You are going to Rovaniemi and you’re not sure about what to do, well don’t worry because I’ll share with you a list of activities that will keep you entertained during your whole stay here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnP1xrgUQuQ&t=37s
Visit a Reindeer Farm and Have a Small Reindeer Sleigh Ride
This is going to be a very fun adventure from beginning to end, you’ll have to book a tour with any of the tour companies in town.
If you choose a good one they’ll pick you up directly at your hotel and take you to the farm.
They’ll pick you up in a van, take you to a parking area near the woods and there you’ll transfer to a snowmobile or a sleigh pulled by a snowmobile, depends on what you want and pay for.
From there you’ll ride among the snowy trees and reach the farm.
You’ll have the chance to learn more about Reindeers, pet them (only the ones you’re allowed to pet) and feed some of them.
You’ll have the chance to have a small Reindeer sleigh ride, it won’t be super fast, but it’ll definitely be exciting, the ride won’t take more than 5 minutes.
On the farm you’ll have the chance to warm up near a fireplace and you’ll also be given some hot tea and a snack.
Visit a Husky Park and Have a 4 Minutes Husky Sleigh Ride
This is an activity you can do after the Reindeer farm, get on your snowmobile or sleigh pulled by a snowmobile and head to the Husky park.
The minute you enter you’ll hear the loud barking of the dogs, some of them are very playful and some of them you’re allowed to pet.
You’ll be guided to the sleigh boarding area, just sit down on the sleigh and enjoy the ride.
There is also an option for you to be the one driving the sleigh instead of just sitting down, this will depend on what you want and pay for.
Go Find The Northern Lights
Now this might be what you’re looking for, there are different tour companies in Rovaniemi that offer different ways of going after the beautiful northern lights, I chose to go with Lapland welcome.
They picked us up at our hotel at around 7:40 pm, took us to their office to get the proper gear on, then we drove in a van for about an hour to get to their secret viewing point.
The secret viewing point is on top of a hill, right at the bottom of it there’s a house where you can have one last bathroom stop.
After that is 15 minutes walking uphill, once you reach the top there will be 2 tipis where you’ll be able to warm up and have some snacks, but hey don’t spend too much time inside.
Remember you are there for the northern lights, so even if you’re feeling cold please stay outside as much as you can or you’ll miss them.
Visit Ranua Wildlife Park (Zoo)
This is a very big open area with many trees and nice viewpoints, and even though I’m not a fan of the zoo -since I believe animals shouldn’t be in captivity- it still makes for a nice walk and a nice opportunity for having a bonfire out in the open and not inside a tipi.
Which takes me to the following
Make a Bonfire and Grill Your Lunch
This is the perfect opportunity for you to test your survival skills.
Just tell your guide to allow you to help out a little bit and dive into one of the most basic activities mankind has been up to since the beginning of times, make fire!!!
Once you have that fire all lit up start grilling your lunch.
Eat Reindeer
Reindeers are magical and beautiful, and they’re also food.
What does Reindeer taste like? well is difficult to explain, you really have to taste it for yourself.
These are my three recommendations for having Reindeer.
Nili restaurant, according to one of our Lapland tour guides, this is one of the best restaurants in town to have reindeer, so we had to go and give it a try.
They have a platter that includes reindeer salami in case you only want to try a little bit, and they also have it as the main course.
The other restaurant I recommend is Frans & Cherie, open for lunch time and have a very good selection of wine, cocktails and even some rum with coffee, and of course Reindeer.
I would recommend you to either go for the Reindeer steak or Reindeer liver.
Have Reindeer Ramen and Reindeer Fried rice
I live in Taiwan, Asian food is an every day thing for me -which I love- , and I wasn’t planning to have Asian food while in Rovaniemi because why???? right
But when I saw this restaurant – HIMO- serving Reindeer Ramen and Reindeer fried rice, I was like, I have to try it!!!
And well, it is definitely an interesting twist on Asian food, the Ramen was particularly tasty. If I had to choose I would go for Ramen instead of the Reindeer fried rice.
Walk around The Woods
What a better way to experience the beauty of the snowy woods in Lapland than by walking around among them, it’s a great way to keep your body warm, do some holiday exercise and look at some breathtaking views.
And if you’re afraid it’s going to be too cold don’t worry, the tour company you book with for sure will give you extra clothes and you’ll have a tipi break to warm up and have a snack.
This is something I did not do myself – because of time and money constraints- but I think it would be an amazing experience and it gives me a reason to go back.
The ice breaker tour, provided by Lapland welcome takes you on board of the Sampo Ice Breaker on the Gulf of Bothnia just outside the city of Kemi.
Going on this tour will give you a chance to behold the beauty of the vast open ice field.
Take a look at this video
Get a Photo With Santa and Your Crossing the Arctic Circle Certificate
Something Rovaniemi is famous for is for being the official house of Santa Claus, and guess what, there’s a whole business built around it.
From hotel accommodation at Santa Village to tons of different souvenir stores and of course your photo with Santa.
It is a nice place indeed, but it definitely falls in the category of a tourist trap, especially during high season, according to one of our tour guides, Santa Village gets Disneyland packed, with huge lines to take a photo with Santa.
And the photo with Santa comes at a price. If you want a print-out version you’ll have to pay 20 Euros, for a digital package that includes two pictures and a 10 seconds video is 40 Euros.
You’re not allowed to take pictures with your cellphone when you meet Santa.
And this is the certificate you would get for crossing the arctic circle. Since I visited Santa Village as part of a tour the fee for the certificate was already included.
Is it worth it?? well is pretty much a souvenir, so is your choice whether you want it or not.
Go Find The Best Souvenirs
At the airport, supermarket, malls, Santa village and even at your hotel, you’ll find souvenirs everywhere.
You’ll find Moomin everything too, in case you don’t know what a Moomin is, well is a cartoon character from a Finnish and Japanese animation based on Finnish books.
So it is kind of a big deal in Finland, it even has its own theme park in Naantali, Finland.
Have some Strawberries, Wine, and Chocolate.
The last suggestion in this list of things to do in Rovaniemi.
After going all around the city trying Reindeer food, buying souvenirs and jumping from tout to tour, you might want to relax a little bit in your hotel room.
I recommend you to head to the supermarket and get yourself some HUGE strawberries, some chocolate and some wine, or whatever alcohol suits you best.
When it comes to chocolate the choice is difficult as they have many different flavors, they’re all good.
Advice
It’s going to be super cold so please make sure you wear the appropriate winter clothes.
If you have the idea of taking some wine with you to drink while you see the northern lights well….. your wine will freeze if you don’t drink it fast enough, just like it happened to some friends,
Phones, Cameras, Cellphones, they all die within minutes, the cold is just too much for them, so make sure you keep them warm in your backpack.
Wrap them in scarves or something else to keep them warm and only take them out when you’re sure you’re gonna take a picture or video.
Cellphones are not good enough to photograph Auroras, not even I-phones, go pros don’t do the trick either, you’ll need a mirrorless camera or DSLR camera.
For more information on the price of tours, hotels, where to stay, the price of a restaurant’s meal, groceries, souvenirs, and more details, please see this other post I made.
Santa Claus Village, Reindeer, the arctic circle and Huskies sleigh rides, icebreakers, the fantastic and beautiful northern lights, and more. Should I pay a Travel Agent for Rovaniemi?
Rovaniemi is a fantastic winter getaway.
But how do you go about booking all the different activities?
Booking a hotel in the city centre, arranging pickups from the hotel, food on the go, schedules?
It might sound too much to handle when traveling to northern Finland, a place you’ve never been to.
So you might decide to reach out to a travel company and pay for a 5, 6 or even 10 days package where they get you a hotel and arrange all the activities for you, including going after the northern lights.
And even if money is not a concern, you’re better off booking things yourself. This way, you can choose sound quality accommodation in the city centre and tours that include activities that range from seeing the northern lights to doing a husky ride to seeing polar bears.
In this post, I’ll make a comparison of costs. Is it cheaper to pay a travel agent for Rovaniemi or book things on my own?
Let’s dive in right now.
The Costs of Doing Things Through a Travel Agent
While I was organizing my Rovaniemi trip, I decided to consult with two different travel agencies.
I reached out to them, saying, ” Hey, a friend and I will be in Rovaniemi for 6 days.
What activities can you arrange for us and how much is it?
First Travel Agency
I first reached out to Nordicvisitor.com, and for 5 days, they offered this.
Winter Wonders in Rovaniemi, five days and four nights at 1,330 Euros per person.
This is how they divide the tour by days
Day 1-Arrival and northern lights snowmobile excursion
On Day 2-Dog sledding and traditional Finnish sauna
Day 3-Visit to a Reindeer Farm and Santa Claus Village
For Day 4- Open Day (Really?) and evening at the arctic snow hotel
Day 5- Departure
They remark this as included in the PARTIALLY (what does that even mean?) guided tour.
Return airport transfers in Rovaniemi, Accommodation for 4 nights in Rovaniemi, with breakfast included
Northern lights snowmobile excursion
Visit a reindeer farm and the Santa Claus Village
Dog sledding excursion
3-course dinner at the Arctic Snow Hotel
Loan of additional outwear and safety gear
Personalized day-by-day itinerary
Since I was going to be landing at 6 pm, I couldn’t start the tour on the day of my arrival.
I asked them to provide one more night of accommodation, and the price they quoted per person was 1,446 Euros.
I wouldn’t say I liked that itinerary, especially the open-day part.
If I’m going to be entirely on my own, why would you include that in the package?
For that reason, I decided to ask a second tour operator.
Second Travel Agency
Now I decided to inquire with Baltic Travel Company
This is how they divide one of their tours by day
On Day 1, Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 Husky Safari Excursion
For Day 3 Open day (There we go again) and Aurora Borealis Snowshoeing
Day 4 Open day (Again) and Aurora bubble overnight stay
Day 5 Transfer to the airport
This is what they emphasize as being included in the tour
Return airport transfers
3 nights accommodation in a Wilderness double room
1-night accommodation in an Aurora Bubble
Half Board (Breakfast and dinner daily)
Aurora Borealis Snowshoeing 2.5 hours with a guide
Husky Sledding Excursion 3 hours with a guide, includes lunch
Winter Clothing for the duration of your stay (overalls, boots, mittens, and hats)
24-hour emergency service
ATOL Protection
All Taxes
The total price is 1346 Euros per person
What I didn’t like
I was not too fond of both tours’ open-day part.
Plus the fact that we don’t get to choose the hotel. On the website of Nordicvisitor.com, this is what is shown as the comfort accommodation.
That’s the only picture they show. With only one image of the room shown on their website, I wasn’t feeling comfortable at all.
Whenever I’m traveling, I like to make sure I know exactly where I’m staying. This way, I can analyze whether it makes sense or not to pay a certain amount for it.
The least I want to do is pay a lot of money for a backpacker hostel kind of room.
So with so little information about the accommodations and the open days.
I wasn’t comfortable getting a package tour with any of these companies.
On the website of Nordicvisitor, there is an option to upgrade your room.
You have to pay more, of course. There is not much information about the upgraded room, just another tiny picture.
So at this point, after doing a bit of research online and finding out that some people had terrible experiences with these companies.
Should I pay a Travel Agent for Rovaniemi? No. I decided to book everything on my own.
You need to know that all these companies book the activities for you (they’re just vendors) with other companies that run them.
So all they do is make reservations for you.
They print a “personalized” itinerary with their logo and then give it to you.
And according to some reviews on Trip Advisor, they provide little to no support once you’re there.
You’ll likely still need to visit the Rovaniemi tourist information center to get around.
So I thought, why to pay someone to book things online for me??? I can perfectly do that on my own and choose what I want, and it is cheaper, which makes sense.
The northern lights were the main reason I went to northern Finland, and I did not want to miss it.
Cost Comparison Table
I decided to book things on my own. This is what I ended up paying for tours, accommodation, and a taxi from the airport to the hotel and back.
Only 1,712 Euros for 2 people, way cheaper, more activities, and better customer service than booking everything through one travel agency, how do I know is a better service?
Two friends of mine decided to pay a Travel Agent for Rovaniemi.
They booked a tour with Nordicvisitor.com precisely on the same week I was in Rovaniemi too, we met, and they told me how much they regretted it.
The hotel room they put them in was old and small
Hotel service was terrible (Arctic city hotel)
No pick up from the hotel for the activities they arranged for them
The one Aurora tour the company booked for them was very early (statistically, Auroras have a higher likelihood of appearing after 11 pm)
Pretty much no customer service from Nordicvisitor
How Did I Book Accommodation and Tours on My Own?
For the hotel, I used Booking.com
I wanted to ensure I would stay in a nice hotel with breakfast included in the city centre, and with free wifi; I chose a hotel with a rating of 8.5 on Booking.com, Hotel Aakenus; the price for 5 nights for two people was 766 Euros.
Auroras Northern lights trip by car and on foot (Photographing tour)
Visit a Reindeer farm by snowmobile sleigh
Go to a Husky farm by snowmobile sleigh
Visit Santa Claus Village
Guided tour to Ranua wildlife park
I booked all of the above with Laplandwelcome, they picked us up at our hotel for every activity, and overall they were super lovely; I recommend them.
The total cost for the tours was 900.51 Euros.
Two taxi rides from the airport (NO NEED TO BOOK IN ADVANCE) to the hotel and hotel to the airport were 49.61 Euros.
Of course, having a hotel and tour arranged is not all you have to spend when you travel; you also spend money on more food, snacks, souvenirs, alcohol, transportation, and other things.
So here is a detailed breakdown of all the money we (2 people) spent in Rovaniemi. Hopefully, this will give you a better idea of the money you need for your Rovaniemi Holidays.
I made some charts hope you like them.
How to Get To Rovaniemi from Helsinki?
By train
An overnight train operates between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, including the Santa Claus Express and the Aurora Borealis Express.
Trains running this route offer comfortable sleeping accommodations and dining and entertainment options.
Trains are running every day; check timetables here
By bus
Several bus companies operate daily services between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, including OnniBus and Matkahuolto. The journey time by bus is typically around 10 hours.
By car
You can rent a car in Helsinki and drive to Rovaniemi, which is about an 8-hour journey by car. This is a good option if you prefer the flexibility of having your transportation.
By plane
There are several flights a day from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with a flight time of about 1 hour. This is the fastest way to travel between the two cities but is also the most expensive.
There are many flight connections between Rovaniemi, Finland, and the rest of the world, all happening through Helsinki.
By ferry
If you prefer a more scenic route, you can take a ferry from Helsinki to Oulu, about a 9-hour journey. From Oulu, you can then take a bus or train to Rovaniemi. This is a longer journey overall, but it can be a fun way to see more of Finland.
But if you don’t have much time, go for flight connections.
Great Things to do in Rovaniemi During Winter Months
1 – Ice fishing in the arctic circle
Rovaniemi is located in the heart of Lapland in the arctic circle, an area known for its abundant fishing opportunities.
Many local companies offer outdoor activities, including guided ice fishing tours, which can be a fun and unique way to experience the Finnish Lapland.
2 -Try local delicacies of the Finnish Lapland
Rovaniemi is home to various traditional Finnish foods, such as reindeer meat, brown bears meat, Lappish cheese, and cloudberries.
Take the chance to try some of these local delicacies during your visit.
3 – Do a Northern lights tour in the arctic circle
Most people visit Rovaniemi to visit Santa Claus Village and see The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.
The northern lights are a natural display that can often be seen at night in Rovaniemi when weather conditions are good.
Many local companies offer guided tours to see the Northern Lights; some even add accommodation options in a glass igloo.
4 – Visit the Rovaniemi art museum
The Rovaniemi art museum ( Korundi House or Culture House Korundi) is home to a modern and contemporary art collection from Finland and beyond.
The museum is located at Lapinkävijäntie 4, 96100 Rovaniemi, Finland, and is a great place to spend a few hours on a cold winter day.
Opening hours
Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm (Saturdays and Sundays they close at 4)
5 – Visit the hometown of Santa Claus
Rovaniemi is known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, and there are many festive holiday activities to enjoy here.
You can visit Santa’s village, meet Santa Claus himself, and learn about the history of the holiday season in Rovaniemi.
Meeting Santa at Santa Claus Village is fun; you can take photos with him.
6 – Do a Reindeer ride Tour
Reindeer are an essential part of the local culture in Rovaniemi, and many companies offer reindeer rides through the beautiful Lapland landscape.
You can pair a snowmobiling tour through the forests of Finnis Lapland, where you’ll enjoy the beautiful views of Finnish Lapland, and visit a Reindeer farm for your reindeer ride; you’ll get excellent value for your money.
7 – Visit Santa Claus at Santa’s village:
Santa’s village is a festive holiday theme park in Rovaniemi.
You can meet Santa Claus, visit his workshop, call Santa Claus’ post office, meet Santa’s elves, and enjoy various festive holiday activities. There’s no entry fee; you can visit all the shops and take a photo with Santa Claus.
8 – Stay at the ice hotel
Rovaniemi is home to the world-famous Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, which features an ice hotel made entirely of snow and ice. You can spend a night in one of the ice rooms, which are kept at a chilly -5°C (23°F), or opt for a more traditional hotel room.
9 – Visit the forestry museum
The Rovaniemi forestry museum is worth visiting during Christmas; it’s a great place to learn about the history of forestry in the arctic circle and its role in the local culture.
10 -Visit the wildlife park – Ranua
The Rovaniemi wildlife park is not far from the city centre and it’s home to various Arctic circle animals, including reindeer, lynx, and wolves.
You can take a guided tour to learn more about these animals and their habitats.
You can also make a road trip to Korouoma national park; depending on the weather conditions, you could see frozen waterfalls.
Korouoma national park is 1 hour south of Rovaniemi, Finland.
You could do Ranua and Korouoma as a one-day trip; you’ll have to rent a car or join tour operators as there’s no public transport covering this route.
As you can see, there’s more to do than visiting Santa Claus, seeing the northern lights, or ice fishing
11 – Do a Husky ride
Not far from Rovaniemi city, you’ll find a Husky farm.
When you visit Rovaniemi, you won’t only see Santa Claus; you’ll also meet Huskies.
Arctic circle Lapland is known for its sled dogs; many companies offer guided husky sled rides through the snowy landscape.
This is a great way to uniquely and excitingly experience Lapland’s Arctic circle beauty. Make sure you wear a lot of clothes to stay warm.
12 – Snowmobiling tours, chase the Northern Lights
Snowmobiling is a popular activity in Rovaniemi, and many companies offer guided tours through the beautiful Lapland landscape.
This is a great way to see the sights and experience the thrill of driving a snowmobile.
You can stop for ice fishing, see the night sky or enjoy the ride through the snowy forests; this is a great Christmas season activity.
13 – Visit the Rovaniemi Library
The Rovaniemi library is a modern and well-equipped facility with various books, movies, and other resources. It’s a great place to spend a few hours on a cold winter day in this arctic city.
14 – Go skiing or snowboarding
Rovaniemi is home to several ski resorts which offer a variety of slopes for skiers; how may I say they’ve done it in the arctic circle?
Seeing the northern lights and seeing Santa are not the unique activities in this arctic city.
Have you heard about the midnight sun?
15 – Amethyst mine
Visiting the amethyst mine in Rovaniemi is a fun and exciting way to learn about the history and geology of the region.
The mine is located in the nearby village of Luosto and offers visitors the opportunity to go underground and explore the tunnels where amethysts are found. Visitors can learn about the mining process and even take a piece of amethyst as a souvenir.
One of the highlights of visiting the amethyst mine is seeing the beautiful and unique crystals in their natural state. The mine offers guided tours that provide an in-depth look at the geology of the area and the history of amethyst mining.
Visitors can also try their hand at panning for amethysts in the mine’s sluice, a fun and exciting activity that all ages can enjoy.
The mine also has a small shop where you can purchase amethysts and other souvenirs.
The guides at the mine are knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions you may have about the mine and the amethysts you find.
Visiting the amethyst mine in Rovaniemi is a great way to experience the area’s natural beauty and learn about the region’s rich history.
It’s an excellent activity for families and individuals interested in geology, mining, and natural history.
Summer activities in the arctic city – Midnight sun
Rovaniemi, located in Finnish Lapland, is a popular destination for tourists during the warmer months of summer months.
One of the main attractions in Rovaniemi is the opportunity to witness the midnight sun. The sun never sets from late May to late July, providing visitors with a truly unique experience.
One popular activity for tourists during this time is to take a boat tour on the Kemijoki River.
These tours provide a chance to see the midnight sun while also taking in the beautiful scenery of the Lapland wilderness.
Visitors can also hike in the nearby hills to get a panoramic view of the midnight sun.
Another popular summer activity in Rovaniemi is going fishing.
The rivers and lakes in the area are teeming with fish and provide an excellent opportunity to catch a variety of species.
Many fishing tour operators offer packages, including equipment and guides, making it easy for visitors to enjoy this activity and a great view of the midnight sun.
Rovaniemi is also home to several outdoor festivals and events during the summer months. For example, the Midnight Sun Film Festival takes place in June and features a selection of international films that are shown under the midnight sun.
Rovaniemi offers a variety of options for rest and rejuvenation for those looking for a more relaxed summer activity.
Visitors can take a dip in the many lakes and rivers or indulge in a traditional Finnish sauna.
The midnight sun is one of those things you can only experience in one part of the world.
All Expenses in Rovaniemi
From Feb 1st to Feb 6th (EXCLUDING AIRFARE TO AND FROM ROVANIEMI)
So as you can see, most of our money went to all-inclusive tours (Husky and Reindeer farms, Santa Village, Ranua Park, and Northern lights time), followed by accommodation and food.
Everything is quoted in US dollars
All-Inclusive Tours US$1,019.91
Accommodation US$ 874.19
Food US$ 537.22
Souvenirs US$ 223.77
Alcohol US$ 110.09
Local Transportation (Taxis) US$ 49.61
Entertainment US$ 34.37
Water US$ 3.90
Living Expenses US$ 3.59
What follows now is a detailed list of everything we paid for.
We bought a lot of souvenirs and chocolate; we also decided to hit the popular restaurants to have reindeer steaks and even reindeer ramen, among other reindeer things.
From Feb 1st to Feb 6th, including tours and hotel, we (2 people) spent a total of US$ 2,856.64 (Excluding airfare)
Photos of Souvenirs and Food in Rovaniemi
I want to show you some pictures of the souvenirs we bought and the food we had, just so you guys have a more visual understanding.
It was my first time seeing the northern lights of the arctic circle in an arctic city.
I wanted souvenirs from this place.
Going Cheaper in Rovaniemi
So the total for 5 nights and 6 days, including hotel, tours, restaurants, alcohol, souvenirs, two taxi rides, and some groceries for two people, was US$ 2,856.64, but you can go cheaper.
You can go way cheaper, take a look at this lovely little hostel, 5 nights for only 200 Euros.
Regarding food, we decided to try the famous restaurants in Rovaniemi since we were after reindeer dishes. No reindeer’s head, though.
On our last day, for lunch, we had a sandwich and a Panini from the convenience store, which was delicious.
Here’s a picture of convenience store food prices; their Panini is excellent.
Let’s assume every day you eat a Panini for all your three meals; that would be 4.90 times 3= 14.7 Euros; let’s multiply that by 6 days= 88 Euros
You can drink water from the faucet as there is no issue in doing so – that’s what they told me at the hotel- that’s why I didn’t spend any money on water; I was drinking out of the faucet all the time.
Forget souvenirs, chocolates, and alcohol, and you could do 6 days in Rovaniemi for US$ 1,429.54; this would include hostel accommodation, food from a convenience store, and the tours, of course.
You don’t need to pay a Travel Agent to book a hotel in Rovaniemi; use booking.com or any other website.
The city center of Rovaniemi, where most of the hotels, malls, restaurants, and tour operators are, is not very big, but still, you have to be careful when selecting your accommodation; this is what I learned from my stay.
Staying at Santa Village is nice, but far, the city center is only reachable by bus or car.
It is an excellent place, full of souvenir shops and some restaurants with excellent reviews, but it is far from the city’s center. If you want to go to a restaurant- let’s say Nili- you’ll have to take a taxi or a bus as walking would take you more than an hour.
Also, remember that this place will be packed with tourists from all over the world trying to meet Santa during the high season.
Hotel Choices
Let’s begin with
Hotel Arctic city is in a very central location, but according to my friends, their customer service sucks, so you might want to avoid them.
However, they have a 4 stars rating, so who knows, maybe it was just my friends who had a bad experience.
Hotel Aakenus -where I stayed- is nice, clean, and affordable, and overall the staff is lovely it is a ten minutes walk from the city center, and hey, during winter when it is -31. The wind is blowing; a ten minutes walk is a freaking ten minutes walk.
If you want to go to the excellent restaurants, tour offices or malls, you’ll have to walk for 10 minutes.
When I asked someone at the hotel I was staying in, which is the best hotel in town, I got a response: Arctic Light Hotel.
A lovely hotel I ran, and if I ever have the chance to go back to Rovaniemi, that’s where I’ll most likely stay in Hostel Kafe Koti.
I had a cup of tea at their café with great company, and the vibe was super lovely, with super friendly staff and nice decorations; I checked their rooms on booking.com, and the prices are very affordable; you can choose a dormitory or a private room.
What To Pack for Rovaniemi Winter Weather?
The cold weather is brutal; when I was there in February, the temperature dropped to a low of -31c.
It was the coldest I’ve ever experienced, so make sure you pack many warm clothes, mainly if you’re not used to cold weather like me.
Make sure you take something to cover your ears, a thick beanie or earmuffs. Just make sure you have some scarves to cover your face and gloves, of course.
I have terrible circulation in my hands and feet, so my fingers and toes get cold quickly; that’s why I was wearing two pairs of gloves and two pairs of thick socks.
I was also wearing two thermal pants underneath my jeans, one thermal shirt, a thick sweater, a cotton long-sleeve shirt, a vest, and a coat.
Also, ensure you get a pair of nice boots to keep your feet as warm as possible; you might also want to get toe warmers.
When you go to the woods for the sleigh or snowmobile rides or simply to the top of a hill at midnight to see the night sky and wait for the northern lights, it will get even colder because of the wind factor.
But don’t worry; the tour company will provide excellent snow boots and even a helmet if needed.
The weather was freezing in February, the tour company also gave us mittens to wear on top of our gloves, and even those were starting to freeze.
My friends had an excellent idea of taking a bottle of wine with them to wait for the northern lights, they took the bottle out of a bag and poured some in some glasses, after a couple of minutes….
Conclusion
Should I pay a Travel Agent for Rovaniemi? The answer is no.
If you want to make sure your time in Rovaniemi is the best it can be, you should book things on your own, forget about 5 or 6 days, all included package with travel agents.
Choose a centrally located hotel to walk to any restaurant or mall.
My thoughts after visiting Rovaniemi and meeting Santa during the Christmas season
As a tourist visiting Rovaniemi, I have to say that I loved it.
The views were breathtaking, with the snow-covered landscapes and the Northern Lights shining brightly in the sky.
The husky sledding was an unforgettable experience. Feeling the wind in my face as the sled glided across the snow-covered terrain with the pack of huskies leading the way.
I also had the opportunity to stay in a glass igloo, which was a unique and memorable experience.
The night views were stunning, with the Northern Lights dancing overhead and the stars shining brightly.
Lordi’s square was also a highlight; seeing the different souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes was fun.
One of the best things about Rovaniemi is that it is a destination that can be enjoyed year-round.
In the summer, you can experience the Midnight Sun; in the winter, you can enjoy the snow and the Northern Lights.
There is always something to see and do in Rovaniemi, whether it be visiting Santa Claus Village, taking a reindeer safari, or exploring the Arctic wilderness.
Overall, Rovaniemi is a beautiful and fun place to visit.
The natural beauty, the friendly people, and the many activities available make it a destination that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an adventure in the Arctic.
Finland is a beautiful country with a rich culture, history, and nature. Rovaniemi is a great place to experience all of this, and I look forward to returning someday.
So, have you ever heard or read that we all have someone who looks like us somewhere in the world?
How spooky would it be if you turn the corner and run into someone who looks a LOT like you?
I think I would freak out a little bit.
Well, this kind of phenomenon doesn’t just happen among us humans, it also happens in the traveling world, what I’m trying to say is that there are tourist spots in the world that are very similar to others located on a totally different continent.
More specifically European and Asian Travel Destinations
Do you want to find out which? Let’s start this list of comparisons now!!! In this article you’ll also find a section on how to get to the destinations mentioned on this post.
1 Eiffel Tower VS Pearl Tower
Eiffel Tower and Pearl Tower comparison
Now before someone wants to kill me for comparing an iconic tourist landmark like the Eiffel Tower, to what some (not me) might call an ugly tower in Shanghai, please just have in mind that all I’m trying to point out is that they’re similar, but not the same.
They are both landmark towers in vibrant cities of their respective countries, Eiffel Tower is 324 meters tall and Pearl Tower is 468 meters tall, Eiffel Tower has 3 floors whereas Pearl Tower has 14, Eiffel Tower was built in the late 1880’s , Pearl Tower is just a baby as its construction finished in 1994
In my very humble opinion, they are both impressive and both deserved to be visited and admired.
I think the best view of Pearl Tower you can get is from The Bund area
2 Arc De Triomphe VS Patuxai
This is one of my favorite and the reason why I came up with this European and Asian Travel Destinations comparison idea.
Arc de Triomphe and Patuxai Comparison
What the Hell is a Patuxai??? If that thought just came to your mind let me help you clear that question.
Patuxai is a monument located in Vientiane, which is a city in Laos, which is a country in South East Asia. This is a war monument dedicated to the brave men and women who fought for freedom against the French imperialism.
Laos Proclaimed independence in 1954
Do you start seeing the similarities? and is not just in structure.
Just like the Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate all of those who fought in the French revolution and in the Napoleonic wars, Patuxai was built with a similar purpose, to commemorate those who died fighting for a cause.
One main difference among these 2 arcs is that due to Laos agitated political environment, Patuxai was never fully finished, the last construction activities concluded in 1968.
The Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in 1836 and has a height of 50 meters, Patuxai is higher just by 5 meters.
Which one is nicer?? Well… even though both are similar in concept-an Arch- Patuxai has a rich and beautiful Laos style decoration which is totally different to the European style decoration of Arc de Triomphe.
Patuxai Decoration Details
3 Big Ben VS Makka
Makka Royal Clock Tower and Big Ben
One is one of the most popular landmarks in England and another one is a not so popular colossal structure in the Middle of Asia. Makka is currently the 3r tallest building in the world and is located in Saudi Arabia.
The Big Ben is 90 meters tall and first opened its doors in 1859, Makka is 601 meters tall and its construction was finished in 2012, is completely new in comparison to Big Ben.
Both clock towers are part of a larger structure surrounding them and tons of tourists visit them every year to admire their beauty,
A little known fact is that the designed of Makka clock tower was made by a German company, so there’s a bit of European influence in its design.
These two are not monuments like the ones I’ve shown you so far on this list, nonetheless, many tourists visit them yearly as they are both the perfect winter getaway family, couples and friends are looking for.
One is located in the Arctic circle in Finland, in Rovaniemi, and the other one in Pyeonchang in South Korea.
Both places have a similar structure and are perfect for practicing winter sports, you can book a cottage cabin in any of them and spend some nice winter holidays with your loved ones.
One thing that definitely sets them apart is that, in Santa Village, you can catch a look of the beautiful northern lights.
I guess the fact that snow covers everything in white helps the 2 places look similar too.
Can you guess which is which?
5 Pisa Tower VS Tiger Hill
Let’s start by talking a little bit about the one you most likely have heard nothing of, Tiger Hill Pagoda.
The Tiger Hill Pagoda is located in Suzhou a city to the west of Shanghai, the construction finished in 961 AD, that is some ancient monument right there, it was built of stone and cement, it has 7 floors but no stairways, people used to go from floor to floor using a ladder, it has a height of 47.5 meters and it’s part of a monastery complex.
Is it also leaning? YES!!! in 1957 archaeologists discovered that half of the pagoda was built on a ledge and the other half on softer land, because of this the pagoda started leaning.
It’s exactly the same reason why the Pisa tower is leaning, it was also built on soft ground.
The tower of Pisa was built as part of a larger church complex and has a height of 57 meters, 8 floors and its construction was finalized in 1372.
So, they are both about the same height, belong to a larger religious complex and they are both leaning, pretty much because of the same reason, aren’t those too many similarities?
6 Suzhou VS Venice
Another favorite one for me in this European and Asian Travel Destinations comparison list.
Suzhou and Venice
Suzhou is located just an hour away by bullet train from Shanghai, which makes it a perfect one day trip if you are staying in the bustling capital of China.
This city has 8 ancient water towns: Nanxun, Tongli, Xitang, Wuzhen, Zhujiajiao, Qibao, Luzhi, and -the one in the picture- Zhouzhuang.
Suzhou has so much to offer, but the main reason attracting tourists to its doors is the canals, the whole system of canals is way bigger than Venice’s, they go through farms, fields and urban landscapes. Suzhou was founded on 514 BC.
It is said that Venice was officially formed in 421 AD, and their first settlers arrived around 400 AD as they were looking for refuge from the hordes of barbarians arriving from the north of Europe.
As we all know Venice is also famous for its canals, in both places you’ll find restaurants, shopping centers, gondola/boat rides and locals living their everyday life.
Bonus
I know the topic of this post is European and Asian Travel Destinations that are similar, and one of the following places doesn’t fall in this category.
But I want to mention it
There is a place in Asia which is very similar to a place in America and some people say is even better, I’m talking about Macau, the Asian counterpart of Las Vegas.
Macau is famous for its casinos and 5 stars hotels full of luxury and eccentricities, the wealth of this place is such that Business Insider once made an article where it states that casinos in Macau make Las Vegas look like a dump.
How to get to these Destinations?
Eiffel Tower
Once you’re in Paris you can
Take the metro and get off at Champ de Mars station, other stations near Eiffel Tower include Bir Hakeim and Ecole Militaire
Pearl Tower
Once you’re in Shanghai you can
Take the metro and get off at Liujiazui station on subway line 2
Arc De Triomphe
Once you’re in Paris you can
Take the metro and get off at Charles de Gaulle Etoile
Patuxai
Once you’re in Vientiane you can
Take a Tuk Tuk, just show them a picture of the Patuxai monument
Big Ben
Once you’re in London you can
Simply use the metro to get to Westminster station
Makkah Clock Tower
Once you’re in Saudi Arabia you can
As to right now the only way to go from King Abdaluzis International Airport to Makkha clock tower is by Taxi which will cost you around 200 SAR
You’d have to do the same – take a taxi- to get from anywhere in the city to Makkah.
Good Stay Elf Spa Resort
Once you’re in Seoul you can
From Seoul or Cheongnyangni station take the KTX to Pyeongchang station, once you are there you can take a taxi to Elf spa resort which will be around 20,000 won.
For more ways to get from Incheon Airport to Elf Spa Resort please click here
Santa Claus Village
Once you’re in Rovaniemi, Finland you can
Simply take a Taxi, is 5 minutes away from the airport.
From the center of the city, you can take a bus or visit as part of a tour.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Once you’re in Pisa you can
If you’re going directly from the airport (Pisa International Airport) you could just take a short 10 minutes taxi ride.
You can also go by metro, get to Pacinotti 1station and from there walk for around 10 minutes.
Once you’re in Suzhou (Jiangzu Province), China you can
Take bus 32,146 or 816, they all go to the park where Huqiu tower is located, for more info click here
Suzhou-Zhouzhuang Water Town
This ancient town is reachable from Shanghai and Suzhou, for more information please click here and here
Venice
From Venice’s Marco Polo airport you can get to downtown by using public buses and taxis that will get you as far as Piazella Roma, from there take a water bus to get deeper into town
Note: Private water taxis are very expensive so try to avoid them, they’ll charge you around 100 EUROS.
So there you have it, destinations around the world that look a bit alike, if you liked this post please let me know in the comments, and also follow me on social media to get more content like this.
