Do you need a car in Rovaniemi? Visiting Lapland without driving

Table of Contents

If you’re looking to visit Lapland without driving in the snow, you’ll likely be wondering if you need a car in Rovaniemi. Driving in snow and ice can feel intimidating, especially if you’re travelling with children and have never experienced proper Arctic winter conditions before. Despite having driven all over Europe in the summer months we felt exactly the same way but, the good news is, you can absolutely visit Rovaniemi without a car for your Lapland adventure. Whether you should hire one depends on your itinerary, accommodation location and confidence driving in winter. Here’s everything you need to know to help you decide whether a car is necessary for your trip and I’ve sprinkled in costs and our own experiences from our break in Rovaniemi.

How far is Rovaniemi Airport from the city centre?

Rovaniemi Airport is located around 8-9km from central Rovaniemi. The journey to the city centre typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes by car, depending on road conditions and where you’re staying. The airport is actually closer to Santa Claus Village than it is to the town centre, with just a few minutes’ drive between them. This can be convenient if you’re staying near the Arctic Circle area. If you’re not hiring a car, you can travel between the airport and central Rovaniemi by bus or taxi. Because the distance is short, transfer times are relatively quick compared to larger cities. For families arriving late in the evening or travelling with children in winter conditions, the short journey makes logistics much easier.

We hopped onto the Uber app after our flight landed – it was around £30 each way for a private taxi that seated 6-8 people (we opted for a larger one to accommodate our bags easily). When choosing where to stay without a car, it’s worth factoring in both airport distance and proximity to the attractions you plan to visit. We booked with Piriko Apartments – a 2 bedroom self-catering apartment in central Rovaniemi – which made it really easy to get around. It’s proximity to the airport is one of the reasons that so many families pick Rovaniemi for their Lapland base.

Is Rovaniemi a walkable city?

Rovaniemi city centre is compact and easy to walk around – it’s one of the easiest places that we’ve navigated on our travels in Europe. Shops, restaurants, supermarkets, apartments and hotels are all located within a relatively small area. This makes Rovaniemi such a convenient place to stay for a Lapland adventure with the kids – even if you choose to go without hiring a car. If you’re staying centrally, you can comfortably explore the town on foot. In winter, pavements are maintained, but they can be snowy or icy, so proper snow boots with good grip are important. Walking around in -10°C to -20°C temperatures is manageable when layered correctly, and many families find it part of the Arctic experience rather than a problem. Make sure you’ve got the right clothes – check out my article: Lapland packing list for families: What you really need in -20°C! – and you’ll be well prepared for the weather.

Public transport, taxis and Uber in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi has a local bus network that connects the city centre with key locations, including Santa Claus Village and the airport. Buses are generally reliable and operate throughout the year so if you want to head outside of town it’s really easy to do so. The city is designed to operate in snow and icy conditions, so the weather shouldn’t lessen any services or hinder you getting around without a car. For short stays, many families find that using local buses for major journeys and walking within the centre is perfectly manageable. It’s always worth checking timetables in advance to make things easier when you arrive – and to avoid wasting time. With the internet at your finger tips it honestly couldn’t be any easier and we had no trouble exploring at all.

Taxi companies and Uber are both widely available in Rovaniemi and easy to use – it’s really as simple as hopping onto the Uber app as and when you need it. You can book in advance or find taxis waiting at key locations such as the airport and city centre. Taxi journeys within the town are relatively short in distance, which helps keep costs reasonable compared to larger cities, although they are still more expensive than buses. For most families staying in central Rovaniemi, a combination of walking, local buses and occasional taxis is more than enough to manage a short Lapland trip without hiring a car.

Getting to Santa Claus Village without a car

Santa Claus Village is located about 8 km from central Rovaniemi and you don’t need a car to reach it. Local buses run between the city centre and Santa Claus Village, and the journey takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Taxis are also readily available and take roughly 10 to 15 minutes depending on conditions. If you’re only planning to visit the village once or twice, using public transport or taxis is often simpler and cheaper than hiring a car for your entire stay. We hopped on the Apukka Resort shuttle bus, which picked up in the city centre just a short walk from our hotel. You can pay on the bus – it was €20 each way for our family of four – and there were multiple options throughout the day in both directions. For heading home, you’ll need to use the under pass at Santa Claus Village to reach the bus stop on the opposite site of the road.

What about Lapland winter activities?

Most of the popular excursions such as snowmobiling and husky safaris include transport from central meeting points or your accommodation. This means you typically don’t need to worry about driving yourself to remote locations and the transport cost will be included with your activity rather than costing you an additional sum on top. If most of your activities are pre-booked with transport included, a car becomes less necessary. We booked our snowmobile adventure through NordicUnique Travels – they ran a shuttle bus from their office in the city centre so we hopped on that to reach the safari site. Many of the activities also run from in or near Santa Claus Village, so you can also combine your excursions with a visit there to cut down on travel time and costs. We booked our husky experience through Bearhill Husky which operates from Santa Claus Village.

Visiting Lapland Winter Park without a car

Our day at Lapland Winter Park was my favourite experience of the whole trip – it’s located a short drive from central Rovaniemi and fortunately transport is included with your entry ticket. The Lapland Winter Park shuttle bus collects from both central Rovaniemi (by the football stadium) and Santa Claus Village several times a day, with return options from late afternoon and into the evening. We hopped on the first bus at 10.40am which, after the 20 minute journey, dropped us at the park ready for opening time at 11am. We then caught the 4.30pm shuttle bus back – but there was a later one too at 6pm which coincided with their closing time. (We would have stayed longer but we were shattered! 😂) If those collection points or times don’t work for you, it would just be a short and easy taxi journey. Even if you used taxis a few times during your stay in Rovaniemi it would likely still be more cost-effective than factoring in car hire and parking. (And it’s a lot less hassle!)

Seeing the Northern Lights without driving

One of the biggest reasons people consider hiring a car is to chase the Northern Lights but it’s really not necessary. While driving slightly outside the city can reduce light pollution, it’s not essential and we were able to find them easily on foot just a short 15 minute walk from our apartment in central Rovaniemi. You can often see the aurora from darker areas within or near the city, such as along the riverbanks or in the Ounasvaara area. On strong activity nights, displays can be visible even from central locations – we could also see the aurora faintly near our apartment on our walk home. We went to the Arctic Garden for our DIY Northern Lights hunt and it was absolutely fabulous. Lots of people had also had the same idea, which made the atmosphere lovely, and our magical midnight adventure didn’t cost us a penny!

There are lots of ways to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi without hiring a car – you’ll need a clear sky (stars are a great sign), certain times of year are more likely and there are aurora websites which tell you the chances of sightings all over Lapland. We used a mixture of it all and hit the jackpot. For all the details, and various locations, check out my article: The best places to see the Rovaniemi Northern Lights without a tour. There are also loads of companies offering aurora tours and it could be good fun to combine it with a snowmobile safari if you were planning to book one anyway. If you don’t have any luck on foot, or want to journey out into the wilderness to look for the aurora, then booking onto an organised tour might be a good option for you. Here are three fabulous options:

1. Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park: Aurora Borealis snowmobile safari with campfire

The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park offers an Aurora Borealis snowmobile safari with a campfire – it’s perfect for families looking for the ultimate Northern Lights experience alongside fun on the snowmobiles. The trip is suitable for children aged 4 and above but bear in mind that the temperatures in Lapland obviously drop even lower once the sun disappears (something to consider if you’re travelling with little ones). However, children can join the safari sitting on a sledge under warm blankets. Here’s what this tour includes:

Take an exhilarating late-night snowmobile ride
Look for the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle
Enjoy a break with juice and biscuits by a campfire
Transportation from the City Center of Rovaniemi
Approximately 2 hours of snowmobiling
Winter clothes (overalls, boots, and gloves)
Snowmobile equipment (balaclava and helmet)

Click here to check out the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari on Get Your Guide.

2. Santa Claus Reindeer: Aurora reindeer rides

The aurora reindeer sleigh rides from provider Santa Claus Reindeer offer a magical 2 in 1 night-time experience. Step into a fairytale as you glide silently through a snow-covered forest and above you, if you’re lucky, the sky will come alive with the magical dance of the Northern Lights. Then visit the reindeer enclosure where you can meet the reindeer up close, take part in feeding and learn about their daily routines. Afterwards, families can warm up by the fire with a hot drink and a small snack. If you fancy an aurora reindeer ride, this one includes:

Evening reindeer sleigh ride with close contact to the reindeer
Visit to the reindeer enclosure with feeding
Time in a warm wooden kota with a hot drink and light snack
Guided experience hosted by the team working with the reindeer daily
Transfers from three given pickup placements

Click here to check out the Aurora Reindeer Rides from Santa Claus Reindeer on Get Your Guide.

3. Christmas House Safaris: Aurora husky safaris through the forest

The Lapland husky rides are great fun if you’re looking for something a little speedier than a reindeer ride! The aurora husky safaris through the forest from provider Christmas House Safaris are likely best suited to older kids due to the nature and timing of the activity but children of all ages are welcome – they’ll sit safely in the sled enjoying the thrill wrapped in warm blankets. Afterwards, families can warm up by the fire with a cup of hot berry juice and a small snack. If you fancy a Northern Lights husky adventure, this one includes:

Thermal overalls and winter boots
Round-trip transportation
30 minute husky sleigh ride (approximately 5km distance)
Hot berry juice and a small snack
English-speaking guide

Click here to check out the Aurora Husky Safaris from Christmas House Safaris on Get Your Guide.

When hiring a car might be helpful

There are some situations where hiring a car makes sense. If you’re staying outside of the city centre in a remote cabin, daily taxi fares could quickly add up. If you want maximum flexibility to explore lakes, countryside roads or nature areas independently, having a car gives you freedom. It can also be useful if you’d prefer not to rely on bus timetables or if you’re travelling with older children and want to explore further afield at your own pace. The key consideration is your comfort with winter driving. Roads are cleared and maintained, but they can still be icy – though rental cars are equipped with winter tyres, which are mandatory in Finland during the winter months.

The best areas to stay in Rovaniemi without a car

If you’re planning to visit Rovaniemi without hiring a car, where you stay will make a big difference to how easy it is to get around, buy food and enjoy all of your Lapland bucket list experiences. The most practical option is to stay in central Rovaniemi. As I mentioned above, the city centre is compact and walkable – with supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and tour meeting points all close together. Many organised excursions offer pickup from central collection points, buses and taxis are easily available and you can head to shops on foot. We really appreciated being in the city centre and it made getting around so simple and stress free. Staying centrally also means that you can walk to the Ounasjoki riverbanks or the Arctic Garden for Northern Lights spotting, reach restaurants without needing taxis and pop back to your accommodation quickly if temperatures are very low.

Another convenient area is Ounasvaara – particularly if you’re staying at Santasport or Sky Ounasvaara Hotel. Ounasvaara is slightly outside the main centre but still close enough to reach by taxi in around five minutes. It offers access to forest trails and sledding areas without feeling remote – and it’s another spot that’s recommended for aurora hunting. You can also ski in Ounasvaara so, if you’re looking to spend some time on the slopes whilst your in Rovaniemi, it could be a useful base for your stay. However, you will likely rely on taxis or buses more frequently than if you stay directly in town so that’s something to consider. It may also be worth looking at hotels with half board options if you’re staying outside of the city centre to make meal times less stressful.

If your priority is being close to Santa Claus Village, you could stay in accommodation near the village itself. This works well if most of your activities are based there. However, it is further from the city centre, so you would need to factor in transport if you plan to explore the town regularly or want to access to shops and restaurants outside of Santa Claus Village. Accommodation prices on the resorts for places like Santa Claus Village and Lapland Winter Park can also be much higher than a budget-friendly hotel or an apartment option in the city centre, so that’s something to consider as well.

The least practical option for visiting Lapland without a car would be for families who want to stay outside of Rovaniemi in an isolated cabin or igloo. While they can look magical, not only will your accommodation likely be expensive you’d also need to rely on taxis, particularly as bus connections would be more limited. So, if you want to have a secluded stay (and I don’t blame you – the Lapland igloos and forest huts do look incredible) make sure you budget for additional transport costs. For most families visiting Lapland for three to four nights, staying in central Rovaniemi offers the best balance of convenience, walkability and access to tours when travelling without a car. It worked perfectly for us! To explore all of your options take a look at my article: Where to stay in Rovaniemi with kids – the best hotels, apartments & igloos.

Is it cheaper to visit Rovaniemi without a car?

For many families staying centrally and booking organised activities it’s likely to be cheaper not to hire a car as car hire, fuel and insurance costs can quickly add up. Plus, you may even need to pay for parking depending on where you’re staying, particularly if there isn’t any parking included with your accommodation type. If you’ll only need to rely on public transport a handful of times, buses and taxis are often more economical. Rovaniemi isn’t a sprawling city, and most key attractions are relatively close together. If your accommodation is central and your excursions include transfers, you can comfortably manage without driving. Here’s how we got around during our Rovaniemi trip and what we spent on travel:

Day 1: Uber from airport to Rovaniemi city centre, which cost around £30, then wandered the city on foot for shopping and dinner.
Day 2: Buses to and from Santa Claus Village for a walk about and our husky experience – €20 each way which worked out about £35 in total. Explored on foot and popped to the shops again that evening.
Day 3: Hopped on the free shuttle bus to and from Lapland Winter Park and used our feet to aurora hunt at the Arctic Garden in the evening – no travel spend.
Day 4: Took the free shuttle bus to and from our snowmobile safari – included within the experience with NordicUnique Travels. Then headed out on foot for sledging – no travel spend.
Day 5: Uber from our apartment in Rovaniemi city centre to the airport – which cost around £30.
Total travel spend for our Rovaniemi visit without a hire car: £95 – you definitely don’t need a car for a family Lapland trip if you stay centrally.

Final thoughts

If you want to take a closer peak at what we got up to make sure you check out my 3 day itinerary article – honestly we had the perfect trip and I would definitely recommend taking the kids to Lapland for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I also think a DIY trip works well for both budget and making the best use of your time – so take a look around the blog to help with your trip planning – I’ve added links to lots of my other articles below. (There are loads!) You really don’t need to hire a car to enjoy Rovaniemi with the kids – in fact it’ll likely be cheaper and easier without – the city is well set up for tourists wanting to experience the best bits of Lapland. The city centre is walkable, buses and taxis are readily available and many activities include transport. Have a great trip and check out these articles too: