5 Amazing Day Trips From Rovaniemi You Must Experience

1. Hike to the Frozen Waterfalls of Korouoma National Park

How to Get There:

🚗 By car: 1 hr 30 min (100 km) from Rovaniemi to Saukkovaara parking.
🚌 By bus: Possible, but difficult. The nearest stop is ~4 km from the trailhead.

Best if you have a rental car or join a small-group hike.

This was the absolute highlight of our week-long trip! If you’re in the area, it is a fantastic adventure and you shouldn’t miss it!

About 100 km from Rovaniemi, near the town of Posio, lies the stunning Korouoma National Park. This is a serene, nature-filled escape and easily one of the highlights of our Lapland trip.

This is an easy hike, as it doesn’t require any technical hiking skills, however you should be aware that there are altitude differences and you need a generally good level of fitness to do it.

The 5 km circular trail takes you down into a canyon where three massive waterfalls freeze into glistening ice walls in winter—typically from late November to mid-April.

The trail is well-marked and at the end of the route, you’ll find rest areas with firewood (and often a fire already burning, as there is a good number of people on the trail) where you can grill sausages, vegetables or just warm up with a hot drink.

There are 9 boards along the route, providing you with information and details about the park, the waterfalls and the forest.

The trail will take you down to the bottom of the canyon, where you’ll cross the river to the other side and can marvel at the frozen waterfalls from a closer distance. The trail is popular with ice climbers, so keep an eye out!

Not long after the third waterfall, you will arrive at the rest area. From there, it’s another 500 m back to the car park, so you can relax around the fire, knowing that it’s just a brief walk back.

You’ll want to start and finish at Saukkovaara parking and follow the clockwise direction for the best experience. Big organized tours are available, but we recommend booking a small group hike (or snowshoe tour) through Airbnb or GetYourGuide—or going solo if you’re confident.

A small group tour costs about €120-€150 and the price usually includes transfer from Rovaniemi.

2. Dig for Your Own Amethyst Stone in a Mine in Luosto

How to Get There:

🚗 By car: 1 hr 30 min (110 km). Roads are well-maintained year-round.
🚌 By bus: Direct buses from Rovaniemi 4x/day. Takes approx. 2 hours. From €30 one-way.
🛷 Transfer to mine: By pendolino snow train (winter only) or hike up in summer.

This off-the-beaten-path trip offers an authentic taste of Lapland and is especially magical during winter – with lots and lots of snow to go around!

This is one of Lapland’s best-kept secrets. Just 110 km from Rovaniemi, there is the small village of Luosto known for its deep reindeer herding traditions. High above the village sits the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, nestled on top of Luosto Mountain.

If you’re driving, the roads are well-maintained year-round due to nearby hotels and ski slopes. If you prefer public transport, there are four daily buses from Rovaniemi to Luosto. The ride takes about two hours and tickets start from €30 one-way.

Another option will be to book a guided tour from Rovaniemi that includes transfer.

💎 Click here for our tour recommendation with transfer from Rovaniemi.

Note: That will likely be the most expensive option, but if you’re looking for a no frills experience, go for it!

Upon arrival in Luosto, a unique snow train called the Pendolino takes you to the mine. It can pick up visitors from the village center, where the bus from Rovaniemi stops, or from the Ukko-Luosto parking lot a few kilometers further down the road.

Tickets cost €96 from the village or €76 from the parking lot—book via the mine’s website to secure the best rate.

👉 Inside Tip: If you have a car, go to the parking lot and save €20. It is literally a 5-minute drive from the city center.

In summer (June to October), the Pendolino doesn’t run, but you can hike to the mine via a 2.5 km forest trail starting from the parking lot (or 5 km from the village). It is wide and even, so you can even go with a stroller!

The tours in the summer start at every hour from Lampivaara café (where the trail ends). The tour costs €26 and you can join any one tour during the day.

At the mine, you’ll be welcomed in a cozy wooden chalet where a guide explains the history and sustainable mining practices of the area. Then you get to dig for your own amethyst—and keep it! There’s also a small shop offering locally made amethyst jewelry.

The tour is hands-on, intimate, and far from commercialized.

Afterward, stop by Café Uksakka in the village for lunch or coffee. It’s incredibly cozy, serves homemade food, and if you haven’t tried reindeer, that’s the right place to do it with their locally sourced reindeer meat. They also have vegetarian dishes.

3. Ranua Wildlife Park

How to Get There:

🚗 By car: ~1 hour (80 km) southeast of Rovaniemi.
🚌 By bus: Regular departures from Rovaniemi bus station. From €18 one-way.

Ranua Wildlife Park is not just a zoo—It’s a walk-through wildlife park designed to showcase northern species in a setting that feels more like a tranquil forest trail than an animal exhibit.

It’s actually home to Finland’s only polar bears, which in itself is reason enough to visit, if you ask us. But beyond the polar bears, you’ll find over 50 species of Arctic and subarctic animals, including lynxes, wolves, arctic foxes, and a whole 8 species of owls.

The enclosures are so thoughtfully designed and combine the perfect vantage point for visitors, but keeping the surroundings as close to the wild as possible.

The park is open year-round and is especially atmospheric in winter.

Located about 80 km southeast of Rovaniemi, it’s accessible by car or public transport. Buses run regularly and the journey takes around one hour. Single tickets starting at €16.

Entry to the park is €26.50, or €24.50 if booked online.

✅ Book your Ranua Wildlife Park Tickets HERE!

👉 Tip for a more in-depth experience: Consider a guided tour. These cost €75 per person, ticket included, and must be booked at least two days in advance at store.ranuaresort.com.

You’ll get to feed some of the animals and learn more about their lives and conservation efforts. While it is expensive, the cost is actually on par with other local attractions like reindeer farms or husky rides.

You can easily spend the whole day here. The park includes a restaurant and a café offering simple but satisfying meals—great for warming up between outdoor strolls (you can walk out and back in with your daily ticket). The restaurant itself is nothing fancy but offers a buffet lunch for a reasonable price.

4. Arctic Circle Hiking Area

How to Get There:

🚗 By car: 25 minutes (20 km) north of Rovaniemi
🚌 Public transport: Limited. Best accessed with a car
📍 Starting point: Vikaköngäs parking area

Whether you’re looking for a long hike or a short walk, this area is perfect for spontaneous outdoor adventures.

You don’t need to venture far to experience the Lappish wilderness. Just 20 km north of Rovaniemi lies the Arctic Circle Hiking Area—a perfect getaway to the wilderness, but close to the city. The area is crisscrossed with well-marked trails, suitable for year-round exploration.

We highly recommend the Könkäiden Polku trail. It includes scenic rapids, a wooden observation tower, and a breathtaking hilltop view. The full loop takes about 4–5 hours.

For a quicker option, the Vaattunkivaara Nature Trail takes about 1.5 hours and also features a great lookout tower.

Both trails start at the Vikaköngäs parking area, giving you flexibility depending on the weather and your energy levels.

In any case, whichever trail you choose, you can be sure that you’ll have an amazing day in the Arctic wilderness.

5. Enjoy a Day on the Slopes in Levi

How to Get There:

🚗 By car: 2.5 hours (170 km) north of Rovaniemi.
🚌 By bus: 2.5 hours, several departures daily. From €29 one-way.

Our final suggestion is Levi. Levi is Lapland’s premier ski resort, about 170 km north of Rovaniemi. It is farther than the others, and is almost borderline day trip, but whether you’re driving or taking a bus, Levi is well worth the journey.

The ski season runs from November through April. But Levi is just as enjoyable in summer. You’ll find plenty of outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking, scenic lift rides, and even a summer sled track.

A full-day ski pass costs from €49, and Levi caters to all levels—from beginners to advanced skiers. It’s also one of the best places in Finland for cross-country skiing. The area features seven on-mountain restaurants and cafés. Don’t miss Tuikku Panorama Restaurant for hot drinks and a buffet with a view.

⚡Insider Tip: Keep an eye out for the campfire barista—a local legend offering artisanal coffee brewed over an open flame. His chaga chai latte, made with locally foraged Chaga mushrooms (native to the arctic circle, with many health benefits), is a must-try.

Check his Instagram for up-to-date information on opening times and location