Prepared for an unforgettable winter journey? Uncover Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. From experiencing an unbelievable 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 great winter world of Rovaniemi:
We’re followers of leisurely journey. We prefer to take our time and benefit from the experience. On our approach south from Saariselkä, my son and I made a decision to cease in Rovaniemi for a more in-depth look.
If you happen to’re touring to Lapland, you should definitely spend an evening in Rovaniemi. Right here you’ll be able to calm down and benefit from the peace and quiet. Hostel Café Koti is the right place for many who love comfy beds and Nordic design. Situated in the midst of town, every part is inside strolling distance!
A stroll alongside the riverside is a should in Rovaniemi. Right here you’ll be able to get pleasure from a wide ranging view of town.
If you happen to’re curious and wish to study 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 town.
As a substitute of an limitless 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 just a few hours later.
The subsequent day we loved one other scrumptious breakfast on the Hostel Café Koti and walked to the prepare station with our intensive baggage to catch the prepare south.
As you’ll be able to think about, this journey plan was far more comfy than a day of stress that began at 6am and didn’t finish till 10pm if you lastly arrived residence.
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 previous and is situated in a very renovated financial institution constructing – the previous places of work at the moment are 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 luggage 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 recognize good design and decor, and our room at Koti – which suggests “residence” in Finnish. It was lovely. The room has pure supplies and colours, a number of home windows with nice views, and the beds had been improbable – I used to be beginning to really feel like a bit nap wouldn’t damage. 🥱
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 option to the Angry 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 a number of cool Indignant 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. If you happen to really feel prefer it, you’ll be able to 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 actually a paradise for many who reside within the metropolis and are on the lookout for out of doors motion.
By the best way, if you happen to 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 imagined 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 embellished with nice consideration to element and has an off-the-cuff 50’s/60’s punk rock gallery vibe. If you happen to like this aesthetic, you’ll really feel proper at residence at Kauppayhtiö!
Afterwards, we strolled via the middle of Rovaniemi on the best way again to Koti. It seems to be so good, every part 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 received again to the hostel, we checked out the sauna after which performed a spherical of Carcassonne within the widespread room. We’re large followers of board video games and it’s at all times a spotlight when a hostel/resort/cafe has a collection of video games obtainable.
After just a few video games, it was time to settle into our comfy beds and at last calm down. The beds had been so inviting and cozy that we fell asleep immediately.
Our sleep was deep and restful, and after we awoke the following morning, we felt contemporary and alert. Nonetheless, our hungry stomachs had been crying out! With out hesitation, we made our option to the charming café the place we might get pleasure from breakfast.
The place was crowded, as breakfast attracts not solely hostel company, but in addition 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 ultimately I used to be full and happy – and the espresso was actually scrumptious, an actual plus.
After dinner, we performed just a few board video games and relaxed within the widespread room earlier than heading to the prepare 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, calm down, eat effectively, and make our journey south stress-free was proper on course. We received what we wished and are very pleased with our time in Rollo.
If you happen to’re touring to Lapland by public transportation, we advocate spending two days within the south. It’s at all times price visiting Rovaniemi and discovering the range of town. Hostel Café Koti within the metropolis middle 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!
If you happen to appreciated this text, please assist me, Hendrik, on Patreon (and also you’ll get nice low cost codes from our companions – you may save as much as 20% in your subsequent buy!)
Additional 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 staff via 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 an area husky farm and study all concerning the breeding and coaching of those unbelievable Arctic animals. Learn the way they’re skilled to race and work within the forest.
After a brief briefing, you’ll embark on an thrilling 10 km experience via the Finnish winter panorama. Really feel the fun of racing via the snow together with your staff of sled canines.
Don’t overlook to seize this unforgettable second and benefit from the lovely surroundings. After the experience, heat up with a sizzling 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 bear in mind for a very long time.
Good to know
They are going to 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 experience. 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.
Necessary to know: Departure occasions might fluctuate 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 contributors just isn’t reached, the tour could also be canceled or postponed. And please notice: Youngsters underneath 12 have to be accompanied by a paying grownup. You may cancel as much as 24 hours upfront and obtain a full refund.
Guide the tour straight under:
Additional Journey Dudes Suggestions: 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 yr spherical – Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi.
Right here you could have 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 straight from Santa’s submit 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 option to the Arctic Circle, you’ll move the painted white line that marks the border of the Arctic area. Whenever 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 can 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 gives 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 can be greeted by an English talking information who can even converse different languages comparable 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 depart you with unforgettable recollections. And also you’ll obtain a certificates to show you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle.
Guide the tour straight under:
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