Things to do in Rovaniemi

What qualifies for this list

We list a place here if it is a single, bookable stop with its own address, hours or season that we could check on its own page or Visit Rovaniemi’s, either in Rovaniemi itself or a realistic day trip from it. Husky, reindeer and snowmobile safaris are sold by dozens of operators at different prices for different lengths of trip, so we cover those separately, with dated price bands from named operators, on their own pages, linked at the end of this one.

The places, what they cost, and who they do not suit

Santa Claus Village. Free to enter, with Santa free to meet, every day of the year. The photos, rides and post office are what you pay for. Our full look at Santa Claus Village covers what is worth it and what to skip. Not for anyone who wants to avoid Christmas altogether, or a family that cannot manage a queue in the days before 24 December.

SantaPark. A separate, fully indoor cavern attraction with its own season, 31 October 2026 to 23 January 2027. Meeting Santa and most attractions are included in the ticket, and your own camera is allowed. Not for a tight budget: two adults and two children come to at least 158 EUR, more than Santa Claus Village’s optional photo package.

Arktikum. Shared by the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland and the Regional Museum of Lapland, with an exhibition on the aurora among other northern subjects. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, 1 March to 30 November 2026; closed Mondays outside the winter season. A Culture Pass covering Arktikum and Korundi together costs 30 EUR adult and is valid for 7 days. Not for a Monday visit outside the winter opening dates, and not for very young children who will not engage with a museum’s pace.

Korundi House of Culture. A converted police station and fire station turned art museum and concert hall, open Tuesday 11:00 to 16:30 and Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 to 18:00. Its café keeps shorter weekday hours. Not for anyone expecting a published ticket price online: check the current exhibition and its price through Lippu.fi before you go.

Ounasvaara. The town’s recreation hill, 1.6 km from the centre, with 11 slopes, most of them 500 to 600 m long, five lifts, a children’s area and cross-country tracks. Good for a first go at skiing or a walk with a view over the town. Not for a skiing holiday: for longer runs, see how Rovaniemi compares with Levi.

Ranua Wildlife Park. An Arctic and northern species zoo 80 km south of Rovaniemi, open every day, 10:00 to 16:00. Online tickets are cheaper than paying at the gate. Not for a short stopover: the drive alone takes over an hour each way, so this suits a trip with a car or a booked tour and a free day to spend.

Sold separately: husky, reindeer and snowmobile safaris

Rovaniemi has dozens of companies running husky sled rides, reindeer safaris and snowmobile trips, from short rides in Santa Claus Village to half-day and full-day trips out of town. Prices depend on the operator, the length of the trip and whether you drive or ride, which is why we do not put a single band in the table above. Our husky safari, reindeer sleigh ride and snowmobile safari pages cover what each one actually involves, with dated price bands from named operators.

What we left out, and why

We left out river cruises, ice fishing trips and snowshoe walks: Visit Rovaniemi lists them among the town’s activities, but we could not find a named operator’s own page with a published price and season for each in this pass, so we are not ready to state one. We also left out the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge and other free viewpoints, which are worth a walk but are not a bookable “thing to do” in the sense this list covers. If your dates and interests do not fit anything above, tell us what you have in mind and we will work from there.