Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, is where Arctic magic meets modern comfort. Sitting on the Arctic Circle, it’s home to Santa Claus, snowy forests, and glass-roofed stays perfect for watching the Northern Lights. Winter brings reindeer rides and husky safaris; summer offers Midnight Sun hikes and wild nature. With Sámi culture, striking design, and year-round adventure, Rovaniemi is the perfect Arctic gateway.
Luxury Santa Holidays in Rovaniemi
A word from our travel specialist
Rovaniemi is a magical trip whatever age you are – Santa’s hometown and a real life winter fairytale. From the moment we landed, it was non stop excitement — snowball fights, reindeer sightings, husky howls, and approximately 47 hot chocolates. I got to visit Santa Claus Village, sent a postcard from the Santa Claus Post Office, and had my inner child bursting with joy every step of the way.
Every part of this trip felt like stepping into another world. From cosying up in a glass igloo under the stars, to sledding through the forest behind a team of huskies, to warming up in a sauna while snowflakes fell outside… Rovaniemi isn’t just a destination, it’s a feeling. A slow, quiet kind of magic that stays with you long after you leave.
Zoe
Nordic Experience Specialist
Inspiration for Holidays in Rovaniemi
A Nordic Christmas Beneath the Northern Lights
A luxury Christmas journey through Swedish and Finnish Lapland featuring igloos, Northern Lights, festive traditions, and private wilderness lodges.
Luxury Lapland Wilderness Escape
A luxury winter journey through Sweden and Finland, featuring Arctic Bath, Treehotel, Octola wilderness living, and Northern Lights experiences.
Arctic Luxury and Northern Lights Escape in Finnish Lapland
Luxury Arctic glass cabin retreat with snow adventures, Northern Lights experiences and premium glass roofed accommodation in Lapland followed by elegant...
Rovaniemi, Designed Around You
Sitting on the Arctic Circle, it’s home to Santa Claus, snowy forests, and glass-roofed stays perfect for watching the Northern Lights. Winter brings reindeer rides and husky safaris; summer offers Midnight Sun hikes and wild nature. With Sámi culture, striking design, and year-round adventure, Rovaniemi is the perfect Arctic gateway.
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
Beneath its snow-blanketed forests and beside the flowing Kemijoki River, visitors can dive into Arctic experiences like reindeer sleigh rides, glass-roofed cabin stays under the Northern Lights, and immersive Sámi cultural encounters.
Kuru Private Resort
Private villas, Nordic wellness and forest calm
The Torby Hotel, Fiskars Village
Design-led boutique hotel in Fiskars Village, where industrial heritage, Finnish craftsmanship and a calm creative atmosphere come together.
Levin Iglut Glass Igloos
Glass-walled igloos under the northern lights in Lapland
Skýra Retreat
A serene lakeside retreat near Rovaniemi, where handcrafted log suites, Nordic wellness and forest calm create a peaceful Arctic escape.
Nivunki Village
Glass-roofed kota huts in Lapland’s wilderness by a lake, Northern Lights and Nordic calm
Jänkä Resort in Ylläs
Premium luxury villas in Lapland’s forests near Levi, private sauna and hot tub.The Guidebook
Explore Rovaniemi, Finland
Rovaniemi is much more than a festive destination — it’s a gateway to Arctic adventure year-round. Nestled on the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi offers a unique blend of wilderness, culture, and magic. Whether you come for the Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, or the authentic Sámi encounters, Rovaniemi invites you to redefine luxury through its captivating Arctic experiences.
The town seamlessly combines easy accessibility with wild landscapes, making it an ideal base for curated journeys into Lapland’s untamed nature.
Getting There
Rovaniemi is one of Lapland’s most accessible Arctic destinations. Rovaniemi Airport welcomes direct flights from Helsinki and several European cities, with flight times from Helsinki under 90 minutes. During peak seasons, direct international flights also operate.
Once landed, you’re just 10 minutes from the city centre. Private transfers, chauffeur-driven vehicles, or self-drive options can all be arranged to tailor your arrival, ensuring every moment of your journey feels seamless and personal.
Arctic Circle Gateway
Positioned directly on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi offers visitors the chance to cross this iconic latitude — a true bucket-list moment. Visit Santa Claus Village year-round, where festive magic meets Arctic tradition, and even post a letter from Santa’s official post office.
Beyond the holiday charm, Rovaniemi is a hub for Arctic expeditions, offering easy access to vast forests, frozen rivers, and snowy wilderness ripe for exploration.
Nature & Northern Lights
From late August to early April, Rovaniemi becomes a stage for the Northern Lights, with numerous vantage points just outside the city limits offering breathtaking displays. Private Aurora hunting experiences take you deep into the silence of Lapland’s wilderness, far from any light pollution.
In summer, the Midnight Sun transforms Rovaniemi into a playground of endless daylight, perfect for river cruises, hiking, fat biking, and forest foraging under the golden Arctic sun.
Winter brings snow-laden forests, frozen rivers, and endless opportunities for snowmobiling, husky sledding, ice fishing, and reindeer safaris — all with expert guides to ensure each moment is tailored to your sense of adventure.
Culture & Cuisine
Rovaniemi offers an introduction to the rich Sámi heritage of Lapland. Engage with local craftspeople, storytellers, and reindeer herders to experience a culture deeply connected to the Arctic landscape.
The food scene is quietly impressive, celebrating pure, locally sourced ingredients. Sample Arctic char, wild mushrooms, reindeer tenderloin, and forest berries. Dine in glass-roofed restaurants under starry skies, or enjoy intimate fireside meals inside traditional Lappish kota huts.
Climate
Rovaniemi enjoys a subarctic climate. Winters are cold and snowy, with average temperatures ranging between -10°C and -20°C, creating perfect conditions for snow-based adventures. Summers are pleasantly cool, averaging 15–20°C, but the endless daylight of the Midnight Sun offers boundless energy for outdoor exploration.
Rovaniemi is a place where Arctic wilderness meets warmth, wonder, and curated adventure — offering experiences that linger long after your return.
We – the whole family – loved the whole journey!!
The accommodations, the activities and especially the great people – thank you very much for this fantastic organisation !!!
Barbara
My family and I traveled to Sweden to see The Northern Lights in March of 2023. From the planning process to every detail of the trip, I could not have been more pleased with our experience. Alex was exceptional to work with. His guidance on the time of year, where to stay, activities to do and how to get to and from everything was spot on. I have never used a tour company before but thought a trip of this kind would be easier with some help. I am so glad that I did. The entire week was seamless and completely stress-free, allowing us to truly enjoy Sweden and our time together as a family. I will be recommending Off The Map travel to friends and family and will certainly be using them myself again in the future.
Emily
I would thoroughly recommend this company. Their planning and advice was spot on. Alex responded to my calls and emails very promptly. I will definitely use them again for future trips.
Rosie
We did! Everything was truly wonderful! I think the Holman Husky Lodge was our favourite place. Beautiful accommodations, but best of all, wonderful people! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, excellent food, we really enjoyed our time there. We also greatly enjoyed Bergen! Opus XVI was beautiful and we loved being able to walk to restaurants and bars and take in the sights. All of our drivers were punctual and friendly. The itinerary was full but not overfull.
Thank you so much! It was an epic trip, we are taking home wonderful memories!
Shelly
Fantastic trip to Svalbard which delivered the true Arctic experience we were hoping for. The hotels were excellent and the activities – dog sledding and snowmobile expedition were lead by first class guides.
Top tip! The champagne tasting in the world’s most northerly wine cellar in the exceptional Funken Lodge is not to be missed!
Faith
Well-organized trip to Norway and Svalbard with great accommodations and activities. Gwen was communicative and responsive to requests. Highly recommend!
Russell Snook
I used OTMT to organise a holiday to see the Northern Lights for my partner’s 50th birthday. They took the time to understand my priorities, the kinds of places we like to stay and the things we like to do. They recommended a fabulous itinerary in Norway centred around the Lyngen Experience Lodge. The holiday itself lived up to expectations and I have no hesitation in recommending OTMT. They listened carefully during the planning and delivered the perfect present for my partner.
Alex
We really enjoyed our Norwegian adventure despite the -22 days! Unfortunately no real experience of viewing the Lights but we did capture a couple of images on our last night – too much cloud otherwise so lots of snow. We really enjoyed the husky lodge – not at all what we had tentatively imagined. Thanks for your assistance, maybe next time we will see the Lights in all their glory.
Andrew
The best travel experience ever on every level you can think of during a Lapland expedition (food, activities, timings, accommodation, transport, service, equipment…). I highly recommend Off The Map Travel for their outstanding level of professionalism and detail oriented mindset!
Sophie & Guy
Amy was a great help with planning this trip. Our trip turned out amazing. I also was very grateful for Off the Map’s Front Desk service, which promptly handled an on the spot issue we had.
Karen
The ease of everything stood out to me. All we had to do was be there at the right time. The dog sledding was the highlight for my daughter and sister. We had the best time! For me, Manshausen was the highlight. We were very lucky and the only guests there for the majority of our stay. The staff was amazing and the food was so delicious. We had moose steak and it was the best meal I’ve ever had.
The cabins were comfortable and we were so lucky to have 2 clear nights where we just sat and watched the northern lights. We were able to get some awesome pictures too.
I appreciate all your time and care with planning our trip! I won’t hesitate to use Off the Map travel for our next adventure.
Kelly
We have loved it so much here that we have extended our stay and will come back to Bjornfjell and stay in one of their cabins until Jan 3 then we are staying in the igloo hotel the night of the 3rd. 😊We added a few excursions this week – we did the whale trip on the RIB boat (wow!), toured the igloo hotel (which is why we decided to book the last night!) and did the reindeer sleigh at Sorrisniva. You were so right, the bonfire excursion was incredible!!It has been an absolutely amazing trip!
Kristen