Explore Rovaniemi: Beyond the Northern Lights, Rovaniemi, Finland

If you can’t see the spectacular Northern Lights phenomenon while in Lapland’s Rovaniemi, what else is there to explore in this city bordering the Arctic Circle?

After a 13-hour border crossing ordeal that began in Umeå, Sweden, we finally arrived in Rovaniemi, Finland, late in the evening.

Want to know how to get to Rovaniemi by public transport? Check my previous posts: Umeå to Lapland: Navigating Sweden’s Border and Umeå to Lapland: Finally, Finland

Since 1985, I’ve waited to visit Lapland. Mainly because the incredible Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, has been my dream.

Evidence suggests that Rovaniemi dates back to the Stone Age and was first mentioned in 1453, as an agricultural village.

Since the 1800s, Rovaniemi has been a key transportation and trading hub because of Lapland’s natural resources.

Established as a German base during WWII, Rovaniemi was later destroyed by the Germans during their retreat. Almost 90% of the city was torched. After WWII, the city was rebuilt, “featuring a reindeer antler-inspired street layout”. This was the work of Finland’s greatest architect and designer, Alvar Aalto.

These days, the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, is home to many modern apartments. The centre looks quite new, with only a couple of older homes. One of the oldest buildings surviving most of Rovaniemi’s demise during WWII is the Art Museum - more on the museum later. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).