Travel guides
Three or four days is the ideal length for a first winter trip to Rovaniemi. It gives you time for the classic Lapland experiences without rushing, and several evenings to look for the Northern Lights.
Use this day-by-day plan as a starting point and adjust it to your own pace.
Day 1: Santa Claus Village and reindeer
Start gently at Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle. Meet Santa, cross the Arctic Circle line and send a postcard from Santa's main post office.
In the afternoon, take a calm reindeer sleigh ride through the snowy forest and learn about reindeer herding traditions.
Day 2: Huskies and the Northern Lights
Spend the day with an energetic husky team on a sled ride through the forest — one of the highlights of any Lapland trip.
After dinner, join a guided Northern Lights tour outside the city lights. Planning aurora hunts early in your trip leaves extra nights if the first one is cloudy.
Day 3: Snowmobile safari and sauna
Drive a snowmobile across frozen lakes and forest trails. Many safaris include a warm lunch by the campfire in the wilderness.
End the day the Finnish way, in a hot sauna by the river with an optional dip in an ice hole.
Day 4: Ice floating, ice fishing or nature
If you have a fourth day, try something different: drift in icy water in a warm dry suit, go ice fishing on a frozen lake or head out on a nature tour to frozen waterfalls and quiet fells.
This is also a good evening for a second Northern Lights attempt.
Tips for planning your days
Winter days are short, especially in December, so plan outdoor activities around midday and keep evenings free for the aurora.
Book popular experiences, especially around Christmas, well in advance, and do not fill every hour — the quiet moments in the snow are part of the magic.
With this plan you will see the best of Rovaniemi in just a few days. Compare all experiences, prices and live availability on SeekLapland and build your own Arctic adventure.