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Legend Rooted in Nature

In Finnish folklore, Lapland is known as a mythical place of shamans, spirits, and spells that stage supernatural sagas in the ruggedly beautiful wildernesses of the north. Many a legend are rooted in natural phenomena like the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, and still survive to this day.

The Connection to Nature Remains

A connection to nature has remained a central element in Lappish life throughout history. Today, Rovaniemi is a modern city, but the surrounding natural areas are still frequented by people for hunting, fishing, and berry and mushroom picking; the forests have provided food for locals for millennia.

Complete Local History Lesson in Three Attractions

To get a grasp of local and regional history and culture, the definite places to start are museum and arctic science centre Arktikum and Korundi House of Culture. The introduction to local life is completed by a visit to forest-themed Science Centre Pilke – all three are easily accessed with one ticket, the Culture Pass.

What Do Locals Do?

Spending time outdoors defines life in Rovaniemi. Besides the more traditional pastimes, people stay active hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling… there are scores of options for outdoor activities in Rovaniemi.
Want to do something typically local? Head to one of the tens of lean-tos in the Rovaniemi area and fry sausages by open fire.

Get Busy With Handicrafts

There are long traditions of making arts and handicrafts out of local materials like wood and reindeer antler in Lapland. For those who like making things with their hands, handicraft workshops in Rovaniemi are warmly recommended. If manual fiddling is not your thing, locally produced artefacts like knives, jewellery and gifts are available in many local shops.

More Reindeer Than People

Reindeer are the icons of Lapland and for good reason – there are more reindeer than people! With the numbers 200 000+ against 180 000 in the animals’ advantage, it’s unlikely not to run into reindeer in Lapland, and they sometimes even wander near the city centre in Rovaniemi.
For guaranteed reindeer encounters, sleigh rides and farm tours are the way to go. It should be noted that flying reindeer remain Santa Claus’ privilege.

Feel The Heat of Sauna

Sauna is an inseparable part of Finnish culture, and Lapland is no different as most people have saunas in their homes and cottages. For visitors, there are a variety of sauna experiences available all year round in Rovaniemi. For more information on the meaning of sauna to Finns, see visitfinland.com.

Lappish City Life

A variety of cultural institutions, tourist attractions, shopping centres, sports facilities, restaurants and bars have earned Rovaniemi a reputation as the vibrant provincial capital of Lapland. A constant flow of visitors and the thousands of students in local colleges liven up the town with international influences that mix with local flavours.

Northern Nightlife

For a town the size of Rovaniemi (60 000 inhabitants), the night time offerings are surprisingly good and range from trendy cocktail bars to rock clubs. It could be argued that Rovaniemi is one of the few places in the world where you can head from a husky tour straight to a cool bar where the DJ spins the latest tunes. Well, maybe take a shower first!

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Santa Claus
Santa Claus There’s no place like Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, for a genuine Christmas experience.
Sustainable Rovaniemi
Sustainable Rovaniemi We are a region up in the Arctic, we need our seasons, snowy winters and warm summers to provide a safe environment to our Arctic species. Welcome to our sustainable way of life!
Northern Lights
Northern Lights Experience the magic of the Aurora Borealis in Rovaniemi.
Polar Night
Polar Night Experience the Polar Night, celebration of mysterious lights on glittering snowdrifts.
Arctic Capital
Arctic Capital Rovaniemi combines the northern nature with urban surroundings, self-confident localness and open-minded internationality. Rovaniemi is also the Official Hometown of Santa Claus®.
Midnight Sun
Midnight Sun The Midnight Sun – also known as the nightless night or polar day – can be seen in Rovaniemi from early June until early July, and nights are white throughout the summer.
Autumn Colors
Autumn Colors Let Rovaniemi surprise you with easy access to plenty of routes and scenery spots to marvel the fiery landscapes of Autumn Color.
Four Seasons
Four Seasons All four seasons are clearly present in the annual cycle of Rovaniemi. However, many locals would say the year consists of up to eight seasons, each with their own distinct characteristics.
Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland situated right on the Arctic Circle, which makes the town a gateway to the Arctic.
Snow And Ice
Snow And Ice For many, Lapland is synonymous with snow. In Rovaniemi, there’s white stuff on the ground for approximately six months of the year.
Local Food
Local Food Lapland’s food culture is directly linked to its pristine nature, and Rovaniemi is a great place to explore the fresh produce of northern forests and waters.
Architecture
Architecture Rovaniemi is proud to have several major features designed by Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s foremost architects. Other visionaries have also embellished the city with landmark structures.
Authenticity
Authenticity Rovaniemi is an urban outpost amidst wild nature, where age-old traditions meet modern life.
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