Lapland: a winter wonderland❄️

Lapland: a winter wonderland❄️

This itinerary will help you plan and enjoy a three-day trip (weekend getaway) in this winter paradise.❄️ The magical city of Rovaniemi exemplifies the Christmas spirit all year round. It is also the ideal place to experience the lifestyle of what makes Finnish happiness: the proximity of beautiful nature and the year-round availability of Santa Claus. Lapland is a magical arctic region full of contrasts.
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Rovaniemi is the Capital of Lapland and the official home of Santa Claus in the World. 

The northernmost region of Finland manages to cast a powerful spell and lure you back again and again, thanks to its fairy-tale forests, roaming reindeer and glittering aurora borealis.

Day 1: Rovaniemi - city center

Rovaniemi
@renatkapa
Rovaniemi is a smaller city and you can see and explore its center in one day.
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A day or two is enough to explore the city center.

If you like history and museums, I recommend getting the Culture Pass. This pass gives you access to three main cultural attractions - Arboretum Arktikum, Pilke Science Center and Korundi Cultural House.

The best part is that the pass is valid for 7 days and you can visit these three cultural monuments as many times as you want. 

Arktikum Arboretum
@renatkapa
The Arktikum science museum is home to a range of exhibits about Finnish Lapland and its culture.
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Culture House Korundi
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Rovaniemi Art Museum
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Sampokeskus
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The most diverse shopping centre in Rovaniemi.
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Rovaniemi Church
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Kirkkolammen Puisto
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Kirkkolammen Puisto is a beautiful park built around the Kirkkolampi pond and near the church in Rovaniemi.
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Rovaniemi old train station
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SnowGlow Winterpark
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Rovaniemi's central stadium becomes home to the SnowGlow winter park every winter. It's basically a park with lots of lights and a few shows. The entrance fee is around 20 euros.
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Lordi's Square
@renatkapa
It is the main square in Rovaniemi, in the vicinity you will find many restaurants, cafes, agencies, shopping centers,...
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You can also meet Santa Claus in the city center. This has an advantage over visiting him at Santa Claus Village - cheaper, no long lines, you can get his autograph and take a picture together.

Espresso House Sampokeskus Rovaniemi
@renatkapa
If you want to warm up and enjoy great coffee and an amazing cinnamon roll - this is the place.
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Day 2: Santa Claus Village

The main reason why many tourists go to Rovaniemi is the famous Santa Claus village.

It is only less than 8 kilometers from the city and you can get there by bus - line 8 or Santa Claus express, it runs every hour and the round trip costs 7 euros.

Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi is the only place on Earth where you can meet Santa Claus any day of the year beyond the Arctic Circle. You will meet him in his office in this small village. Then go beyond the arctic circle, enjoy the polar zoo, huskies, reindeer and taste the local cuisine in a local restaurant.

Santa Claus Village
@renatkapa
Every day you can meet Santa Claus and cross the magical Arctic Circle. There is no entrance fee.
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Santa Claus Office
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You can see all the letters that Santa Claus receives. You can also send a letter from here with two options - send it immediately or leave it in the mailbox to be sent before Christmas.
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Santa Claus Reindeer
@renatkapa
Do you want to enjoy a magical reindeer ride in the forest with Christmas spirit? Then this is the right place. (It costs around 70 euros.)
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Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi
@renatkapa
Really recommend visiting this restaurant for some typical local food. (Price 30-40 euros per person). A cozy restaurant with a fireplace.
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Reindeer in the forest

There is a small zoo in Santa Claus Village where you can feed the reindeer and see other animals. The entrance fee is 15 euros.

Husky safari

There is also a Husky safari near the zoo with an entrance fee of 10 euros and the opportunity to pet the huskies.

Snowman World

Snowman World is a place with interesting winter activities in the village. Here you can enjoy ice skating, a slide or slide, or just have a drink at the ice bar.

The entrance fee is 29 euros.

Snowman World
@renatkapa
Some winter activities right in Santa Claus Village (winter bar, snowmobiles,...)
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Day 3: fairytale forests

Around Rovaniemi you have many options for winter trails in the beautiful snowy forest. The most famous is the Ounasvaara trail.

Ounasvaara Winter Trail
@renatkapa
an amazing winter trail with lots of winter wonders, 7,2 km long, takes about 3-4 hours with many stops to enjoy the beauty of the winter forest
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Trails start 1,6 km east of Rovaniemi city centre.

The trail is marked and equipped with information boards, and part of the route connects to the Ounasvaara Educational Trail.

There is an observation tower on the winter trail, which offers a wonderful view of the city center and the Kemi River.

The trail is 7.2 km long, generally considered moderately difficult, and takes an average of 3 hours to complete.

But you can take your time and enjoy a small barbeque next to the lookout because there is a fire pit.

Finnish sauna

If your accommodation does not have a sauna, there are several public saunas in the city. It is the perfect place to relax after a winter trail.

There are more than 3 million saunas in Finland - that's more than cars. Finns love sauna and for the perfect experience there is something you have to try there.

Husky Sledding and Husky safari

Aurora hunting

The Arctic Circle is the best place to see the Aurora in its season. All you need is a clear sky and a dark place. You can easily find this if you walk from the city center.

Many agencies offer Aurora hunting with barbecue or photography, prices start at 79 euros. Instead of renting a car, we decided to try a tour this time.

Instead, it's better to rent a car, download some Aurora app and hunt it yourself. There's a better chance you'll spot it.

Other places to visit:

Ranua Zoo Camping
@renatkapa
It is the northernmost zoo in the world. You can see 50 different arctic animals here. Only an hour's drive from Rovaniemi.
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Korouoma
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Along the trail, tourists will have the opportunity to admire the frozen waterfalls in Korouoma. There are 14 frozen waterfalls in total.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hello travelers ✈️🗺️ . 🌍I explored most of Europe - tasted delicious food in Italy🍝watched the sunset in Santorini 🌅hunted for the Aurora in Norway or Iceland💙…and more... 🌎I spent two summers in the USA 🇺🇸did an internship in Mexico 🇲🇽 got to know the beauty of Costa Rica 🇨🇷I was captivated by Peru 🇵🇪I enjoyed a stopover in Panama 🇵🇦 . . My guides/maps offer tips on free/nice/cheap places you should definitely visit, tips on how to save some money and travel more affordably, many things to do and see and try to be like a local. Besides traveling, I love planning all my adventures.
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