Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is the administrative capital and largest city of Finland’s Lapland region. Located just south of the Arctic Circle, it sits on the banks of the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki rivers and serves as the region’s commercial, educational, and cultural center. The city has a population of about 63,000 people and is the seat of regional government and several higher education institutions.

The area was settled in the 19th century and grew as a forestry and trading town. Rovaniemi was largely destroyed in 1944 during the Lapland War and was rebuilt in the postwar period, resulting in a modern city layout with 20th-century architecture.

The University of Lapland and the Lapland University of Applied Sciences are located in Rovaniemi. The economy is dominated by public administration, education, services, and tourism.

A major year-round tourist destination, Rovaniemi is known for its proximity to Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle crossing near the city. Visitors can meet Santa Claus and send mail from the Santa Claus Post Office. The Arktikum museum and science centre offers exhibitions on Arctic history and culture, and the nearby Ounasvaara hill hosts a ski resort and winter sports.

Rovaniemi is served by its international airport, as well as rail and road connections to Helsinki and Oulu. The city experiences a subarctic climate with cold winters and relatively mild summers, and it features polar nights in winter and the midnight sun in summer.

As a gateway to Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi combines urban facilities with access to forests, rivers, and winter scenery, making it a focal point for regional administration, education, and tourism.