Thursday, December 12, 2024

Uncover Rovaniemi: Sluggish Journey within the Coronary heart of Finnish Lapland

[ad_1]

Prepared for an unforgettable winter journey? Uncover Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. From experiencing an unbelievable husky safari on snowy trails to visiting the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle.

Our Finland professional Hendrik determined to take it gradual whereas stopping over within the capital of Lapland.

Right here’s his expertise within the great winter world of Rovaniemi:

We’re followers of leisurely journey. We prefer to take our time and benefit from the journey. On our manner south from Saariselkä, my son and I made a decision to cease in Rovaniemi for a better look.

Should you’re touring to Lapland, you should definitely spend an evening in Rovaniemi. Right here you’ll be able to loosen up and benefit from the peace and quiet. Hostel Café Koti is the proper place for many who love snug beds and Nordic design. Positioned in the midst of town, all the pieces is inside strolling distance!

A stroll alongside the riverside is a should in Rovaniemi. Right here you’ll be able to get pleasure from a panoramic view of town.

Should you’re curious and need to study extra about tradition, the Arktikum Museum is the place for you. Or how a couple of hike on the (winter) path of Ounasvaara?

For extra motion, strive a fatbike tour with RollOutdoors otherwise you go for a sleigh journey, pulled by huskies (extra to that later).

Rollo Dusk - Rovaniemi in Finland.
Rollo Nightfall – Rovaniemi in Finland.

Travelling North and South

When my son and I returned from our journey in snowy Saariselkä, we had an excellent concept: we wished to spend an evening in Rovaniemi to keep away from the lengthy and exhausting public journey south (VR and Matkahuolto ought to actually coordinate their schedules, proper?).

And what can I say? It was simply nice! We had a lot enjoyable and had been completely impressed by town.

Winter at the Rovaniemi Railway Station in Finland.
Rovaniemi Railway Station in Finland.

As an alternative of an countless journey day stuffed with rush and stress, we took our time and slept late on the lodge in Saariselkä earlier than having fun with a scrumptious breakfast and catching the 11 am bus to Rovaniemi. We arrived relaxed just a few hours later.

The following day we loved one other scrumptious breakfast on the Hostel Café Koti and walked to the prepare station with our intensive baggage to catch the prepare south.

As you’ll be able to think about, this journey plan was way more snug than a day of stress that began at 6am and didn’t finish till 10pm whenever you lastly arrived residence.

So what did we do in Rovaniemi?

Minecraft UNO
Minecraft UNO

The Capital of Lapland

We arrived within the middle of Rovaniemi on our bus from Saariselkä and had been only a quick stroll from our cool hostel, Café Koti.

This gem of a hostel is just a few years previous and is situated in a totally renovated financial institution constructing – the previous workplaces at the moment are rooms for singles, doubles, households and dormitories.

The café on the primary flooring has good drinks and snacks accessible all day and serves a scrumptious breakfast.

Cafe and reception of the Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Cafe and reception of the Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.

After checking in, we put our ski baggage within the previous vault, which now serves as a safe baggage storage space. Then we went upstairs to our room.

I’m often a tent man, however I can respect good design and decor, and our room at Koti – which implies “residence” in Finnish. It was stunning. The room has pure supplies and colours, a number of home windows with nice views, and the beds had been unbelievable – I used to be beginning to really feel like just a little nap wouldn’t harm. 🥱

However we wished to discover wintery Rovaniemi and had different plans!

Room at the Hostel Cafe Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Room on the Hostel Cafe Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Solely two minutes away from the primary sq. of Rovaniemi is the Hostel Café Koti.

On our option to the Indignant Birds Playground, which can be solely 300 meters from the hostel, we had the chance to lastly arrive after a protracted day on the bus. The playground is free and has a number of cool Indignant Birds themed tools – good even for teenagers who’re extra acquainted with different video games.

After a enjoyable go to to the playground, we took a stroll alongside the river. Should you really feel prefer it, you’ll be able to go XC snowboarding right here – there’s a path alongside the river. However we determined to stroll round and benefit from the stunning view of Ounasvaara.

That is actually a paradise for many who dwell within the metropolis and are searching for out of doors motion.

By the best way, in the event you really feel like fatbiking, you need to go to RollOutdoors!

Rovaniemi in Finland.
Rovaniemi in Finland.

So we continued in the direction of town, as our hungry bellies craved a scrumptious meal and my son was dying for a burger. We determined to strive Kauppayhtiö as they had been purported to have the most effective burgers on the town.

We weren’t disenchanted!

Each the vegetarian and the normal burgers had been a deal with for our palates. 🍔

The place is adorned with nice consideration to element and has an off-the-cuff 50’s/60’s punk rock gallery vibe. Should you like this aesthetic, you’ll really feel proper at residence at Kauppayhtiö!

Burger at Kauppayhtiö in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Burger at Kauppayhtiö in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Afterwards, we strolled by means of the middle of Rovaniemi on the best way again to Koti. It seems so good, all the pieces is lit up and there are even some Christmas decorations.

It’s apparent, since Santa Claus has his residence right here, it simply has to look Christmassy. 🙂

Central Square of Rovaniemi in Finland.
Central Sq. of Rovaniemi in Finland.

After we bought again to the hostel, we checked out the sauna after which performed a spherical of Carcassonne within the widespread room. We’re huge followers of board video games and it’s all the time a spotlight when a hostel/lodge/cafe has a collection of video games accessible.

After just a few video games, it was time to settle into our snug beds and eventually loosen up. The beds had been so inviting and comfy that we fell asleep straight away.

Sauna of the Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Sauna of the Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Our sleep was deep and restful, and after we awoke the subsequent morning, we felt recent and alert. Nevertheless, our hungry stomachs had been crying out! With out hesitation, we made our option to the charming café the place we might get pleasure from breakfast.

The place was crowded, as breakfast attracts not solely hostel company, but additionally many locals. This alone is an indication that we had been in an incredible place for a scrumptious meal!

Breakfast at Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi in Finland.
Breakfast at Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi in Finland.

For vegans, the breakfast choices had been a bit restricted, however ultimately I used to be full and happy – and the espresso was actually scrumptious, an actual plus.

After dinner, we performed just a few board video games and relaxed within the widespread room earlier than heading to the prepare station to move again south to Vaasa.

Common room at Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Widespread room at Hostel Café Koti in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Though it could appear to outsiders that we didn’t do a lot in Rovaniemi, we had been certain that our plan to discover town, loosen up, eat properly, and make our journey south stress-free was proper heading in the right direction. We bought what we wished and are very pleased with our time in Rollo.

Should you’re touring to Lapland by public transportation, we advocate spending two days within the south. It’s all the time price visiting Rovaniemi and discovering the range of town. Hostel Café Koti within the metropolis middle is a superb place to remain. We will certainly cease right here once more on our subsequent north-south journey.

We like to take our time and journey relaxed!

Should you appreciated this text, please assist me, Hendrik, on Patreon (and also you’ll get nice low cost codes from our companions – you can save as much as 20% in your subsequent buy!)

Further Journey Dudes Ideas: Husky Safari on a Snowy Path

You can even expertise an unforgettable journey at a husky safari in Finland, by driving your individual canine sled staff by means of the picturesque forests. Whether or not you’re the motive force or a relaxed observer on the sled, benefit from the breathtaking great thing about the snow-covered panorama.

Go to an area husky farm and study all concerning the breeding and coaching of those unbelievable Arctic animals. Find out how they’re educated to race and work within the forest.

After a brief briefing, you’ll embark on an thrilling 10 km journey by means of the Finnish winter panorama. Really feel the fun of racing by means of the snow along with your staff of sled canines.

Don’t overlook to seize this unforgettable second and benefit from the stunning surroundings. After the journey, heat up with a sizzling juice and Finnish gingerbread – the locals’ favourite winter snack.

Take heed to attention-grabbing tales about huskies and immerse your self in Finnish tradition and traditions. That is an journey you’ll bear in mind for a very long time.

Husky sleigh dog
Husky sleigh canine

Good to know

They’ll choose you up and take you to your lodging inside 15 km from the middle of Rovaniemi. Length of the tour is 3.5 hours.

An English talking information (different languages on request: German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese language) will take you on a ten km husky sled journey. Additionally, you will go to a husky farm and luxuriate in Finnish snacks and sizzling drinks. Better of all, you can be supplied with winter clothes – overalls, boots and gloves.

Vital to know: Departure instances might range relying on season and availability. It’s best to test with the tour operator. On weekdays and Saturdays they want a minimal of two individuals for the tour. On Sundays and holidays they want a minimal of 4 individuals. If the minimal variety of individuals shouldn’t be reached, the tour could also be canceled or postponed. And please be aware: Youngsters underneath 12 should be accompanied by a paying grownup. You’ll be able to cancel as much as 24 hours prematurely and obtain a full refund.

Ebook the tour instantly beneath:

Further Journey Dudes Ideas: Possibility to go to the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle

There’s additionally the choice to go on a journey to a spot the place Christmas is widely known all 12 months spherical – Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi.

Right here you’ve got the prospect to satisfy Santa Claus in particular person and cross the Arctic Circle to take distinctive memento images. What would a go to to Santa Claus be with out greetings to your family members? Ship your vacation greetings instantly from Santa’s publish workplace.

If that’s not sufficient, you’ll even have the chance to stand up shut and private with the reindeer that assist Santa along with his duties. In your option to the Arctic Circle, you’ll cross the painted white line that marks the border of the Arctic area. Once you cross this line, you’ll obtain an official certificates you could proudly show.

However earlier than you head again to your lodging, a culinary deal with awaits you: a Lapland lunch buffet. Let your self be tempted by the regional specialties and benefit from the distinctive environment of Santa’s Village. An unforgettable expertise that can stick with you for a very long time.

Santa Claus in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Santa Claus in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Good to know

The length of this tour is 3.5 hours and you’ll cancel as much as 24 hours prematurely for a full refund. The tour provides you the chance to be picked up and transported comfortably out of your lodging inside 15 km (driving distance) from the middle of Rovaniemi. You can be greeted by an English talking information who also can communicate different languages akin to German, French, Italian, Spanish or Chinese language upon request.

A scrumptious lunch buffet awaits you. The spotlight of the tour is a gathering with Santa Claus, which is able to depart you with unforgettable recollections. And also you’ll obtain a certificates to show you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle.

Ebook the tour instantly beneath:

  • Hendrik Morkel

    Presenter and Videographer – Born in Germany Hendrik moved to Finland over 20 years in the past, the place he hikes, skis and climbs. He likes sustainable journey and likes to go on by-fair-means adventures around the globe, which he paperwork along with his digital camera and pen.



[ad_2]

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles