Rovaniemi - The Capital of Lapland

River Rafting during Ruska time (Colourful Autumn).

Rovaniemi - The Town of Eight Seasons

Christmas As the year comes to a close it is time for Christmas, romantic twilight and beautiful blue moments. Th e Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle attracts children and the young at heart to meet Santa Claus and enjoy the gentle lighting that lights the twilight. Santa Claus, Rovaniemi's most famous inhabitant, receives thousands of guests each year at Christmas wanting to bring their gift lists to him in person.

Frosty Winter The year begins with the deep frozen twilight period. At the Arctic Circle, there are only a few hours of daylight each day. Although the warm and cosy indoors and good company make you feel like staying in, you may still like to venture outside to hear the sound of the frozen wintertime silence following the New Year celebrations. Located this far north, on a clear day you have a very good chance of experiencing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In ancient times it was believed that the Northern Lights were made by the fox's tale swishing over the snowy fells making sparks.

Crusted Snow The period from late February to the beginning of April is the time for glistening springtime snowdrifts. On a sunny day, the amount of light refl ecting off the snow is quite amazing. The frozen river that runs through the town is filled with people and just as many activities.

Ice Break-up In April – May, winter turns to spring. In the month of May, the days are long enough to even brighten the nights. Spring brings with it migratory birds, reindeer calves and jingling ice fl oating down the river. Nature's awakening to a new season of growth can be experienced at numerous outdoor and recreational spots in Rovaniemi.

Midnight Sun The Midnight Sun shines from the beginning of June to the beginning of July. This is the time for dance, music and blossoming of the countryside. The Midnight Sun river valley landscape viewed from the summit of Ounasvaara is breathtaking. The warm days of summer attract people to the streets of Rovaniemi, to the street cafés and pub terraces. There is a wide range of shopping facilities in the town centre with the Lordi Square. The square was named after the hard rock band that won the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. Rovaniemi is the hometown for Mr Lordi, the head of the band Lordi. The square has a concrete slab with the imprints of the band's hands, which has already become a popular place to take photographs.

Harvest July and August are harvesting times. One especially sought after fruit is the cloudberry, the tasty treasure of the wetlands. The mild weather of late summer offers plenty more outdoor activities than picking cloudberries. Rovaniemi and its surroundings offer active outdoor enthusiasts a whole host of opportunities for guided or independent activities on the river, in the forest, or indeed on the golf course at Ounasvaara.

Colourful Autumn In September the countryside starts to prepare for the more quiet season of winter, but the town bustles with thousands of students returning to their studies. Rovaniemi is a town of schools and students. There is a Vocational College, University of Applied Sciences and the University of Lapland, a university unique to Finland where science and art are combined. Autumn is also the time for the new season of the Rovaniemi Town Theatre and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra.

First Snowfall In October to November the countryside prepares for the winter and is wrapped in a gentle gray mist awaiting the fi rst snowfall. As the evenings get darker, people take the opportunity to gather up strength for the coming winter. Pampering oneself is allowed and even recommended!

With huskies

Activities in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is an international and versatile travel destination. Events, attractions and activities in this lively town and surrounding nature quarantee unforgettable memories for the whole family. Either summer or winter, there are always many activities to experience.

Winter activities Surrounded by wintry dark forests, the Arctic Circle is a meaningful experience for young and old visitors. You can see reindeer, Santa's little helpers or his favourite huskies, learn to ride a snowmobile, and cross the Arctic Circle in whatever style you choose – naturally in an unforgettable way!

The shore of the river that winds its way through the town is the departure point for snowmobile routes that will take you quickly into the heart of the forest, or to explore the traditional Lappish livelihood of reindeer husbandry. You can also reach the depths of the countryside with a thrilling husky sled excursion. The local activity companies have plenty of experience in providing snowy meaningful experiences. In addition to savouring the sound of silence of the countryside in Rovaniemi, you also have the choice of experiencing motor sports. The Arctic Lapland Rally starts from the town centre in mid-January.

The Ounasvaara Winter Games attract top winter sportspeople to Rovaniemi. The Ounasvaara winter sports centre offers a rare opportunity to experience snowboarding, downhill and crosscountry skiing right by the town centre. After a day outdoors you will feel refreshed, yet relaxed.

Rovaniemi has a range of professional well being services from keep fit to pampering treatments. Whether you want to improve your fitness and health or enjoy inspiring recreation, the services available cover individual needs from families to large companies. In Rovaniemi, nature is never far away and there are plenty of nearby day trip destinations for those who love nature and the great outdoors. After a bit of exercise you can relax in the spa or with a variety of treatments. After some relaxing pampering treatment it is time to enjoy good food. The restaurants of Rovaniemi offer culinary enjoyment for a variety of tastes. The chefs of Rovaniemi have planned the town's very own menu, available throughout the year in restaurants carrying the Taste of Finland fork emblem. The RovaniemiMenu is based on the season's ingredients and local produce. The fruits of the Lappish countryside, fish, berries and game, hold central stage in the menu that is changed according to seasons at least four times a year. You can continue the evening right through to the small hours in the town's numerous music restaurants, clubs and nightclubs.

Summer activities In Ranua, about an hour's drive from Rovaniemi, you can see reindeer calves and plenty of other young animals. The Ranua Wildlife Park is Santa's very own, where you can see animals of the Arctic in surroundings as natural as possible throughout the year. The changing seasons provide unique dimensions for life at the Wildlife Park. The park is home to around 60 species of wild animals and has a domestic animal park during summer months. The Wildlife Park also arranges some high quality extra services for the whole family.

On a riverboat safari you can experience what it was like for the lumberjacks on the great River Kemijoki with old-fashioned atmosphere. The Rovaniemi summertime programs provided by the activity companies have plenty of alternatives to please the summer tourist. The wide range of sports activities available in the Ounasvaara countryside include hiking in the wilderness environment, guided, independent and even demanding activity programmes, all close to the town centre. The summer toboggan run gives you a thrilling ride from the summit. The international folklore festival Jutajaiset brings folk dance, music performances and light music to the town's streets. Rovaniemi's summertime also includes rock festivals and summer theatre performances.

Cross the Arctic Circle in Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village at the northern Arctic Circle

What is the Arctic Circle? The Arctic Circle (66˚ 32'35") runs across the main runway of Santa's Official Airport in Rovaniemi to reach the Santa Claus Village. Characteristic for the Arctic region above the Arctic Circle are the nightless night (Midnight Sun) in the summer and twilight in the winter. Contrastingly, in the winter the Sun does not rise above the horizon all day. There are a thousand different ways to cross the Arctic Circle in nature on a variety of safaris, or cross the line at the Santa Claus Village and get a certificate of your achievement from the Gift House.

Meeting Santa Claus is the highlight of the holiday At the Santa Claus Village, even naughty children and adults can all of a sudden become good! The welcoming Christmas spirit, lots to see and do, and a wide range of shops serve the half million visitors the Village receives each year.

The world's most famous goodwill ambassador, Santa Claus, greets children and adults at the Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle. This kind crimson-cloaked character welcomes visitors with open arms at the Santa Claus Office every day of the year. The white-bearded Santa Claus carefully records all children's wishes – he always finds time for a chat and for listening to what people want for Christmas. Over a million children have sat on Santa's knee. Judging by the photograph gallery at the Santa Claus Office, meeting Santa Claus has also been the highlight of visits to Finland for a number of heads of state, sportspeople and celebrities.

There are so many ways to experience the warm Christmas spirit at the Arctic Circle throughout the year. The bustling Santa Claus Village puts a smile on the face of every visitor. Santa also has his Main Post Office at the Arctic Circle, with the job of receiving letters sent to Santa Claus from all over the world – to date the post office has received over 12 million letters. Each year, Santa gets around 700,000 greetings from almost 200 countries. The Postal Elves reply to every letter that has a return address. Cards and letters sent from the Santa Claus Main Post Office are stamped with Santa's own special postmark.

There's also plenty of hustle and bustle going on in Santa's home cavern, SantaPark, located right next to the Santa Claus Village. You can even attend the Official Elf School! At the Elf School, the secretly held skills of these active elves are passed on to the pupils, never to be forgotten. The enticing aromas of the Gingerbread Kitchen beckon Elf Pupils to decorate gingerbread baked by Mrs Claus using her secret recipe. The Sleigh Ride, loved by kids, takes visitors through four seasons to ultimately reach the Elf Toy Workshop. SantaPark is also a place for enjoying the exotic winter of Lapland in the Ice Gallery, which is entirely made from ice. See your breath freeze on the ice in temperatures below zero in the middle of the summertime!

Handicrafts and gifts made by local artisans can be found from the shops and boutiques in the Santa Claus Village. There are also great finds to be made in the Marimekko and Hackmann-Iittala factory shops.

On every day of the year you can easily visit the Santa Claus Village using the Santa's Express bus service that operates every hour and departs from the Rovaniemi town centre bus stops and railway station.