Things to do in Rovaniemi

35 activities, venues and outings in Rovaniemi, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Arctic Circle National Hiking Area
Hiking area with much infrastructure, such as lean-to shelters. There are three trailheads with parking areas. Coaches to Kemijärvi or Sodankylä stop at Lake Vikajärvi, near one of them. Two nature trails (200 m and 1.5 km) are suitable for wheelchairs and prams, the longer with assistance or motor. There are also longer or more demanding nature trails, as well as marked hiking trails, the longest, Olkkajärvi Hiking Trail of 12 km each way, requiring some hiking skills, suitable footwear and possibly equipment for an overnight stay.
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BioRex Rovaniemi
Five screen cinema with Dolby 7.1 sound system and Dolby 3D. Ticket sales in the ground floor, screens in the second floor.
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Harjulampi bird watching tower
Wooden bird watching tower by the eutrophic lake Harjulampi, built in 1995. Over 80 bird species have been observed here, of which 32 nest here regularly. Easy to access as the tower is less than 100 m off the street and within walking distance from the centre. There is a sign by the street and the path is easy to walk. Best times to visit are May and August–September.
Free
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Hietavaaran Frisbeegolf Rata
Established autumn 2024. An 18-hole disc golf course in the former Hietavaara gravel pit with turf tees and prodigy T3 targets. A mixture of open and wooded terrain. Dog friendly. No water or restrooms.
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Kalliosalmi–Olkkajärvi canoe route
64 km canoe route. The last 23 km section, through the Arctic Circle hiking area, is the most demanding. Earlier on the route services are scarce.
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Keskuskenttä Stadium
Keskuskenttä
Multi-purpose stadium for football and athletics with official FIFA certification. Home stadium for local football clubs RoPS and FC Santa Claus. Capacity up to 5000 seats with 2800 seats in the covered main stand. Three full-length running tracks and fourth track in front of the main stand. Artificial turf with under-soil heating. Popular outdoor gym. The stadium is free to use for anyone during daytime, when not in use for events.
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KesäRafla summer restaurant and sauna
Open June-August. Very popular unisex sauna for up to 35 people. Beach volley court and SUP board rental. The terrace restaurant offers drinks and charcoal grilled food. In winter 2024 there is also the WNTR Sauna.
Sauna free in summer; towel €5; in winter with ice swimming €24/1½ hr
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Koivusaari nature trail
Koivusaaren luontopolku
Another nature trail within walking distance from the city centre, on Koivusaari island. The islands at the confluence of rivers Ounasjoki and Kemijoki are protected as a remarkable nesting site for birds. There is a 2.5-km-long nature trail on Koivusaari island, mostly on duckboards as the terrain here might be quite wet. The trail goes around the northern part of the island where the environment is mostly open flood-affected meadow. There is a floating bird watching tower on the trail and the view to the river Ounasjoki from the northern point of the island is awesome. The trail also visits a site where the railway passed the river before World War II. Try to spot some birds and rare plants like Siberian blue lettuce, bluntleaf sandwort or almond-leaved willow on your way. Beware that there are sheep grazing freely on the island! Getting to the trail from the bridge is a bit tricky as you need to go under the bridge first but there are signs. Not suitable for people with disabilities. The trail can not be used during the spring flood (May–early June).
Free
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Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park
Kotatievan talvipuisto
An outdoor park for spending an active day. Mostly known for a 500 meters long ice skating track. Available from December to March.
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Lapland Escape
Small-group tour operator offering Northern Lights excursions, snowmobile safaris, husky tours, reindeer experiences, hiking and national park tours. Tours are available in English, Italian, Chinese, Polish and Spanish (depending on tour type). Some of the tours include long transfers, such as to Kemi, Posio, Ranua or Sodankylä.
DailyFrom €100–200 for daytrips of 2½–9 hr including transfers
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Louevaara cabin
The deserted cabin is the former fire guard's hut. The wilderness cabin is log-built, reasonably spacious and gets warm enough to sleep in during the winter (using the stove). In the vicinity of the hut, about half a kilometre away, there is the scenic Kuusilampi, which can be reached by following a hiking trail from the hut. In the hut there is also basic tableware for the use of hikers. An old fire guarding watch tower with a metal frame can be found near the hut. Enquiries: Pilke.
Free
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Niskanperä bird watching tower
Bird watching tower by river Kemijoki. Numerous different waders; the fauna is most diverse during the migration season: May–June and September–October. The site is easy to access by a car or by bike. From highway 4 turn east on road Niskanperäntie and continue driving until you see the tower on your left. The parking lot is right next to the tower but to enter the tower you need to climb narrow stairs.
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Ounaskoski beach
Popular sand beach for swimming in the river. Locker rooms and toilets. The current of the river is strong, the safety barrier is there for a reason.
Free
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Ounaspaviljonki beach
Popular sand beach by river Ounasjoki. Playground for children and a beach volley court. Café service in the summer.
Free
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Ounasvaara Outdoor Resort
Downhill skiing on 13 slopes, snow park for snowboarders. Separate forest skiing area with unmaintained slopes. 100 km of cross-country skiing tracks. Trekking and MTB available at the summer. Disc golf course.
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Ounasvaara nature trail
Ounasvaaran luontopolku
A 4.8-km-long circular nature trail with info plates both in Finnish and English. The starting point is by a parking lot some 600 m uphill from Santasport. Conifer forest, small bogs, awesome views down to the river valley, and two natural springs with ice cold water ready to drink. Try to spot Siberian jays, spotted nutcrackers, reindeer, or elks (of these, reindeer are the most probable). There is a wooden lean-to shelter and fireplace in the far end, close to the springs. The terrain is occasionally difficult and the trail is not suitable for the disabled. The nature trail is part of much larger network of different trails that expand to surrounding forests; be careful with trail markings, especially on the open, rocky area uphill from the shelter. The nature trail is marked with blue patches having a white cone in them.
Free
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Ounasvaara winter walking trail
Ounasvaaran talvikävelyreitti
First of all: it is absolutely forbidden to walk on a skiing track. If you don't have skis but still wish to see how the forest looks like at winter, don't worry. There is a 6-km-long winter walking trail at Ounasvaara hill. The trail partially follows the nature trail but the official starting point is closer to the city centre. You can also enter the trail from Santasport or at Sky Hotel Ounasvaara. The trail visits the viewing tower and its lean-to shelter with campfire place and firewood. Walking the whole trail takes about 3 hours – note sunset time, as the daylight is short during midwinter. The winter walking trail is marked with blue patches with a white walker and a snowflake. Follow them and do not enter the skiing tracks.
Free
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Paavalniemi bird watching tower
Popular bird watching tower at a place where river Kemijoki expands into a lush bay, about 10 km off-town. Numerous northern waders and waterfowl. The tower is on the point of peninsula, a 300-m walk from the end of the road, and is not accessible for the disabled. The trail is a bit rugged and the last part of it is on narrow duckboards.
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Rovaniemi Theatre
Rovaniemen teatteri
Plays in Finnish. Students get about 50% discount from the ticket price.
tickets €15–45/adult, cloakroom fee €2/person.
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SBG Pelikenttä
A paintball field. More information about equipment sales from Santa's Tactical Gear.
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Salmijärvi beach
This rather popular beach by a lake doesn't have the problem with strong current but suffers occasionally of swimmer's itch.
Free
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Santa Claus Forest nature trail
Joulupukin metsä -luontopolku
A nature trail next to the Santa Claus Village. From the Santa's Village you need to walk through the underpass next to the bus stop and there you are. The trail starts with duckboards over a beautiful aapa-type mire (aapa mires are extremely typical for these latitudes) and then continues to nice pine and spruce forests. In the far end there is a park-like planted spruce colony called "Santa's forest". The trail is 1.5 km in one direction and returns the same route. There are wooden stairs as help at the steepest climbs. The trail is not suitable for the disabled.
Free
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Santa Claus Golf
An 18-hole summer golf course and 9-hole winter golf course. Driving range and practice area. Golf club with a restaurant.
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Santasport
Leisure and well-being activities from bowling to spa and from massaging to outdoor fun. Disc golf course. Santasport is a vocational school for sports and an internationally acknowledged training centre for professional athletes.
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Santasport Spa
The spa is suitable for competitive swimmers, water sports enthusiasts and tourists alike. The pool area has a large pool, a children’s pool, hot and cold pools, a hot tub, a hot tub and a massage pool.
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Siberian wood-species trail
Siperian puulajipolku
During past decades the Finnish Forest Research Institute planted over 20 different species of economically important tree species to this area to observe how well they grow and survive this climate. There is a 2-km-long circular nature trail through the area. Next to the parking lot there is a day-trip hut and a campfire site at the yard. The place got its name from the Siberian larches. The site is distant and not accessible with public transportation.
free
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Student Theatre of Lapland
Lapin Ylioppilasteatteri
Amateur theatre. Actors are mostly local university students. Performs 3–5 plays each year.
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Swimming Hall Vesihiisi
Uimahalli Vesihiisi
Swimming hall with indoor and outdoor pools. Gym and massage available. Café.
Mon–Fri 06:30–19:30, Sat Sun 11:00–16:30Adults €8, students €5, children €1.5–3, family (2+2) €18
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Taava Reindeer Farm
See reindeer up close either at the Arctic Circle or 30 minutes away by car at the farm (pickup at the Joulumaa address).
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Unique Lapland
Produces program services, rents and sells snowmobiles, roadsters, and ATVs, organises events, concerts, training and coaching and sells high quality outdoor clothing.
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Lapland Safaris
Koskikatu 1
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Mäntyvaara Race Track
Mäntyvaaran ravirata
A harness racing track.
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Nordic Unique Travels
Maakuntakatu 29-31
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Safarctica
Koskikatu 9
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Santa's Motor Park
A motor park with 750-meter-length track.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Rovaniemi (CC BY-SA 4.0).