3 days in Rovaniemi with kids – the perfect family itinerary!

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We had the most fabulous family trip to Rovaniemi in Finland – and I think 3 days of exploring with the kids is the perfect amount of time to cover all of the activities on your Lapland bucket list so keep reading for our itinerary. A DIY Lapland break is the perfect way to save money, include all the things you’d like to do and allow time for simply playing in the snow! Our getaway totalled 5 days which allowed us 3 full days in Rovaniemi – I know some people visit Lapland just for just a day or two but to really take it all in I would definitely recommend at least 4 nights to make sure that your itinerary doesn’t feel rushed and the kids have time to rest in between. The activities are ridiculously fun but it can be tiring when you’ve got lots you want to pack into the trip so leave space for breaks, snacks and warming up to make things easier.

As well as detailing what you’ll want to include in your Lapland itinerary, I’ve also added some information about the best time to visit and links through to reviews and guides to help you plan your perfect break. I’ve covered all aspects from where to stay, what to do, food, a Lapland packing list, free things to do and all sorts – so check out some of my other articles too. We had a brilliantly timed midday flight to Rovaniemi from Gatwick Airport which arrived around dinner time. The taxi from the airport to Rovaniemi centre took just 15 minutes and we booked a really convenient accommodation spot – with Piriko Apartments – which allowed us to easily explore on foot or via public transport. On arrival we ditched our bags and grabbed some bits from the supermarket before heading back to settle in for the night ready for our first day. Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of everything we got up to in Rovaniemi with the kids (March 2026) – this is the perfect 3 day Lapland family itinerary:

Day 1

For our first full day in Rovaniemi we hopped on a bus from the city centre to Santa Claus Village – we used the Apukka Resort shuttle bus which cost €20 for our family of four and took about 20 minutes. We spent some time exploring the village, playing in the snow and taking it all in. If you’ve got young children you’ll want to visit Santa – it’s free but you do have to pay if you’d like a photo. There are also other activities with Mrs Claus and the elves that can be booked for the kids too. Visiting Santa’s Village is free, so you needn’t spend a penny, but the extra activities do come at a cost. We brought our own marshmallows and skewers, which we toasted on the fire by the Reindeer rides. There are plenty of places to eat but you can just as easily bring your own food. Check out my full guide for visiting Santa Claus Village for all the details.

You might also want to combine your visit with a trip to Snowman World which is a chargeable activity park on-site – there you can enjoy the snow slides, ice-skate, navigate the snow maze, attend the snowman disco and enjoy the snow art. Tickets are around £30pp – we didn’t visit the attraction as our kids are teens but it does look like great fun for younger ones. At 2pm we went on our husky ride, which we booked through Bearhill Husky via Get Your Guide – the husky parks are located at the bottom of the village with several to choose from. We opted for the 2.5km ride which I would recommend – it lasts about 10 minutes which was the perfect amount of time and not too long or short. Make sure you check out my husky ride guide for costs, what’s included and other options.

After our husky ride we crossed under the under pass and took the bus back to Rovaniemi City Centre to have some dinner in our apartment and a rest. Then we packed up our bag and got organised for day two before heading out for an evening walk down to the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge and to enjoy the lights in the city which, despite it being March, still had a magical Christmas vibe. If you’re looking to eat out there are loads of fast food and restaurant options in the centre of Rovaniemi – food prices in Finland are a bit higher than at home but the malls offer cafes and options like Chinese buffets which are pretty reasonably priced.

Day 2

Our second day in Rovaniemi was my favourite – if you’re planning a shorter stay than 3 days then put Lapland Winter Park at the top of your wish list as you can cover most of your itinerary items there and it offers the perfect winter wonderland for a fun day with the kids. We found Santa Claus Village very commercialised, whereas Lapland Winter Park allows you to play, try lots of winter sport activities and enjoy Finland in a more authentic way. The snowy forest setting is gorgeous, we had a buffet lunch included (fabulous food) and a full day of fun – tickets are pricey but it’s a great place to make memories with the kids that will last a lifetime.

The free shuttle bus leaves from outside the football stadium in Rovaniemi – the journey is around 20 minutes – hop on the earliest bus as you’ll need a full day at Lapland Winter Park. Our tickets were €84 each – we had to pay for 4 adult tickets due to the ages of our children but under 12s would be €54. The tickets included the buffet lunch (which was really tasty) and drinks – you could eat as much as you liked and we spent an hour relaxing in the restaurant. The food was really good quality (everything was gluten free so we could all enjoy it for a change!). The activities included in the entrance tickets come with all the equipment needed – you can cross country ski, ice-skate, snowshoe, feed the reindeer and more – plus it’s home to the longest sledging hill in Rovaniemi!

We had so much fun and tried it all – make sure you arrive early enough to fit it all in. We spent an hour of our day just playing in the snow which was so thick in the forest it came almost up to my bottom! There are huts dotted around for warming up, toasting marshmallows and having a rest. You can also tag on your paid bucket list activities – things like husky and reindeer rides, ice karting, snowmobiling and mini snowmobiles, plus the park has a sauna area too. Read my Lapland Winter Park guide for everything that you need to know about visiting Lapland Winter Park with the kids.

That evening, we hopped on the free shuttle bus back to the city, gobbled down some pizzas at our apartment and had a nap – we were all totally shattered after our day at the winter park! Then we got ready for bed and popped our snow suits on top of our pyjamas to head out for a chance to spot the Northern Lights. It was a 15 minute walk from the city to the Arctic Garden – one of the best spots to view the aurora on foot and for free – and we absolutely hit the jackpot around midnight. Seeing the Northern Lights really was a highlight of our trip and having a little midnight adventure with the kids made it all the more special. Lots of other people were gathered there too and the atmosphere was brilliant. If you want to avoid paying out for a pricey excursion, have a read of my guide – The best places to see the Rovaniemi Northern Lights without a tour.

Day 3

We ended our 3 days of snowy adventures with a snowmobile safari – there are lots of companies offering tours in Rovaniemi and I’d highly recommend adding it to your Lapland itinerary if you’re travelling with older kids. This was Lola’s favourite part of our trip! We pre-booked with NordicUnique Travels through Get Your Guide – it was just a 2 minute walk from our apartment and they provided a bus out to the safari site and overalls etc if needed. Once you arrive they’ll give you a balaclava, a helmet and your driving instructions. We booked this particular tour as they allowed children over 150cm to ride on the snowmobiles as a passenger. You can book various tours with things like a BBQ, Northern Lights hunting or even mini-snowmobiles for the younger ones so have a look at my guide on the 5 best Rovaniemi snowmobile tours for families to pick the best option for you.

We had an hour on the snowmobiles going through the snowy forest, they were actually surprisingly easy to drive and great fun. It cost €99 each (we paid for 4 adults due to the kids’ ages) though younger children may be cheaper. Annoyingly the price was reduced to €69 around a week before our trip, likely because we were visiting at the end of the season, so it could be worth booking last minute to save money. The staff were lovely on our snowmobile safari and it all went very smoothly – my NordicUnique Snowmobile Safari Review has all the details. After this we hopped back on the shuttle bus and came back to the city.

After lunch and a rest, we decided to head back to the Arctic Garden for a second time – this time not to see the aurora but for sledging. The hill is perfect for it and we were fortunate to have 2 sledges included with our apartment – I would highly recommend Piriko Apartments as it was so well located and well equipped with everything you could possibly need. Check out my Piriko Apartment Review for more information. It’s really easy to get around Rovaniemi on foot and via public transport so I would definitely recommend staying centrally for convenience.

When’s the best time to visit Lapland with kids?

If your family’s dream is snow, sledding and meeting Santa in a proper winter setting, December through to March is the most reliable window – often in November there just isn’t enough snow so booking too early in the season can be a risk. If budget matters and you still want snow, January and March can offer better value (and less crowds) than peak December. However, the temperature in January can drop as low as -30°C which can lead to cancelled excursions and intolerable outside conditions. If you want to avoid the extreme cold, late February – early March offers the perfect blend between snow and more manageable temperatures. By this time, there’s also a greater amount of daylight which is preferable for enjoying the activities and excursions on offer and it’s a fabulous time to see the Northern Lights. We visited the first week of March and the temperature was between -3°C and 0°C which was really pleasant.

How many days do you need in Rovaniemi with kids?

As I mentioned above, I think to get the best experience and make the most of your time in Rovaniemi having 3 full days to explore with the kids works really well. Allowing for a 5 day trip (4 nights) with a travel day either side means you can enjoy 3 days of excursions and adventures without rushing. We had so much fun just playing in the snow and sledging – plus you’ll want time to rest and warm up in between activities – so avoid booking to short of a trip. At a minimum, you need at least 2 full days for your visit and in this case I would recommend combining your visit to Santa Claus Village with the NordicUnique Snowmobile Safari as they are located opposite each other. You’ll also want to allow a whole day to visit Lapland Winter Park as there is a full day of fun to be had there and you can tag on paid activities if you like too.

What else might I want to see and do in Rovaniemi with kids?

For some alternative options for your visit to Lapland, you could also head to Ounasvaara for sledging and skiing – we would definitely have opted for a skiing day had we had a bit of extra time. If the weather is particularly cold you might prefer to visit Santa at SantaPark – it’s an indoor attraction inside a cavern where you can cross the Arctic Circle, take part in festive activities, watch shows and enjoy a magical train ride. (Though tickets are seasonal – where as you can see Santa in Santa Claus Village year-round.) For all the details about these activities and more take a look at my article: The 15 best things to do in Rovaniemi with kids.

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I hope that this article has helped you to plan out your perfect Lapland family holiday itinerary – Finland is an amazing place to visit over the winter months and Rovaniemi offers a great base with loads to do – 3 days is the perfect amount of time to have fun with the kids. Have a fabulous time and, to make it easy to plan your Rovaniemi adventure, check some of my other articles too: