There´s so much to see in the capital of Finnish Lapland
Located just 8 kilometres (5 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, the city of Rovaniemi is considered the capital of Finnish Lapland. With a population just shy of 62,000, it is the regional administrative and commercial centre as well as a major hub of tourism and recreation in the area.
Although there has been continuous human settlement in the Rovaniemi area since at least the Stone Age, few of the buildings date back before 1944 as most of the city was destroyed during WWII. When the city was rebuilt, it was designed with input by famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, who planned the city’s footprint in the shape of a reindeer’s head and designed several of its new structures.
Not designed by Aalto, but arguably the most popular attraction of the Rovaniemi area, is the Santa Claus Village. This whimsical place is open year-round for visitors of all ages to meet Santa and his elves. Another notable attraction is the Arktikum, a museum and science centre that hosts exhibitions about the culture, history and modern life in the arctic.
Other popular activities available near Rovaniemi include dog sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, reindeer farm visits and ice fishing.
