Phenomena

While the winter of Rovaniemi has taken all the attention with its magic, there might be something that has gone unnoticed. What if the Arctic Summer is the undiscovered gem, something magical, yet not found by big crowds.

Ounasjoki river deltas in Rovaniemi are a spectacular place for all kinds of summer activities. Go on a day hike, try SUP-board or spend an unforgettable day on river!

Welcome to a Finnish sauna! We Finns love our Sauna, and when you visit Finland, you must experience sauna. A traditional Finnish sauna is like Finnish food culture, pure and simple.

What if I told you we have an overall population density of 1,98 persons per square kilometer, which is one of the lowest in Europe, more reindeer then people, the cleanest air and waters in the world. Yet we live in a modern city filled with services and even luxury. Our summer nights are light like the most romantic pink twilight, and that our summer temperatures are mild like the birds milk, as we Finnish people like to say. Would you believe me? And the list goes on...

Midnight Sun is about staying up through white summer nights and listening to the wind in Arctic forests, and to the song of a black-throated diver echoing on the pure arctic waters, in utter peace and natural comfort.

The Lappish food culture is unpretentious and best enjoyed slow. We Northern people like to take time to cook our food. It is all about socializing and enjoying the moment – cooking on an open fire relaxes us and increases happiness. Local restaurants serve Lappish classics, they have either menu´s based on the local fresh produce of northern forests and waters, or Lappish tastes infused with cuisines of the world.

On Arctic Reindeer Farm, high above the Arctic Circle lives Miia Ylinampa, reindeer herder, a woman who decided to become a herder at the age of five. Reindeer play a major role in Miia´s life. Miia`s own wellbeing, is twined with the wellbeing of her reindeer. “I spend all my days with them in nature, their happiness makes me feel at peace” Miia says. Welcome to a Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series, where our local people tell their arctic lifestyle stories.

On Arctic Reindeer Farm, high above the Arctic Circle lives Miia Ylinampa, reindeer herder, a woman who decided to become a herder at the age of five. Reindeer play a major role in Miia´s life. Miia`s own wellbeing, is twined with the wellbeing of her reindeer. “I spend all my days with them in nature, their happiness makes me feel at peace” Miia says. Welcome to a Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series, where our local people tell their arctic lifestyle stories.

On Arctic Reindeer Farm, high above the Arctic Circle lives Miia Ylinampa, reindeer herder, a woman who decided to become a herder at the age of five. Reindeer play a major role in Miia´s life. Miia`s own wellbeing, is twined with the wellbeing of her reindeer. “I spend all my days with them in nature, their happiness makes me feel at peace” Miia says. Welcome to a Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series, where our local people tell their arctic lifestyle stories.

On Arctic Reindeer Farm, high above the Arctic Circle lives Miia Ylinampa, reindeer herder, a woman who decided to become a herder at the age of five. Reindeer play a major role in Miia´s life. Miia`s own wellbeing, is twined with the wellbeing of her reindeer. “I spend all my days with them in nature, their happiness makes me feel at peace” Miia says. Welcome to a Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series, where our local people tell their arctic lifestyle stories.

It is beautiful, and kind of magical how the letters find their way to Arctic Circle even if there is no clear address written on them, just “Santa Claus”. Katja the main postal Elf says that even if the letters are written to be delivered to the North Pole all the post offices around the world know that Santa Claus lives in the Arctic Circle Rovaniemi, so the letters are referred to Santa Claus Main Post Office.

For many, Lapland is synonymous with snow and no wonder because in Rovaniemi, we get to enjoy snow a full six to seven months of the year, and we have even accommodation made out of snow. And we love snow so much we even store snow from previous winter to use it for skiing the next autumn, amazing right? Take a tour around snowy Rovaniemi with Santatelevision. See Santa Claus and his reindeer, snowy attractions of Rovaniemi and even the city center turned into a winter wonderland. Get familiar with the sights, sports, nature and above all the winter of Rovaniemi.

We asked the owners of 6 Rovaniemi based restaurants, Ville and Heidi Haavikko about their livelihoods and thoughts on what makes a happy life.

There are several different ways to experience the Aurora Borealis in Rovaniemi. See a few of our tips here!

Kimmo Ketola and Sami Riekki from Helsinki, accustomed to globetrotter lifestyle, discovered Rovaniemi from Finnish Lapland to ease their travel fever. -We are so taken with Rovaniemi atmosphere that we will from now on, return at least for one weekend every winter. We still have many hotels, exotic accommodations and restaurants left to discover, Sami reveals. 

Even when the locals see the Northern Lights every year, we never get bored with them or lose the feel of childhood magic and fairytale. Here the #visitrovaniemi social media went crazy again in nights of dreamy Auroras:

It’s fair to say everybody fell for Finland last week, with WRC2 winner Esapekka Lappi summing it up better than anybody. “What’s not to love with this event?” he questioned. “We have the perfect roads, minus conditions, great ice and blue skies. This is why we go rallying.”

In our new “Changed by Rovaniemi”- blog series, we share unique stories from travelers of Rovaniemi. We asked, what makes Lapland so special to them, why they have fallen in love with Lapland, and what makes some of them return time after time. Take a look at the story of French Véronique, who transforms her living room in Troyes every year as a miniature Christmas Village. In 2020, Véronique finally got to visit Rovaniemi – The Official Hometown of Santa Claus®.

"For reasons like this the Arctic Rally Finland is the most exotic race of the year. The event carries years and years of family traditions and stories told from generation to another - attracting a staggering 600 volunteers."

Can you imagine a place more Christmassy than Rovaniemi Lapland Finland? As the official hometown of Santa Claus® Rovaniemi is truly the home of Christmas magic. But what are the things and traditions that make a Finnish Christmas?

You know how it needs to be really cold and wintry with lots of snow everywhere for the Northern Lights to come out? No it doesn’t.

Rovaniemi bathing in an amazing full 8 nights in a row of Northern Lights. September just beginning and we are already having a full sky-spectacle for over a week, amazing right? All arctic people have their own beautiful mythology, believes and names for this heavenly phenomena. In Finnish the Northern Lights are called ”Revontulet”.

In our new Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series Irene describes the surrounding nature to be her supermarket, her living room as well as her church. It is obvious, that Irene is happiest at nature.

Teatiamo was born out of an urge to break boundaries related to sexuality and at the same time design something timeless and beautiful.

Take this time to adjust your mind into thinking more sustainably, what Lapland Rovaniemi has to offer all year round.

People have always told stories, to lift spirits and raise faith and to educate the new generations about bravery. We believe this is the time for inspiring stories, stories of dreams worth fighting for, maybe even dreams built from the ashes.

Who could have known that we would all be in this situation together, globally? That the way we knew our daily life would change and the hurry that had become our pulse would be replaced by a still mode of confusion.

Traditional Arctic Lapland Rally brought F1 driver Valtteri Bottas to Rovaniemi. The weekend is one of the bustling ones of the year in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.

Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen came to Lapland for inspiration. Read from here what the artist did in Rovaniemi and what was the highlight of her trip.

Sustainability is the keyword for better future. In Rovaniemi, local companies have adapted good habits to increase sustainability in their business'.

The Kardashians visited Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland, last April and the Rovaniemi episode of Keeping Up with The Kardashians premiere is on Sunday 6th of October in USA. Read from here how to discover Rovaniemi like the Kardashians.

The Northern Lights season 2019-2020 has just begun. For photographer Alex Kuznetsov it means long nights for hunting Northern Lights.

LGBT travellers who are looking for a something a little different, will find a a lot to love from Rovaniemi.