Rovaniemi or as many may know it – Lapland, is the official hometown of Santa Claus, is a great city to visit with children. There are lots of interesting activities for families around the city and in the surrounding areas. Visiting Rovaniemi with kids is an absolute dream come true. Keep reading on to find some of the best things to do in Rovaniemi with kids.
Some of the must see places and activities to do would be the Santa Claus Village, the Museum and Science Centre of Arktikum. The Ounasvaara walking trail is open all year round. In this trail, you can stop along the campfire or admire the view of Rovaniemi from an observation tower.
Activities in Lapland for children ages 0-5
- Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi – Located 8 km to the north of the city centre. This is an excellent visitor attraction for the whole family. There you can meet Santa Claus, see some reindeers and huskies. You can cross the Arctic Circle. In winter, it is also possible to try shorter reindeer sleigh rides and husky sled tours, which might be more suitable for younger children.
- Santapark Rovaniemi – Another Christmas related attraction, open only during the Christmas season. This is Santa’s home cavern.
Activities in Lapland for older kids
- The Science Centre Pilke – A fun attraction to visit. From there you can find information about the Finnish forests in an interactive exhibition.
- Santa Claus Village
- Santapark
- Ounasvaara Ski Resort – A great winter attraction, where children can practice skiing.
- The Snowman World
- Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park
- Seasonal Family Activities
Activity wise, there are many options depending on the season. In winter the most popular activities for the whole family are reindeer sleigh tours, husky sled rides, ice-fishing and snowmobiling. Some companies provide also family friendly safaris, where children can try for example mini snowmobiles.
In summer the activities consist of river cruises, nature trips and visits to reindeer and husky farms. There are also many beaches in summer time that are lovely for the families.
Family Friendly Rovaniemi Travel Guide
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