Rovaniemi
Arctic Capital
Urban small town ambiance in Lapland, Finland
Rovaniemi combines the northern nature with urban surroundings, self-confident localness and open-minded internationality. Rovaniemi is also The Official Hometown of Santa Claus® located right on the spot at the Arctic Circle.
Rovaniemi Facts & Figures
Rovaniemi Facts & Figures
- The number of citizens is 64 000. The number of reindeer is 12 450.
- In terms of geographic area, Rovaniemi is the largest town in Europe, spanning 8017 km² in all.
- This total area comprises 7601 km² of land and 415 km² of water.
- The town is surrounded by approximately 30 villages.
- There are hundreds of kilometers of marked hiking trails and hundreds of lean-tos in the area.
Arctic Circle city life
Arctic Circle city life
Rovaniemi is a growing arctic city, home of the northern magic and arctic know-how. Despite the proximity of the wilderness, Rovaniemi is a buzzing city with cafés, pubs, and restaurants, as well as art galleries, museums and theatres. Rovaniemi is also a university city, and proud to have several major architectural features designed by Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s foremost architects.
Flight connections to Finnish Lapland
Flight connections to Finnish Lapland
Rovaniemi is a true gate to Finnish Lapland with outstanding flight connections from around the world, as well as being easily accessed by railroad and bus connections.
The Official hometown of Santa Claus®
The Official hometown of Santa Claus®
Rovaniemi is also The Official Hometown of Santa Claus®. Over 700 000 visitors come to the Santa Claus Village every year. In a city of Midnight Sun, Polar Night and Northern Lights, we have Santa Claus – the world-known ambassador of good will – plus an uncounted number of Santa’s helpers, the Christmas elves, and over 12 000 reindeer. Nothing short of magical!
More things to love about Rovaniemi
Santa Claus
There’s no place like Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, for genuine Christmas experiences. See here for some Rovaniemi Christmas magic.
Arctic Circle
Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus and the capital of Lapland, lies right on the Arctic Circle, which makes the town a gateway to the arctic. See more here.
Sustainable Rovaniemi
The local companies have been joining forces for Sustainable Travel Finland trademark that offers a concrete toolkit for travel destinations to help Finland’s travel destinations to adopt sustainable procedures and to make sustainable choices in their business.
Northern Lights
Experience the magic of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Rovaniemi. Find out viewing spots, times and more here.
Midnight Sun
The Midnight Sun, the nightless night or polar day – can be seen only here in Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle or above. From early June until early July, and nights are white throughout the summer. See more here.
Polar Night
Experience the Polar Night, celebration of mysterious lights on glittering snowdrifts.
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. Find out more here!
Autumn Colours
When bright arctic summer ends and nature is preparing for winter at the Arctic Circle, we are enchanted by the changing colors of the season. In Rovaniemi this amazing nature’s display is at its best in September when trees and ground is covered with spectacular colours. Get your cameras out and head to nature!