Rovaniemi Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Rovaniemi [1] is the capital of Finnish Lapland.
Contents |
Understand
Razed to the ground by the Germans in the final days of World War II in 1944, today's Rovaniemi is a featureless expanse of concrete blocks, albeit one built on a slightly whimsical city plan intentionally shaped like reindeer antlers.
The eponymous lead singer of the unconventional winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2006, masked monsters Lordi [2], originally hails from Rovaniemi. Because it's traditional for the following year's contest to be held in the country of the most recent winner, there is an outside chance that Rovaniemi will be host to the 2007 ESC. (More likely it will be a larger and more accessible city elsewhere in Finland.)
Get in
By plane
Rovaniemi Airport [3] (RVN) is the largest in northern Finland and also fields a limited number of international flights, mostly to northern Russian destinations like Murmansk. There are also direct charters at Christmas time.
By train
Rovaniemi is the terminus of most trains from the south. The line only extends to Kemijärvi a little further northeast. The journey from Helsinki takes 9-12 hours and is reasonably comfortable in a sleeper. You can also take your car with you.
By bus
Goldline [4] (Finnish site: [5]) frequents Rovaniemi.
Get around
The Rollaattori city guide that can be bought from the railway station, Suomalainen kirjakauppa-bookstore, City hall, Roifoto etc. is a must for younger or younger-minded travellers. Rollaattori is made by few locals who got tired of existing brochures, so they made their own. Rollaattori guides you to places which are meaningful to local people too, but which are not mentioned in "ordinary" guidebooks like Lonely Planet or official Rovaniemi city guides.
See
Most tourists come to Rovaniemi for precisely one thing:
- Santa Claus Village, 8 km north of Rovaniemi and right on the Arctic Circle [6] is a tourist trap if there ever was one - but few tourists can miss the chance to meet Santa himself. Apart from meeting the man, there are also other attractions like small-scale sledding hills for kids. The village hosts also several safari companies organising different types of activities. During dark times the village has nicely lit ice sculptures. Bus number 8 goes from town to the village.
The rebuilding of Rovaniemi after World War II was largely planned by famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto - particularly its reindeer antler layout. He also designed the Administrative and Cultural centre which includes the Lappia Hall (culture and congress centre), public library and city hall.
- Arktikum. Pohjoisranta 4, tel. 016 322 3260, [7]. One of the best museums and science centers in Finland, focusing on life in Lapland through the ages. Admission €11, open 10 AM-5 PM daily (but closed Monday in winter).
- Log Train Terminal, about a kilometer west from the train station. Might be worth of seeing during dark times, as the cranes that lift the logs have lights on their arms. Climb to the opposite hill and sit on the fence for a nice view.
- German Soldier Cemetery, Norvajärvi (19 km northeast from Rovaniemi). Constructed of large stone blocks and located virtually in the middle of nowhere it might be of interest to some. During autumn one can eat berries on the way.
- 14 devil's churns, including three very deep ones, can be found from Sukulanrakka slopes near the island of Rautiosaari, (22 km south from Rovaniemi, turn left from the road 926).
Do
Various arctic safari companies, many of which are on the west bank of the river, can arrange all sorts of cold and snowy activities like snowmobile safaris and dog sledding.
Learn
Despite being best known as a superficial themepark-like attraction for charter tourists around Christmastime, the town has the EU's northernmost university:
- University of Lapland, [8]. Slightly less than 5000 students, of which ~200 are international exchange students.
Buy
Eat
A traditional meal is sautéed reindeer (poronkäristys), consisting of reindeer meat cut in slices and stewed on a frying pan with butter and water. A "bowl" of mashed potatoes is made on the plate and filled with stewed meat. This is garnished with cranberry jam and slices of pickled cucumber. It's worth trying out once at least - you should be able to find this dish in most restaurants around town.
Budget
University canteens offer cheap alternatives (€2.5-5 per meal) but the meals are served only around noon.
- Rotko, Faculty of Art & Design (red-yellowish building). University canteen conveniently located right opposite the railway station.
The restaurant at the railway station is not bad or expensive either. Ask for student pizzas. In the city center next to Hotel Santa Claus are two decent kebab joints.
- Meidän Kebab
- Haruno Pizza & Kebab. Also serves pizza.
On the main central square (Sampoaukio) there is often a fisherman selling freshly catched and fried smallfish.
Drink
- Nite Train, right next to Hotel Santa Claus. A popular high-school-age joint.
- Tivoli, a few hundred meters from Hotel Santa Claus to the same direction as Nite Train. The Student Union is in charge of the Student Union. It Attracts a bit more older crowd and has occasional live acts. Its Beach Party in February is famous among Students througout Finland.
- Pub Tupsu, located in the vicinity of both Rovaniemi Theatre and University Theatre. A favorite of bohemian art school kids and middle-aged alcoholics. Has good happy hour beer offers.
- Paha Kurki, located opposite to the safari company offices near the river. Notable rock-ish beerhouse.
- Doris, next door to the Restaurant Fransmanni, next to all the safari companies. Fashionable crowd, safari guides and hotel guests.
Sleep
Budget
- UniHostel, Ratakatu 6 (booking office), tel. +35816347950, [9]. Run by the university housing association, it offers cheap accommodation about three kilometers away from the city center.
- Camping site is on the other side of the river and has a nice view of the city.
- There is a cheap small boarding house in the immediate vicinity of the railway station. From the railway station, go trough the yard of the red-yellowish university building, find a small walking road that goes uphill. Turn left to the bigger road and walk 25 meters.
Mid-range
Splurge
- Rantasipi Pohjanhovi, Pohjanpuistikko 2, tel. +358-1633711, [10]. Four star hotel in the centre of town. Has not just the usual saunas, but a swimming pool too.
Get out
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