Welcome to Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland and Official Home of Santa Claus, sits just five miles south of the Arctic Circle. This town at the confluence of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers has a history dating back some 8,000 years, and a delightfully modern vibe. Take a journey through Rovaniemi with these 21 photos.
Grand Opening of Christmas
As each year approaches its end, Rovaniemi takes center stage as the “Official Home of Santa Claus.” In November, Mr. Claus opens the Christmas season with a speech, followed by more than a month of holiday festivities in Santa Claus Village.
According to local legend, Santa’s original home occupies a secret location in Finnish Lapland. His Rovaniemi office opened in 1985, and the town became the Official Hometown of Santa Claus in 2010.
Santa Claus Village
You don’t have to visit in winter to say hello to Santa. He keeps an office in Santa Claus Village, where more than half a million people visit him each year. While exploring the village, visitors can also cross the Arctic Circle, visit Santa’s reindeer or send a letter from Santa Claus’s Main Post Office (stamped with an Arctic Circle postmark).
Reindeer
It should come as no surprise that a city with a reindeer head-shaped street plan has a bit of an affinity for the animals. No visit to Rovaniemi would be complete without taking a reindeer sleigh ride. Many reindeer herders and farms welcome visitors to learn more about their livelihood.
Winter in Rovaniemi
Winter (December to March) in Rovaniemi can be dark and cold, with daytime temperatures below freezing and polar nights where the sun never makes it above the horizon. Thanks to Christmas and the northern lights, it’s also a popular time to visit Finnish Lapland.
Northern lights
The aurora borealis (revontulet or “fox fire” in Finnish) are visible in Finnish Lapland for around 150 nights each year. In Rovaniemi, you can often see them from late August to early April between 10 pm and 2 am. They may last a couple minutes or several hours.
According to local Sámi legend, the phenomenon is caused by a fox running through the snow and whipping ice crystals into the northern sky with its bushy tail.
Winter swimming
If you associate swimming with hot summer days, you’re not from Rovaniemi. Here, winter swimming ranks as a popular pastime, believed to promote good health. A quick dip in a frozen river is typically followed by a stint in a warming sauna. Many Finns start their days with a winter swim, claiming the resulting energy boost stays with them throughout the day.
The town hosted the World Winter Swimming Championships in 2014.
A race across the ice
Each January, brave drivers gather in Rovaniemi for the Arctic Lapland Rally, a slippery race along the ice-covered roads of Finnish Lapland. The event ranks among the most popular in town, and past participants have included current and former Formula One drivers.
Reindeer racing
Cars aren’t the only thing racing in Lapland. Another popular pastime? Reindeer racing. The racing season runs from mid-February through the beginning of April, and one of the PoroCup (reindeer racing) events takes place in Rovaniemi. During a typical race, four reindeer compete at a time. The jockeys don’t ride the reindeer but follow behind on skis.
Land of the midnight sun
Summer in Rovaniemi brings nightless nights (also called polar days) where the sun never sets. You can see the midnight sun from early June to early July. This means you have 24 hours a day for outdoor adventure (something locals definitely take advantage of).
Wild berry picking
Rovaniemi in the summer is a popular season for foraging. Head out into the Lappish forests to find blueberries, cloudberries and wild mushrooms. Local guides offer foraging tours that teach visitors how to identify which types are safe to eat (and how best to enjoy them).
Korundi House of Culture
Korundi, a bus depot that survived the destruction of World War II, has been transformed into a vibrant cultural space. The Korundi House of Culture is home to the Lapland Chamber Orchestra and the Rovaniemi Art Museum, where visitors can see contemporary art of the North and the Arctic.