15 things to do in Rovaniemi in summer 2027
Most travellers picture Rovaniemi covered in snow, with reindeer sleighs, frozen forests and the Northern Lights overhead. But those of us who live here know another side of Lapland entirely. Summer brings long days, green forests, open rivers and, for several weeks around midsummer, nights when the sun barely disappears below the horizon. Instead of chasing the Northern Lights, you can paddle a canoe late into the evening, hike through quiet forests, cycle beneath the Midnight Sun, pick wild berries or finish the day in a traditional Finnish sauna by the water.
And summer in Rovaniemi isn't only about nature. You can meet reindeer and huskies, visit Santa Claus, explore Arctic museums, discover Finnish culture and use Rovaniemi as a base for road trips deeper into Lapland. We are a local adventure company based in Rovaniemi, and our guides spend their summers hiking, paddling, cycling and exploring this region. So this guide isn't simply a list of attractions. We've put together the experiences we genuinely recommend, along with practical advice to help you decide what is worth doing, when to do it and whether you need a guide at all. Here are our 15 favourite things to do in Rovaniemi in summer.
Updated on 9th September 2026 by the Nordic Odyssey team.
SUMMARY
1. Experience the Midnight Sun
2. Take an E-Fatbike Trip out of Town
3. Go on a Canoe Trip
4. Learn about Local Cultures
5. Pet the Huskies
6. Go Bear-Watching
7. Relax in a Finnish Sauna
8. Explore Finnish Forests
9. Hike on a Tunturi
10. Ride your Horse
11. Meet Santa Claus and Cross the Arctic Circle
12. Visit an Authentic Reindeer Farm
13. Fish Like a Local
14. Visit Ranua Wildlife Park
15. Go for a Road Trip in Lapland
ROVANIEMI IN SUMMER AT GLANCE
Best time: Jun - August
Midnight Sun: Around early June–early July
Typical summer temperature: oRughly 15–25°C
Best for:
June: Midnight Sun, extremely long days, fresh green landscapes, fewer mosquitoes early in the month, and excellent conditions for hiking, cycling and canoeing.
July: Usually the warmest part of summer, with lush forests, long bright days, excellent conditions for outdoor activities, swimming and berry season beginning later in the month.
August: Cooler nights, berry and mushroom season, gradually darker evenings and the first chances to see the Northern Lights again toward the end of the month when the sky is dark and clear
Families: Excellent
Mosquitoes: Yes, especially around wetlands and forests
Rain: Always possible, bring waterproof layers
Santa Claus Village: Open in summer
Northern Lights: Generally an autumn and winter experience rather than midsummer
1. EXPERIENCE THE MIDNIGHT SUN
You're probably wondering: what is the midnight sun? Well, it's a natural phenomenon that occurs north of the Arctic Circle, at 66°33′N, during the summer months: beyond this latitude, the sun never completely sets below the horizon. Why? Because the Earth rotates on an axis tilted relative to the sun, and in summer, the North Pole is oriented towards the sun, meaning the further north you go, the higher the sun is in the sky at "night".
Rovaniemi is ideally located on the Arctic Circle, making it a prime location for observing the midnight sun. In 2025, the midnight sun in Rovaniemi will be visible from June 6 to July 7.
The yellow-orange evening light will mesmerize you, like an endless sunset... It's truly the perfect time to enjoy the landscapes under new colours. You can go canoeing, hiking under the midnight sun, or even an e-fatbike ride with the added bonus of magnificent views. If you prefer a relaxing evening, we have a nature sauna located outside Rovaniemi, where you can enjoy the midnight sun in complete privacy (SUPs are also available).
Is Rovaniemi worth visiting in summer? Yes. To learn more about the different ways to enjoy the midnight sun, you can also read our blog post dedicated to this phenomenon.
Rovaniemi in June
Midnight Sun
Very long daylight
Fresh green landscapes
Excellent hiking/canoeing
Rovaniemi in July
Warmest part of summer
Excellent outdoor conditions
Swimming/sauna
Canoeing
Hiking
Peak summer atmosphere
Rovaniemi in August
Darker evenings gradually return
Berry season
Late-summer colours
Possibility of aurora season beginning later in the month under suitable dark/clear conditions
2. TAKE AN E-FATBIKE RIDE OUT OF TOWN
A bike tour is definitely one of the top things to do in Rovaniemi in the summer! The best way to explore Rovaniemi is with e-fatbikes: these are sturdy, fat-wheeled bikes designed for adventure on any terrain. They offer exceptional grip and powerful electric assistance, allowing you to explore the city of Rovaniemi and its surroundings even more easily and comfortably!
Various routes are possible, whether along a river, through the magnificent forests around Rovaniemi, or even to Santa Claus Village. All our tours are tailored to the rider's level and preferences, so beginners are welcome!
You can choose from these different guided excursions:
– An electric fatbike tour to the reindeer farm
– A cultural tour by electric fatbike
– An e-fatbike tour with stunning viewpoints to observe the midnight sun
If you want to explore Rovaniemi independently and at your own pace, you can also rent classic fatbikes and electric fatbikes for 3 hours, the whole day, or longer!
SUMMER OFFER : 20% OFF BIKE RENTALS
Make the most of summer with 20% off our 2 hours, 4 hours, and 8 hours bike rentals until September 30th.
*Offer valid until September 30th. The 20% discount applies to all bike rental durations, excludes insurance, and cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion, or discount.
3. CANOEING ON LAKES AND RIVERS IN ROVANIEMI
What would a summer vacation in Finland, the Land of a Thousand Lakes (which boasts many more: no fewer than 188,000 lakes!) be without a water activity like canoeing?
Canoeing is an excellent way to explore the natural landscapes of the Far North. Paddling to off-the-beaten-track locations, you'll feel the tranquility of the surrounding nature and understand why so many people have decided to settle here, so far from everything! Interested? We have different options to suit all skill levels! A half-day canoe adventure is a great start to exploring the rivers and lakes of Lapland. This tour is also available to enjoy the midnight sun: the perfect combination to admire the beautiful Arctic lights. Worried about your travel time being too short? Then our full-day canoe adventure will give you plenty of time to explore even more remote locations. For the more adventurous, we offer an overnight canoe trip that will give you the unique opportunity to completely disconnect and immerse yourself in nature.
Our canoes are also available for rental from our canoe base camp located near the Artikum Museum. If you're looking for something new, don't hesitate to rent a stand-up paddleboard to challenge yourself in the most beautiful surroundings possible!
4. LEARN ABOUT THE LOCAL CULTURES
As the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi is also the ideal place to learn more about local cultures through museums and cultural tours. There are several interesting museums in Rovaniemi: Korundi, the local contemporary art museum; the Pilke Science Center, with its exhibitions on Nordic forests and resource management; and the famous Arktikum Museum. Housed in the remarkable building designed by world-renowned architect Alvar Aalto, the Arktikum Museum brings together culture, nature, and science, as well as the history of the Far North. In summer, from early June to late September, the Rovaniemi Heritage Museum opens its doors: you'll discover some treasures from the past!
Like the locals, we also love spending summer outdoors! So why not combine culture and the outdoors? For example, take an e-fatbike tour and follow your passionate guide through Rovaniemi's most interesting cultural sites. You'll be able to learn more about Finnish culture while admiring the magnificent landscapes of Lapland.
If you're looking for an authentic summer activity in Rovaniemi, we also recommend the Myths and Legends of Finland tour. In a traditional teepee and around a fire, you'll discover Finland from a completely different perspective as you listen to these unique stories!
5. PET THE HUSKIES
Are you visiting Lapland in the summer and worried about missing out on the sled dogs? Don't panic! While it's not possible to go dog sledding during the summer (it's too hot for the dogs to get that much exercise!), most tourist agencies in Rovaniemi still offer tours of a husky farm.
You can meet the huskies (and their puppies!), take photos, get lots of cuddles, and learn from the mushers the training methods used to pull the sleds. We offer a reindeer/husky combo where you can spend time with these typical Arctic animals in the same day, visiting ethical, family-run farms.
Some kennels also offer a one-hour walk with the huskies.
In autumn, you can participate in training the dogs for the winter season. You can drive your own husky-pulled kart and venture into the forests!
6. EXPERIENCE A BEAR-WATCHING OVERNIGHT
Watching a brown bear in the wild is one of the most memorable wildlife experiences you can have in Finland. Brown bears are Finland's largest predators, but they are naturally wary of humans, which makes seeing one in the wild a rare and special experience.
Bear-watching tours take place in areas where bears are known to move and are organised from specially designed hides, allowing visitors to observe the animals from a safe distance without approaching them. The bear-watching season generally runs from spring to autumn, outside the bears' winter denning period, although sightings can never be guaranteed: these are wild animals moving freely in their natural environment.
Summer is an especially interesting time for bear watching in northern Finland. The long hours of daylight allow you to observe the surrounding wilderness late into the evening and, around the Midnight Sun season, throughout the bright summer night. Depending on luck and the animals' movements, you may see one or several bears as well as other wildlife.
For travellers looking for a deeper wildlife experience, we recommend a two-day excursion to discover Arctic wildlife. The excursion combines a bear-watching overnight with other opportunities to discover the animals and traditions of Lapland, including a visit to a reindeer farm, a husky kennel and Ranua Wildlife Park.
7. RELAX IN A FINNISH SAUNA
What could be more Finnish than a sauna? Sauna is much more than a way to warm up or relax: it is deeply rooted in Finnish culture and everyday life. In fact, sauna culture in Finland was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.
For Finns, going to the sauna is traditionally a moment to slow down, relax and enjoy a sense of peace. At the heart of the Finnish sauna experience is löyly: the steam and heat created when water is thrown onto the hot sauna stones. There are many different types of sauna in Finland, including wood-heated, electric and traditional smoke saunas.
One of the most enjoyable ways to experience sauna in summer is surrounded by nature. Enjoy an evening in a traditional private sauna outside Rovaniemi, where transportation is included and you can relax in complete privacy. Between sauna sessions, cool down in the fresh water directly from the sauna pontoon and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the surrounding Finnish nature.
During the Midnight Sun season, the experience becomes even more special. You can also combine your sauna session with a visit to an authentic reindeer farm or with a relaxing canoe tour, allowing you to enjoy two very different sides of Finnish culture and nature in one experience.
8. EXPLORE FINNISH FORESTS
When we think of Finland and Lapland, we imagine its lakes but also its immense forests. Finland is indeed the most forested country in Europe (along with Sweden). Finnish forests are characterized by the presence of tall trees, unique wildlife such as reindeer, moose, and bears, as well as unspoiled lakes and rivers.
Lappish nature evokes unspoiled land and tranquility. Hiking in the forests of Lapland is a fantastic experience that offers visitors a unique and peaceful opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the region. Finland has an extensive network of well-marked hiking trails that go through countryside, forests, and national parks, allowing hikers easy access to nature.
You can choose to enjoy the nature around Rovaniemi independently, renting camping equipment if necessary.
Hiking in Lapland is particularly enjoyable in summer and autumn, when the weather is mild and the landscape transforms into a veritable palette of colors. Embark on an adventure in the Lappish forest with our Arctic guides and learn all the tricks of survival. Learn how to make a fire and identify various plant species during our Arctic wilderness hike. Another must-do hike from Rovaniemi, whether in winter or summer, is the Korouoma Canyon hike.
For locals, forests are the perfect place to breathe fresh air, recharge, and pick berries. In summer and autumn, the forests around Rovaniemi are covered with blueberries, lingonberries, and what is known as Lapland's gold: cloudberries! Why not have fun picking them during a hike with one of our experienced guides who will share their knowledge of Finnish nature with you?
9. HIKE ON A TUNTURI FROM ROVANIEMI
Tunturi is a Finnish word for a mountain formation found in Finnish Lapland. Tunturis are characterized by rounded peaks, sparse vegetation, and rocky terrain, offering magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Take the opportunity to explore and appreciate the beauty of this landscape.
To prepare for the hike, check the weather conditions and prepare accordingly. Tunturis can be difficult to navigate in bad weather, so make sure to choose a day with favorable conditions. Wear appropriate clothing and equipment: hiking in tunturis requires sturdy hiking boots, warm layers, and waterproof clothing. It's also recommended to bring a map, a compass, plenty of water, and snacks. Don't worry if you didn't remember to bring some of your own equipment. You can easily rent all your hiking and camping gear from our agency!
When hiking, remember to follow the marked trails. Tunturis are generally protected areas, and it's important to stay on designated hiking trails to avoid damaging the ecosystem. It's also important to respect wildlife: these magnificent landscapes are home to a wide variety of wild animals, including reindeer and a multitude of birds. Respect their habitat and observe them from a distance.
The closest tunturi to Rovaniemi is Pyhä-Luosto, a 1.5-hour drive away. The national park offers an excellent opportunity for a hike accessible to most hikers, including beginners.
We also recommend visiting the Luosto Amethyst Mine in summer from Rovaniemi: hike in the heart of a magnificent Finnish national park, find your own amethyst to take home, and learn more about the geology and nature around you.
10. GO HORSERIDING IN ROVANIEMI
If you're an animal lover, don't miss the opportunity to explore Lappish nature on a horseback ride! This horseback riding tour from Rovaniemi, suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike, will allow you to discover the region from a new perspective: you can ride your horse independently, with a guide holding the rope, or, if you don't want to ride yourself, in a horse-drawn cart.
The horses live in a family-run, ethical stable with passionate staff. The horses are treated with care and respect, and are never overridden to preserve their health. Irish Cob horses have a calm temperament and are hardy and well-adapted to Finland's cold temperatures.
Click here if you want to discover magnificent forest trails during an afternoon or evening on horseback, in complete peace of mind!
11. MEET SANTA CLAUS AND CROSS THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
Rovaniemi is known worldwide as the official hometown of Santa Claus. Its most famous resident welcomes visitors all year round, including... in the summer!
You'll no doubt be captivated by the Christmas carols playing over the loudspeakers and the eternal Christmas spirit, carefully maintained throughout the year by the shops and hotels. But even without the snow, Santa Claus Village is worth a visit.
In addition to meeting Santa Claus, you can cross the Arctic Circle, send letters bearing the exclusive Arctic Circle postmark from the official Santa Claus post office (and receive them for Christmas!), and find numerous restaurants and souvenir shops. Santa Claus Village is easily accessible by public transport, but there are also lovely walking and cycling trails connecting it to Rovaniemi city center that are well worth exploring!
What if, instead of using public transport, you travel to Santa Claus Village by bike? You have the option of renting an e-fatbike or joining a cultural tour with one of our experienced guides who will also introduce you to lesser-known corners related to the cultural, architectural, and historical aspects of Rovaniemi.
12. VISIT AN AUTHENTIC REINDEER FARM
Did you know that Lapland has more reindeer than people? Reindeer are arguably the region's most iconic animal. In summer, they can be found everywhere, along the roadsides or in the forests near Rovaniemi.
Visiting a reindeer farm is an experience worth experiencing during your summer vacation in Lapland. The local reindeer herders will be happy to share their way of life with you, and you can feed the reindeer directly from your hands. Summer is also the time when the calves grow, and the males develop their powerful antlers!
There are several reindeer farms around Rovaniemi, which you can reach by car or, even better, by bike! But before you go, make sure you choose an authentic, long-established farm and not a tourist trap. If in doubt, you can always ask us first!
To gain a deeper understanding of the local way of life and get closer to Finnish culture, we recommend combining a visit to a reindeer farm with a traditional sauna experience. And if reindeer pique your interest in Arctic wildlife, we recommend a visit to the reindeer farm with a visit to Ranua Wildlife Park.
13. FISH LIKE A LOCAL
In Lapland, fishing is a must-do activity for locals and anyone visiting the region. With over 188,000 lakes and 79,000 km of rivers and streams, Lapland offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the world. The main fish species found in Lappish waters are trout, grayling, whitefish, pike, perch, and Arctic char.
To fish in Lapland, you will need a fishing license. These licenses can be purchased online or at local tourist offices. Permits are generally valid for specific periods and areas, so be sure to check before purchasing one.
It is also possible to combine fishing in Lapland with other outdoor activities such as hiking or boating. It's a unique way to discover the beauty of Lappish nature and catch your own fish.
If you prefer a guided tour, we recommend trying fishing from a boat, which will allow you to admire beautiful scenery while enjoying one of the locals' favorite leisure activities! The guide will provide you with fishing equipment and help you catch your meal!
14. VISIT RANUA WILDLIFE PARK
Located an hour's drive from Rovaniemi, Ranua Wildlife Park is the northernmost wildlife park in the world. It is home to approximately 50 species of wild animals and 200 individuals. Within the park, you can see polar bears, brown bears, reindeer, wolves, wolverines, lynx, predatory birds, otters, and many other species. Most of them are almost impossible to observe in their natural habitat, so this is your chance to meet them!
This park is Lapland's main tourist attraction for families and groups with children. In summer, most of the animals are easy to spot because they can't hide under the snow. Your guide will share their extensive knowledge of Arctic flora and fauna. This is also a great opportunity for children to ask any questions they may have!
You can also combine a visit to Ranua Wildlife Park with a morning visit to an authentic reindeer farm. If you'd like to learn more, join our Arctic Animals trip from Rovaniemi by adding bear watching to your itinerary.
15. ROAD TRIP IN LAPLAND
Still unsure what to choose? The good news is, you don't have to! One of our most popular summer itineraries starts in Rovaniemi and continues north to Ivalo or Tromsø in Norway, combining some of the best experiences and landscapes of the Arctic along the way. Along the way, your journey can combine hiking, wildlife, reindeer and huskies, canoeing, Finnish sauna, the Midnight Sun and some of the most spectacular wilderness in the North.
With a private guide and a personalised itinerary, we adapt the journey to your interests, pace and available time. From the forests and fells of Finnish Lapland to the dramatic mountains and fjords of Northern Norway, the road north is an adventure in itself. Want to experience the Arctic beyond Rovaniemi? Contact us at info@nordicodyssey.net and let us create your summer journey from Rovaniemi.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Rovaniemi worth visiting in summer?
Absolutely! Rovaniemi is very different in summer compared with winter, but there is plenty to experience. Long days and the Midnight Sun make summer an excellent season for hiking, canoeing, cycling, fishing, wildlife experiences and road trips through Lapland. It is also a great time to experience Finnish sauna culture and explore the forests, rivers and lakes surrounding the city.
What can you do in Rovaniemi when it rains?
A rainy day is a good opportunity to discover Rovaniemi's museums and cultural attractions, such as Arktikum, Korundi and the Pilke Science Centre. A Finnish sauna is another excellent rainy-day experience. Light rain does not necessarily mean cancelling outdoor plans either—proper waterproof clothing can make a forest walk surprisingly enjoyable.
Is Santa Claus Village open during summer?
Yes. Santa Claus Village welcomes visitors throughout the year, including summer. You can meet Santa Claus and cross the Arctic Circle even when there is no snow.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQ page.
Plan Your summer Holiday
Would you like help creating the ideal activity programme for your summer holiday in Rovaniemi? Our local team can organise a personalised schedule based on your travel dates, interests, preferred pace and conditions.
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