Getting around Rovaniemi in winter

Visit Rovaniemi describes the town as small and walkable, and for the centre that holds: museums, cafés and restaurants are within a short walk of each other, and the Arktikum is about ten minutes on foot from the middle of town. The trouble starts with the places most visitors come for. Santa Claus Village and the marked Arctic Circle line are 8 km north of the centre, and SantaPark is 7 km out. Many husky, reindeer and snowmobile tours include hotel pick-up, so you may need public transport only for the village and the occasional trip into town.

City buses (Linkkari)

Local buses in Rovaniemi run under the name Linkkari. The city organises the service and Koiviston Auto Oulu Oy operates it. The main stop for city buses is on Ruokasenkatu in the centre. The winter timetable is valid from 12 August 2026 to 6 June 2027. Because of bridge works on Ruokasenkatu, the buses were running on diversions in early autumn 2026, with stops at Ruokasenpuisto, and the detour was expected to end around week 43 (late October). Check the current stop if you arrive in the first weeks of the season.

The centre, the University of Lapland and Santa Claus Village are all in fare zone A, so one single ticket covers the ride to the Arctic Circle. A single ticket allows transfers to other buses within 60 minutes.

Bus 8 to Santa Claus Village

Bus 8 is the line most visitors use. It runs all year from the railway station yard via Ruokasenkatu to Napapiiri, the stop at the Arctic Circle. From the station to Ruokasenkatu takes five minutes, and from Ruokasenkatu to the village 30 minutes. On weekdays the bus leaves the station roughly every 45 minutes, with the first departure at 05:50. Some weekday departures run only on school days. At the weekend the timetable is thinner, with six departures from the railway station at 11:15, 12:30, 13:45, 15:00, 16:15 and 17:30, and on Saturdays and Sundays the bus goes directly without the detour through Rantavitikka. Look up the return times before you set off, especially at the weekend.

Tickets and paying

You can buy a single ticket from the driver in cash, with exact money or a small note, or with the most common debit and credit cards. Contactless payment works with Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard and Eurocard, as well as Google Pay and Apple Pay. Tell the driver that you want to pay contactless and name your zone. A contactless payment only covers your own trip and cannot be used for reduced fares. Large items of luggage cost extra and have to be paid in cash on board.

Visit Rovaniemi recommends the Waltti Mobile app, which sells tickets at a discount and shows the buses in real time. The journey planner is also online at rovaniemi.digitransit.fi. A Waltti ticket machine stands on the second floor of the Rinteenkulma shopping centre at Koskikatu 25. The buses have space for prams and wheelchairs.

One local habit is worth copying. In the dark months, Linkkari suggests waving a reflector or the lit screen of your phone at the stop so that the driver sees you.

Santa's Express, Airport Express and the Apukka shuttle

Besides the city buses there are private lines aimed at visitors. Santa's Express runs a loop from the railway station through the centre to SantaPark, Santa Claus Village and the airport, and Airport Express collects passengers at the airport. According to Santa Claus Village, both run from November to March. They take no cash: pay by card on board or buy online. In autumn and winter the Apukka Shuttle Bus also runs between the city centre, Santa Claus Village and Apukka. SantaPark, which lies on the Santa's Express route, is about a ten-minute drive from the city and has free parking.

Taxis

Visit Rovaniemi says taxis are easy to find, especially around the centre and the airport. The official companies are Lähitaksi, Menevä, Santa Line and Taksi Rovaniemi, and the tourist board advises using only official taxis and asking for the fare before you get in. Taksi Rovaniemi has a free booking app, and Menevä runs many electric cars that can be booked in advance through its app. From the centre to Santa Claus Village is a taxi ride of about 8 km, and the village has its own taxi rank for the way back.

Walking in the cold and dark

Walking is the easiest way to get around the centre, and in winter you need the right shoes. Visit Rovaniemi advises footwear with good grip or separate ice cleats, shorter steps and no rushing. Take studded shoes off before you enter the Arktikum. Wear a reflector so that drivers can see you in the dark; Visit Rovaniemi calls it a popular Finnish way to stay safe. Cross roads with care, because cars cannot brake as quickly on ice as in summer.

The river is the one place in town to stay away from. The City of Rovaniemi warns that the river ice in the central area is not safe, and that between the Jätkänkynttilä Bridge and the railway bridge it is dangerous all winter. The current is strong and the ice is deceptively thin, and footprints on it do not mean it will hold you. If you want to go out on the ice, book a guided trip.

For a walk out of town, cross the Jätkänkynttilä Bridge towards Ounasvaara. The nearest point of the Ounasvaara Winter Trail is 1.6 km east of the centre, and the trail is groomed by snowmobile for walkers at the start of the season. The ski resort on the same hill is about 4 km from the centre. It has no shuttle of its own, but parking is free.

Driving a hire car

Several hire companies have desks at the airport. Before you set off, know the winter rules. Finnish law requires winter tyres from November to March whenever the weather or road conditions call for them, with at least 3.0 mm of tread, and studded tyres are allowed from the start of November to the end of March. Hire cars come with winter tyres in the season. Headlights must be on at all times, and in winter the speed limits drop to 80 km/h on country roads and 100 km/h on motorways. Visit Finland warns of black ice on bridges and shaded stretches, and notes that many smaller roads are only ploughed, not salted. Fintraffic's road weather service shows current conditions and road cameras.

Reindeer are the bigger hazard. The Reindeer Herders' Association counts 4,000 to 5,000 reindeer hit by trains and cars in northern Finland every year, mainly in October, November and December, with dusk and dawn the riskiest times. Road salt can draw the animals onto the road. If you see one reindeer, slow down, as more are usually nearby, and use high beams even at dusk. In the short days around December much of your driving will be in low light, and the association advises reducing your speed.

If you are still planning your route north, our page on getting to Rovaniemi covers flights, the night train and coaches.