Experience Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle

Rovaniemi lies in Finnish Lapland, right on the Arctic Circle and at the confluence of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers. Culture, river landscapes and nature trails offer different ways to shape your trip. Many attractions in the city centre are close together, making it best explored on foot.

Museums, art and architecture

Arktikum combines a science centre and a museum. It introduces visitors to northern nature, culture and history; the Regional Museum of Lapland is also located in Arktikum. The building is beside the Ounasjoki and can be reached on foot from the city centre. Open year-round, it offers a thematic introduction to the region. Check the visiting hours for your travel dates before you go.

Rovaniemi Church also makes a clear historical impression: the present-day church was completed in 1950. The “Source of Life” fresco, created by Professor Lennart Segerstråle in 1951, dominates the area behind the altar. Korundi House of Culture is home to the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. At the art workshop, younger family members can make things, draw and create their own works of art.

The Aalto Centre comprises the town hall, the city library and Lappia Hall, home to the Rovaniemi Theatre – Lapland Regional Theatre. Its programme includes up to several dozen different performances over the course of a theatre season. Whether you focus on architecture, visual art or theatre, you’ll find a range of cultural experiences, though they are not all in the same place.

Two other museums offer a glimpse into earlier ways of life and work. The Local Heritage Museum illustrates life in the main house and outbuildings of a prosperous farmer about 150 years ago. Its granary houses collections on traditional crafts and food production. The Forestry Museum of Lapland explores life and work in the forests of Lapland from the 1870s to the 1950s. Nine original museum buildings each tell a story of work and everyday life under the harsh conditions of the 19th century.

River landscapes and outdoor trails

The approximately seven-hectare Arctic Garden is located in front of Arktikum, on the banks of the Ounasjoki, on a small island. As an arboretum, it features various plant species, including alpine vegetation adapted to the harsh northern climate of Lapland and the Arctic. There are birdwatching towers in the city area at Harjulampi, Koivusaari and Niskanperä. The banks of Koivusaari provide shelter for nesting and migrating birds.

There are also different options when it comes to trails. The city area has three nature trails, a winter walking route and a longer outdoor route. At 27 kilometres, the Mäntyvaara–Pohtimo route is considerably longer and more challenging. Near the centre, the Ounasvaara Nature Trail is a 4.9-kilometre circular route for hiking and Nordic walking; the snow-free season is listed as May to October. The marked Ounasvaara Winter Trail has information boards and partly follows the Nature Trail. This makes it easy to choose between a shorter circular walk and a longer route that is explicitly more challenging.

Arktikum Beach adds seasonal options to the natural attractions: in summer, it is suitable for picnics and swimming. During the darker seasons, it offers a place to watch the Northern Lights, although viewing conditions vary. River cruises, canoe trips and stand-up paddleboarding are also available from the city centre or within a few minutes’ walk. Availability and seasons may vary by activity and provider, so check the conditions for your travel dates.

When choosing a hotel in Rovaniemi, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: museums and culture, outdoor trails, or a mix of both. That way, you can plan around your interests without assuming a particular location or set of amenities.

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