Rovaniemi in January: Is It Worth Visiting? My Experience & Tips
What happens to “Santa Claus’s hometown” when, well, Christmas is over? Luckily, quite a lot! While Christmas might be done and dusted and some of the decorations have been packed away for next year, Rovaniemi in January is still very much in the festive spirit.
With the line for the Arctic Circle actually running through Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi is a magical place where pastel Arctic daylight gives way to pitch-black nights punctuated only by the twinkle of stars or the dance of the aurora.
| ⌛ Planning your winter trip to Rovaniemi? Here are my quick picks: ❄️ Best Rovaniemi Tours & Experiences Northern Lights Chase by Minibus (the best aurora tour, with guarantee!) Self-Driven Dog Sledding Tour (my #1 daytime adventure!) Snowmobile Safari Through Lapland’s Forests (for adrenaline and fun!) 🛏️ Best Rovaniemi Hotels Arctic TreeHouse Hotel (boutique cabins with Northern Lights views!) Apukka Resort (luxury glass igloos for aurora spotting; lots of activities) Santa Claus Holiday Village (family-friendly cabins with personal saunas) Hostel Café Koti (budget-friendly dorms, central location in city) |
While you may have missed the winter festivities, you’re actually visiting Rovaniemi at one of my favorite times of year. Rovaniemi in January is still extremely magical and definitely worthy of planning a holiday around.
Having spent two weeks in Rovaniemi in January of 2024, here are my best tips for those planning to visit at that time of year in 2025 and beyond.
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Why Visit Rovaniemi in January?
January is one of the better winter months to visit Rovaniemi. Why? You’re all but guaranteed enough snowfall, whereas November and early December are a lot less likely to have enough snow for certain snow-dependent activities to begin.
But by January, it’s almost certain that there’s been sufficient snowfall for all the incredible snow-based activities to begin: namely, dog sledding, snowmobiling, and reindeer sledding rides. This is the time of year that has the deep snow that these activities require!
Another plus is that while Rovaniemi is still busy in January, it’s far less crowded than it would be in December, which can be a nightmare with day trippers (yes… day trippers. It confuses me, too) and lots of families who want to time their trip perfectly with the Christmas holidays. Visiting Rovaniemi in January instead of December means far better prices, more availability at restaurants, and more tour availability as well.
Depending on how often there are clouds and snowfall, January can sometimes be a good time for Northern Lights viewing, thanks to long, dark nights. However, do note that January can also be a really snowy and cloudy month, which can limit your opportunities to see the Northern lights.
One major con to keep in mind is that Rovaniemi is extremely cold in January. It can dip to -40° C (-40° F — so cold that this is the exact point where the temperature scales overlap).
I spent two weeks in Rovaniemi in January and the coldest temperature I experienced was -29° C (-20° F) and the warmest was 1° C (34° C) which was actually a bad thing, as it meant the snow began to melt and then freeze over again, which is dangerous for the animal life (and for humans on the road!)
With the proper base layers, cold weather accessories, snow boots, and winter parka, I didn’t find it unbearably cold, but you do have to be prepared.
Top Things to Do in Rovaniemi in January
I have a full guide to all my favorite things to do in Rovaniemi in winter here, but here are 7 hand-picked activities to give you an idea of all that awaits you if you visit Rovaniemi in January in particular.
I hope this helps you get excited for your future trip!
Go dog sledding through the boreal forests.
I’ve gone dog sledding four times, including in Rovaniemi, which I’ve written about extensively here. By January, there should definitely be enough snowfall to enjoy this quintessential Arctic activity!
Personally, I recommend doing a self-driven tour; it’s way more hands-on and fun to be able to mush your own team of huskies (I did this exact tour!). Plus, since Finland is relatively flat, mushing your dog sled team is not as physically demanding as it is in other places I’ve done it, like Abisko and Tromsø which are more hilly.
However, younger kids can’t participate in self-driving tours and you’ll need to instead opt for a musher-led tour in those instances. I go over all the suggested tours in my post on dog sledding in Rovaniemi, but I’ll quickly list my two suggestions below:
- This tour is the best adult experience for people who want to drive their own dog sled (what I did!)
- This is the best tour for families with young kids who want the dog sled experience for all ages
Chase the Northern lights
While Rovaniemi is technically an excellent spot to have a good shot of seeing the aurora borealis, there is a big caveat here: you need to find clear skies, which can be elusive in January when there is often a lot of cloud cover.
When I visited Rovaniemi in January 2024, it was technically part of the ‘solar maximum’, the crest of an 11-year cycle of solar activity. However, due to the intensely dense cloud cover, it was impossible to see the aurora most nights, despite it being extremely active in less clouded-over areas like Abisko.
My top tip? If you really want to see the Northern lights, book this tour that has a Northern lights guarantee as they don’t place a time or mileage limit on the tour, and they’ll cancel it if they feel they have no shot at seeing the aurora. It’s a little pricy, but it’s the best chance you have.
You can also try to see the aurora on your own! You can download an aurora forecast app (I use Aurora, which you can download here for Apple) to monitor several factors — Kp index as well as Bz, wind speed, etc. — to determine if you should go out on a walk in hopes of spotting the lights.
Visit Santa Claus Village
If you’re one of the forever-young-at-heart or you’re traveling with kiddos, the opportunity to visit Santa Claus Village is a huge draw to Rovaniemi… even in January! Santa Claus is there every day of the year, so this poor man doesn’t get a break even after his busy Christmas escapades.
In Santa Claus Village, you can meet real live reindeer and Santa Claus himself, as well as cross the Arctic Circle line and even receive a certificate for it! There are other fun things to do in Santa Claus Village, so even if you’re a Christmas Grinch like I am, I do think it’s still worthy of a visit.
It’s easy to visit Santa Claus Village independently (you can take a bus from the city center or catch a taxi for about 25 Euros each way), or if you prefer, you can book a tour like this one, which includes a visit to Santa Claus Village, reindeer sled rides, husky sled rides, and more.
Go on an epic snowmobile ride
I never knew that I would fall in love with snowmobiling as much as I did, but after snowmobiling in Svalbard, I have to say this is my new favorite winter activity (well, after dog sledding, of course).
Snowmobiling through the forests and across frozen lakes is an exhilarating way to see Lapland’s pristine landscapes — and some tours even bring you to places where you can go ice fishing, which is a fun addition to the snowmobile experience.
Some tours even run at night, allowing you to chase the Northern Lights by snowmobile. Personally, this isn’t my favorite way to snowmobile; I would prioritize doing a daytime tour before I opted for a nighttime snowmobile tour.
I did a snowmobile Northern lights tour in Svalbard, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the experience because you can’t see the beauty of the landscape around you while it’s that dark (and we didn’t get to see the Northern lights, which probably also colored the experience… or rather, didn’t color it!)
Take a day trip to Riisitunturi
While it’s pretty beautiful nearly everywhere you go in Finnish Lapland, one place that stands above the rest, particularly in January, is Riisitunturi National Park. Why? Its so-called ‘popcorn trees’ are an otherwordly beauty!
In order for the ‘popcorn tree’ phenomenon to happen, several factors have to coalesce, which are most likely to occur in January (and possibly into February, but as global warming increases, this window becomes shorter and shorter).
Essentially, super cold weather mixed with heavy snowfall means that the snow layers stick to the pines, creating a popcorn-like “coating” on the trees. It’s really incredible to see — it looks like something out of a wintry Dr. Seuss storybook, actually.
However, these trees are highly susceptible to warmer temperatures and strong winds. Once either or both of these have occurred for the first time in the winter season, the “popcorn trees” are stripped of their snow, and they begin to look like, well, normal trees!
Unfortunately, the “popcorn trees” were impacted this last January by unseasonably warm weather and high winds about halfway through the month so I’ve yet to see them in person yet, but my friends who live in Arctic Finland say it’s an absolutely magical experience and I look forward to returning to see them in the future.
If you have rented a car, it’s easy enough to get here independently, but I only recommend driving in Finland in winter if you are a highly experienced winter driver. For all other people, I suggest booking a guided tour like this one, which handles the icy roads for you.
Visit the marvelous frozen waterfalls of Korouoma Canyon
One of my favorite things I did during my time in Rovaniemi was take a day trip to Korouoma Canyon to see the frozen waterfalls. This is a favorite day trip amongst hikers as well as ice climbers, who bravely scale their way up these massive frozen waterfalls, cliffside streams that are frozen in time!
Whether you simply hike (or rather, slide on your butt, as we did) through the nature reserve or go ice hiking with a team who will help you ice climb safely, this is one of the most iconic day trips you can do from Rovaniemi in January. This is the exact tour that I took if you’re looking to do the same; I highly recommend it!
Just beware that it’s often way colder at the bottom of the canyon than it will be anywhere else, so be sure to dress extra warm!
Warm up in a Finnish sauna
There’s no better way to soothe achey muscles after a day of Arctic adventures than by relaxing in a traditional Finnish sauna. Luckily, most accommodations in Rovaniemi offer a sauna so you won’t miss out on this quintessential Finnish experience!
In the event that you don’t have access to a sauna at your accommodation, you can book an activity that includes a sauna visit and ice swimming if you’re brave!
Weather and Daylight in January
January in Rovaniemi is truly an Arctic experience, with temperatures to match. The average high temperature (yes, high!) is -8°C (18°F)… not exactly a walk in the park. Meanwhile, the average low is a frigid -15°C (5°F), and true lows can be much lower as I personally experienced!
The plus side for people who love the snow is that snowfall is generally abundant at this time of year — it can snow several inches in a single day, which is really fun to experience if you didn’t grow up in a snowy environment (so speaks the Californian, at least).
As for daylight… be prepared for a bit of a mindf***! Daylight hours in Rovaniemi in January are a bit crazy. If you’re there in the beginning of the month, you can only count on about 3 hours of daylight per day: the sunrise is around 11 AM but it sets before 2 PM, giving you a very limited window to get that much-needed Vitamin D (I recommend bringing supplements!)
However, by the end of January, you’ll get double that, about six hours of sunlight daily, with sunrise around 9 AM and sunset around 3:30 PM. Personally, I prefer the light you get around the end of January. Don’t underestimate just how much those extra hours of daylight will impact your energy levels and overall mood, especially if you are susceptible to SAD!
The second half of January is ideal for striking that perfect balance of long dark nights with good chances of seeing the aurora while still enjoying a combination of daylight and soft twilight during the day so you can actually see the beauty of the Finnish winter landscapes around you.
Tips for Visiting Rovaniemi in January
Book early
While Christmas is the busiest season of the year, January is still a busy time in Rovaniemi. Accommodations book up especially quickly, as do tours. Especially at the most coveted places, like glass igloos, you’ll want to secure your bookings in advance rather than end up disappointed.
A trip to Finnish Lapland never comes cheaply, so I strongly recommend you check hotel and tour availability for your desired lodgings and activities before buying that plane ticket. It would be a tragedy to come all the way here and have your bucket list hotels and activities not available!
Pack smart
Rovaniemi is extremely cold in January, but the Nordic people have a saying: “there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.” I honestly did find this to be true after getting a crash course in how to actually properly dress for the Arctic!
You’ll absolutely need to invest in a few key pieces for your trip to Rovaniemi if you don’t already have sufficient cold weather gear. Splurge on thermal layers (high-quality merino wool layers like Kari Traa or Dale of Norway are a must), wool socks, snow boots, and a parka.
You can save a little more on the accessories, like waterproof gloves or wool mittens, scarves, and hats, as well as the layers that go between your base layer and outer layer. They should still be warm (wool is ideal) but you can easily get some wool sweaters second-hand from a local thrift store if you are trying to save on your budget for the trip.
Want more tips? You can find my full Finnish Lapland winter packing list here.
Be aurora-ready
I strongly suggest you always keep an eye on the weather forecast, particularly the cloud cover (I use the Windy app) as well as the aurora forecast and always be ready to head outside, camera in hand if you have one, if the conditions are good.
The Northern lights can appear and disappear in the blink of an eye and you don’t want to miss any opportunities to see the Revontulet (‘fox fire’) as they call it in Finland.
Stay flexible
Weather conditions in Lapland can change rapidly, so be prepared to adjust your plans as needed. This is why I strongly recommend booking your activities through Get Your Guide, as they have a generous cancellation policy (in general, you can cancel virtually any tour with just 24 hours notice).
If you book direct with the provider, often, these cancellation policies are a lot less flexible. I prefer the added layer of financial protection that I get from booking with an OTA, and I find that the prices are the same, so I can book with peace of mind.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
