Rovaniemi Things to Do

The Jätkänkynttilä Bridge is a beautiful bridge. It's name means: The Lumberman's Candle. Click here to see a picture of a real lumberman's candle. It was built on 1989 and when you look at it from other Rovaniemi bridges you have a beauriful view there! Specially at night, when all the city light are on and in the top of the two towers of the bridge there's light.

If you wanna go birdwatching, there are tens, hundreds or even thousands of birds under the open area under the bridge during the spring. That open is a perfect place for the birds to rest during their long trips from south.

Ounasvaara is one of the fjelds, little mountains surrounding Rovaniemi. But Ounasvaara is special. There's a LOT to do there!

Ounasvaara Skiing Centre is the place you wanna contact in the winter. Ounasvaara has 6 slopes, a 100 meter pipe, 4 lifts, 2 transfer-slopes and 3 ski jumps. There's also a really fun winter sledge track (800 m long). There are many cross-country skiing tracks, so if you're not interested in downhillskiing, snowboarding, blading or telemark-skiing, you could go cross-country skiing while your family or friends are doing something else.

There are many restaurants near the skiing cente. Two of them are in the centre itself: the comfortable and delicious Inkkari Ski Saluuna and the Alpenjager bear/drink bar. On the top of Ounasvaara, just by the slopes there's a delicious but a little more expencive restaurant in Sky Hotel Rovaniemi. That's also a very good choise of accomodation with beautiful views.

Santa Sport Centre it the place where you want to contact during the summertime. If you by the Daypass, you have full acces to the three gyms, sauna and swimminghall and you can get supervised aerobic, spinning, pace and streching lessons. There's also a bowling hall, possibility to go wall-climbing and different kinds of organized sports and massage/spa services. In the winter you can go snowshoeing. Just a kilometer down Ounasvaara there's also a gym, "Kunnon paikka", where you can reserve time for squash, badminton, floorball, pool and normal gym... the address of Kunnon Paikka is: Lähteentie 20, 96400 Rovaniemi.
Phone: +358 16-314133

In the summer there are well kept sawdusttracks where you can go jogging, walking, enjoying the nature or practice orienteering. There's a birdwatch tower on the top of Ounasvaara and many ballfields all around. There's also a big arena called the Lappi Areena, which has happenings all over the year. It's situated just near Kunnon Paikka and Santa Sport Centre. There are golf links which is open full year.

At SantaPark you can be an elf all round the year. Set in the depths of a cave, there is always Christmas spirit and excitement – over 150 exciting days a year for all children at heart. Plenty to offer for a fun day between friends.

This big park was built in the end of 1990's and since then it has been a great stop for all Christmas lovers. Check out their great web pages for more information.

Most tourist want to really step inside of Arctic Circle. No wonder, The Arctic Circle is a line on the surface of the Earth, which marks the northern latitude north of which the sun does not rise on the winter solstice or set on the summer solstice.

In Rovaniemi, there is a huge Santa Park at Arctic Circle. It makes it wonderful spot for whole family to visit.

Santa Claus lives on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi for numerous reasons. First of all, elves could not permanently live south of Arctic Circle - there would simply not be enough snow! Reindeer also require Lapland’s Arctic nature and snowy winters. The Arctic Circle is also the perfect place for Santa Claus to admire the midnight sun in summertime and the northern lights in wintertime.

I visit there first time at 1996 and I completely felt in love this wonderful museum / science center. Even if you find visiting at museums boring, Arktikum is more than you will ever expect. It is a place that is specialized in Lapland and Arctic regions. It shows how people have lived in Arctic areas now and then. There is different kind of multivisions, for example about Northern Lights.

Entrance fee:
Adults 11 €, children (7-15 yrs.) 5 €. Seniors and students 8,50 €. Family ticket (2 adults+2 children) 25 €.
Group ticket 10 €/adult.

Having a photo with Santa Claus!! Although it is quite pricey, it would be a lovely memory (evidence) that you have been here, the origin of Santa!! It would be so interesting for kids....
And, you could post cards or parcels in the Santa Claus' Post Office. All the post would have a lovely stamp with santa!! Lovely!! But I would suggest you buying these cards in advance since these stuff is a little bit expensive there....

Arktikum is a science centre and museum that specialises in Lapland and the arctic regions. It shows the living conditions of the peoples, nature and history, customs and cultures north of the Arctic Circle. You can also admire the blaze of the northern lights in multivision at the museum.

Set in the depths of a cave, Santa Park is an amusement park as I've heard especially for children. As I wasn't there with children I didn't pay the 20 Euros entrance fee.
If only for adults I think it's a tourist trap!