Best Day Trips From Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi works well as a base for a Lapland trip as this is “capital of Lapland”. Most of the flights arrive here and from Rovaniemi you have easy access to all around Lapland.
From here, you can head in several different directions without changing accommodation every night. Distances in Lapland are long, but many of the most interesting places are still reachable as day trips from Rovaniemi, especially if you are comfortable spending little time on the road.
If you rent a car, these trips are easy to do independently. Roads are generally well maintained in winter, and driving gives you flexibility with timing and stops along the way.
If renting a car is not an option, all of these destinations are also available as guided day trips. Most tours include transportation, gear and a guide, which removes the stress of planning routes, weather conditions and schedules.
It is worth knowing that many companies in Rovaniemi offer very similar day trips. The destinations are often the same, with small differences in group size, timing, pace or what is included. The experience can feel quite different depending on these details.
Below are some of the most popular and worthwhile day trips from Rovaniemi, and what kind of experience each one usually offers
Ranua Wildlife Park
Ranua Wildlife Park is one of the most popular day trips from Rovaniemi, especially for families and first time visitors to Lapland.
Wildlife park focuses on arctic and northern animal species, including polar bears, brown bears, lynx, wolves and reindeer. Animals live in spacious enclosures that follow the natural forest landscape, making the visit feel more like a walk in nature than a traditional “zoo” experience.
Visiting Ranua Wildlife Park on Your Own
If you rent a car, visiting Ranua Wildlife Park independently is easy. Parking is available on site, and the walking route through the park is clearly marked.
There is also bus connections from Rovaniemi to Ranua. You can find bus schedules from Matkahuolto website.
During winter, park opens at 10AM. The visit usually takes between three and four hours, depending on your pace and how long you spend at each enclosure. Route in the park is approx. 2.8km. In winter, the paths are compacted snow or ice, so warm footwear with good grip is important.
This option suits travelers who prefer a flexible schedule and want to move at their own pace, especially families with children who may want to stop often.
Tickets to the park are around 26€ per adult and kids 22€. Tickets can be purchased from the site.
Guided Day Trips From Rovaniemi
Visitors without a rental car can easily join guided day trips to Ranua Wildlife Park from Rovaniemi. These tours handle transportation, entrance tickets and guiding, and the guide explains the animals and the park along the way.
Tour formats vary. Some operators run family-focused trips, while others bring together mixed or larger groups. The pace and structure also differ. Some tours add extra stops during the day, while others spend the entire time inside the park, so checking what the tour includes helps set the right expectations.
Most common guided tour is Visit to Ranua Wildlife Park with guide and transport. Some tours have add-ons like included snacks or BBQ, full lunch on site or even full meal and husky- & reindeer rides.
Whether Ranua Wildlife Park feels worth visiting depends largely on what you expect from the day. The park does not aim to deliver constant action or guaranteed animal sightings. Animals roam large enclosures, and some may rest or remain out of view during your visit.
Travelers who enjoy slow walks, nature-based settings and learning about Arctic wildlife often find Ranua a rewarding part of a Lapland trip. It suits families, first-time visitors and anyone looking for a calm day away from the city.
Lupland Winter Activity Park, Ranua
Lupland is a newer “attraction” in the Ranua area. The owners run it on a private nature site and lead guided activities inspired by traditional Lapland life. Lupland does not try to function as a theme park or amusement park. Instead, it offers a nature-based experience built around simple outdoor activities.
All activities take place in one forest and lake area, which keeps the day focused on being outdoors rather than moving between locations.
Lupland pairs naturally with a visit to Ranua Wildlife Park. After exploring the park independently, visitors can shift into a more hands-on experience and take part in traditional Lapland activities in a calm, guided setting.
The Lupland excursion includes winter clothing and a wide range of activities. Visitors can try skating, kicksledding and downhill sledding, go snowshoeing, feed reindeer and walk them on a lead, or use electric mountain bikes adapted for winter conditions. Transportation to the site takes place in a snowmobile-pulled sleigh, and clear instructions are given for each activity.
The experience also includes time by the campfire with sausages, chocolate, marshmallows and warm drinks, as well as access to a sauna and ice bath. Swimwear is not included and needs to be brought separately.
Because everything happens in one location, the day feels calm and cohesive. There is no need to rush between stops, which allows guests to focus on the experience itself rather than logistics.
Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls
Korouoma stands out as one of the most popular winter nature destinations near Rovaniemi. Frozen waterfalls dominate the canyon in winter, rising between steep rock walls and long trails that lead deep into the landscape.
Korouoma lies about an hour and a half southeast of Rovaniemi, which makes it a natural choice for a full day trip. Despite the relatively straightforward drive, the area feels remote once you step onto the trails.
Weather shapes the experience more than anything else. In colder conditions, the waterfalls freeze solid and create striking ice formations. During milder periods, the ice shifts and changes quickly, sometimes altering the scenery from one day to the next.
Visiting Korouoma on Your Own
If you rent a car, it is possible to visit Korouoma independently. Parking areas are clearly marked, and several trail options are available, ranging from shorter walks to longer hikes.
That said, winter conditions should not be underestimated. Trails can be icy, steep and physically demanding, especially after fresh snowfall or during temperature changes. Proper winter clothing and footwear with good grip are essential. Read more about winter clothing here.
For experienced winter hikers who are comfortable navigating snowy terrain, an independent visit can be rewarding. For many visitors, however, Korouoma is more challenging than expected.
Guided Day Trips From Rovaniemi
Because of the conditions, Korouoma is one of the destinations where guided tours often make a noticeable difference. Guided day trips from Rovaniemi typically include transportation, winter equipment such as snowshoes or ice grips, and a guide who usually knows the trails and current conditions. Group sizes and walking distances vary between operators. Some tours focus on photography and scenery, while others are more physically active hikes.
Pyhä-Luosto National Park
The national park is located about one and a half hours northeast of Rovaniemi, making it possible to visit as a day trip, especially with an early start. Pyhä-Luosto National Park offers a little different kind of landscape compared to the forested areas around Rovaniemi. Rounded fells, deep gorges and wide open views give the area a sense of space that many visitors associate strongly with Lapland.
Visiting Pyhä-Luosto on Your Own
With a rental car, Pyhä-Luosto is easy to reach from Rovaniemi. Roads are well maintained, and parking areas are available near trailheads and visitor facilities. The main parking area and starting point for many is the Naava Visitor Centre, which also serves as an information hub for the national park.
From Naava, several marked trails lead directly into the surrounding fell and gorge landscapes. Visitor facilities, trail maps and up-to-date information about conditions are available on site, which makes it a practical place to begin an independent visit.
In winter, conditions vary greatly depending on weather and snow cover, and most trails are better suited for snowshoes. In the Pyhä-Luosto area, it is possible to rent snowshoes, cross-country skis and downhill skiing equipment, which makes the area accessible even without bringing your own gear.
You can also find some amazing local activities like ice-climbing from Pyhä-Luosto, some even suitable for kids.
In addition to hiking trails, Pyhä-Luosto is also a ski resort area. For visitors who want to combine nature walks with downhill skiing, the area offers an easy way to experience both within the same day.
Guided Day Trips to Pyhä-Luosto From Rovaniemi
Guided day trips to Pyhä-Luosto work well for visitors who want to focus on the experience rather than planning routes, equipment or schedules. Tours include transportation from Rovaniemi, winter gear and a guide who knows the terrain and current conditions.
One very good option is guided snowshoeing day tour from Rovaniemi to Pyhä-Luosto with lunch included.
Guides choose suitable routes, adjust the pace to the group and handle changing weather on the spot. This makes the day feel easier and more relaxed, especially in winter.
Pyhä-Luosto is also one of the places where you can see the famous tykky trees, snow-laden pines shaped by wind and heavy snowfall.
Guided day trips suit travelers who want a clear structure and a broad overview of the area in a single day, without worrying about navigation. Options are currently limited, but this snowshoeing day trip offers a solid and well-balanced introduction to Pyhä-Luosto.
PyhäKuru Adventure Park
PyhäKuru Adventure Park offers a more active way to experience the Pyhä area. It is designed for visitors who want to move, climb and engage with the landscape rather than simply walk through it. The surrounding terrain is used as part of the experience, which adds a sense of adventure.
PyhäKuru works well as an addition to a Pyhä-Luosto day trip, especially for active travelers and families with older children.
Amethyst Mine
Amethyst mine in the Pyhä-Luosto area offers a completely different kind of experience compared to hiking or outdoor activities, in a good way. Visits to the mine are guided and focus on local geology, history and the cultural significance of amethyst in the region. Guests are introduced to the mining area and guided through the process of searching for stones.
Experience is more about learning and participation than spectacle or physical effort. Amethyst mine is one of my personal favourite and very unique Lapland experiences!
Amethyst mine works well as part of a broader Pyhä-Luosto itinerary and also as a standalone destination!
Riisitunturi National Park
Riisitunturi National Park, located in Posio is known for its open fell views and heavy snow formations that cover trees in winter. The park is located about two and a half hours east of Rovaniemi, which makes it one of the longer day trips on this list. Because of the distance, Riisitunturi works best as a full day with an early start.
In winter, the park attracts photographers and visitors hoping to see thick snow-laden trees. Conditions, however, change quickly, and the scenery can look very different depending on temperature, wind and recent snowfall.
Visiting Riisitunturi on Your Own
With a rental car, Riisitunturi is accessible, but the drive is longer and more remote than many other day trips from Rovaniemi. Winter driving experience and careful planning are important.
Marked trails lead through the park, and the most popular routes are well known. In winter, walking often requires snowshoes due to deep snow and uneven terrain.
Facilities in the area are limited, and services are sparse. Visitors should be prepared for changing weather and bring appropriate clothing, food and equipment.
Guided Day Trips From Rovaniemi
Mostly visitors choose to visit Riisitunturi as part of a guided day trip from Rovaniemi. Usually these tours include transportation, winter equipment such as snowshoes, and a guide who manages timing and safety. Guided tours are particularly helpful for visitors unfamiliar with winter hiking or long drives in snowy conditions. A guide can also help choose the best route and timing based on current weather.
Ice Breaker Cruise
The icebreaker cruise in Kemi is one of the most unusual day trips available from Rovaniemi. Instead of forests or national parks, the experience takes place on the frozen sea in the Gulf of Bothnia.
Kemi is located about one and a half hours south of Rovaniemi. The drive is straightforward, and the cruise operates on a fixed schedule, which makes this an easy destination to plan as a full day trip. The ice breaker cruise works best as a contrast to nature-based days. After hiking, snowshoeing or wildlife visits, the cruise offers something completely different.
It suits travelers who enjoy unique, one-of-a-kind experiences and do not mind following a schedule. It also works well for those who prefer minimal physical effort but still want something memorable.
There is couple different ice breaker options, ice-breaker Sampo (Kemi), ice-breaker Arktis (Kemi) and ice-breaker Polar Explorer (Kalix, Sweden). From my perspective, these are very much same thing, but if you are boat enthusiastic, you might find some differences. Other ones are in Kemi, other one is on Sweden’s side in Kalix. All offer also ice floating, what I highly recommend to try.
