If you visit only one museum in Lapland, make it this one. Arktikum opened in 1992 on the bank of the Ounasjoki, a short walk north of the centre. Its architecture is part of the experience: most of the building is sunk into the riverbank, and a glass tube 172 metres long runs through it towards the north, flooding the interior with whatever light the season offers.
Two institutions share the building. The Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland presents the science of the far north, and the Regional Museum of Lapland tells the human story of the province. Together they answer most of the questions a visitor to Rovaniemi ends up asking — why it is dark, how the aurora works, who the Sámi are, and what happened to the old town. Tickets can be booked online.
What to see and do: Arktikum
The Arctic science exhibitions
Hands-on displays explain the Arctic climate and how fast it is changing, sea ice and permafrost, and how animals and people survive the cold. Children can feel the chill of a cold room and try on the idea of an Arctic winter.
The northern lights theatre
A small theatre where you lie back and watch the aurora projected overhead, with an explanation of what causes it. It is worth seeing even if — especially if — the real sky has not cooperated.
The Regional Museum of Lapland
The museum’s main exhibition follows life in Lapland from prehistory to the present. Two large scale models show Rovaniemi before and after the autumn of 1944, when the retreating German army destroyed the town almost completely; they make the modern city outside suddenly comprehensible. Other rooms cover Sámi culture, reindeer herding, the timber trade and the wildlife of the province.
The glass corridor and the Arctic Garden
Walk the length of the corridor to its northern end, which looks out over the river. Outside, the Arctic Garden and the riverbank path are one of the best spots in the city for the northern lights: dark enough, facing north, and ten minutes from most hotels.
How to get to Arktikum
- Arktikum is at Pohjoisranta 4, on the river at the northern edge of the centre. It is about 15 minutes on foot from Lordi’s Square along the riverside path.
- Several local buses stop nearby; there is free parking for cars.
- Science Centre Pilke is next door and Korundi is a short walk away. A combined Culture Pass covers all three and is valid for a week — worthwhile if you plan to visit at least two.
Insider tips
- Allow two to three hours. Go early in your stay; the rest of Lapland makes more sense afterwards.
- The museum is closed on some Mondays outside the high season. Check the current hours before you go.
- The café serves a good-value lunch buffet with a view of the garden.
- Come back to the riverbank after dark on a clear night for the aurora — see our northern lights guide.
Best tours & tickets for Arktikum
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Arktikum:
Entry ticket from €22 Rovaniemi: Arktikum Science Centre and Museum Entry Ticket
Entry to Rovaniemi’s best museum, which explains the Arctic — its climate, wildlife and peoples — alongside the story of Lapland and of the town’s destruction and rebuilding. It is the ideal first stop, and the obvious plan for a very cold or stormy day.
- Arctic science and the history of Lapland
- Northern lights theatre
- Walkable from the city centre
Small-group aurora hunt by minibus from €70 Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Tour with Guarantee & Photos
Rovaniemi’s most-booked aurora tour, with well over 4,000 reviews. Instead of waiting at one fixed spot, the guides study the cloud and solar forecasts and drive — sometimes a long way — to find a gap in the weather. The listing carries the operator’s guarantee if no lights are seen; check exactly what it covers before you book.
- Guides drive to wherever the sky is clearest
- Photos of you under the aurora included
- Operator’s sighting guarantee — read the terms
Evening aurora outing from €79 Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Photography Tour with BBQ Option
A shorter, cheaper evening for those who do not want to be out until the small hours. You are driven away from the city lights to a lakeside or forest camp, where the guide helps you photograph the sky while a fire keeps everyone warm. It stays in one area rather than chasing clear skies, so pick a night with a good forecast.
- A short drive to a dark spot outside town
- Guide helps with camera settings
- Campfire, with a barbecue option
Guided snowshoe walk from €105 Rovaniemi: Hiking and Snowshoeing Adventure in Lapland
A quiet, engine-free outing into the forest on snowshoes, which take a couple of minutes to learn. The guide reads the tracks of hare, fox and reindeer and stops for a hot drink. A good counterweight to a day on a snowmobile.
- Walk through untouched snow
- Look for animal tracks
- Snack by the fire
