The 10 best things to do in Rovaniemi with teenagers

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Rovaniemi may be known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, but there’s far more on offer and plenty to do with teenagers. Whether you’re visiting in the depths of winter or during the lighter months heading into spring, Rovaniemi offers a mix of Arctic adventure, simple outdoor fun and family-friendly attractions. We had the most amazing time with the kids – two teens age 13 and 14 – and I would definitely recommend Rovaniemi as a base for your Lapland adventure. You can easily get around on foot or via public transport, a lot of the excursions include transport and it’s only around 10 minutes from the airport. Check out our 3 day itinerary to see what we got up to and, for families planning their own trip, my DIY Lapland guide is a fabulous place to start. If you’re travelling with teenagers, here are the 10 best things to do in Rovaniemi with older kids:

1. Spend a day at Lapland Winter Park

Lapland Winter Park is a winter activity area just outside the city centre – it boasts the biggest sledging hill in Rovaniemi and you can try activities like ice-skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, as well as feeding the reindeer too. Some ticket options include access to a buffet lunch, which can make the day simpler for families, and the food is delicious! Of all of the things to do in Rovaniemi with teenagers, I think Lapland Winter Park offers the best spot for a really fun and authentic day in the snow. All of the equipment for the activities is included and there are huts for toasting marshmallows dotted around. If you don’t have a huge amount of time I would definitely prioritise a day a Lapland Winter Park – you can also tag on your paid bucket list experiences – things like husky and reindeer rides, ice-karting, snowmobiling and mini snowmobiles. To find out more, take a look at my guide: Lapland Winter Park Rovaniemi – is it worth visiting with kids?

2. Try a husky ride

A husky ride is one of the classic things to do in Lapland – plenty of places in Rovaniemi offer reindeer rides too but these did look very slow so for your thrill-seeking teenagers the huskies are much more fun! Shorter rides are available near Santa Claus Village, while longer safaris operate outside of the city centre. I think a mid-length ride offers the best value for money – we booked through Bearhill Husky via Get Your Guide which is located at the bottom of Santa Claus Village. 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. The guides are really knowledgeable and you can warm up in a hut with blueberry juice and biscuits afterwards. For lots of options, this guide is a great place to start: Husky Safaris in Rovaniemi – which one is worth it?

3. Hunt for the Northern Lights

Rovaniemi lies within the auroral zone, meaning the Northern Lights are visible when conditions are right – the season generally runs from late August to early April. One perk of visiting Lapland with teenagers is how much easier it is to do things at night, making a Rovaniemi aurora hunt a must for your itinerary! You can book guided tours (which can be combined with husky / reindeer rides or snowmobiling) or simply head to darker areas away from the city lights. It’s important to manage expectations, as sightings are never guaranteed, but when they do appear it’s unforgettable. Instead of booking a pricey excursion, we popped our snow suits over our pyjamas and did the 15 minute walk from Rovaniemi city centre to the Arctic Garden. It’s the easiest spot in Rovaniemi to view the aurora on foot and for free – and we absolutely hit the jackpot around midnight. For DIY adventures check out this article: The best places to see the Rovaniemi Northern Lights without a tour or click here to find Northern Lights tours.

4. Go ice-skating

Ice-skating surrounded by a snowy forest was one of my favourite moments on our trip to Rovaniemi – it’s the perfect activity with teenagers and, at somewhere like Lapland Winter Park, there are loads of other things to do too. Alternatively, over the colder months, outdoor ice rinks operate in and around the city – there are free places to skate though you’ll likely need to pay a little to hire skates and some do require you to bring your own. For really confident skaters, you can skate on a trail through the forest at Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park. With such beautiful scenery on your doorstep, I’m not sure there’s anywhere more magical to skate with the kids than Lapland.

5. Book a snowmobile safari

One of the best things to do in Rovaniemi for families with teenagers, a snowmobile safari is such good fun. It’s fast-paced and exciting, making it particularly appealing for older kids – Finn and Lola absolutely loved it! Drivers must hold a valid driving licence but teens can usually sit as passengers – depending on their height, age and the operator’s rules. We booked with NordicUnique Travels through Get Your Guide as they allowed children over 150cm to ride on the back (there’s no way my two would have wanted to be pulled along in a sled! 😂) but there are lots of different options to suit families. Arctic GM Experiences OY offer a Snowmobile Arctic Safari & BBQ tour or you can head out after dark with the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park for their Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari with Campfire. Have a look at my guide on the 5 best Rovaniemi snowmobile tours for families – or take a look my review of our snowmobiling experience – to pick the best option for you.

6. Go sledging with the kids

One of the best free things to do with the kids in Rovaniemi is sledging – and they’re never too old to go whizzing down the slopes! (I loved it too!) As I mentioned above, Lapland Winter Park offers a fabulously long sledging hill – it was such good fun – but there are plenty of places dotted around the city for free fun too. We had a great time whizzing down the hill at the Arctic Garden, which is about a 15 minute walk from central Rovaniemi. You could also head to Ounasvaara – a hill area just outside of the city centre that’s brilliant for simple snow fun. In winter, families head there to go sledding on designated slopes. It’s free to access and many of the apartments and hotels will have sledges for you to borrow. Otherwise, pack your own inflatable snow tube or sledge or buy a cheap one from a local supermarket.

7. Race on an ice-karting track

Another one of the most exciting things to do in Rovaniemi with older kids and teenagers (they’ll typically need to be at least 140cm tall depending on the provider) is ice-karting. This can be booked through a provider like Santa’s Motor Park – which is located near Santa Claus Village – or within some of the attractions in Rovaniemi like Lapland Winter Park. It looks like such good fun – my son really wanted to give it a go but unfortunately our budget was blown by that point! 😂 It appears to typically be priced around £70-£80 per person, so it’s definitely another one of the more expensive Lapland activities, but a great treat if you’re travelling with teens.

8. Visit the Arctic SnowHotel

The Arctic SnowHotel is one of the most unusual places that you can visit near Rovaniemi. Located about 30 minutes from the city centre, the hotel is rebuilt every winter entirely from snow and ice, with beautifully carved rooms, ice sculptures and glowing artwork throughout. Even if you’re not staying overnight, families can visit during the day to explore the snow hotel. Outside, the kids can enjoy tobogganing and kick sledding too – plus tickets can be purchased to include transfers if needed.

9. Have a go at skiing

Cross-country skiing is a Lapland speciality and it’s one of the best things to do with teenagers in Rovaniemi – my two loved the challenge! You can book a cross-country skiing excursion or give it a go at Lapland Winter Park where it’ll be included with your ticket. The route there is hard work going up hill but so much fun when you can zip back down! If your family enjoys skiing or snowboarding, you could also spend a day Ounasvaara Ski Resort. It’s located just a 10 minute drive from the centre of Rovaniemi and offers a number of gentle runs that are suitable for beginners and families. Equipment rental is available on site, and there are also ski schools if children want to try skiing for the first time. Even if you’re not planning a full ski holiday, it can be a fun way to experience Lapland’s snowy landscapes.

10. Enjoy the arctic animals

Most of the attractions in Rovaniemi feature reindeer – or for a full experience you can head to a reindeer farm. No matter how old my kids get they still absolutely adore anything to do with animals and feeding the reindeer at Lapland Winter Park was definitely a highlight of the trip for them. I think the reindeer must have been really full by the time they were finished! 😂 If your kids are particularly fond of animals you might also want to check out Ranua Wildlife Park – it’s around an hour from Rovaniemi but you can get tickets with transport included. It’s home to Finland’s only polar bear and 50 other arctic and northern animal species – they’ve got wolves, lynxes, wolverines, brown bears, arctic fox, owls, moose, reindeer, otters and more!

When’s the best time to visit Rovaniemi with teenagers?

The best bit about visiting Rovaniemi with teenagers is that it’s less important to visit in December (since they’ll be unlikely to want to visit Santa anyway!) and you can base your trip around the things they most want to do. December through to March is the most reliable window for snow – often in November there just isn’t enough snow so booking too early in the season can be a risk. However, the temperatures can be very low across December and January so it actually isn’t the best time to visit – it can drop as low as -30°C in January which can lead to cancelled excursions and intolerable outside conditions.

If you want to avoid the extreme cold, late February or early March will likely offer 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. You’ll also have fewer crowds than in peak times like December and many of the excursions will be cheaper. For the full ‘Lapland postcard’ experience with teenagers, travelling to Rovaniemi in late February or early March is likely the perfect time to visit!

Where are the best places to stay in Rovaniemi with kids?

There are plenty of fabulous places to stay in Rovaniemi with kids – I would definitely recommend picking somewhere in the city centre to ensure that you can easily get around on foot or via public transport if you’re not hiring a car. As I mentioned above, it’s a really walkable city so you’ll have plenty of shops and restaurants on your doorstep. You can catch buses to the attractions and excursions (often included in the cost) and our Uber to/from the airport was around £30 each way. We stayed with Piriko Apartments and they’d literally thought of everything – it came with condiments, toiletries, towels, a fully equipped kitchen, board games and even sledges! It was the perfect base and I’d highly recommend a stay there if you’re looking for self-catering accommodation in Rovaniemi – check out my full review of Piriko Apartments. Unlike a hotel, having space to spread out and not share one room is also a real bonus with teens!

I’ve written an article with lots of options for hotels, apartments and chalets to help you decide which is best for you. There are a number of family-friendly resorts in the Rovaniemi area offering different facilities and activities, as well as hotels with food included and posh igloo retreats. To see which option best fits your family and your budget, take a look at this article for more information: Where to stay in Rovaniemi with kids – the best hotels, apartments & igloos.

How many days do you need in Rovaniemi with teenagers?

I think to get the best experience and make the most of your time in Rovaniemi having 3 full days to explore 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 too short of a trip. At a minimum, you’ll need at least 2 full days for your visit and in this case I would recommend looking for combination excursions, or attractions which offer a lot in one place, to avoid wasting time on travel. You’ll also want to allow a whole day to visit Lapland Winter Park as there’s a full day of fun to be had there and you can tag on paid activities if you like too.

Is Rovaniemi worth a visit with teenagers?

Rovaniemi works well for families because it blends organised Arctic experiences with simple outdoor fun. You can balance bigger paid activities, such as husky rides or snowmobiling, with free experiences like sledding, forest walks and hunting out the aurora. Not everything needs to be a booked excursion to feel memorable and it is possible to keep things budget-friendly with some careful planning. Often it’s the simple moments – snow underfoot, warm drinks after skating, toasting marshmallows and snowball fights that become the best memories. It’s an easy city to get around and there’s plenty to do so for an unforgettable winter experience I would absolutely recommend visiting Rovaniemi with teens – it’s totally worth the trip and unlike anywhere else we’ve ever been. Lapland is definitely not just for little kids!

If you’d like more information about our Lapland getaway, I’ve written lots of guides covering just about everything, so make sure you check out my other articles to help you to plan your adventure in Rovaniemi. I’ve added some links below and I hope you have an incredible time…