Prepared for an unforgettable winter journey? Uncover Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, and as additional choices expertise an unbelievable husky safari on snowy trails, go to Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle.
Our Finland professional Hendrik, determined to take it gradual and stopping over within the capital of Lappland.
Right here is 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 experience. On our means south from Saariselkä, my son and I made a decision to cease in Rovaniemi for a better look.
In case you’re touring to Lapland, you should definitely spend an evening in Rovaniemi. Right here you may chill out 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 course of town, every thing is inside strolling distance!
A stroll alongside the riverside is a should in Rovaniemi. Right here you may get pleasure from a panoramic view of 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 couple of hike on the (winter) path of Ounasvaara?
For extra motion, strive a fatbike tour with RollOutdoors otherwise you go for a sleigh experience, 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 a superb concept: 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 an alternative of an countless journey day filled 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 number of 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 way 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 just a few years previous and is positioned in a totally 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 obtainable 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 normally a tent man, however I can admire good design and decor, and our room at Koti – which implies “residence” in Finnish. It was lovely. 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 just a little 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 method to the Offended Birds Playground, which can also 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 a lot of cool Offended Birds themed gear – good even for teenagers who’re extra accustomed to different video games.
After a enjoyable go to to the playground, we took a stroll alongside the river. In case 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 lovely view of Ounasvaara.
That is really a paradise for individuals who dwell within the metropolis and are in search of outside motion.
By the way in which, if you happen to really feel like fatbiking, it is 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 strive Kauppayhtiö as they had been presupposed to have the perfect burgers on the town.
We weren’t dissatisfied!
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 informal 50’s/60’s punk rock gallery vibe. In case you like this aesthetic, you’ll really feel proper at residence at Kauppayhtiö!
Come, we stroll by way of the middle of Rovaniemi on the way in which again to Koti. It appears to be like so good, every 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 obtained again to the hostel, we checked out the sauna after which performed a spherical of Carcassonne within the widespread room. We’re huge followers of board video games and it’s all the time a spotlight when a hostel/resort/cafe has a choice of video games obtainable.
After a number of 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 contemporary and alert. Nonetheless, our hungry stomachs had been crying out! With out hesitation, we made our method to the charming café the place we might get pleasure from 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 important place for a scrumptious meal!
For vegans, the breakfast choices had been a bit restricted, however in the long run I used to be full and happy – and the espresso was actually scrumptious, an actual plus.
After dinner, we performed a number of board video games and relaxed within the widespread 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 town, chill out, eat effectively, and make our journey south stress-free was proper heading in the right direction. We obtained what we wished and are very proud of our time in Rollo.
In case you’re touring to Lapland by public transportation, we suggest spending two days within the south. It’s all the time value 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 case you appreciated this text, please assist me, Hendrik, on Patreon (and also you’ll get nice low cost codes from our companions – you can save as much as 20% in your subsequent buy!)
Further Journey Dudes Ideas: Husky Safari on a Snowy Path
It’s also possible to expertise an unforgettable journey at a husky safari in Finland, by driving your individual 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 be taught all in regards to the breeding and coaching of those unbelievable Arctic animals. Find out how they’re educated to race and work within the forest.
After a brief briefing, you’ll embark on an thrilling 10 km experience by way of the Finnish winter panorama. Really feel the joys of racing by way of the snow together with your workforce of sled canine.
Don’t overlook to seize this unforgettable second and benefit from the lovely surroundings. After the experience, 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 are going to decide 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 experience. Additionally, you will go to a husky farm and revel in Finnish snacks and scorching drinks. Better of all, you may be supplied with winter clothes – overalls, boots and gloves.
Essential to know: Departure occasions could differ relying on season and availability. It’s best to verify with the tour operator. On weekdays and Saturdays they want a minimal of two folks for the tour. On Sundays and holidays they want a minimal of 4 folks. If the minimal variety of individuals just isn’t reached, the tour could also be canceled or postponed. And please observe: Kids beneath 12 should be accompanied by a paying grownup. You’ll be able to cancel as much as 24 hours upfront and obtain a full refund.
Further Journey Dudes Ideas: 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 yr spherical – Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi.
Right here you will have the prospect to satisfy Santa Claus in particular person and cross the Arctic Circle to take distinctive memento photographs. What would a go to to Santa Claus be with out greetings to your family members? Ship your vacation greetings instantly from Santa’s put up workplace.
If that’s not sufficient, you’ll even have the chance to rise up shut and private with the reindeer that assist Santa together with his duties. In your method to the Arctic Circle, you’ll move 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 may 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 may cancel as much as 24 hours upfront for a full refund. The tour presents you the likelihood to be picked up and transported comfortably out of your lodging inside 15 km (driving distance) from the middle of Rovaniemi. You may be greeted by an English talking information who can even communicate 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 go away you with unforgettable reminiscences. And also you’ll obtain a certificates to show you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle.
