everywhere you lay your eyes on, it’s pure poetry. Literally there are so many things to do that it’s very hard to find out where to begin. That’s why I have this step by step guide for you so that you can plan your itinerary at ease. Questions? The comment box is your friend and please don’t be shy.
1. Arrive at Santa's Home Airport
Rovaniemi Airport is known as the official Home Airport of Santa Claus. Finnair and Norwegian operate year-round flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. In recent times, due to it’s growing popularity, Easyjet and Turkish Ailines from London Gatwick also is operating direct flights to Rovaniemi. Flight is generally the most convenient and fastest to reach Rovaniemi as it is more than 800KM north of Helsinki and driving that far in Winter is not a very good option in my opinion.
It’s a very small airport. With frozen landscape outside and warm hearts inside, it’s very special. It’s a great way to start your journey because the interior is pretty well Christmas-like decorated. At the wall, you will find quotes from Santa Claus about his hometown.
The door is always open. Through the glass, you can find out decorating lights in the shape of a reindeer. While waiting for the bus to town or your return flight, if you ever feel bored just look outside. You can come out and enjoy fresh snow. Look around to find the black forest covered in white. For few weeks in Winter, the Sun does not rise at all in Northern Finland but that doesn’t mean it’s very dark all the time. Rather, combined with the blanket of Snow, around 9-11AM in the morning and 2-3PM in the afternoon, you can witness the pink sky and golden snow white trees. In Lapland, Winter is the time of pink, blue and purple skies, the Polar Night.
The official website of Rovaniemi tourism shares a nice observation. According to them, this urban city surrounded by Arctic nature is shaped like a reindeer’s head. While I looked at their picture, I felt like entire Finland in World Map looks like a Reindeer. Do you also see so?
How to Reach Rovaniemi (Other Than Flights)
Apart from Driving, you can reach the capital of Finnish Lapland via Coach/Bus Service and overnight train
Arrive By Train
Direct train runs between Helsinki and Rovaniemi evry day year round no matter what the weather is. The train is operated by state company VR. The most convenient way to purchase ticket is via their official website but it’s also possible to buy ticket at the ticket machine with the help of their staff. Remember, ticket prices are not fixed so earlier you book, better for you.
Do you know this train is known as Santa Claus Express? Yes, that’s the fun part (Watch the animated movie Polar Express) but in order to reach Helsinki train station from Helsinki airport, you need to catch some transport and from Rovaniemi train station to Rovaniemi town, again some transport. I assume you will also pay for reservation because you will be travelling overnight It’s a 12 hours journey) so it’s not a cheap option and I found flight cheaper and convenient. You can find more information about the train here.
Arrive By Bus
The coach services by Matkahuolto and Onnibus cover a great deal of Finland’s road network. You can arrive at Rovaniemi or choose to go north using this coach services. Onnibus does not directly connect between Rovaniemi and Helsinki. You need to change at Oulu. Here, the total journey takes around 15 hours. Matkahuolto has direct connection between Helsinki and Rovaniemi and it takes around 13 hours. The tickets can be purchased online. The bus station is within the city centre itself so less walking time 🙂
If you reach Rovaniemi by Bus/ Train then you will be arriving at the town centre. In that case, if you want to come to the Santa Claus Village then either you need to catch a taxi or read my blog till the end to know about public transport timing and price. If you arrive via flight, Santa Claus village is walking distance. Yes, even in December/January. Don’t worry, there is taxi available and that’s not super expensive compared to Lapland standard. Public transport is also an option. Read this article and I explained there the public transport facility across Rovaniemi for tourism purpose in detail.
You guessed it already. The cheapest (Read Free) option to go to Santa Claus Village is by foot. From the airport, it is around 2.5KM walk. Trust Google Map and the road is fairly straight forward. After coming out of the Airport, turn right and you need to walk straight. We chose to walk in the motorway because the sideways were not much maintained. Rarely vehicles pass by so I don’t think it’s risky to do so. If you walk non stop (Which you won’t because your camera will complaint if you do so) then after about 20minutes, you will see a chalet bearing the famous Santa Claus Arctic Finland advertisement. From there, you need to turn left in the next crossing and within 10minutes, you are inside Santa Village, Arctic circle.
Have you ever heard the song of a winter tree before its leaves had taken wings? No? Listen to the nature here in Rovaniemi. Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary world, it gives you a fairytale. Keep walking. In your own pace. That’s what you can do when you walk and don’t take a transport. Is it super cold? Yes, but if you are well dressed, you are completely safe. Take photos, admire the black and white forest and in no time, you will find yourself in front of the entrance of Santa Claus Village.
2. Santa Claus Main Post Office
There is not a single entrance gate as such for Santa Claus village. It’s an open space inside the Arctic circle and you can clearly see the mark that you are crossing Arctic circle. Just after crossing the Arctic circle, you will find a photogenic thermometer measuring outdoor temperature of the village. When we arrived, it was -11°C but sadly we didn’t took photo then. When we finally took a photo, it’s already rose to single digit.
The two buildings you will immediately notice are the taller Santa Claus Office building bearing the symbol Santa is Here and the adjacent smaller building saying Santa Claus Main Post Office. Operated by Finnish postal service, this building receives about half a million letters arriving from children (Or children by heart) all over the world. Step inside to find a colourful world of beautiful cards, unique arctic stamps and Scandinavian gifts. Be it Winter or Summer, cheerful Elves welcome you year round.
The interior is warm and cozy. You can sit down and write your greetings from the Arctic Circle to your friends all over the world. They stamp all letters with one of a kind Arctic Circle postmark. They even accept parcel to be sent worldwide. A nice gift idea to send to someone very special, isn’t it?
Inside the post office, you will find enormous amount of letters stored in racks against individual country names. At first I mistook it with a Library (poor me). At the exit, you could find a world map with red stickers of cities from where Santa receives letter.
3. Santa Claus Office
You simply cannot miss this building. With a giant snowman standing in front of the gate saying Santa is Here, this is the most visited building in the Santa Claus village. Why? Because you can meet the father Santa in person year round and at completely free of cost.
Now, my recommendation would be that after you enter, first go to second floor and you will find a tiny gift store. At one corner, there is a luggage storage service called Lumi Lappi. There are multiple luggage storage facilities in the village but Lumi Lappi is at the same building where Santa is so you won’t forget where you stored it and it’s the cheapest in the village. In January 2020, the rate was 3€ (small handbag), 4€ (cabin trolley/rucksack) and 5€ (large trolley) for the entire day. Remember the gate closes on 6PM and you MUST collect your bag before that.
Our main purpose of coming this far north was to meet the real Santa Claus and shake hands with him. So, after dumping our luggage we quickly came downstairs and followed the path pointing towards the Santa Clause Main office. It’s a dark pathway with festive music playing in the background. You need to go upstairs again but it’s a different route. Then you need to join the queue and be prepared. It’s a pretty long queue for a visit of about a minute or two. But you can watch the Elves and the stuffs they are selling beside the queue.
Just before your turn comes to enter the big man’s house, one elf will come and ask you your native country. The purpose is that inside Santa Claus will greet you in your native language. It’s a nice gesture but to be honest not always accurate. I don’t know about other countries but being from India, we were greeted in Hindi but I am sure many Indians (Specially those from the Southern part) don’t speak Hindi although for us it was no problem. If you want a surprise gift from the Santa (For yourself or for your kid), you need to talk with one of the elves near the entrance and pay the money. No one will tell you what the gift would be as it’s truly a surprise. You can choose between a certain price range (It starts from 20€ I think). Now, it depends entirely on how you look at the setup but we saw many kids opening their gift pack after the visit but we didn’t find anyone still excited after opening the gift wrap.
We had a little doubt if meeting Santa Claus would be a childish experience and whether we would be actually enjoying it freely but it was an experience of a lifetime. It was an experience you would pass on to generations. It’s truly hard to express it but you have to be there to feel it yourself. He is awesome. Exactly the way we imagined him to be.
Photography and videography inside are not allowed using your own device (Although they don’t collect it from you). Professional Elf photographers will shoot top class photo of you with Father Santa. The entire time you spent inside will be recorded in high quality too. At the exit before you come downstairs, another Elf will give you a small ticket showing which you can choose to buy your photo and video downstairs but it’s not mandatory and no one will force you. If I remember correctly, two photos were being sold at 40€ and 65€ if we combine the video as well. We always go for budget travelling but these are some souvenirs we couldn’t resist.
Visiting Santa Claus is completely free. You can come back as many times as you want. Just keep in mind that the visit takes time so don’t come while you are in rush.
At the exit, you can find the logo of Santa Claus office which demands a pose in front of it. Also, we discovered some crystal show pieces were on display but the cost was skyhigh. Probably, costlier than our budget for two days at Rovaniemi 😀
4. Reindeer Sleigh
Reindeer sleigh is the most perfect way to experience the arctic nature. Just outside Santa Claus Main office, you will find Santa Claus Reindeer. Please visit their official website to know about latest price. They offer both short and long rides. You would also be getting the chance to feed them if you wish to. We took a 1KM forest path trail which lasted about 15 minutes and it took us places that we never believed exist in reality. If you take my suggestion, don’t go with the 400M route. You will have the sleigh experience but roaming around the village, you will miss the dense frozen forest. You will miss the scenery that inspired legendary poets like Robert Frost.
Reindeer safari in Rovaniemi is a bucket list Lapland experience and you should not miss this one. There’s absolutely nothing quite like being pulled along in a sleigh drawn by native reindeer through frosty forest while the sun is shading bluish hue in the backdrop.
There are paths those are accessible only for Reindeer so you cannot simply walk to those places. We were little afraid if we would catch cold but the sleighs are covered with warm reindeer hides, and they covered us with a couple of hides too. There was absolutely no queue. I read online that there are some options to self drive but for us, a guide was there but he was much far from us so there is complete privacy if you seek so.
On the journey back to the original point, the reindeer crossed the Arctic circle landmark. If you want, you can opt for a Arctic circle crossing photo or a Reindeer driving license.
Ticketing is very simple. If you want short rides (Like 400M or 1KM) you can simply walk to the ticket counter and purchase ticket. If you want longer rides or want to visit the reindeer farm, you need to book online if you want to avoid any last minute surprise. I had quite some email exchanges with this company and they are quite prompt in replying so make sure to clear any doubt if you have so.
We were feeling little cold after completing the Safari but there is open fire so we quickly got warmed up. Just beside the ticket counter there is a small wooden bridge. The view of the herd of Reindeer from top is fantastic. You could also see the expression of other tourists which are sure to bring joy in your face.
One word of Caution: As this area is comparatively warm so the snow melts quickly. It results a very slippery surface. So, walk very carefully around this area as there is high probability that your shoe might skid. I myself was a victim of this and the fall was not so pleasant.
5. Snowman World
The official website advertises it saying “The coolest Place on the Arctic Circle” and they are not wrong. It’s small. Very small but a marvelous piece of craftmanship using snow and ice. The ticket counter is not at the entrance but just the building adjacent to it. Inside the building, you can purchase ticket to the Snowman world (The ticket is valid for entire day and you can come as many times as you want), quality souvenir at reasonable price (The most affordable in entire Santa Claus village) and also contact for taxi service if you want a drop to the town centre or Airport.
On our first day’s visit, we did not go inside Snowman world but was roaming the outside area and suddenly we found a snowman passing by. Annapurna didn’t miss the opportunity to catch her and I quickly snapped a photo.
The next day, We reserved a good amount of time for Snowman world. But, it actually does not take much time. Entering the Snowman World is like Entering an Igloo with full of wonders ready to be explored. At the entrance, a person just checked if we have the wrist band for that day and we are good to go. As we entered, we were greeted by a ice lady and a snowman sculpture. Needless to say, both are absolute beauty and the artist deserves a huge applause.
Just beside that, there are 4-5 ice stairs followed by a small ice slide. As it’s just in front of the entrance and it’s very well kid friendly, you can expect a queue if you want to slide down the slope. But if you wish, you can safely ignore this one because at the other end, you have a grand one.
We were awestruck looking at the various ice sculptures throughout the Snowman World. It’s truly impressive how perfect the snow and ice sculptures are. I heard that each year, different types of sculpture is crafted so you will never see the same things twice. Shortly we came in the small Ice cafe which was selling both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink at quite reasonable price. The fun part is that you will be served the hot drink in a glass made of ice completely.
Just after the cafe, there is the magic ice hotel. Yes, the bed is completely ice and over it, there are blankets. Although these are literally hotel rooms where you can spend the night, it’s open to public and entry is included in the main entrance ticket. Actually, except food and drink, you pay nothing extra once you are inside Snowman World.
We spent a good amount of time exploring the rooms of the ice hotel. There are a total of two rooms and both have different art. For us, it’s real fun to roam around but I can imagine if there are guests who actually paid for the night stay then they will miss the privacy for sure. Every visitor into Snowman World spends at least 10minutes each inside the rooms of the Snowman World Ice Hotel.
Just after the ice hotel rooms, we came across the Ice restaurant where all tables and chairs are made of ice. Even though we have not purchased anything, we freely roamed the area with access to everywhere. There, we came across this magnificent piece of snow sculpture.
After the restaurant, there is the Exit gate but wait. The main fun begins there. There is a grand ice slide which is completely free of cost and you can dive in as many times as you want. However do keep in mind the safety aspect as the slide ends abruptly, if you have a back pain or body ache then it’s better to avoid it because if it hits, it will hit hard.
6. Arktikum Musuem
If you are into the northern culture, then this place is for you. Arktikum is a science center and museum that lets you experience northern nature, culture, and history up close. And then if you are lucky, the weather is good and prediction is high then this place has a beach garden where you can witness beautiful display of the northern light. All in all, this museum is mainly for deeper understanding of the Arctic and honestly, we have not visited this because of lack of interest but it’s at the Rovaniemi town centre so if you have time and interest, pay a visit. Just remember to check out their official website to know about upcoming events and exhibitions.
Photo Courtesy: Arktikum
7. Lumberjack Candle Bridge
This one is a pretty important landmark in the Rovaniemi City centre. From our BNB, we walked around 3KM to reach the bank of Kemijoki river. After a night full of heavy snowfall, the road was covered in thick layer of fresh snow and there was literally ice walls as we approached the riverside.
It was freezing cold. Most of the river has already been frozen so if you dare, you can walk on top of the frozen lake and you will be rewarded with amazing photo oppotunity. We reached there a little before 10AM and the blue light was quite bright then. In that magical light, the bridge was a sight to wonder. I apologize that my photos don’t do proper justice but I would really press you to visit this bridge as it’s a nice place for wide landscape photography.
8. Angry Bird Park
With 12 billion-plus downloads within 10 months of its release, the Finnish company Rovio was surely successful in making ‘Angry Birds’. Its success continues when you are convinced in the existence of wingless round birds (as shown in the gameplay 
) and as a grown-up, you risk walking more than 3KM over thick snow, cross snow walls to get a glimpse of the real Angry Birds Park in the very land of its origin. Welcome to Angry Bird Park where imagination is your only boundary.
It’s very nearby from the Lumberjack Candle bridge and there is clear walking path. The park itself is very small. In Winter, it’s pure magic. Over a thick layer of white snow, the red one stands in a distinctive manner and you can’t help but stand a pose with the cutie.
This park is nothing more than a childrens’ playground but built completely in Angry Bird theme. There is no entrance fee and it does not matter if you are there with a kid or just want to set free your inner child, you will find the place pretty entertaining. It contains ropewalk, swings, slides and climbing frames. In winter, in addition, you can do a short ski because of a small but great hill.
We initially thought that we would spend may be about 10-15 minutes. However, we ended up spending more than an hour here. Make sure to reserve some time if you are coming here.
9. Husky Sledding
After spending the morning walking across the city centre, we came back to our BNB, cooked food and after bath, we are once again ready to visit Santa Claus Village for the second time. Two major reasons for visiting Santa Village once again were going inside Snowman World and do a Husky sleigh.
I researched a lot. I mean A LOT! Husky Sledding inside Santa Claus Village is the cheapest (Maybe not the best) across entire Rovaniemi or Finnish Lapland or Norway (I am talking about Tromsø) or Sweden (Swedish Lapland). Here with 40€ per head, you can enjoy a 15 minute guided dog sledding which is enough to make you wonder about the speed of sled and the exotic taste of raw untouched Arctic beauty.
If you google, you are likely to land into Husky Park Rovaniemi. We didn’t go there. Why? It’s because this park comes with a separate entrance fee (I recommend checking the official link for latest price) and if you book a ride then it comes with additional cost. The shortest one (500m) costs 30€ and the next one (2KM) costs 40€. We read many reviews where tourists actually are not informed clearly during entrance ticket purchase if they have ride available for the day so tourists got inside after which they found no ride is available for the day. You can’t say the entry fee is completely wasted because you still can watch the Husky activities but for us, it’s not what we came for. Also, after searching harder, a second company popped up which seemed just perfect.
Bearhill Huksy is the company we chose for our dog sledding in Rovaniemi. We found the review quite fantastic (Better than Husky Park). There is no entrance fee (Of course there is no park) but if you reach their yurt, you will find huskies getting fed or simply barking nearby. It’s completely free to explore the area. They don’t offer 500m route but 2KM choice comes at the same price. There is no ticket counter as such. They have a yurt inside which there is a comfortable fireplace and small seating area. After we paid, a musher shared his experience with Siberian and Alaska Huskies, told us useful information about the behavior of Huskies and more importantly gave us the confidence that the huskies are actually our friends and very enthusiastic to take us to a ride. Warm drink is free of cost, so you can grab a hot drink before and after the ride completely free and it really really helped a lot. Most important, you can store your luggage here as well at no additional cost.
As you can see the operating hour of Bearhill Husky is from 10:00-16:00. Surprisingly the place is not at all crowded. Considering how good their service is, it’s really looks like a low season for them. Probably their advertisement is not upto the mark.
We waited around 15 minutes while the Musher gave us company. When we visited, he mentioned that longer rides were currently not in operation. It’s fully guided so we don’t need to learn to drive the sled which at the same time a mixed feeling of disappointment and relief (Depends on whether you are looking for adventure or comfort 😉 )Once they are ready, we were invited to have a seat in the sled and they wrapped us in layers of Blankets.
The Huskies were super excited. Looks like more excited than us 😀 . The musher was kind enough to have us photographed in the wild landscape. And just as she let the huskies go, two things happened at the same time.
It started snowing and our hearts skipped few beats. But anything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing, right?
It’s really an experience of a Lifetime. It’s like watching Narnia in reality. Racing across the snowy forest which inspired Robert Frost, we saw the raw untouched Arctic like never before. Entire Rovaniemi is like a dream coming true but combining with the Adrenaline rush, the experience of husky sledding is simply out of the world and I cannot stress enough why it should be the number one thing you should do. To have a glimpse of our experience with a background score of “Now We are Free” by Taylor Davis, please watch this link.
10. Santa Park
Officially known as the Home Cavern of Santa Claus, Santa Park lies deep beneath the ground in Arctic circle where there is Christmas all year round. If you take my opinion, it’s a must visit if you are travelling with kids but for us, it was not much attractive. A key information that might be of use to you is that you can also meet Father Santa inside Santa Park in his office and here, unlike Santa Claus Office in Santa Village, you can take as many photos as you want with your own device. Other than that, you get a chance to experience Gingerbread making, catch a glimpse of Ice Princess, handicrafts in Elf’s workshop and last but not the least, ride the magic train to travel through the world of Christmas.
Entering Santa Park is not free. To have the information about latest opening times, price, events and activities, I would recommend you to visit this official link.
Photo Courtesy: Visit Rovaniemi
However, you should remember that Santa Park is not very close to the Santa Claus Village. To get direction, of course, you can use Google Map but to give you a quick idea, if you have come via the public Bus from the City centre then you have to get down at Santa Claus village and change to Santa’s Express. If you want to go from Santa Claus village then you should take the Santa Express bus that’s going in opposite direction from the city centre i.e. towards Airport. Let the driver know that you want to get down at Santa Park. If you want to walk, it’s little more than 2KM of very scenic walk.
Public Transport in Rovaniemi
This is the first question I always ask to myself when I travel to a new place. It’s simply because I don’t drive overseas and I can’t afford paying taxi unless it’s absolutely necessary. So, here’s how you can use the public transport network in Rovaniemi to cover all major attraction spots
Airport to Santa Claus Village
The only bus that connects Airport with Santa Claus Village is the Santa Claus Airport express bus. However, the airport connection is optional and not all buses really go to airport. Most of the times if there are passengers who request an Airport drop then the bus comes in this route. So, while coming from Santa Clause village/ city centre to Airport is very easy, getting bus from Airport to Santa Village is pure luck. The latest timetable can be found from their official website . Just remember, walking to Santa Village even in Winter is very much possible (We did it on mid January)
Santa Village to City Centre/Train Station
From Santa Claus Village, there are two choices. The expensive one is taking Santa Claus Express bus. Cheaper alternative is taking local bus number 8. The latest price and timetable can be found here. Just remember that in weekends, the frequency is very low so plan carefully. If you are starting from Santa Park then Santa Claus Express bus is the only option because Local bus 8 does not travel in that route.
City Centre to Santa Village/Santa Park
From City centre to Santa Claus Village, there are two choices. The expensive one is taking Santa Claus Express bus which you can take either from Ruokasentu street or from the railway station. Cheaper alternative is taking local bus number 8. The latest price and timetable can be found here. Just remember that in weekends, the frequency is very low so plan carefully.
To reach Santa Park, the only option is to take Santa Claus Express bus. If you take Local bus 8, then from Santa Claus village, you need to walk around 2.2KM or wait for next Santa Claus Express bus.
City Centre to Rovaniemi Airport/Train Station
Remember that the city centre of Rovaniemi is the Ruokasenkatu street. The train station is very nearby and easily walkable. The bus stop for reaching train station is called Rautatieasema piha. Depending on where you are staying, use google map. Choose my location as the starting point and Rautatieasema piha as the destination and choose public transport to check the possible options.
From City centre to Airport, there are two choices. The expensive one is taking Santa Claus Express bus which you can take either from Ruokasentu street or from the railway station. Cheaper alternative is taking local bus number 8. The latest price and timetable can be found here. Just remember that in weekends, the frequency is very low so plan carefully.
Santa Village/Santa Park to Airport
Transferring between Santa Claus Village and Santa Park is very easy. If you have time and energy, walking is the best choice. It’s only 2.2 KM from Santa Claus village and the journey is pretty scenic. The alternative is taking Santa Claus Express bus that’s going towards Airport and you need to get down at the next stop. Luggage is free of charge and one way ride for an adult costs 3.5€.
No matter whether you are at Santa Park or Santa Claus Village, the only way to go to Airport in public transport is by taking the Santa Claus Express bus. The fare is also same irrespective of your point of boarding. No local bus runs in this route. The other alternative is to walk to Airport which is very easily doable.
If you want to check from official website, here is the link
City Centre to Lumberjack/Angry Bird/Train Station
Unfortunately walking is your only option. Try to take your accommodation in the area of Ruokasenkatu street. It’s where the city centre is. All the actions are close by. You will have the train station just 1KM apart. Lumberjack candle bridge and Angry Bird park are also around 1-1.5KM depending on where you are staying. Also, the tourist information centre, Angry bird park and the lumberjack candle bridge are very close to each other. Upon reaching the bridge, we came across Snow Scooters lined up. In my below photo, those unfortunately are in the defocus area but probably you’d get an idea.
We have studied extensively multiple blogs before reaching Rovaniemi so if you have a specific question about public transportation system, please use the comment box and we will be glad to assist you.
How Cold is Winter in Rovaniemi?
There goes a famous saying – “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” If you look at the temperature, we got in the range of -5°C to -15°C. Remember that we are actually from India and in our hometown, we experience more than 40°C in summer and the lowest it gets in Winter is around 8°C. But did we face any problem in walking over thick layers of snow? Did we experience Frost bite? Do you need alcohol to keep your body warm? (I understand this is a stupid question, but Yes, we never tasted a single drop of Alcohol)
Yes, it’s freezing cold. Especially when snow falls. All the roads are always covered in thick snow and some parts (where vehicles ply) often become slippery because of black ice. But the weather is pretty stable in Rovaniemi and with proper dress, it’s really a nice place to enjoy Arctic Winter.
Remember the below points while you are preparing for Winter experience in Rovaniemi
- Base layer is the most important. Wear thermal base layer that covers your body and legs properly. For the bottom part, tight fittings are preferable.
- Wear two layers of gloves. Inside a mitten is preferable because your fingers will keep each other warm. For using mobile, buy touch screen glove. Remember, if you remove your gloves for using mobile, you are in trouble.
- For shoes, three parameters are to be kept in mind. Your shoes need to be waterproof. It’s better if you wear a size which is slightly larger than your original shoe size. And, lastly the longer your shoes, the safer you are.
- Wear woolen socks. If your shoe is not tall enough and if there is a chance that melted snow can make your sock wet then wear two layers of socks (inside one can be of cotton).
- If you are expecting a Sunny weather (Only applicable if you visit Rovaniemi outside Polar night), then carry a Sunglass. When the sun is out and there is snow all around, you simply cannot open your eyes without wearing a sunglass.
- Cover your nose and ears fully. It’s very very important. If you allow wind to pass through your ear, you will catch cold. If you don’t give any protection to your nose, there is a high chance that water droplets inside nostril will get frozen and then you are in big trouble.
- Don’t pack any cotton (Except inner sock). Cotton is your enemy in Extreme cold weather.
- Wear 3 layers at least (4 is safer) and make sure the outer one is water resistant. After all, you will be doing winter activities so it’s a must.
Is it Always Dark?
No. If you visit Rovaniemi during Polar night, then you will get to experience the pink sky which is an experience of a lifetime. Although the sun never actually rises, still from 9:30AM till 3:30PM, there is sufficient light to enjoy outdoor activities. From 10AM to 2PM, it’s actually quite bright. But, if you are looking for warm filtered photographs, then no, you won’t get it.
However, if you visit Rovaniemi in February (I will choose this month next time) then you will get much more sunlight and sun kissed raw arctic is something which will surely impress you and probably the best season to get the best photographs.
Where to Stay?
Although I am a very budget traveler, initially I thought to book the accommodation inside Santa Claus Village. After all, it’s only for a night and we can afford it. But then we realised that Santa Claus Holiday Village does not accept booking for a single night during late December to mid January because of peak season so we started looking at the city centre and got one at one third price.
It was a very cozy accommodation. Although very small, our host offered fridge load of food and moomin dress to wear indoor. We also experienced snowfall whole night just from our bed.
Staying in city centre is a better choice than staying at Santa Clause Holiday village. First, you are saving a lot of money (With which two of you can buy photo and videos from Santa’s main office, send a postcard, ride a reindeer sleigh and do husky safari). Secondly, angry bird park is not a place which you should miss. It’s pretty unique and I strongly recommend that you pay a visit there. Lumberjack Candle bridge is okay-ish (No Wow factor) and if you are a museum person, you would love Arktikum.
How About Aimless Walking?
Yes, I mean please do this. Don’t come to Rovaniemi just to tick off some checkmark from your bucket-list. Reserve a quality amount of time in the Santa Village just for aimless walking. Take a look at the dense forest, the funny wooden sign boards, the wooden chalets. Spend some time watching people, especially kids. Just take a look at different photos.
We enjoyed every step we took walking in and around the village. We watched the Sun rising in amidst the polar night. We experienced heavy snowfall, strong wind but we never felt the need to go indoor. And, we are from tropical climate plus we don’t consume Alcohol to keep us warm. So, don’t ever get afraid of the fact that Rovaniemi is too cold to survive.
Is Rovaniemi a Tourist Trap?
It depends on how you are looking at it. Through the eyes of a matured grown up adult, it may feel like a tourist trap. Paying beforehand to get a surprise gift from Santa Claus, paying quite a hefty amount to get a photograph with the Big man, expensive postal service, expensive food, super expensive market, entrance fees to admire snow and ice sculptures, super low frequent public transport all seem to add in favor of a verdict of tourist trap.
But how many times, as a kid, you believed in Santa Claus? How many times you really thought he comes with a bundle of toys in his back? Cheeks as roses, nose like a cherry? And a beard as white as snow?
Remember the polar express? Sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see. The bell still rings for those who truly believe. Santa Claus may not be the one that puts the present under your bed in the middle of the night. But his spirit works through us each time we give freely without expectation and each time we spread joy, love and light. Think how dreary would be the world if there was no Santa Claus? Would there be a childlike faith? Without faith, would you still believe in your dreams? If you don’t, who will?
Insider Tips
- Rovaniemi is costly but with proper plan, it’s still an affordable destination. Work out a proper plan. Check public transport timetable. If you can, cook and don’t eat out. Don’t plan to buy merchandise here. It’s simply too costly.
- Rovaniemi is the place for Christmas magic. Don’t come here with the expectation of seeing Northern lights. If you can see the aurora, you are really lucky.
- Polar night is not all about darkness. It’s about the magic in the sky. Pink sky is not something you would experience in your hometown (Unless you already are from Arctic)
- Keep enough time for a visit to Santa Claus. It really takes time and if you are in a hurry, you may not live the moment. After all, you have flown a long way just for this moment, right?
- Reindeer Sleigh is wonderful but for a short period. It’s actually pretty slow and if you have a plan to ride husky sled then they will take you into much deep forest. So, don’t spend too much money and time for a longer reindeer ride. If you plan to visit reindeer farm, it’s a nice cultural experience but not super scenic I am afraid.
- Husky sledding is a must. Period.
- Ice slides are little risky. You have high possibility that you will hurt your back. So watch your steps.
- If you expect a Sunny weather, do carry a Sunglass.
- Walking to Santa Claus Village from Airport is very much possible without a doubt. So you can understand the reverse is also true. I also read people walked all the way to City centre from Santa Claus village in Winter (Yes, 8KM)
- Santa Park and Santa Claus village are not in the same place. They are 2KM apart.
- Santa Park is not open year round. They open once in Winter season and once in Summer. In Mid January, it remains closed so watch online about their operational calendar.
- You can plan to spend a night in ice hotel at Snowman world but beware of privacy.
- The souvenir shop beside Snowman world has the cheapest souvenir in Santa Claus village.
- You cannot fly drone here because it is very close to the Airport.
- Dress properly. Don’t ever think to remove your gloves while you are outdoor. If you are using mobile mainly for photography, consider using a selfie stick but put it on rear camera mode. It really helps.
- You can imagine it will be a crowded place so at many places, road condition is slippery. Walk slowly and cautiously. If you fall, it can hurt your back.
- Book as advance as possible. Flights are generally cheaper than train or bus.
- The bus stop is just outside the Santa Claus village. Don’t try to google its location. Just after you come out, you will find signboards and crowds. Bus is not so frequent so when it’s time, you will find people getting lined up.
To us, Rovaniemi is a dream come true. Snow-covered ice stretching away into the distance until it encounters the dark. Above that forest is an ink black sky, dotted with more stars than we ever believed possible. We truly encourage you to visit here and revive your childhood. Questions? The comment box is your friend. Have you already been to this magical winter wonderland? How do you feel about it? Let me know in the comment section. Any suggestions for me? Please feel free. Until then, Good bye!