Prepared for an unforgettable winter journey? Uncover Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. From experiencing an unimaginable husky safari on snowy trails to visiting the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle.
Our Finland professional Hendrik determined to take it sluggish whereas stopping over within the capital of Lapland.
Right here’s his expertise within the fantastic winter world of Rovaniemi:
We’re followers of leisurely journey. We wish to take our time and benefit from the trip. On our approach south from Saariselkä, my son and I made a decision to cease in Rovaniemi for a better look.
In the event you’re touring to Lapland, remember to spend an evening in Rovaniemi. Right here you possibly can calm down and benefit from the peace and quiet. Hostel Café Koti is the right place for individuals who love comfy beds and Nordic design. Situated in the midst of town, the whole lot is inside strolling distance!
A stroll alongside the riverside is a should in Rovaniemi. Right here you possibly can take pleasure in a wide ranging view of town.
In the event you’re curious and wish to study extra about tradition, the Arktikum Museum is the place for you. Or how a couple of hike on the (winter) path of Ounasvaara?
For extra motion, attempt a fatbike tour with RollOutdoors otherwise you go for a sleigh trip, pulled by huskies (extra to that later).
Travelling North and South
When my son and I returned from our journey in snowy Saariselkä, we had an excellent thought: we wished to spend an evening in Rovaniemi to keep away from the lengthy and exhausting public journey south (VR and Matkahuolto ought to actually coordinate their schedules, proper?).
And what can I say? It was simply nice! We had a lot enjoyable and had been completely impressed by town.
As a substitute of an countless journey day stuffed with rush and stress, we took our time and slept late on the resort in Saariselkä earlier than having fun with a scrumptious breakfast and catching the 11 am bus to Rovaniemi. We arrived relaxed a couple of hours later.
The following day we loved one other scrumptious breakfast on the Hostel Café Koti and walked to the practice station with our in depth baggage to catch the practice south.
As you possibly can think about, this journey plan was rather more comfy than a day of stress that began at 6am and didn’t finish till 10pm whenever you lastly arrived residence.
So what did we do in Rovaniemi?
The Capital of Lapland
We arrived within the heart of Rovaniemi on our bus from Saariselkä and had been only a brief stroll from our cool hostel, Café Koti.
This gem of a hostel is only some years previous and is situated in a very renovated financial institution constructing – the previous workplaces are actually rooms for singles, doubles, households and dormitories.
The café on the primary ground has good drinks and snacks out there all day and serves a scrumptious breakfast.
After checking in, we put our ski baggage within the previous vault, which now serves as a safe baggage storage space. Then we went upstairs to our room.
I’m often a tent man, however I can admire good design and decor, and our room at Koti – which implies “residence” in Finnish. It was stunning. The room has pure supplies and colours, plenty of home windows with nice views, and the beds had been implausible – I used to be beginning to really feel like a little bit nap wouldn’t harm. 🥱
However we wished to discover wintery Rovaniemi and had different plans!
Solely two minutes away from the primary sq. of Rovaniemi is the Hostel Café Koti.
On our strategy to the Offended Birds Playground, which can be solely 300 meters from the hostel, we had the chance to lastly arrive after an extended day on the bus. The playground is free and has plenty of cool Offended Birds themed gear – good even for youths who’re extra accustomed to different video games.
After a enjoyable go to to the playground, we took a stroll alongside the river. In the event you really feel prefer it, you possibly can go XC snowboarding right here – there’s a path alongside the river. However we determined to stroll round and benefit from the stunning view of Ounasvaara.
That is really a paradise for individuals who reside within the metropolis and are in search of outside motion.
By the way in which, in the event you really feel like fatbiking, it’s best to go to RollOutdoors!
So we continued in the direction of town, as our hungry bellies craved a scrumptious meal and my son was dying for a burger. We determined to attempt Kauppayhtiö as they had been speculated to have the most effective burgers on the town.
We weren’t disillusioned!
Each the vegetarian and the standard burgers had been a deal with for our palates. 🍔
The place is embellished with nice consideration to element and has an informal 50’s/60’s punk rock gallery vibe. In the event you like this aesthetic, you’ll really feel proper at residence at Kauppayhtiö!
Afterwards, we strolled by way of the middle of Rovaniemi on the way in which again to Koti. It seems to be so good, the whole lot is lit up and there are even some Christmas decorations.
It’s apparent, since Santa Claus has his residence right here, it simply has to look Christmassy. 🙂
After we obtained again to the hostel, we checked out the sauna after which performed a spherical of Carcassonne within the frequent room. We’re large followers of board video games and it’s all the time a spotlight when a hostel/resort/cafe has a number of video games out there.
After a couple of video games, it was time to settle into our comfy beds and eventually calm down. The beds had been so inviting and comfy that we fell asleep straight away.
Our sleep was deep and restful, and once we awoke the subsequent morning, we felt contemporary and alert. Nonetheless, our hungry stomachs had been crying out! With out hesitation, we made our strategy to the charming café the place we’d take pleasure in breakfast.
The place was crowded, as breakfast attracts not solely hostel company, but additionally many locals. This alone is an indication that we had been in an awesome place for a scrumptious meal!
For vegans, the breakfast choices had been a bit restricted, however ultimately I used to be full and glad – and the espresso was actually scrumptious, an actual plus.
After dinner, we performed a couple of board video games and relaxed within the frequent room earlier than heading to the practice station to go again south to Vaasa.
Though it could appear to outsiders that we didn’t do a lot in Rovaniemi, we had been positive that our plan to discover town, calm down, eat properly, and make our journey south stress-free was proper on track. We obtained what we wished and are very proud of our time in Rollo.
In the event you’re touring to Lapland by public transportation, we advocate spending two days within the south. It’s all the time price visiting Rovaniemi and discovering the variety of town. Hostel Café Koti within the metropolis heart is a superb place to remain. We will certainly cease right here once more on our subsequent north-south journey.
We like to take our time and journey relaxed!
In the event you favored this text, please help me, Hendrik, on Patreon (and also you’ll get nice low cost codes from our companions – you might save as much as 20% in your subsequent buy!)
Additional Journey Dudes Ideas: Husky Safari on a Snowy Path
You can even expertise an unforgettable journey at a husky safari in Finland, by driving your personal canine sled workforce by way of the picturesque forests. Whether or not you’re the motive force or a relaxed observer on the sled, benefit from the breathtaking great thing about the snow-covered panorama.
Go to a neighborhood husky farm and study all in regards to the breeding and coaching of those unimaginable Arctic animals. Find out how they’re skilled to race and work within the forest.
After a brief briefing, you’ll embark on an thrilling 10 km trip by way of the Finnish winter panorama. Really feel the fun of racing by way of the snow along with your workforce of sled canine.
Don’t neglect to seize this unforgettable second and benefit from the stunning surroundings. After the trip, heat up with a sizzling juice and Finnish gingerbread – the locals’ favourite winter snack.
Take heed to attention-grabbing tales about huskies and immerse your self in Finnish tradition and traditions. That is an journey you’ll keep in mind for a very long time.
Good to know
They’ll choose you up and take you to your lodging inside 15 km from the middle of Rovaniemi. Length of the tour is 3.5 hours.
An English talking information (different languages on request: German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese language) will take you on a ten km husky sled trip. Additionally, you will go to a husky farm and revel in Finnish snacks and sizzling drinks. Better of all, you’ll be supplied with winter clothes – overalls, boots and gloves.
Vital to know: Departure instances might differ relying on season and availability. It’s best to examine with the tour operator. On weekdays and Saturdays they want a minimal of two individuals for the tour. On Sundays and holidays they want a minimal of 4 individuals. If the minimal variety of contributors will not be reached, the tour could also be canceled or postponed. And please word: Kids beneath 12 have to be accompanied by a paying grownup. You possibly can cancel as much as 24 hours upfront and obtain a full refund.
E-book the tour immediately beneath:
Additional Journey Dudes Ideas: Choice to go to the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle
There’s additionally the choice to go on a journey to a spot the place Christmas is widely known all 12 months spherical – Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi.
Right here you’ve gotten the possibility to fulfill Santa Claus in individual and cross the Arctic Circle to take distinctive memento pictures. What would a go to to Santa Claus be with out greetings to your family members? Ship your vacation greetings immediately from Santa’s put up workplace.
If that’s not sufficient, you’ll even have the chance to stand up shut and private with the reindeer that assist Santa together with his duties. In your strategy to the Arctic Circle, you’ll move the painted white line that marks the border of the Arctic area. While you cross this line, you’ll obtain an official certificates that you would be able to proudly show.
However earlier than you head again to your lodging, a culinary deal with awaits you: a Lapland lunch buffet. Let your self be tempted by the regional specialties and benefit from the distinctive environment of Santa’s Village. An unforgettable expertise that may stick with you for a very long time.
Good to know
The period of this tour is 3.5 hours and you’ll cancel as much as 24 hours upfront for a full refund. The tour provides you the chance to be picked up and transported comfortably out of your lodging inside 15 km (driving distance) from the middle of Rovaniemi. You’ll be greeted by an English talking information who may also communicate different languages akin to German, French, Italian, Spanish or Chinese language upon request.
A scrumptious lunch buffet awaits you. The spotlight of the tour is a gathering with Santa Claus, which can go away you with unforgettable reminiscences. And also you’ll obtain a certificates to show you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle.