The fastest way to reach Rovaniemi is to fly. Rovaniemi Airport, the official airport of Santa Claus, is only about 8 km away from the lively city centre of Rovaniemi. Direct daily flights from Helsinki to Rovaniemi are operated by Finnair and Norwegian. If you are coming from London, direct flights from London (Gatwick) to Rovaniemi are operated by EasyJet and Norwegian. Also Turkish Airlines is starting to operate direct flights from Istanbul to Rovaniemi in November 2019.
Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport to your accommodation is easy. The Airport Bus will take you directly to your accommodation and Santa’s Express to the city centre. There are also local taxis available in front of the airport, and of course, we are more than happy to help you with the transfer! Book the airport transfer from us and we will take you to the doorstep of your accommodation or straight to our office.
Another easy option is train. There are direct trains running between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. If you’re coming to Finland by plane, take a train from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Tikkurila and transfer to a long-distance train towards Rovaniemi. All trains are operated by state company VR. The easiest is to buy the tickets beforehand from VR’s own website, but you can also find ticket machines and staff who can help you with the purchase from airport or from main railway-station.
Rovaniemi train station is about 1,5 km away from the city centre. Book our pick-up, take a 15-minute-walk, hop on the bus (bus number 8) or take a taxi to reach the city or your accommodation.
Buses might be the most reliable way of travelling in Finland – they usually operate on time, no matter what is the weather. There are several bus operators in Finland, for example Matkahuolto and Onnibus, but Onnibus doesn’t have direct connections between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, because you need to change the bus in Oulu.
Matkahuolto’s bus tickets can be purchased directly from their website or from bus station. There are also direct connections from Helsinki airport to Rovaniemi. The bus station (Matkahuolto Rovaniemi) is about 1 km away from city centre. Again, you can book our pick-up, walk (about 15 minutes), hop on the bus, or take a taxi to reach the city.
If you have more time and are comfortable with driving abroad, you may also take a road-trip through Finland. In Summer, the driving time from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is about 10 hours (without breaks). During winter the speed limits are lower and travel-time is noticeably longer, but you should be prepared for changing weather conditions all year round. Information about road conditions you can find from here.
And beware: there might be reindeer on your way!
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Rovaniemi Airport: 1 h 30 min
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Rovaniemi train station: 12 h (with 1 or 2 transfers)
Helsinki railway-station to Rovaniemi train station: 12 h 30 min (direct), 11 h to 11 h 30 min (with transfer)
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Rovaniemi: 12 h 40 min
Helsinki to Rovaniemi: 13 h 10 min (direct), 15 h (with transfer)
All in all, even though Rovaniemi is located in the north, it is easily accessible all year round. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! Take a look at our accommodation and activities in Rovaniemi, and book your holiday. We are looking forward meeting you!
