Rovaniemi stands where the Ounasjoki river meets the Kemijoki, the longest river in Finland. A market village grew into a town here on the timber and fur trades, and by the 1930s it was the lively capital of Lapland. Then, in October 1944, during the Lapland War, the retreating German army burned it. About nine buildings in ten were lost.
The town that replaced it was planned by Alvar Aalto, Finland’s most celebrated architect. His scheme, known as the “reindeer antler plan”, laid the main roads out so that — seen on a map — they suggest the head and antlers of a reindeer, with the sports stadium as its eye. The result is a low, practical, modern city of about 65,000 people: not picturesque in the usual sense, but compact, friendly and easy to walk.
What to see and do: Rovaniemi City Centre & Riverside
Aalto’s administrative and cultural centre
On Hallituskatu, three buildings by Alvar Aalto stand side by side: the city library (1965), with its fan-shaped, sunken reading room; Lappia Hall (1970s), a theatre and concert hall whose roofline echoes the fells; and the town hall, completed after Aalto’s death. The library is open to all and is the easiest to appreciate — go in and look down into the reading wells.
The Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge
The cable-stayed Jätkänkynttilä bridge of 1989 has become the symbol of the city. The lights at the top of its two pylons are meant to recall the log torches that lumberjacks burned on the riverbanks. The riverside promenade below it is the classic evening walk, and at midsummer the sun hangs behind the bridge around midnight.
Koskikatu and Lordi’s Square
The pedestrian stretch of Koskikatu and the square at its heart are the hub of shopping and eating out. The square was renamed after the Rovaniemi-born monster-rock band Lordi won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. Two shopping centres, Sampokeskus and Revontuli, face it, and most safari companies have their offices within a block or two.
Rovaniemi Church
The Lutheran church was completed in 1950 on the site of its predecessor, destroyed in 1944. Inside, the whole wall behind the altar is covered by Lennart Segerstråle’s fresco The Source of Life, which sets its biblical scene in a Lapland landscape.
The riverside in summer
When the ice has gone, the banks of the Kemijoki become the city’s park. There is a sandy beach across the bridge at Ounaskoski, river cruises depart from the quay in the centre, and locals stay out late in the endless light.
How to get to Rovaniemi City Centre & Riverside
- The centre is small: from the railway and bus stations to Lordi’s Square is about 1.5 kilometres, a 15–20 minute walk, or a short taxi ride with luggage.
- The airport is ten kilometres north. An airport shuttle bus meets flights and drops passengers at central hotels; see getting to Rovaniemi.
- Almost all hotels in the centre are within ten minutes’ walk of one another, and most safaris start from offices here or collect you from your hotel.
Insider tips
- Pavements are icy from November to April. Locals wear shoes with studs or slip-on ice grips, which are sold in every supermarket and sports shop.
- Supermarkets in the centre are open late and are the cheapest source of snacks, hand warmers and anything you forgot to pack.
- For a short aurora watch without leaving town, walk to the riverbank by Arktikum or up to Ounasvaara.
- Pick up maps and bus timetables at the tourist information office on Lordi’s Square.
Best tours & tickets for Rovaniemi City Centre & Riverside
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Rovaniemi City Centre & Riverside:
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
Snowmobile safari from €101 Rovaniemi: Snowmobile Safari Adventure with Combo Options
The city’s most-booked snowmobile safari. After a safety briefing you follow the guide in single file out of town and onto the trail network. Drivers must hold a valid driving licence; passengers and children ride behind or in a sleigh towed by the guide.
- Full instruction — no experience needed
- Frozen rivers and forest trails
- Options to add reindeer, huskies or ice fishing
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
Private transfer from €120 per group Rovaniemi: Airport Transfer by Private Van
A pre-booked private van between the airport and your hotel, cabin or igloo. The price is per group, so it makes most sense for families and for properties outside the centre that the shuttle bus does not serve.
- Fixed price per vehicle
- Driver meets your flight
- Room for luggage and families
