Rovaniemi Northern Lights tours are always on the “must-do” list for visitors to Finnish Lapland’s capital city, but in the second half of winter, we are really entering one of the best stretches of the winter season.

The shortest winter days are now in the rear-view mirror. From January onwards, winter in Rovaniemi takes on a new rhythm. Daylight stretches a little further each day, and the snowy landscapes of Finnish Lapland become easier to explore.

Christmas magic is taking over in Rovaniemi! With snow on the ground, darkening nights and December just around the corner, now is the time to make sure you are on Santa’s “Nice list” in time for Christmas!

Arktikum (the Arctic Museum) is one of the most distinctive places to visit and a highlight for anyone looking for things to do in Rovaniemi. It serves as both a museum and a science centre, and combines local culture, history and northern landscapes in a way that will help you better understand life in the Arctic region.

Traveling to Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland by land offers more than just a change of scenery. Train and bus travel, slow as it is, forces you to change your pace, how you engage with the landscape and the people along the way, and even your environmental impact. Here’s a quick guide to reaching Rovaniemi via train or road, what to expect, and why slow travel can have an unexpected advantage over flying.