News

The ongoing winter season is very busy in Rovaniemi and especially last December was record breaking.

We are preparing for possible power outages in Finland this winter. Most likely, the break will be short, and the situation will return to normal automatically. There is no need to worry when your visiting Rovaniemi. 

The Rovaniemi Countryside entrepreneur of the year is expected to succeed in their business area, work in a systematical way contantly developing their products and services. They also support the liveliness of the countryside with their work.

The Grand Opening of Christmas Season is an annual celebration honouring the Christmas traditions of sharing Christmas spirit and good will. This year the event took place on Saturday the 19th of November at the central square of Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

World Post Day is celebrated 9th of October. You’d be surprised how busy the post office in Arctic Circle is. The Santa Claus’ Main Post Office is located in Rovaniemi, Lapland

The year 2022 is the 72nd anniversary of The Roosevelt Cottage in Rovaniemi The Official Hometown of Santa Claus®. In just over a week, to receive Mrs. Roosevelt the Roosevelt Cottage was built on the Arctic Circle, straight out of logs raised from timber rafting in Ounasjoki river. The Roosevelt Cottage was completed on June 11, 1950, and it became the first attraction of Santa Claus Village.

4 nights of ultimate Northern Lights hunting and photographing with professional Aurora Borealis photographers, in Finnish Lapland Rovaniemi.

A pioneering and rewarded luxury travel company Luxury Action has been accepted into by-invitation-only Virtuoso Travel´s exclusive portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprising over 2,200 preferred suppliers in 100 countries.

With a high respect for BBQ traditions, and adding a Lappish twist, the Kotisaari Savurafla -Island Restaurant opens for seatings on 1st of July 2022. 

Ryanair travellers from Brussels South Charleroi, Dublin and London Stansted can now reach their Christmas dreams in just couple of hours, as Ryanair flies directly to Rovaniemi The Official Hometown of Santa Claus next winter.

Pentik opening a new store in the Arctic Circle Rovaniemi is not only a step towards new possibilities, but also returning to one´s roots. With a road map to win the hearts of customers globally, Pentik chose to build opportunities with Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Village.

A newly refurbished and Sustainable Travel Finland Certified Scandic Rovaniemi City with everything you need in the centre of Rovaniemi. Scandic is the largest Nordic hotel operator and has a long legacy of driving sustainability action in the hospitality industry.

The real Santa Claus of Lapland has charmed the internet audience and the real Santa Claus of Lapland videos are primarily shot in Santa Claus Village and its surroundings in Rovaniemi. 

Rally weekend is here, and the spectators are welcome to experience the race health-safe. The 57th Arctic Lapland Rally is competed on Friday and Saturday the 14-15th of January in Rovaniemi Lapland Finland.

One of the world’s foremost private luxury estates Octola will now offer guests the opportunity to relax in three different pool settings in the Spa.

Today on 23rd of December 2021 Santa Claus embarked on his annual journey around the world, from snowy Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle. Before jumping on to his reindeer pulled sleigh, Santa Claus had a few merry wishes to share with the people of the world, along with an important message.

As a Christmas special, Good Morning America, a daily breakfast time show in the United States is doing a live broadcast from Rovaniemi the Official Hometown of Santa Claus®. Good Morning America wishes to reassure all the children of the United States that Covid will not stop Santa Claus.

The travellers in Italy Milan, now have a direct route to the snowy wonders of Lapland, when easyJet flies from Malpensa airport in Milan to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland in December 2021 and January 2022.

Many Arctic phenomena await for the Eurowings travellers from Düsseldorf in this Arctic Capital of Lapland on the Arctic Circle. The Eurowings flight route to the land of Northern Lights is now officially opened.

Christmas fairytale has never been closer for the French travellers. The route from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris to winter wonderland Rovaniemi is now officially opened.

Every winter Visit Rovaniemi receives many messages about snow covering the cameras in the Lordi´s Square or in Santa Claus Village and so on. The true friends of Christmas all over the world care about the continuation of the beloved live videos from Rovaniemi.

An easyJet pilot of the first easyJet flight departing on 19 December from Milan Malpensa to Rovaniemi, will personally carry the Christams Letters of the children in Milan to Santa Claus, in the most magical village on the planet, Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

easyJet has announced direct flights from Malpensa airport in Milan Italy to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland for December 2021 and January 2022.

Visiting the Nili restaurant is like a journey to the Lapland fells and wilderness.The Nili personnel share you stories and wisdom on the used ingredients and origin of the food they serve, making your visit one you will never forget!

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloo chooses actions and choices to work towards a greener environment locally and globally. They want to make decisions that will preserve nature and encourage their staff to participate developing the practices in day to day life at the hotel.

Netflix’s subscribers across the world will get to share this Amazing Vacation Rental of Rovaniemi, as the hosts have an icy dip in a frozen lake and marvel the view from a Glass Igloo.

Rovaniemi opens yeat another stunning Northern Lights season. In Rovaniemi the Northern Lights are visible from August to April, and the local photographers have filled the Rovaniemi social media again with fabulous images of this natural phenomena. We asked a local professional photographer to give tips for the beginning of the Northern Lights season.

Air France has stated two weekly flights starting from 4th of December 2021. The winter route will offer flights till 5th of March 2022.

From the lush, warm mediterranean climes, through the heart of Europe, through valleys and mountain passes, through age old towns and cities, through the forests of Lapland to see Santa Claus in Rovaniemi, to Nordkapp in Norwegian, on the northern coast of the island of Magerøya in Northern Norway.

Beyond Arctic holds values like respect and care very high, and all our tours and expeditions are based on the values of sustainable travelling. The Beyond Arctic team is deeply committed to keeping local nature pristine by minimizing their environmental impact.

Finland’s best-known people, Santa Claus the ambassador of good will and Mr Lordi winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, visited the Rovaniemi Town Hall vaccination centre on Sunday, 1st of August 2021. Rovaniemi is known for being the home town for both of these famous characters.

Eurowings has announced expanding its winter services to Northern Europe, and they will be flying to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, on the Arctic Circle, every Sunday in early December 2021.

Luxury Action has created a new tourism concept ‘Authentic Lapland’ which aims to make luxury tours affordable for families, as well as for small groups and the growing market for solo travel.

The organising club Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura (Ounasvaara Ski Cub) decided on Monday 21st of June that Arctic Circle Jukola will be organized. The August orienteering festival is thus pushed forward with full speed.

Apukka takes care of you – and nature fulfills the rest. Located just 16 km north from Rovaniemi City Centre and 9 km north from Rovaniemi Airport, Apukka Resort is in the embrace of remote lakes and forests, is combining unique, innovative experiences with traditions and true, unspoiled nature. Due to the Apukka Resort investment news the accommodation selection will expand.

Looking to cooperate with tourism professionals. An interactive remote travel platform where you can buy, pay and experience remote experiences. The experience is always led by a professional live guide with whom you can interact throughout the trip.

Santa Claus sends warm spring greetings from his Official Hometown Rovaniemi. Nature is being reborn, the birds have returned and the baby reindeer are taking their first steps.

Here the dogs are part of the family and the respect for animals and sustainability are the ethical principles of the company. Bearhill Husky also provides private lakeside cottage accommodation and a traditional wooden sauna by the lake.

The Arctic Circle Jukola organizers are taking a big responsibility in moving the event from June to August, but it is a perfect example of the Jukola spirit -We truly hope that the Jukola spirit of not giving up also brings the registered teams to Rovaniemi, says the chairman of the Jukola leading team Juhani Sihvonen.

Rovaniemi and the magic of Christmas was one of the shining seven Dream Destinations handpicked. The Vogue has 24,9 million monthly readers and catches the eyes of more than 230 million digital users and social followers.

Wild About Lapland is specialised in small-group tours in the Rovaniemi area. The safari experiences are designed to offer guests a memorable experience of Lapland. All tours are limited to a maximum capacity of 8 guests per tour to provide a responsible tour  with no constant rush, and more personal approach in the experience.

In its reply to the Finnish Government, Parliament concluded that the sparsely populated regions with long distances require a more thorough consideration. Therefor all municipalities in Lapland, excluding Kittilä, restaurants may open for business beginning on 29 March.

Rovaniemi as a destination is exotic, safe and exclusive and the celebrities have enjoyed these elements also this winter. Domestic celebrities that have publicly shared their experiences from Rovaniemi are: Saara Aalto, Alma, Pete Parkkonen, Shirly Karvinen not to mention  Chachi and Jukka Hildén, The Dudeson Jarno Laasala and Sara Sieppi.

Ollero Eco Lodge is a travel destination where it is possible to have a vacation in style without feeling guilty. At Ollero Eco Lodge, sustainability has been driving every decision from building materials and methods to energy consumption. By choosing Ollero Eco Lodge you commit to both authentic local lifestyle and eco-responsible travel.

Have a moment of snowy speed and tune in for the After Movie>> The gained media value during the event weekend was astronomical. The global media gained alone was 5 billion viewings and the value of gained media potentially 44 million euros. The estimated value of social media attention gained from the event week is 505 million viewings with an estimated value of 2,5 million euros.

The online excursions, starting in week 9, offer the participants an opportunity to talk with the guide through a chat service.

Hyundais Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja took the 1st place and on the 2nd Kalle Rovanperä & Jonne Halttunen with their Toyota also taking the lead in the provisional standings. 3rd were Thierry Neuville & Martijn Wydaeghe with their Hyundai. On the last stage driven today the twenty-year-old Kalle Rovanperä, driving a Toyota Yaris, grabbed the championship lead. Rovanperä won the final live TV Wolf Power Stage and collected five bonus points. The Finns have a lot to celebrate for EsaPekka Lappi and Janne Ferm took the 1st place in WRC2 class and in WRC3 class the winners were Teemu Asunmaa and Marko Salminen.

Undoubtedly the number one event of rallying this year and the first ever Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox is raced in Rovaniemi this very weekend. We had a talk with a Finnish Yle Rally-reporter Tomi Tuominen – who has a personal experience of a staggering 17 years of Arctic Rally – to see what is it that makes the Arctic Rally so special.

Rovaniemellä juuri startannut ralliviikko ja viikon lopussa ajettava, kaikkien aikojen ensimmäinen Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox -kisa houkutteli Lappiin rallimaailman huippunimiä. Tiistaina ralliväki tutustui tarkemmin isäntäkaupunkiin Rovaniemeen sekä kansainvälisesti tunnettuun Joulupukin Pajakylään. Lue kuinka rallimaailman huiput testasivat myös Rovaniemen ”bucket list” -aktiviteetit napapiirillä.

Toyota driver succeeding on the fourth place in Monte Carlo Kalle Rovanperä praises Rovaniemi winter driving conditions. In his interview with Yle Rovanperä states that the race will surely be one of the best ones for these new World Rally Cars. ” These roads are the kind of roads where you just enjoy driving, Rovaniemi will offer a tough race”

The Irish driver of Hyundai Craig Breen, was immediately taken with the conditions and the surroundings of Rovaniemi when he tested his Hyundai i20 for the first time this year in the Rovaniemi region. “It’s a stunning place and so much snow and with the deep-freeze conditions, it’s going to be an incredible place to hold a WRC round” said Breen.

A star-studded line-up featuring some of the world’s best rally drivers will assemble for the inaugural Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox later this month. World champions and current WRC leaders Ogier/Ingrassia top the entry list. Finns set to fly in Lapland as 21 home-grown talents register. Strong interest in WRC2 and WRC3 with a combined 32 entries. Extreme E contenders Ekström and Kristoffersson provide added intrigue.

Airport operator Finavia and Napapiirin Energia ja Vesi (Neve) have entered into an agreement on the heating of Rovaniemi Airport with carbon-neutral district heating.

Condé Nast Traveler featured Rovaniemi and Rovaniemi experiences in the recent THE BESTS  as one of the best when planning a trip after retirement. Rovaniemi reindeer experiences were featured side by side with Mount Kilimanjaro as the feature states “usher in your golden years by cavorting with reindeer or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro” making Rovaniemi experiences world-famous. The Condé Nast Traveler enjoys monthly readers of two and a half million.

Undoubtedly the number one event of rallying is hosted by the city of Rovaniemi with appropriate safety measures. To ensure the safety of the championship being raced without any audience, the organiser AKK-Motorsports registered association and the rally organisation is cooperating with the local health authority and the city of Rovaniemi and the local tourist board Visit Rovaniemi linked with local businesses and travel trade.

The first Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox is gearing up to bring high-speed action on snow and ice to the FIA World Rally Championship from February 26-28 following the completion of the event route and itinerary.

The plans are for the Rovaniemi round to be driven as a three-day event: the action starts on Friday 26 February with a shakedown in the morning, and the first special stages of the rally proper will be driven on Friday evening. The competition continues on Saturday 27 February with three stages that will all be driven twice in and around the Rovaniemi area.

The romantic drama I Remember filmed in Finnish Lapland, tells a story of two workmates who travel to Finland and their work-related journey takes them to Finnish Lapland via Helsinki.

Although foreign travelers are unable to visit Lapland this Christmas, their interest in Santa Claus of shows no sign of fading. One solid piece of evidence for this is Rovaniemi-based Joulupukki TV’s Santatelevision channel, which has seen record growth of more than 50%.

Many kids missed out an opportunity to travel to Lapland to meet Santa themselves so HUAWEI with the help of Visit Rovaniemi and the Elves of Santa Claus Village have designed a magical way to bring Santa Claus into your home and onto your phone!

Each year, in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland Santa sets of to bring Christmas cheer to people all around the globe. This year, the event will be broadcasted LIVE on Facebook and Livestream on December 23rd at 7 PM local time (UTC +2). Santa Claus has a big heart filled with good wishes and we are so lucky to hear his thoughts right before the big journey.

ITV’s Gordon, Gino and Fred: Desperately Seeking Santa saw Gordon Ramsay, Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix bring the magic of Finnish winter to TVs across the UK. Visit Finland worked closely with Visit Rovaniemi and Visit Levi to support the Studio Ramsay production.

Samsung joins forces with Santa Claus with a meeting opportunity with Santa as well as the AR filter for Instagram Stories.

Families will soon be able to fly with Finnair to see Santa in Rovaniemi, thanks to the magic of virtual reality (VR). From 25 December, Finnair will offer eight ‘flights’ using virtual reality to transport lucky families and children to visit Santa in his hometown of Rovaniemi.

Visit Rovaniemi delivered greetings to the virtual celebration of 70 years of Diplomatic Relations between Finland and Israel. The formalities were held last week on 24th of November in Tel Aviv where Visit Rovaniemi Northern Lights where projected in a central location.

Husky & Yoga Nature is a company that truly opens their sustainable everyday lifestyle for everyone to experience and now enjoys a Sustainable Travel Finland trademark.

Rovaniemi, the Laplands capital and The Official Hometown of Santa Claus® shares this cool virtual breeze to be experienced from where ever you are!

This year Santa Claus will open the Christmas season virtually on Saturday 7.11. at 19.00 (UTC+2). Join the festivities and watch it live on our Facebook page.

Rovaniemi is the best European winter destination 2020. Rovaniemi The Official Hometown of Santa Claus® is making headlines after the release of Lonely Planet´s TOP 10 list.

Companies from Rovaniemi are joining forces to take action towards Sustainable Travel Finland,  so travelers of tomorrow can choose sustainable! Sustainable Travel Finland trademark 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.

Visit Rovaniemi with its partners have taken the responsibility and sustainability seriously, and now run a Sustainable Travel Finland –programme, helping the local tourism to develop more responsible. Kärkkäinen encourages all local businesses to join this program, free of charge.

Arctic Circle Jukola is turning out to be the Jukola of all times since the world’s largest orienteering event Jukola Relay has been postponed for one year.

Rovaniemi sets the stage for the stunning action sequences of War. The biggest action-entertainer of the year is produced by Yash Raj Films, Bollywood’s largest film production and distribution company.

The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck has visited over 300 places around the globe before finally arriving in Finland. In Finland the truck made a historical first-time ever stop on the Arctic Circle in the city of Rovaniemi.

A new web service built around Alvar Aalto’s architecture, visit.alvaraalto.fi, has been launched to serve visitors in all regions of Finland.

Rovaniemi based Santa’s Santatelevision YouTube channel has doubled its viewers this year, with a goal of 100 million video views by the end of the Christmas season.

On Tuesday November 15th 2016, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö granted Visit Rovaniemi the President’s internationalisation award. Read more here.