Rovaniemi Between Culture and Nature

Rovaniemi combines insights into the culture and history of Lapland with nature experiences in the city and its surrounding area. Between museums, theatre, hiking trails and birdwatching, you can choose the focus of your stay. When choosing a holiday rental, it is particularly useful to consider whether you mainly want to explore cultural attractions, spend time outdoors or combine both.

Culture and History of Lapland

Arktikum is a science centre and museum that explores northern nature, culture and history. The Regional Museum of Lapland is also housed in the same building. Arktikum is also located beside the Ounasjoki and is within walking distance of Rovaniemi city centre. If you plan to walk there from the city centre, you can take this into account when choosing a holiday rental in Rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi’s present-day church also makes a clear historical statement: it was completed in 1950. The large “Source of Life” fresco dominates the space behind the altar; Professor Lennart Segerstråle created it in 1951. At Korundi House of Culture, two more cultural attractions share a roof: it is home to the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. At Korundi’s art workshop, children can craft, draw and create their own works of art.

The Aalto Centre consists of the Town Hall, the City Library and Lappia Hall. Lappia Hall is home to the Rovaniemi Theatre, the Regional Theatre of Lapland. During a theatre season, it presents up to several dozen different performances. The Pilke Science Centre complements the cultural themes with exhibitions on current forestry issues.

Those interested in earlier ways of life and work can find different perspectives in the museums. The Rovaniemi Local History Museum illustrates life in the home and outbuildings of a prosperous farmer about 150 years ago. In a storehouse, it presents several collections on traditional crafts and food production. The Forestry Museum of Lapland focuses on work and life in Lapland’s forests from the 1870s to the 1950s. It comprises nine original museum buildings, each telling a story of work and life under the harsh conditions of the 19th century.

Trails and Nature in the City

There are three nature trails, a winter hiking route and a longer outdoor route within the city. The Mäntyvaara–Pohtimo route is a more challenging hiking trail, 27 km long. This distance is a useful guide for anyone wishing to include a longer day hike in their trip; you can plan for a shorter or longer walk as a focus of your stay.

Nearby, the Ounasvaara Winter Trail is marked and equipped with information boards. The Ounasvaara Nature Trail is a 4.9 km circular route for hiking and Nordic walking. The two trails offer different ways to spend time outdoors: one is a winter hiking trail with markers and information boards, while the other is a circular route with a specified length and designated for hiking and Nordic walking.

There are also specific places for birdwatching: within the city, observation towers are located at Harjulampi, Koivusaari and Niskanperä. Nearby, the shores of Koivusaari in the Ounasjoki delta provide shelter for nesting and migrating birds. So, in addition to museums and trails, the area offers opportunities for nature enthusiasts to observe wildlife. Which of these themes you want to shape your stay can also help guide your choice of holiday rental and the starting point you want for planning your trip.

If you would like to include other places in your selection, you can also discover Meltaus.

For the wider travel overview: Rovaniemi.