Able for an unforgettable wintry weather journey? Uncover Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. From experiencing a fantastic husky safari on snowy trails to visiting the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle.
Our Finland skilled Hendrik made up our minds to take it sluggish whilst preventing over within the capital of Lapland.
Right here’s his revel in within the superb wintry weather global of Rovaniemi:
We’re lovers of leisurely shuttle. We love to take our time and benefit from the experience. On our method south from Saariselkä, my son and I made up our minds to forestall in Rovaniemi for a more in-depth glance.
In case you’re touring to Lapland, make sure you spend an evening in Rovaniemi. Right here you’ll be able to calm down and benefit from the peace and quiet. Hostel Café Koti is the easiest position for many who love relaxed beds and Nordic design. Situated in the course of town, the whole lot is inside strolling distance!
A stroll alongside the riverside is a should in Rovaniemi. Right here you’ll be able to experience a panoramic view of town.
In case you’re curious and need to be informed extra about tradition, the Arktikum Museum is where for you. Or how a few hike at the (wintry weather) path of Ounasvaara?
For extra motion, check out a fatbike excursion with RollOutdoors otherwise you opt for a sleigh experience, pulled through huskies (extra to that later).
Travelling North and South
When my son and I returned from our journey in snowy Saariselkä, we had an excellent concept: we needed to spend an evening in Rovaniemi to steer clear of the lengthy and laborious public travel south (VR and Matkahuolto must actually coordinate their schedules, proper?).
And what can I say? It used to be simply nice! We had such a lot a laugh and had been utterly impressed through town.
As a substitute of an never-ending shuttle day stuffed with rush and pressure, we took our time and slept overdue on the resort in Saariselkä prior to playing a scrumptious breakfast and catching the 11 am bus to Rovaniemi. We arrived at ease a couple of hours later.
The next day to come we loved every other scrumptious breakfast on the Hostel Café Koti and walked to the teach station with our intensive baggage to catch the teach south.
As you’ll be able to consider, this shuttle plan used to be a lot more relaxed than an afternoon of pressure that began at 6am and didn’t finish till 10pm while you after all arrived house.
So what did we do in Rovaniemi?
The Capital of Lapland
We arrived within the heart of Rovaniemi on our bus from Saariselkä and had been only a quick stroll from our cool hostel, Café Koti.
This gem of a hostel is only some years previous and is situated in an absolutely renovated financial institution development – the previous places of work are actually rooms for singles, doubles, households and dormitories.
The café at the first flooring has excellent beverages and snacks to be had all day and serves a scrumptious breakfast.
After checking in, we put our ski luggage within the previous vault, which now serves as a safe baggage garage space. Then we went upstairs to our room.
I’m generally a tent man, however I will be able to respect excellent design and decor, and our room at Koti – because of this “house” in Finnish. It used to be stunning. The room has herbal fabrics and hues, quite a lot of home windows with nice perspectives, and the beds had been incredible – I used to be beginning to really feel like a little bit nap wouldn’t harm. 🥱
However we needed to discover wintery Rovaniemi and had different plans!
Most effective two mins clear of the primary sq. of Rovaniemi is the Hostel Café Koti.
On our solution to the Indignant Birds Playground, which may be handiest 300 meters from the hostel, we had the chance to after all arrive after a protracted day at the bus. The playground is loose and has quite a lot of cool Indignant Birds themed apparatus – very best even for children who’re extra acquainted with different video games.
After a a laugh consult with to the playground, we took a stroll alongside the river. If you are feeling find it irresistible, you’ll be able to move XC snowboarding right here – there’s a path alongside the river. However we made up our minds to stroll round and benefit from the stunning view of Ounasvaara.
That is really a paradise for many who reside within the town and are on the lookout for out of doors motion.
By way of the way in which, if you are feeling like fatbiking, you must consult with RollOutdoors!
So we persisted in opposition to town, as our hungry bellies craved a scrumptious meal and my son used to be loss of life for a burger. We made up our minds to check out Kauppayhtiö as they had been intended to have the most productive burgers on the town.
We weren’t disillusioned!
Each the vegetarian and the normal burgers had been a deal with for our palates. 🍔
Where is embellished with nice consideration to element and has an off-the-cuff 50’s/60’s punk rock gallery vibe. In case you like this aesthetic, you’ll really feel proper at house at Kauppayhtiö!
Afterwards, we strolled throughout the heart of Rovaniemi at the as far back as Koti. It appears to be like so great, the whole lot is lit up and there are even some Christmas decorations.
It’s evident, since Santa Claus has his place of abode right here, it simply has to seem Christmassy. 🙂
Once we were given again to the hostel, we looked at the sauna after which performed a spherical of Carcassonne within the not unusual room. We’re giant lovers of board video games and it’s all the time a spotlight when a hostel/resort/cafe has a collection of video games to be had.
After a couple of video games, it used to be time to settle into our relaxed beds and after all calm down. The beds had been so inviting and relaxed that we fell asleep in an instant.
Our sleep used to be deep and restful, and after we aroused from sleep the following morning, we felt recent and alert. Then again, our hungry stomachs had been crying out! With out hesitation, we made our solution to the fascinating café the place we’d experience breakfast.
Where used to be crowded, as breakfast draws now not handiest hostel visitors, but in addition many locals. This on my own is an indication that we had been in a great spot for a scrumptious meal!
For vegans, the breakfast choices had been a little bit restricted, however in spite of everything I used to be complete and glad – and the espresso used to be actually scrumptious, an actual plus.
After dinner, we performed a couple of board video games and at ease within the not unusual room prior to heading to the teach station to move again south to Vaasa.
Even supposing it will appear to outsiders that we didn’t do a lot in Rovaniemi, we had been positive that our plan to discover town, calm down, consume neatly, and make our travel south relaxing used to be proper heading in the right direction. We were given what we needed and are more than happy with our time in Rollo.
In case you’re touring to Lapland through public transportation, we propose spending two days within the south. It’s all the time price visiting Rovaniemi and finding the variety of town. Hostel Café Koti within the town heart is a smart position to stick. We can indisputably prevent right here once more on our subsequent north-south travel.
We like to take our time and shuttle at ease!
In case you preferred this newsletter, please reinforce me, Hendrik, on Patreon (and also you’ll get nice bargain codes from our companions – you should save as much as 20% in your subsequent acquire!)
Additional Commute Dudes Guidelines: Husky Safari on a Snowy Path
You’ll be able to additionally revel in an unforgettable journey at a husky safari in Finland, through riding your personal canine sled workforce throughout the picturesque forests. Whether or not you’re the motive force or a at ease observer at the sled, benefit from the breathtaking wonderful thing about the snow-covered panorama.
Consult with an area husky farm and be informed all concerning the breeding and coaching of those fantastic Arctic animals. Find out how they’re educated to race and paintings within the wooded area.
After a brief briefing, you’ll embark on a thrilling 10 km experience throughout the Finnish wintry weather panorama. Really feel the joys of racing throughout the snow together with your workforce of sled canines.
Don’t overlook to seize this unforgettable second and benefit from the stunning surroundings. After the experience, heat up with a sizzling juice and Finnish gingerbread – the locals’ favourite wintry weather snack.
Pay attention to attention-grabbing tales about huskies and immerse your self in Finnish tradition and traditions. That is an journey you’ll consider for a very long time.
Just right to grasp
They’ll pick out you up and take you for your lodging inside 15 km from the middle of Rovaniemi. Period of the excursion is 3.5 hours.
An English talking information (different languages on request: German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese language) will take you on a ten km husky sled experience. You’re going to additionally consult with a husky farm and experience Finnish snacks and sizzling beverages. Perfect of all, you’ll be supplied with wintry weather clothes – overalls, boots and gloves.
Necessary to grasp: Departure instances might range relying on season and availability. It’s best to test with the excursion operator. On weekdays and Saturdays they want at least 2 folks for the excursion. On Sundays and vacations they want at least 4 folks. If the minimal collection of contributors isn’t reached, the excursion is also canceled or postponed. And please be aware: Youngsters beneath 12 should be accompanied through a paying grownup. You’ll be able to cancel as much as 24 hours upfront and obtain a complete refund.
Guide the excursion at once beneath:
Additional Commute Dudes Guidelines: Solution to consult with the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle
There may be the approach to move on a adventure to a spot the place Christmas is well known all yr spherical – Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi.
Right here you will have the danger to fulfill Santa Claus in particular person and pass the Arctic Circle to take distinctive memento footage. What would a consult with to Santa Claus be with out greetings for your family members? Ship your vacation greetings at once from Santa’s submit administrative center.
If that’s now not sufficient, you’ll additionally have the ability to rise up shut and private with the reindeer that lend a hand Santa together with his tasks. In your solution to the Arctic Circle, you’ll move the painted white line that marks the border of the Arctic area. Whilst you pass this line, you’ll obtain an legitimate certificates that you’ll be able to proudly show.
However prior to you head again for your lodging, a culinary deal with awaits you: a Lapland lunch buffet. Let your self be tempted through the regional specialties and benefit from the distinctive environment of Santa’s Village. An unforgettable revel in that may stick with you for a very long time.
Just right to grasp
The period of this excursion is 3.5 hours and you’ll be able to cancel as much as 24 hours upfront for a complete refund. The excursion gives you the likelihood to be picked up and transported very easily out of your lodging inside 15 km (riding distance) from the middle of Rovaniemi. You’re going to be greeted through an English talking information who too can talk different languages equivalent to German, French, Italian, Spanish or Chinese language upon request.
A scrumptious lunch buffet awaits you. The spotlight of the excursion is a gathering with Santa Claus, which is able to go away you with unforgettable recollections. And also you’ll obtain a certificates to end up you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle.
Guide the excursion at once beneath:
