RovaniemiSights

Other sights in Rovaniemi

  1. Zoo

    The small town of Ranua is famous for its excellent zoo, which focuses almost entirely on Finnish animals, although there are also polar bears and musk oxen from further north. A boardwalk takes you on a 2.5km circuit past all the creatures, which include minks and stoats, impressive owls and eagles, wild reindeer, elk, a big bear paddock (they hibernate from November to March), lynx and wolverines. Apart from the animals, there’s plenty to do for kids, with horse rides, a minikart circuit, pettable domestic animals and little assault courses. Ice-cream stops dot the route, and there’s a cafe and lunch restaurant.

    reviewed

  2. Santa Claus Village

    Built right on top of the Arctic Circle marker is the ‘official’ Santa Claus Village. There’s a mixture of humdrum souvenir stands and classier shops, and it’s just about the best spot to buy Sámi handicrafts. Tour groups have great fun crossing the line painted on the asphalt in order to be awarded their Arctic Circle certificates (€4.20).

    reviewed

  3. A

    Rovaniemi Church

    Completed in 1950, this church replaced the one destroyed during WWII. The impressively large fresco behind the altar depicts a Christ figure emerging from Lappish scenery. A work of Lennart Segerstråle, it has two sides, one populated by the faithful, the other by brawling drunkards and ravening wolves.

    reviewed

  4. Napapiirin Huskypuisto

    Napapiirin Huskypuisto is near Santa’s grotto and allows you to meet dogs.

    reviewed

  5. Napapiirin Porofarmi

    Napapiirin Porofarmi is a reindeer farm 8km north of town.

    reviewed