Early Arrival Fun

Your flight landed but your room is not ready. Do not waste the gap sitting on your suitcase. Rovaniemi's centre is small and walkable, and a few free hours are enough to get your bearings, shake off the journey, and start the trip before check-in.

Drop Your Bags and Head Out

Leave your luggage at the Rovaniemi Insider office for 15€ per day. While you are there, say hello and pick up current tips on what is worth doing this week, which tours have space, and where the aurora forecast is pointing. Then walk out into the centre with your hands free.

Explore the Centre on Foot

Everything downtown is within a fifteen-minute walk, and the movement helps after a long journey. A few ways to start:

• Lace up some skates at the city-centre rink or out at Naava Cafe.
• Visit the Arktikum Museum for the history and culture of Lapland. The interactive exhibits and the river-facing glass tunnel hold your attention for a couple of hours, and you stay warm the whole time.
• Browse local shops for handcrafted souvenirs, Sámi design, and goods made in Finland. The Marttiini outlet near the river is a classic stop for Finnish knives.
• Walk up Ounasvaara for a view over the whole city. In winter, go at sunset, which in December falls around 2 PM.
• Try a reindeer sleigh ride in the centre, available in winter without leaving town.

Fuel Up

Refuel at one of the cafes or restaurants downtown. A bowl of salmon soup, a cinnamon bun, and a hot coffee will carry you through the afternoon. Many cafes have free Wi-Fi if you need to check in with home or upload the first photos.

Rest at the Office

Worn out from travelling? You are welcome to sit down at the Rovaniemi Insider office. Grab a free coffee, use the Wi-Fi, and flip through our maps and brochures to plan the rest of your stay. If you have questions about tours, accommodation, or getting around, ask us while you are here.

Whether you explore, visit a museum, or just warm up with us, those pre-check-in hours are yours to use. Drop the bags and make the most of your first afternoon in Lapland.