For a town on the edge of the Arctic, Rovaniemi is remarkably easy to reach. It has an international airport ten kilometres from the centre, it is the terminus of one of Europe’s best night trains, and the main road to the far north runs straight through it.
At a glance
- Fastest: fly to Rovaniemi (RVN) via Helsinki — about 1 hour 20 minutes from Helsinki.
- Most atmospheric: the overnight sleeper train from Helsinki, around 12 hours.
- In winter: seasonal direct flights from a number of European cities, mostly from December to March.
- On arrival: the airport is 15–20 minutes from the centre by shuttle bus or taxi, and only a few minutes from Santa Claus Village.
By air
Rovaniemi Airport is one of Finland’s busiest in the winter months. Finnair flies from Helsinki several times a day all year, and other airlines also serve the route; the flight takes about an hour and twenty minutes. From most of the world, the simplest booking is a single ticket to Rovaniemi with a change in Helsinki, which protects your connection.
In the winter season, a growing list of airlines flies direct to Rovaniemi from cities across Europe — among them London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan and several German airports in recent winters. These routes are seasonal, change from year to year and are busiest around Christmas, so check what is running for your dates. Fares for December rise early.
From the airport to your hotel
- Airport shuttle bus: a minibus meets arriving flights and drops passengers at hotels in the centre and at Santa Claus Village. It costs under ten euros or so per person; pay the driver or book online. For the return, reserve your pickup a day ahead.
- Taxi: a rank stands outside arrivals. Expect to pay roughly €25–35 to the centre, depending on time of day and company — reasonable for three or four people.
- Private transfer: worth pre-booking for families, late arrivals and for igloos or resorts outside town that the shuttle does not serve.
- Car hire: the main rental companies have desks in the terminal. Reserve well ahead for winter.
Santa Claus Village is only about three kilometres from the terminal, so if you arrive early or leave late you can visit with your luggage — there are lockers at the village.
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
Guided half-day visit from €119 Rovaniemi: Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle
A straightforward half-day with transport and a guide to show you where everything is — Santa’s office, the Main Post Office and the Arctic Circle line — before leaving you time to explore. The village is free to enter and easy to reach by bus, so this is mainly worth it for the convenience and the extras included.
- Guided introduction to the village
- Arctic Circle crossing
- Reindeer encounter (see listing)
Guided walk from €49 Rovaniemi: Guided Tour of Santa Claus Village
An inexpensive guided walk on site, for travellers who make their own way to the village. A local guide explains how Rovaniemi became Santa’s hometown, points out the quieter corners and helps you plan the rest of your visit.
- The stories behind the village
- Tips on queues and what is worth paying for
- Low price
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
By train: the Santa Claus Express
The overnight train from Helsinki is a journey worth making for its own sake. You board in the evening, sleep as the train runs the length of Finland, and wake to snow-laden forest an hour or two before arriving. Finnish railways (VR) run more than one night train on the route in season; the best known carries the name Santa Claus Express.
- Journey time: around 12 hours overnight; daytime trains take about eight to nine hours.
- Sleeping cabins: the modern double-deck sleeper cars have compact two-berth cabins. Upstairs cabins have their own toilet and shower; downstairs cabins share facilities at the end of the car. Connecting doors join two cabins for families.
- Seats: ordinary seats are much cheaper, and bearable for the young and thrifty.
- On board: a restaurant car serves hot meals, snacks and drinks late into the evening.
- Cars: some departures carry cars, so you can take your own vehicle north without the drive.
- Booking: tickets are sold by VR, and prices are dynamic. Cabins for December and for Finnish school holidays (late February and early March) sell out — book as soon as sales open, usually some months ahead.
The train also stops at Tampere and Oulu, and at Helsinki’s Tikkurila station, which is one stop by local train from Helsinki Airport — handy if you are flying in from abroad and want the rail experience one way.
By bus and by car
Long-distance coaches link Rovaniemi with Oulu, Kemi and the rest of Finland, and carry on north to the ski resorts of Levi, Ylläs and Saariselkä, to Inari and, in summer, into northern Norway. The bus station is beside the railway station.
By road, Rovaniemi is about 800 kilometres from Helsinki on the E75 — ten hours or more of driving. Within Lapland a car gives freedom, and winter driving is less daunting than it sounds: rental cars come with proper winter tyres and main roads are ploughed constantly. But bear in mind:
- In midwinter you will be driving in the dark for most of the day.
- Reindeer wander onto roads everywhere in Lapland and do not move for cars. Slow down whenever you see one — there will be more.
- Distances are long and services sparse; keep the tank at least half full.
- Most tours include hotel pickup, so many visitors never need a car at all.
Getting around Rovaniemi
- On foot: the centre is compact. From the stations to Lordi’s Square is 15–20 minutes; Arktikum is 15 minutes beyond.
- Bus 8 to Santa Claus Village: the local bus runs from the railway station via the centre to the village in about half an hour. A single costs a few euros; buy from the driver or with the local transport app. Check evening and Sunday times.
- Taxis: reliable and metered, though not cheap. Order by phone or app, or find them at the ranks by the station and in the centre. In December, allow extra time.
- Tour transfers: nearly all safaris either start from an office in the centre or collect you from your hotel. Read the meeting-point details on your booking.
- Ski bus: a seasonal bus runs to the Ounasvaara ski centre.
Onward travel in Lapland
Rovaniemi is the gateway to the rest of Finnish Lapland. Buses run to Levi and Ylläs in two to three hours, to Luosto and Pyhä in under two, and to Saariselkä and Inari in around four. In winter, shuttle services also link the airport directly with several resorts.
