I know of wearied travellers who eschew the experience because it’s highly touristy and everything’s ridiculously overpriced and to be perfectly honest, I do not disagree with any of that. Personally if I were from a neighbouring Nordic country with the same reindeer and the same snow and the same subzero temperatures, I would probably be rolling my eyes at the entire spectacle myself. However, as fate would have it, I am seated on another line on the globe altogether- more specifically, the Equator Line- so you can imagine how (and why) all this was truly a Heaven-on-Earth moment for me. I am so personally deeply obsessed with Christmas so I cannot even begin to wonder just how to break down this place to you without bias. I love how vast the Village is (like, it is literally a village) made up of all these little shoppes and log cabins and park trails; and I definitely love the giant trees and fairy lights and campfires and its very festive spirit all round. Every tree’s a Christmas tree, and every day’s Christmas; and it all gets twice more magical once the snow starts to fall. Here the line is marked, and you can literally cross in (or out) of the Arctic Circle and get a certificate for it too (for a fee, of course). You can also virtually tick off your entire Rovaniemi check list from within the confines of these grounds, starting from accommodation in its cabins and igloos, to your more standard Arctic Circle laundry list including reindeer sleds, husky rides, Northern Lights, ice castles, snowbiling, and more. The one thing you can do here that you cannot do anywhere else though, is write a letter to your loved ones (or even yourself) and post it back via the North Pole post. There’s one that mails out immediately, and one that holds your post until closer to Christmas. It’s all very immersive and whimsical.

If you dont have kids, this place has limited appeal. Visiting the Santa is "free", but no pictures are allowed inside and then they want to charge €30+ for a picture, €45 if you want it digital. The Arctic Circle line is cool though.

We spent the weekend in a lodge,snow overnight and then a fantastic day visiting Santa 🎅🏻 and his pets . Including reindeer of course. Toasted marshmallows. Tried everything in Santaland, elves training,gingerbread decoration,watching a superb show. My grandsons were enchanted.

not that much to do here if you're a poor student like us. The whole village and seeing Santa is free but only after waiting for 45mins (if you're here out of season) you learn you can't take photos with him - they take it for u and it's 30€/photo. Santa's pets (a zoo) is 15€, the reindeer and other anaimals are lovely. Otherwise not much to see if your budget is low; a 4 hour visit is definitely enough.

Lovely village ☃️😍 It was such a pleasure to meet Santa and his adorable pets. The atmosphere is magical and full of Christmas spirit! I’ll get back for sure!

Meeting Santa Claus excited everyone regardless of age. We were looking forward to it. I don't want to believe that you can enjoy talking to Santa so much. He can even thank you in Polish. Despite the visit to the village at 27 degrees ( July), I remember my stay exceptionally. The photo with Santa is one of the most valuable in my photographic collection of memories. Accommodation is very comfortable. I hope to visit the village in winter someday. Friends had a surprise - they received Christmas greeting letters from Santa Claus himself. It's a brilliant idea. I'm glad I was able to give them such pleasure. Unforgettable and interesting memories and souvenirs. Poor Santa Claus.. I had a high fever later that day, I hope I didn't get infected with anything.

A must go place if you are ever in Rovaniemi unless perhaps you're a resident!! In any case, you visit Rovaniemi because of Santa Claus Village right? We went there on a freezing day when the temperature dips to minus 4.. Freezingly cold ❄️ and we ended up running from one indoor attraction to another indoor place to enjoy the warming.. Outdoor activities are really for those willing to brave the cold. Reindeer rides, husky carriages, horses and snow sports. Nice place overall. Lots of souvenir shops all with similar items but prices can be different so be smart. Must do - standing at the Arctic circle line and seeing yourself on YouTube.

We had a good few hours here & learnt a lot about Finlands history & interesting Arctic exhibits. I also recommend this area as a good spot to see the Aurora if the conditions are good. Walk down to the lakes edge & although there is light pollution we still saw some great Aurora activity.

I was looking for something to fill up our last day in Rovaniemi and fortunately saw this museum. We spent a few hours in two exhibits. The science area had so many hands on things to do. I had to drag my preteen out because we were running out of times it was such a great time, and I liked how they blended culture, geography, science and more into a seamless Arctic exhibit. Then we went to the more historical exhibit and my son was less in. No big deal… we had spent so much time in the science area 🤷‍♀️ I highly recommend this museum! We even tried to build an igloo

Fantastic museum filled with information on the Arctic environment, history of Finland, Sami culture and much more. It is packed with exhibits allow at least 2 hours. Very nice selection at gift shop and cafe and also attached arboretum.

Arktikum is a must see. We spent over 2 hours there. There are interactive displays on the Arctic region, snow & ice, northern lights, Sami people and culture. We learnt a lot about the planet and its northern people and animals. If you have time then buy the 7 day cultural pass that gives you unlimited entry to 3 museums and art gallery.

Artikum is full of information! My family and I learnt so much about Finland when we visited it. We spent 4 hours absorbing as much information as we could. It has some interactive sections which was fun. The building is beautiful with its high glass ceiling, clean interior and it also houses Artikum Cafe which served pretty decent food. Note: We visited in March 2025, but I forgot to put in the review until now.

Amazing digital-interactive and can-touch exposition abut the polar circle and its life and nature. Part of it, is a year-round cinema and aurora borealis show (for those vising in summer, when daylight lasts 20hrs and there is no real night). You can build igloo, paint your own aurora borealis. Highly recommended inteligent amusement. Way-way better than nearby Santa-visit over-commercial attraction.

The museum is not so big as expected, or so interactive But definitely interesting, with a lot of info to gain, nothing boring, also appropriate for kids. The store is very nice, obviously expensive, nothing found to be with the allergy label available... And above all, the ticket Culture pass allows you to see all 3 museums with the same ticket.

This is a small modern art gallery with a collection of different pieces. It was a short visit but we got the cultural ticket for 3 different museums, so this was effectively free.

I am not a fan of art, however some things are interesting. You see that artists see things differently from others. What's mundane is a gem to them. For instance the different flowers the artist use to create dresses. Then another artists see books as exercise tools.

We got to see a great exhibition from a Finnish painter, Reidar Särestöniemi. I really enjoyed it. There are also workshops and one of the coolest places to take souvenirs in Rovaniemi.

Culture House Korundi is one of the most interesting spots in Rovaniemi. All the exhibitions are really interesting and astonish as the can be. In my visit I saw a Sami exhibition and it has no comparison with others in the world. If you ever come to Rovaniemi you have yo visit Korundi, definitely a great experience!

The museum is worth a visit if you're into paintings and all things artsy. Families with kids might find it a bit lacking, though. The cultural pass we bought gives you access to spots like the Korundi House of Culture, Arktikum Museum, and Pilke Museum

I had the opportunity to view the "Reidar Särestöniemi 100 Years" exhibition here. Wonderfully laid out. The building's exterior is likewise tastefully decorated with artwork. It was good to come here.

Cultural House with great lunch! I couldnt be more happy with the creative lunch buffet. Lots of vegetarian options. Fresh items. Good value for money. Good coffee. I would come even just for the lunch, however the art exhibition was worth to explore as well.

This sanctuary boasts stunning architecture and a captivating past. Its doors are open to all who wish to experience its beauty. Remember to maintain a quiet reverence during your visit, as services are still held here. The historical significance of this building is immense and worth appreciating. Come and immerse yourself in the tranquility and heritage of this special place.

A beautiful and peaceful church in the heart of Rovaniemi. The Church was rebuilt in 1950 after the original was destroyed during World War II. The architect Bertel Liljequist designed the new building, with help from churches in Sweden and the United States. Inside, the altar has a huge fresco called “The Source of Life,” painted by Lennart Segerstråle. It is one of the largest altar paintings in Finland, measuring 14 by 11 meters. The church also features a large kantele, which visitors can play themselves.

Beautiful church, lots of amazing murals and details in it. I'm not a religious man but I'm glad I took the time to admire it, it's impressive. While I was there I bought a hot drink from the machine to support a project.

We went here for a wedding and boy did it surprise us. The exterior looks kind of plain and dreary, but the inside was amazing with a floor to wall mural in the back and for 100 meter ceilings!

Opening times do vary, but a beautiful church with an outside appearance and design giving it a much older period look than it actually is. Interior still very beautiful, but less period. Red lit cross on the top of the spire very unusual. Well worth a visit.

It is one of at least a hundred churches in northern Finland and Norway built after the earlier one was destroyed when retreating Nazis burned all the north cities. It isn't particularly unique but appears strong and stoic; maybe a symbol of Finnish sisu.

Very nice church, but it's closed for most of the day. We didn't found time to visit it. I don't understand why can't it stay open like in the rest of Europe. There's also a nice graveyard nearby.

This museum tells about the traditional way of life of local people. Life in the north is as it was in the past. The place is nice, old wooden buildings on the river bank. There are also three cute sheep. Come in to see the uniqueness of northern life.

Nice, small museum that shows the living and working buildings that belonged to a wealthy local family. The interior of the main building is well preserved. In addition to the large shed with working areas the museum also contains a number of smaller sheds that have been transplanted from the area. Well worth a visit, possibly in conjunction with the history section of the nearby Arktikum museum, or, if that's your thing, with the forestry museum nearby which I didn't visit.

Very interesting local musuem in original farm house of Lapland.

Representing local heritage in a fine way. The market day was great with all the self-grown products and handcrafts for sale

Among many interesting artefacts of the local culture, one of the very first Finnish language Bible from 1600 is on display.

Great place! Very well kept. So peaceful and beautiful.

Very interesting. Worth a visit

They have 2 menus (Bistro and Street Food) for the patrons to choose from. Salmon soup is available on the Bistro menu white Pork & Chips and Fish & Chips are from the Street Food option. The size is just right and tasty We finished everything. Will recommend to anyone coming yo Rovaniemi. Best is the make reservations if you are coming on Friday evening which we did.

What an amazing dining experience in Lapland. Unexpectedly had one of the best meals in Finland in this small town. Likely the best in town! The chef has won the national culinary olympics. Thanks a lot Wilma for the great service!

I really enjoy this restaurant! The atmosphere is very nice, warm and cozy. Salmon soup is a must-try! The salmon is fresh and tender. Other salmon dishes are also very delicious. The service is excellent, the lady server always wears a beautiful smile. Highly recommend 👍

Absolutely Delicious! Best Arctic Char I've Ever Had! The food here is truly so delicious! I highly recommend this place. I tried the Arctic Char dish, and it was super good—easily one of the best I've ever had. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. When we arrived, there were lots of people queuing for a table, and the wait time was about 20-30 minutes, depending on how busy it was. That wait is a clear sign of how popular this restaurant is! Highly, highly recommended! You won't be disappointed.

We ordered a reindeer sandwich and a Salmon dish with risotto! Both of the dishes were amazing! The sandwich was surprisingly good, with a good mayonnaise too! And the salmon with risotto spectacular!!! I didn’t order any dessert, but it had many interesting options. The prices are high, but considering it’s a very good restaurant in Lapland, it’s worth it to pay :)

We went for dinner based on the reviews, the food tasted ok, but we were not impressed. The salamon soup was more of a potatoes soup it had few bites of salamon and the rest was potatoes and soup. The salamon risotto was ok. The Rendieer fillet was good. The place was fully packed with long waiting, the service was ok but the servers are a bit aggressive.

Great place for a quick snack/lunch! Our family was a bit fished out so we opted for the pork and chips which was a succulent piece of pork belly cooked to perfection covered with a Asian glaze with pickled red onion. While there everyone was raving about the salmon soup.

I had a great experience at Rakas. The food was delicious, especially the Reindeer and the service was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was cozy, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed meal. Highly recommend!

Staff seemed very uninterested and not welcoming. The food itself was very bland and the reindeer meat was cooked rare ( I asked previously before ordering to make sure it would be done to my liking). The hot drinks were lukewarm and not hot, which doesn’t make sense. The churros to finish off were burnt and not cooked all the way through. Very disappointing especially with all the great reviews online.

A beautiful and fairy place. The food tastes really good, all the waiters were so kind and professional. Best place in Rovaniemi.

We took the 5 course surprise menu. The chef really chose an assortiment of the best dishes in the menu! Delicious artichoke soup, salmon tartar, reindeer porcetta, beef and chocolate cake with ice cream… great dinner in a beautiful restaurant!

What a great sandwich. We had a pork, a chicken, a vegetarian sandwich and some fries and fried Brussels sprouts. The sandwiches are so good, and definitely recommend this place. Location is convenient, very close to the main city centre.

Top class ambience with a fantastic person to serve us, who suggested done truly fabulous dishes. The only downside was the difficulty we had in finding the place, as the sign boards were useless in the last 100 metres and we didn't know that it was inside the Arctic Treehouse Hotel

Great food and drinks. Been there before and will go again.

A modern cafe with both savoury and sweet options. Waffles are very filling, with a big piece of chicken fried to the perfect texture. There is also a variety of drinks to choose from including both tea and coffee.

Everything was perfect, staff, food, taste, fast service, portions, ambiance!!! We ordered beef quesadillas and chicken waffle, we were happy with what was served! Recommend!!! Extra points for the variety of options offered 🥰

Great place for lunch, waffles with salty fillings and salad were very delicious. We had waffles with chicken and skagen filling and they were both great. Salad with chicken was also good. All portions were well sized and took away hunger. Customer service was friendly and the restaurant was clean.

Very good cafe, nice to visit. Hot chocolate is so good. Salmon soup served with Rye bread and butter. Waffle n fried chicken is good

The place looks nice, we however waited 45 minutes for a cold waffle and when my girlfriend kindly asked for “2 fork”, the waitress corrected her “2 forks”. The icecream was also nothing to brag home about. I was dissapointed. It seems nice, but the service is not that nice. The mexican place next door is very good though have been there 2 days ago.

Lovely place for brunch/lunch. Delicious salmon soup with malt bread.

We had a salmon soup and Caesar salad, both were good! The hot chocolate with ginger bread cookie was delicious!

This was the best experiential dinner in lapland! The restaurant is more than a building with food, it is a true Lapish experience with animal hides and viking style decor. The server brought the menus with solid wood covers, and even the bread arrived in a birch raft. The meal was delicious with flaky fish, incredibly tender Reindeer and excellent seasoning throughout. We ordered the perch, the Reindeer with mashed potatoes and a sampler salad. I highly recommend visiting here when you're in Rovaniemi.

What a wonderful experience. I walked in and was lucky enough to grab a spot between reservations. Definitely try to do a reservation if you can. Food was so flavorful and the staff are super nice and attentive. Atmosphere was very cozy and met all the expectations I had for a Finnish meal vibes. The moose dish was delicious. Definitely a repeat if I come back.

Each year over the past 3 years I’ve been here during winter and it is quite amazing ! The atmosphere and absolutely lovely staff make this place very special with the food being delicious ! We have accidentally made it our anniversary tradition to come here and enjoy many great dishes. Our personal favorites are Nili’s Porcini Kuksa and the Autumn Harvest (see pictures). We hope to be back next year ! Thank you !

Superb service and cozy environment. Bear soup was delicious, as well as the Moose and Reindeer main courses. Loved everything we ate.

Loved the traditional and specialty Lapland and Finnish cuisine here. It’s my 3rd time to the restaurant over the years and each visit was tip top!

Everything was great, from the moment we enter to Nili, Tuulikki take care of us, we trust her to choose the best food we tried in Rovaniemi, service was super fast, knowable and nice and the quality of the food really good. Totally recommend ☺️

Very authentication Lapland restaurant. The meals were wonderful. Excellent service.

The most delicious steak I’ve ever tried. (I eat steak a lot). The bread and butter were so delicious. I want to know what makes the butter that good. However, the service was a little bit slow. Yes still understandable

Excellent service. You would not wish to be hungry, if you came for dinner as you would need to have a second dinner elsewhere. The food was good, but in my opinion too many different tastes fought against each other. Keep it simple and make the portions much bigger. It felt like being in tasting course.

We have a no good experience at the place tonight. When we get in, the staff set us sit at a tall table near the bar though we both short figure (understandable since they don’t have table for 2). But the table was too close to the bar so when the guy at the bar pull out his chair, it hit my chair, and this is when the problem happen. Those guys at the bar try to touch me twice and i already said to them that don’t touch me. At this time there still no staff come and help us. I know they know what happen. But i think since we just 2 Asian girl so they think it no problem to ignore us. And the best part is one of the drunk guy even come to our table to annoying us. I try to ignore him cause i don’t want to make a scene there. I even look around try to find some help from the staff. And all they do is just stood and look at us. This is the first time we felt so scared and annoying when having dinner at a restaurant. Aren’t the place suppose to be a nice peace cozy place. We didn’t feel save there. All they do is just try to be nice and a sorry when it’s all over at the end of our meal. Oh the portion is quite small and the food is too salted to my taste.

One of the better restaurants in Rovaniemi. A bit of French, a bit of Japanese influenced and a nicely design restaurant. We walked in with no reservations on a Sat. The inner section of the restaurant was still available for early dinner around 5pm. For starters, we had sourdough bread and brown butter. What would have made it perfect was a lightly toasted bread to give the crunch and freshness. But unfortunately they can’t do it in the kitchen. We have a cold dish with thinly sliced beef with pickles and radish. The black rice crisp was a twist in this dish to bring a new kind of delight in a bite - nutty, crunch and very additive. For main course we chose the fish and beef. The portion is small but just enough for small eaters like us. The beef with black garlic was a unique pairing. Black garlic’s umami glaze was deep and strong. We bit overpowering for the beef actually. The acidity of the roman lettuce with yuzu was underpowered. Our dessert was forgotten and we waited over 20mins thinking that they are baking the burnt cheese cake. It was a disappointment. The cheese cake turned out rubbery. Overall the experience was good and it felt like a little fine dining restaurant with our dishes explained.

We could not get into the snow globe as we did not have a reservation. We were able to get a seat inside and thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers and this amazing drink !

Nice looking restaraunt, however we left feeling hungry and ordered McDonald's. Food was ok but portions are tiny for expensive prices. Portion sizes were like tapas instead of mains, served on dessert plates. We had a number of awkward moments with wait staff. The first issue was that when the bread was served, we did not receive side plates unless we had ordered a starter along with it. There was also a large heavy metal basket full of cutlery left in the centre of the smallish table. When we asked to have it removed after half an hour, the waiter looked as if what we were asking of him was completely outrageous. We also had to ask to have dirty dishes from starters cleared after the mains had been served. In general, we all found our waiter to be quite rude and patronising. When we refused to order desert, he made a comment that there were 'no calories' in the deserts, so us 'ladies' need not worry. I felt as if we were being treated in a demeaning manner because we were a group of young women. Overall we left the restaurant feeling uncomfortable and hungry, the food was ok but not worth the price. Would not recommend.

Awkward service. Felt discriminated for being Asian in this restaurant. The servers seem more keen to serve the whites. Arctic Char and Beef were decent but not awesome. Tofu was bad, tasted like some squashed starch. Risotto was way too salty. Sourdough nothing to complain about but also nothing to shout about. I'm not quite sure what gave this place the numerous 5 star reviews. I didnt get it in terms of service and food. The only thing that impressed me was their house riesling.