Travel Tips for Rovaniemi, Finland

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

Rovaniemi is located in the northernmost part of Finland, within Finnish Lapland and the Artic Circle. The city offers incredible scenic nature, culinary delicacies, midnight sun and of course, Santa Claus! The city is very accessible by foot, it is very safe and the locals there are so friendly.

From viewing the Northern Lights to husky sledding, the city has so much to offer for all age groups. I visited for 4 days in total and I highly recommend the city for anyone planning a solo trip.

How to get there

There are only certain days where you can fly direct to Rovaniemi from Dublin. The flight is about 3 hours 25 minutes via Ryanair. If you can’t book a direct flight, you have other options, however there will be a stop-over or two.

Language, Currency & Weather

Finnish is spoken by the majority of the population in Rovaniemi, with some speaking Swedish and Sami. Most Finns speak good English too. The Euro is accepted in Rovaniemi, as this is Finland’s currency.

The weather in Rovaniemi can be extremely cold and crisp during winter, sometimes reaching -20 degrees Celsius in places. It can reach about 15 degrees Celsius or so in summer and you also have the amazing midnight sun.

I would recommend bringing lots of layers and very warm clothes if you’re travelling during winter, which for me is the best time of year to go.

Public Transport

Rovaniemi is a small city and is very easy to get around by walking. However, if you’re travelling outside the city centre you will need to use the local buses, which are the only form of public transport.

Line 8 goes to Santa Claus Village, but you can also get the Santa Claus Bus or the Airport bus to the village, as well as to and from Rovaniemi Airport. Matkahuolto operates daily services to Ranua Zoo.

You can buy single or 24-hour tickets during your time in Rovaniemi.

Where To Stay

There are plenty of options for accommodation in Rovaniemi, so it’s just a matter of choosing what’s right for you. However, it is quite expensive to stay in the city, so prepare to spend some extra cash.

My top choices would be the Arctic City Hotel in the city centre (this is where I stayed and it is excellent) or Scandic Rovaniemi City, also in the city centre.

You also have the options of Scandic Pohjanhovi or Hotel Aakenus, both in the city centre.

If you are travelling with a group or family, it is possible to rent apartments, so I would definitely explore those options too.

Even the hostels are expensive particularly during winter, but my choices would be Capsule Hotel Ibedcity or Hostel Tikka.

Where To Go & What To Do

The activities in Rovaniemi are brilliant! I packed in a lot during my time there, and my favourites were visiting Santa Claus Village and the reindeer sleigh ride, riding a husky sled through a beautiful forest and visiting Ranua Zoo to see the polar bears and white owls.

I would also recommend you book a guided tour of the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, which is located about an hour and a half outside Rovaniemi. You get to learn more about the amethysts in an active mine, and you can take home one that you find (must be smaller than your hand).

If you travel to Rovaniemi between the end of November and the start of March, you can visit or stay in an ice hotel (The Arctic Snow Hotel located 20 minutes north of Rovaniemi).

While in the city, it’s essential you try one of the many saunas (if that’s your thing). Finnish people love saunas, and so many hotels have access to one. My hotel had one you could book and have all to yourself. Heaven.

Another fantastic activity is ice floating (weather permitting). So many tours offer this, where you lie in the ice in a cold weather suit and look up at the sky (at night it may be possible to see the Northern Lights).

I would also recommend ice fishing, a visit to Apukka Resort and if you have enough time to book a day trip, I suggest the Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Tour (weather permitting).

What & Where To Eat

Rovaniemi’s cuisine is heavily influenced by the Arctic environment, so the city has some amazing dishes to offer like grilled whitefish and sautéed reindeer.

Restaurant Nili was one of my favourite spots, as you have the option to try Lappish food such as elk and bear. Another favourite was the Arctic Restaurant, which had great service and a lovely atmosphere.

Gustav Kitchen & Bar is a fantastic place that serves Lappish and Scandinavian cuisine, as well as Ravintola Roka Street Bistro.

Cafe Rovaniemi is a fabulous spot if you’re looking to chill out and read your book with a nice cup of coffee. A lot of the locals go here as it is very central.

Overall, Rovaniemi is unique and most definitely worth a visit!