Aurora Lounge Hotel

While Rovaniemi offers plenty of incredible experiences, there are also a few places that might be considered tourist traps. Here’s a heads up for some of these:

Santa Claus Village: This purpose-built village capitalizes on the Santa Claus myth. While it can be fun for families with young children, especially around Christmas time, it can also be crowded and overpriced. You can meet Santa Claus, but expect to pay a fee, and the shops mainly sell mass-produced Christmas souvenirs.

Reindeer rides offered in the city center: These short reindeer rides are often pricey and don’t provide a very authentic experience. If you’re looking for a more genuine interaction with reindeer, consider booking a reindeer herder experience outside the city center.

Visit a reindeer farm: Instead of a short reindeer ride in the city center, visit a reindeer farm and learn about reindeer herding from local Sami people. You might even get the chance to feed the reindeer and learn about their importance to Sami culture.

See the Northern Lights independently: While there are tours for Aurora Borealis viewing, you can also try chasing the lights yourself. Head somewhere outside the city center where there’s less light pollution and find a clear spot to look up at the sky. Here are some tips for photographing the Northern Lights.

Explore Arktikum: This science museum and Arctic experience center offers a great way to learn about Lapland’s history, culture, and natural environment in an interactive way.