Discover Rovaniemi: Slow Travel in the Heart of Finnish Lapland

Prepared for an unforgettable winter journey? Uncover Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, and as further choices expertise an unbelievable husky safari on snowy trails, go to Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle.

Our Finland skilled Hendrik, determined to take it sluggish and stopping over within the capital of Lappland.

Right here is his expertise within the great winter world of Rovaniemi:

We’re followers of leisurely journey. We prefer to take our time and benefit from the journey. On our method south from Saariselkä, my son and I made a decision to cease in Rovaniemi for a more in-depth look.

In the event you’re touring to Lapland, be sure you spend an evening in Rovaniemi. Right here you may chill out and benefit from the peace and quiet. Hostel Café Koti is the proper place for many who love comfy beds and Nordic design. Positioned in the midst of the town, every little thing is inside strolling distance!

A stroll alongside the riverside is a should in Rovaniemi. Right here you may get pleasure from a wide ranging view of the town.

In case you are curious and need to be taught extra about tradition, the Arktikum Museum is the place for you. Or how a few hike on the (winter) path of Ounasvaara?

For extra motion, attempt a fatbike tour with RollOutdoors otherwise you go for a sleigh ride, pulled by huskies (extra to that later).

Travelling North and South

When my son and I returned from our adventure in snowy Saariselkä, we had a superb 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 the 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 just a few hours later.

The subsequent 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 may 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 dwelling.

So what did we do in Rovaniemi?

The Capital of Lapland

We arrived within the middle of Rovaniemi on our bus from Saariselkä and had been only a quick stroll from our cool hostel, Café Koti.

This gem of a hostel is just a few years outdated and is positioned 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 accessible all day and serves a scrumptious breakfast.

After checking in, we put our ski baggage within the outdated 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 “dwelling” in Finnish. It was stunning. The room has pure supplies and colours, a lot of home windows with nice views, and the beds had been unbelievable – I used to be beginning to really feel like somewhat 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 technique to the Angry Birds Playground, which can also be solely 300 meters from the hostel, we had the chance to lastly arrive after a protracted day on the bus. The playground is free and has a lot of cool Indignant Birds themed gear – good even for youths who’re extra acquainted with 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 may 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 actually a paradise for many who dwell within the metropolis and are on the lookout for outside motion.

By the best way, when you really feel like fatbiking, it’s best to go to RollOutdoors!

So we continued in the direction of the 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 imagined to have one of the best burgers on the town.

We weren’t disenchanted!

Each the vegetarian and the normal burgers had been a deal with for our palates. 🍔

The place is adorned with nice consideration to element and has an off-the-cuff 50’s/60’s punk rock gallery vibe. In the event you like this aesthetic, you’ll really feel proper at dwelling at Kauppayhtiö!

Come, we stroll by means of the middle of Rovaniemi on the best way again to Koti. It appears so good, every little thing is lit up and there are even some Christmas decorations.

It’s clear, Santa Claus has his residence right here, it simply has to look Christmassy. 🙂

Once we acquired 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 collection of video games accessible.

After just a few video games, it was time to settle into our comfy beds and eventually chill out. The beds had been so inviting and comfy that we fell asleep immediately.

Our sleep was deep and restful, and once we awoke the following morning, we felt recent and alert. Nevertheless, our hungry stomachs had been crying out! With out hesitation, we made our technique to the charming café the place we might get pleasure from breakfast.

The place was crowded, as breakfast attracts not solely hostel visitors, but in addition many locals. This alone is an indication that we had been in an incredible 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 just a few board video games and relaxed within the frequent room earlier than heading to the practice station to move again south to Vaasa.

Though it could appear to outsiders that we didn’t do a lot in Rovaniemi, we had been certain that our plan to discover the town, chill out, eat properly, and make our journey south stress-free was proper on course. We acquired 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 range of the town. Hostel Café Koti within the metropolis middle is a good 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 assist me, Hendrik, on Patreon (and also you’ll get nice low cost codes from our companions – you could possibly save as much as 20% in your subsequent buy!)

Further Journey Dudes Suggestions: 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 crew by means of the picturesque forests. Whether or not you’re the driving force or a relaxed observer on the sled, benefit from the breathtaking great thing about the snow-covered panorama.

Go to an area husky farm and be taught all in regards to the breeding and coaching of those unbelievable 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 journey by means of the Finnish winter panorama. Really feel the joys of racing by means of the snow together with your crew of sled canines.

Don’t overlook to seize this unforgettable second and benefit from the stunning surroundings. After the journey, heat up with a scorching juice and Finnish gingerbread – the locals’ favourite winter snack.

Hearken 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 may choose you up and take you to your lodging inside 15 km from the middle of Rovaniemi. Period of the tour is 3.5 hours.

With an English talking information (different languages on request: German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese language) will take you on a ten km husky sled journey. Additionally, you will go to a husky farm and luxuriate in Finnish snacks and scorching drinks. Better of all, you’ll be supplied with winter clothes – overalls, boots and gloves.

Necessary to know: Departure instances might fluctuate 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 just isn’t reached, the tour could also be canceled or postponed. And please be aware: Kids underneath 12 should be accompanied by a paying grownup. You possibly can cancel as much as 24 hours upfront and obtain a full refund.

Further Journey Dudes Suggestions: Possibility to go to the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle

There may be 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 will have the prospect to fulfill Santa Claus in particular person 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 instantly from Santa’s submit workplace.

If that’s not sufficient, you’ll even have the chance to rise up shut and private with the reindeer that assist Santa along with his duties. In your technique to the Arctic Circle, you’ll go the painted white line that marks the border of the Arctic area. If you cross this line, you’ll obtain an official certificates that you could 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 ambiance of Santa’s Village. An unforgettable expertise that may stick with you for a very long time.

Good to know

The length of this tour is 3.5 hours and you’ll cancel as much as 24 hours upfront for a full refund. The tour affords 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 also can converse different languages similar 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 is able to depart you with unforgettable reminiscences. And also you’ll obtain a certificates to show you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle.