Visiting a place that is in the middle of nowhere is an experience in itself. Combine that with some magic, snow and reindeers. A trip to Rovaniemi feels like you landed on another planet, from the moment you start making your way there. The gateway to the Arctic.
I decided that I wanted to go to the Arctic. Catching the Northern Lights and the visiting the Arctic were in among my Top 10 things I'd like to do on my bucket list for years. I researched different places I could go and settled on Rovaniemi, a magical place in the Arctic Circle!
It was a cold harsh winter here in Toronto, so I'd hear that it's ridiculous that I would want to leave winter to go to another winter destination, meanwhile, most people leave Canadian winter and find a sunny escape by the beach, toes dipped in sand. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I managed to convince a friend to come with me. We made it to the Arctic Circle. It was a short trip and because it was super last minute, we barely even had time to plan it properly. Below you can find how we maximized our stay in Finnish Lapland, despite it being a very short, spontaneous trip. To get to Rovaniemi, it took 3 flights and one train ride.
We started our journey in Toronto, stopped in Copenhagen before proceeding to Stockholm and finally landed in a very small airport in Finland, in a city called Oulu.
Yet, we were still not there. As we landed quite late, we secured a booking at an AirBnB that turned out to be Christmas themed (did you know Rovaniemi is known as the home of Santa Claus?) and it had a sauna which was the perfect way to relax after such a long journey.
The next morning, we made our way to the train station and patiently waited for the train to Rovaniemi. If you are coming from Helsinki, there is an overnight train called The Santa Class Express. This is the train that passes through Oulu.
Wondering what to do in Rovaniemi? There's no doubt that this destination is one of the most unique places to visit. Be prepared to have an action-packed itinerary filled with many firsts and opportunities to try new things!
Once we got there, I instantly felt like I was transported to a scene in a Christmas movie. I noticed kids get around town by being pulled on their sleds. No sidewalks were shoveled and despite there being snow every where, it was not slippery. The place was lively, with lights, laughter, happiness and good vibes.
A trip to Rovaniemi combined with the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights gives you the best of both worlds.
I downloaded a few apps and kept track of the Northern Lights. In our hotel room, we were always "ready" in case we had to go out. As soon as my app started beeping, we ran out and managed to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
I would go to Nova Skyland Hotel for their lunch buffet every single day. It was one of the most affordable options we found, with a buffet only costing 14.50 euros per person.
Depending on your budget and interests, you can choose from a wide selection of activities to choose from, including ice floating, the amethyst mine, stay at an ice hotel, visit the Santa Village, take a reindeer sleigh ride, go sledding with the huskies and so much more.
If you are a foodie and love to try new things, perhaps you will love trying local delicacies, such as reindeer meat or "bread cheese" (served with cloudberries or cloudberry jam)! Lappish cuisine is simple, with fresh ingredients playing the most important role.
We loved exploring the village and crossing the Arctic Circle. We had a lot of fun tubing and we decided to visit the ice hotel, which I found to be a cool experience. I would say that Rovaniemi was one of my most unique travel adventures.
It was interesting to compare the winter in Rovaniemi to Canada, but I fell in love in winter there for the warmth you feel no matter the time of day.
Have you heard of Rovaniemi?
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