Rovaniemi in brief
Rovaniemi is the town closest to Santa Claus Village. The village is 8 km north of the centre, on the E75, and bus 8 links the two all year round. Most visitors spend their time at the Arctic Circle, but the town has its own sights: the Arktikum museum, the river, the church, the Aalto buildings and the wooded hill of Ounasvaara.
If you want to see more than the village, a day in town combines well with Lapland tours from Rovaniemi. The town is also where most visitors stay, so the airport, the night train and the hotels are all here. Prices on this page are in euros, as of 2026.
Things to do in Rovaniemi
Sights in the town, mostly within walking distance of the centre.
Arktikum
The science centre and museum covers the Arctic, the history and the culture of Lapland. Standard admission is €22 in 2026. The building has a glass tunnel and a garden with an arboretum, and both are good places to spend time even before you go in.
Arktikum guide →The river and the bridge
The Jätkänkynttilä bridge crosses the Kemijoki between the centre and the hill of Ounasvaara. It opened in 1989. A walk along the river and over the bridge is a free way to see the town.
The church
Rovaniemi church is at Yliopistonkatu 2. It is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. when a pastor is present. Check the Christmas hours and any entrance price for 2026 on site before you go.
Ounasvaara nature trail
The nature trail is about 4.9 km long and graded moderate. It suits the snow-free months, May to October, and the hill is roughly 3 km from the centre. Do not treat it as a winter or step-free loop.
Culture in town
The Arktikum and Korundi are the two venues of the current Culture Pass. The Pilke science centre closed in autumn 2026, so leave it off your list.
Santa Claus Village
The village is 8 km north of the centre. Walking in is free, and it has the Santa Claus Office and the Arctic Circle line.
Santa Claus Office →Our pick: the Arktikum in town
A ticket for Rovaniemi's Arctic science centre and museum, with permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours from Rovaniemi
Northern lights, huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles and day trips, with live prices and availability.
Rovaniemi, Finland: rebuilt after 1944
In the Lapland War of 1944, about 90 percent of the buildings in the town centre were destroyed. The new street plan from 1945 is said to follow the shape of reindeer antlers, though it was never fully carried out. The plan dates to about 1945 or 1946.
The architect Alvar Aalto planned the civic centre. Three of its buildings are the city library, the Lappia hall and the town hall. They are worth a walk if you like architecture.
| Building | Year |
|---|---|
| City library | 1965 |
| Lappia hall | 1975 |
| Town hall | 1986, completed after Aalto's death under Elissa Aalto |
Arktikum admission and the Culture Pass
Prices for 2026. Show proof for any reduced ticket at the desk.
| Ticket | Arktikum | Culture Pass (Arktikum and Korundi) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | €22 | €30 |
| Reduced (students, over 65, unemployed) | €17 | €20 |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children) | €54 | €65 |
| Children 7 to 17 | €10 | €10 |
| Under 7 | Free | Free |
The Culture Pass is valid for 7 days from your first visit and allows repeat visits. The Arktikum alone is enough for most visitors. Take the pass if you also plan to visit Korundi within the week. Opening hours are on the Arktikum page.
Rovaniemi in winter and summer
What the town offers depends on the season.
Winter
The days are very short in midwinter, and the town is a base for northern lights tours from late August to early April. See the guide to northern lights in Rovaniemi for the best hours and the rules.
Summer
The midnight sun lasts roughly from early June to early July, and nights stay bright for longer. Summer brings river boat trips, nature walks and midnight sun trips. Northern lights are not visible in the light nights.
Weather and best time →Getting around
Bus 8 runs between the centre and Santa Claus Village. A single ticket in zone A is €3.60 for an adult, and a day ticket is €9. The airport has its own bus and taxis.
Getting there →Respect the town and the ice
Rules that matter more than they look.
Stay off the river ice
The city has warned that the ice on the Kemijoki between the Jätkänkynttilä bridge and the railway bridge is dangerous all winter. The current is strong and the ice can be thin. Footprints do not prove that it holds. Do not walk on it and do not use it for northern lights photos.
Residential areas
People live in the blocks and houses of the town. Keep noise down at night, do not photograph private homes and follow house rules in rented flats. Do not leave balcony doors open in frost.
Where to stay →Nature
Use marked paths, check local rules for protected areas and do not feed wild animals. Open fires are not an everyday right, and many fire places are closed during a forest fire warning.
Rovaniemi: frequently asked questions
Is Rovaniemi the same place as Santa Claus Village?
No. Rovaniemi is the town, and Santa Claus Village is a separate site 8 km north on the Arctic Circle. Bus 8 connects them all year round. Read more on the Santa Claus Village page.
What is there to see in Rovaniemi itself?
The Arktikum museum, the river and the bridge, the church, the Aalto buildings and the Ounasvaara hill. Most of the centre was rebuilt after 1944.
Is the Pilke science centre still open?
No. Pilke closed in autumn 2026. The current Culture Pass covers the Arktikum and Korundi.
Can I walk on the Kemijoki ice?
No. The city warns that the ice in the centre is unsafe all winter, between the Jätkänkynttilä bridge and the railway bridge.
How much is the Arktikum?
Standard admission is €22 in 2026, reduced €17, and children from 7 to 17 pay €10. Children under 7 enter free.
Is Santa-Claus-Village.com run by the town or the tourist office?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the City of Rovaniemi, Visit Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village or any tour operator.