Famous Films & Series Shot in Norway
Here is my list of famous films & series that were shot in Norway!
The Hidden North
North European travel guide
Population 65,000 / 66.3 degrees north
Rovaniemi, Finland
Located on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and a major hub for industry, education, and tourism. It is home to the Santa Claus Village – a major reason people visit – but also the excellent Arktikum museum.
About Rovaniemi
Latitude: 66.3 degrees north
Population: 65,000
Rovaniemi coat-of-arms
In this Travel Guide...
Map of Rovaniemi
Uniquely Rovaniemi
Here are some things that you must do and try in Rovaniemi
Village
Santa Claus Village
The Santa Claus Village is a 20 minute bus ride northeast of Rovaniemi. The village is spread over a large site in the forest and has attractions, hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops. Santa’s office is in a pointy-towered, wooden building. You may or may need to queue up to meet Santa depending on the time of year. Taking photos isn’t permitted, but your 3 minute chat is photographed and videos by the elves and you can buy them for 45 EUR. Any mail you send from the Santa Claus Main Post Office will be stamped with a special Arctic Circle/Santa Reindeer Stamp.
Architecture
The Work of Alvar Aalto
The Rovaniemi City Library was designed by the famed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The library was constructed in 1965. Aalto was involved in the reconstruction of the town after World War II. He also designed the city hall, which is close to the library. Directly opposite the library is the Rovaniemi Theatre, also designed by Aalto. These three buildings form the Aalto centre.
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Rovaniemi
Museum
Aktikum
Arktikum is easily one of the best museums in Finland. It focuses on the region of Lapland, including history and Sami culture, as well as the Arctic, including flora, fauna and the Northern Lights. It is a must-see in Rovaniemi. The Arctic section photos on people, wildlife, and climate change. The Lapland Hall covers topics such as the Sami people and reindeer herding, as well as Lapland during World War II.
Museum
Pilke Science Centre
The Pilke Science Centre, located next to Arktikum, is an entertaining museum about Finnish forestry and sciences.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Hiking
Ounasvaara Nature Trail
The Ounasvaara nature trail is a 4.8km long circular nature trail with information plates in Finnish and English. Here you get nice views out to the river and valley. In winter, you can follow the Ounasvaara winter walking trail, which is a 6km long winter track.
Hiking
Arctic Circle Hiking Area
The Arctic Circle Hiking area is 25km from Rovaniemi and is where you can follow different hiking trails. You can choose hikes between 1 hour and 5 hours long.
Skiing
Ounasvaara Ski Resort
The Ounasvaara Ski Resort has 10 varied downhill slopes, a snow park, and an area for beginnings. There are also 200km of cross-country ski tracks around Ounasvaara and Rovaniemi. In summer the ski station operates as a summer bobsled run and a bike park.
Snowmobiling
Safartica
Safartica offers quality excursions around Rovaniemi. Their two hour snowmobile safaris are one of my favourites.
Huskies
Bearhill Husky
Bearhill Husky is one of the top-rated husky farms close to Rovaniemi.
Nature Trips
Lapland Welcome
Lapland Welcome focuses on nature trips, including moose spotting and wilderness photography.
Small Group
Wild About Lapland
Wild About Lapland offers small-group experiences from northern lights chases to ice fishing.
Northern Lights
Beyond Arctic Adventures
Beyond Arctic Adventures are excellent northern lights chasers and offer photography tours.
Road-Trips
Follow our road-trip guides for scenic trips around Rovaniemi
Self-Guided Walks
Rovaniemi on YouTube
Watch our YouTube videos featuring Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi Walking Tour
In March 2024 I filmed a walk around Rovaniemi during the end of the winter season.
Rovaniemi to Saariselka
Follow the scenic drive in winter from Rovaniemi to Saariselka.
History of Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi began to be cultivated around 750BC. The city was first mentioned in documents in 1453, but it was not new then. For hundreds of years, Rovaniemi was a small village whose inhabitants earned their living by agriculture and animal husbandry.
In the 1800s Lapland’s natural resources began to be exploited by Finns, and extensive logging and mine attracted thousands of people to Lapland.
During the Nazi retreat of World War II, Rovaniemi was burned down as part of the scorched earth policy.
Rovaniemi Today
Rovaniemi has been the main centre for Finnish Lapland since the 19th century. Since Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, many government institutions have their offices there. About 10,000 of the inhabitants are students attending either the University of Lapland or the Lapland University of Applied Sciences.
The Finnish Air Force maintains a base (Lapland Air Command) which is situated at the city’s airport.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: Rovaniemi Airport is an international airport with flights to London and Tokyo, amongst other places. There are also regular flights to Helsinki.
Drive: Rovaniemi is on the E75 that runs through Lapland. There are also buses connecting Rovaneimi with other places in Lapland.
Train: There is one daily train between Helsinki and Rovaniemi.
Ferry: No ferry access.
Getting Around
Rovaniemi is easy to get around on foot. If you want to get to the Santa Claus Village, you can take Line 8. Line 9 serves the Ounasvaara ski station.
Shops
Lauri is a unique shop with Sami and Finnish handicrafts, plates, spoons, earrings, kuksa birchwood cups.
The Arktikum museum shop is excellent and has some of the best Lapland-themed souvenirs.
Arctic Design sells a variety of Lapland-made items, from soaps and sauna scents to wallts, bags, earrings and reindeer goods.
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Café & Bar 21 is a popular place for waffles, salads and bao buns, sharing premises with the excellent Mexican Taqueria Yuca.
Quick Bites
Reasonable Restaurants
Roka has communal tables, exposed brick-walls and imaginative bistro-style fare combining local and international ingredients.
High End & Unique Eats
Restaurant Nilli is a Lapland-themed restaurant with food such as moose and bear. Hunting lodge style interiod and good Lapland classics.
Gustav Kitchen and Bar is a fantastic restaurant and specialises in Scandinavian cuisine.
Sky Ounasvaara hotel’s atmosphere restaurant has specialties including wild mushroom risotoo and reindeer.
Montesroa Restaurant has wooden booths and candles and is a well-established steak specialist.
Gustav Kitchen and Bar is a fantastic restaurant and specialises in Scandinavian cuisine.
Places to Stay
Note! The best hotels in Rovaniemi can sell out over one year in advance, so be sure to book well ahead of your visit.
Hostels & Camping
Hostel Café Koti is centrally located with 24 rooms and two dorms in neat, clean Nordic style.
B&Bs & Guesthouses
Guesthouse Borealis is a nice guesthouse in Rovaniemi.
Chains & Mid-Range
Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is located at the end of the pedestrian street and close to the Lapland Safaris office, so is perfectly located.
Click here to view rates & book
Arctic City Hotel has compact rooms but is in an excellent location.
High End & Unique Properties
Arctic Light Hotel is a boutique hotel in the old town hall.
Click here to view rates & book
Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos is a high-end resort 20 minutes drive from Rovaniemi, and here you can choose to stay in a snow hotel or glass igloo.
Sunrise/Sunset & Weather Averages
January
Sunrise: 10:20am
Sunset: 2:32pm
Average Temperature: -11C (13F)
February
Sunrise: 8:27am
Sunset: 4:36pm
Average Temperature: -10C (14F)
March
Sunrise: 6:35am
Sunset: 6:17pm
Average Temperature: -6C (22F)
April
Sunrise: 5:33am
Sunset: 9:03pm
Average Temperature: 0C (32F)
May
Sunrise: 3:30am
Sunset: 11pm
Average Temperature: 6C (43F)
June
Midnight sun from 6 June
Average Temperature: 12C (54F)
July
Sunrise: 2:40am
Sunset: 12:06am
Average Temperature: 15C (60F)
August
Sunrise: 4:51am
Sunset: 9:48pm
Average Temperature: 13C (55F)
September
Sunrise: 6:37am
Sunset: 7:44pm
Average Temperature: 8C (46F)
October
Sunrise: 8:16am
Sunset: 5:47pm
Average Temperature: 1C (34F)
November
Sunrise: 9:11am
Sunset: 2:51pm
Average Temperature: -5C (23F)
December
Sunrise: 11am
Sunset: 1:24pm
Average Temperature: -8C (17F)
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