Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland or well known as Rovaniemi the hometown of Santa Claus. From Childhood time, we know that Santa Claus is one person that the kids remember during Christmas. How much more, to know that you are visiting his hometown? My kids were super excited when they heard that we are going to Lapland!
I was the first time visiting Finnish Lapland way back 2006. It was my first summer in Finland and I was with my aunties together with their husbands, when we went for a driving trip to the northern part of Sweden & Norway.
On our way back to Finland we went to Rovaniemi the hometown of Santa Claus and of course we visited Santa Park. I was so in love with the place and I promised to myself I will come back in there. Many years had passed due to studies, work and then having my family, I haven’t got the time to visit Rovaniemi again. Until last year my husband got his work in Lapland and we went with him for a week holiday before the kid’s school starts and again during winter holiday for two weeks.
What are the places to go with the family in Rovaniemi?
There are so many places to visit, this is a very famous international tourist destination. There is so much international tourist in there whenever we go or pass by the area.
So where did we go with the family in the city? We went in the place as I mentioned earlier in two seasons.
Santa Park the Home Cavern of Santa Claus
Late summer we went to SantaPark the Home Cavern of Santa Claus. Just right in when you enter the place, underneath the ground, you will feel that the atmosphere was changed. It was a totally different world, its like magic! Christmas music is on and the lights are so colourful! It’s like being a child again.
There was an elf performance that you will definitely WOW with their performance! Then you can hop-in to the magic train where you can see all the elves toy kingdom. There is an elf school where you can have a certificate in the end and a gift from them after finishing the course.
A chance to have your very own gingerbread cookie decoration in a magical house. Meeting the ice princess and its ice room is super cool and cold, but luckily there are jackets for everyone to borrow and use.
Of course, the highlight is to meet Santa Claus and have a picture with him. He was very friendly and interesting. There is also a very nice and for the very little kids a perfect angry birds playground with a computer where there is also the angry birds game.
Restaurants and souvenirs are also available there. It was really fun that we spent many hours there. Bigger kids also had joined later on the surprise elf activity.
When we bought the family ticket, there was a combination of the trip to Ranua Zoo. This combined ticket was a really great offer and cheap.
Lumberjacks Candle Bridge
During this winter holiday, we drove around the city first. Did you know that they also have a bridge named Lumberjacks Candle Bridge or Jätkänkyntila which becomes the symbol of Rovaniemi? Even before I haven’t visited this place yet, I have seen already this bridge pictures which I can easily recognize so I wanted to see the place.
Shopping and centre tour
Then we decided to have some shopping and have a walk around the centre. When we were about to be back to the car, just behind the shopping mall, my son noticed the playground. So we spent some time there with the kids.
Santa Claus Village
Lastly, we drove to Santa Claus Village. We have been there already in the summertime but this winter its a must to be there. It is probably even more magical whenChristmasstmas time. The christmas lights are everywhere, lights are so beautiful and it makes life to this winter wonderland. When the surroundings are dark but snow everywhere, the Christmas lights make it magical.
Moomin Snow Castle
We didn’t manage to visit one tourist destination there which is the Moomin Snow Castle this year. They just closed the week before we were there because the weather has been very warm so they had to close earlier than usual, but they are building it every year so must visit that before March at least.
The family had fun and a great time in Rovaniemi the hometown of Santa Claus. Kids said they can’t wait to visit there again. If you are staying for a night, you must include the idea of witnessing the famous Northern Lights!
There are many more to do there, like a husky ride but we didn´t due to the limited schedule and our youngest is too small for that.
If you like visiting Northern part of Finland, check out our family travel blog about Salla Reindeer Park or our day trip in Kemi Snow Castle. More blog post is coming about our travel in the North.