Rovaniemi

Far up north, where Finland meets Russia, Sweden and Norway, he harnesses the reindeer to his sleigh just before Christmas and sets off. Santa Claus is at home in Rovaniemi. But Lapland's capital is also known for untouched landscapes and natural spectacles like the northern lights and the midnight sun.

Rovaniemi and its surroundings

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, which belongs to Finland, so the local language in Rovaniemi is Finnish. In prehistoric times, people lived from hunting and fishing here at the confluence of the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki rivers.

Today more than 60,000 residents go about their daily lives right next to the Arctic Circle. For the people of Lapland, the city is the hub where they can find everything they need. The municipality covers an area of more than 8,000 square kilometres, which makes Rovaniemi one of the largest cities in Europe by area, though most of it is barely inhabited.

Several smaller towns surround Rovaniemi. Ranua lies a good 80 kilometres to the south, Ylitornio and Pello to the west, Kolari borders Rovaniemi to the northwest, and Kemijärvi and Posio lie to the east. The Finnish capital Helsinki is more than 800 kilometres away.

The landscape around Rovaniemi is dominated by dense bogs. Most of the trees in the forests are pines, with a few spruces and deciduous trees mixed in. The highest point is Kaihuanvaara at over 350 metres. The Auttiköngäs waterfall, more than 16 metres high, also draws the attention of locals and tourists.

Rovaniemi's eventful history

Rovaniemi's history most likely begins towards the end of the last ice age. When the land recovered between 7000 and 5800 BC and temperatures rose, the first people settled in the area of present-day Rovaniemi.

When Finno-Ugric people arrived in the region around 2,000 years later and mixed with the locals, the Sámi emerged. It was not until the early Middle Ages that the land was used for farming. People grew crops. Later, at the start of the High Middle Ages, Sweden gained increasing influence over Lapland and with it the capital. Rovaniemi is first mentioned in a document in connection with a land purchase.

The first church in Rovaniemi was built at the beginning of the 17th century. After it burned down during a Karelian raid, it was rebuilt in 1622 and replaced by a new building 66 years later. In 1785 Rovaniemi got its own parish. Until then it had answered to the Swedish diocese of Turku.

At the end of the 1920s, Rovaniemi was granted independent market town status. The capital of Lapland was founded shortly before the Second World War reached Finland. A year later, Soviet planes flew over Rovaniemi and bombed the city.

Later, from 1941 to 1944, Lapland and its capital were under German command. Hitler's forces set up a headquarters here and at times occupied the city with 15,000 soldiers. The worst period of the war came in October 1944: as the German Wehrmacht withdrew, it destroyed almost every building in the city.

Rovaniemi was rebuilt in the early 1950s. In 1960 it was granted the right to call itself a city. Ever since, it has drawn more and more visitors.

Getting to Rovaniemi

There are several ways to reach Lapland's capital. By plane, you can fly there directly from London Gatwick. By train, you can travel from Helsinki to Rovaniemi; trains run several times a day in both directions. Long-distance buses and private cars will get you there from all directions.

Sights and highlights in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi has plenty to offer sightseers. If you come here wanting to see something, you will.

• German war cemetery
  German soldiers who fell at Rovaniemi during the Second World War are buried here.
• Local history museum
  This museum documents the life of a wealthy Finnish farmer more than 100 years ago. It gives a vivid picture of how people hunted and lived from fishing and cattle farming back then.
• Rovaniemi Church
  The church is also worth a look. Completed in 1950, it captivates visitors with a very large fresco behind the altar. It is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
• Sukulanrakka
  Just under 30 kilometres from Rovaniemi, you can marvel at the potholes in the rocky slopes of Sukulanrakka. The so-called devil's churns formed around 10,000 years ago.
• Northern lights
  The northern lights put on quite a show here. They can be seen in Rovaniemi on up to 200 nights a year. The best time to watch the display is between mid-August and mid-April. All you need is a dark, clear sky and a spot with an unobstructed view. Keep in mind, though, that nobody can guarantee the aurora will actually appear.

• Midnight sun
  From late May to the first days of August, the nights here are white and bright. The sun shines 24 hours a day, leaving plenty of time for riding, boating or jet skiing.
• Santa Claus Village
  The Arctic Circle runs through Santa Claus Village, eight kilometres away. Crossing it earns you a certificate, and how you cross doesn't really matter. You can walk, hop or ride a bike over the line. You can even cross the Arctic Circle underground, through Santa's cave.

Santa Claus has been at home in Rovaniemi since 2010, when Lapland's capital was declared the official hometown of Santa Claus. The door to his office, right on the Arctic Circle, is always open to everyone. Young visitors can meet him daily and tell him their wishes.

Santa Claus Village, as the Christmas village in Rovaniemi is called, holds a few surprises for grown-ups too. Fans of the most wonderful time of the year can visit Santa's very own main post office and feel the Christmas magic all year round. Visitors can also get their first Christmas shopping done here, and the main post office will deliver purchases home at whatever time they choose.

Finding your way to Santa is easy. Santa Claus Village is three kilometres from Rovaniemi airport. From the city centre, your best bet is the Santa Claus Bus, which takes guests to Santa every hour. You can also cover the eight kilometres by taxi or turn it into a short walk.

Since Santa is often out and about, it is worth checking the opening hours before you go. Santa charges his guests no admission for a short visit.

If you want to stay longer and spend the night, there are several options. The Santa Claus Holiday Village offers six nights for a family with two children for just under 600 euros. You can also stay right next to Santa's office.

The Glass Resort consists of glass apartments furnished with crafts from the region. Both the large windows and the glass roof give guests a view of the surroundings. About ten minutes from Santa Claus Village, the Apukka Resort also promises comfortable nights. Here visitors can sleep in real ice cabins. The Apukka Resort also offers husky safaris and snowshoe hikes.

More places to stay in Rovaniemi

If you would rather not stay in Santa Claus Village or its immediate surroundings, you can rent a holiday home, book a hotel room or take a private room. Depending on the standard, a week for a family with two children costs between 330 and 900 euros.

Campers will find several spots in Rovaniemi to park their motorhome and spend a quiet night.

Visitors to Rovaniemi shouldn't miss the food of Lapland either. Reindeer has a firm place on many plates. Roasted and served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam, it is one of the classic dishes. You can have reindeer as fillet, minced meat or sausage. The people of Lapland are also known for their fish dishes made with salmon, trout, pikeperch and other fish. If you fancy a beer or a glass of wine afterwards, look out for the Finnish word "Baari". You will find it at every establishment that serves alcohol.

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