Rovaniemi is the capital and commercial centre of Finland’s northernmost province, Lapland. It was heavily bombed at the end of WWII, all but destroying the town, so its architecture is modern. It’s more cheerful claim to fame is as the official home of Santa Claus, where he is available for visits all year around, especially in that mid-year downtime. Hire a campervan in Rovaniemi and have a merry excursion.
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Further afield, campervan road Trips from Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi has its own airport, so a classic Finland road trip would be to take two-three days to drive to capital city Helsinki, in the south, on a one-way hire. Helsinki is famous for design flair and hi-tech industries. During the endless nights of mid-summer it hosts a festival, Night of the Arts - a lively event featuring flash mobs, free concerts and modern circus.
From Rovaniemi, it is also easy to get to Sweden, Norway and Russia.
Where to stay in Rovaniemi
Ounaskoski Camping is conveniently located just over a kilometre from the city centre and eight kilometres from Santa Park. It has a pleasant setting on the banks of the Kemijoki River.
Culinary treats in Rovaniemi
A traditional dish to try is sautéed reindeer, stewed with butter and water. It is served inside a bowl of mashed potato, with lingonberry jam and slices of pickled cucumber. Salmon is also prized, try it grilled on a cedar plank.
Fransmanni, near the Sokos hotel, is a mid-range restaurant that serves traditional Finnish dishes, as well as French Cuisine. In an otherwise expensive town, a cheap meal can be had at the world’s northernmost McDonalds, and it comes with bragging rights – perfect if you have a tight budget on your motorhome. Another value meal is at Ravintola Oppipoika, a restaurant run by trainee chefs and wait-staff.
What to see and do in Rovaniemi
The full Father Christmas experience is available at Santa Claus Village and nearby Santa Park. Choose how you arrive, by reindeer sled or snowmobile. Once there, take a fairy-tale train through the Elves’ Gift Factory, or have a lesson in their classroom. There’s a real Santa Post office to send an authentic letter, and of course meet up with the big fellow himself.
A fun day out is to take a snowmobile safari to a Reindeer Farm and Husky Park. Spend time with the animals and enjoy a husky sled ride.
The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is an incredible natural phenomenon to be viewed around the Arctic Circle in winter months. Take a tour to a wooded cabin and have salmon sandwiches around the fire before viewing with local Lappish experts. Another worthwhile visit is to the Arktikum Museum, for a good understanding of the history of Finnish Lapland and its Arctic region.
The extreme outdoor conditions make for some memorable activities. Ice-skate on the old market square in the town, or take a day trip to ice climb in Korouoma Canyon, where Finland’s mightiest ice falls are found. In summer, there’s mountain biking tracks and water-skiing on pure-water rivers.
Driving tips for Finland
In winter, the speed limit everywhere is reduced to 80km. If you see an oncoming vehicle flash its lights at you, there are a couple of possibilities. Either there is a moose on the road or an accident ahead, or you don’t have your headlights on. These must be on at all times, in all seasons.