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 all you have to do is pay.
But is it worth it?
Short answer is no.
The short answer is no.
You can book things on your own and save money.
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
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Day 1-Arrival and northern lights snowmobile excursion
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On Day 2-Dog sledding and traditional Finnish sauna
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Day 3-Visit to a Reindeer Farm and Santa Claus Village
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For Day 4- Open Day (Really?) and evening at the arctic snow hotel
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Day 5- Departure
They remark this as included in the PARTIALLY (what does that even mean?) guided tour.
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Return airport transfers in Rovaniemi, Accommodation for 4 nights in Rovaniemi, with breakfast included
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Northern lights snowmobile excursion
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Visit a reindeer farm and the Santa Claus Village
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Dog sledding excursion
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3-course dinner at the Arctic Snow Hotel
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Loan of additional outwear and safety gear
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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
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On Day 1, Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
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Day 2 Husky Safari Excursion
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For Day 3 Open day (There we go again) and Aurora Borealis Snowshoeing
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Day 4 Open day (Again) and Aurora bubble overnight stay
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Day 5 Transfer to the airport
This is what they emphasize as being included in the tour
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Return airport transfers
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3 nights accommodation in a Wilderness double room
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1-night accommodation in an Aurora Bubble
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Half Board (Breakfast and dinner daily)
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Aurora Borealis Snowshoeing 2.5 hours with a guide
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Husky Sledding Excursion 3 hours with a guide, includes lunch
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Winter Clothing for the duration of your stay (overalls, boots, mittens, and hats)
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24-hour emergency service
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ATOL Protection
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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.
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The hotel room they put them in was old and small
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Hotel service was terrible (Arctic city hotel)
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No pick up from the hotel for the activities they arranged for them
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The one Aurora tour the company booked for them was very early (statistically, Auroras have a higher likelihood of appearing after 11 pm)
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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.
It’s not the snow hotel, but it was great.
Now for the tours, I used the services of Laplandwelcome. fi
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Auroras Northern lights trip by car and on foot (Photographing tour)
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Visit a Reindeer farm by snowmobile sleigh
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Go to a Husky farm by snowmobile sleigh
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Visit Santa Claus Village
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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.
Similar Travel Destinations in Europe and Asia.
But if you have no interest in that, you could stick to cheaper options like convenience store food to not break the bank.
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.
Where to Stay in Rovaniemi?
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.
If you want to have dinner at excellent restaurants, wine, and cocktails, and buy souvenirs and chocolates, you’ll need a budget of US$ 2,856.65 for 6 days, but you can go way cheaper if you only stick to the basics.
It’ll be super cold during winter, so ensure you have all the gear you need. You’ll love the northern lights.
Things to do during winter in Rovaniemi A post only about fun activities in the Finnish Lapland
