Santa Claus’ tips for enjoying the Midnight Sun

Year after year, Finland ranks as the happiest country in the world. In all probability, our safe and fresh nature plays a role in that. In Rovaniemi, Santa Claus has been seen enjoying the Midnight Sun in some of the city’s nature trails. Within walking distance from Rovaniemi city you’ll find two of those. Ounasvaara is the place for true landscape lovers as you can see the whole city from there, meanwhile Koivusaari gives you view over river deltas of Ounasjoki river. There are nature trails in both – What birds can you hear during a relaxed evening walk under the magical summer light?

Combine two very Finnish things – drinking coffee and sitting by campfire – in some of Rovaniemi’s picturesque lean-to’s. Lean-to’s are public spaces where doing a fire is allowed. You’ll find lean-to’s for example from Arctic Circle Hiking Area and from Ounasvaara, to mention some. Maybe the most iconic lean-to in Rovaniemi is King’s lean-to on the top of Santavaara hill.

In Santa Claus’ spirit, we show love to nature by following Everyman’s Rights and by not leaving any trash behind us in the nature – what you can carry with you, you can also carry away.

Yes, we have seen Santa Claus playing golf. In Rovaniemi, the golf park is even named accordingly: Santa Claus Golf. The speciality is that you can cross the Arctic Circle while playing – the summer season starts in May and lasts through the summer months of June, July and August until September and October, when the colors of the Midnight Sun are replaced by the astonishing colors of autumns foliage.

Rovaniemi’s fresh waters are essential for enjoying the light of summer nights – We have Santa Claus’ word! Try for example a beautiful summer excursion with canoeing on one of the peaceful lakes of Finnish Lapland – canoeing under the Midnight Sun is something you can only experience in Arctic Areas. Canoeing tours are suitable also for beginners and families. Professional canoeing guide will teach you the basic techniques.

In summer nights, Santa Claus enjoys moving around with a traditional riverboat and you can try that too by booking a riverboat cruise. Rivers Kemijoki and Ounasjoki are excellent fresh water areas also for SUP-boarding, for which there are many rentals available.

Santa Claus highly recommends to take and save your best memories with you. In Rovaniemi, the Midnight Sun shows epic displays of colors when the sun sets slowly over the horizon. By joining a Midnight sun photography tour you’ll be taken to the best locations around Rovaniemi to photograph and experience this unique phenomenon.

Us Finns love our saunas – especially in summer, when sauna is usually combined with swimming in the Arctic waters. In Rovaniemi, you can choose from a variety of sauna experiences. By the Kemijoki river, from Kesärafla Sauna, you’ll find a public sauna where both locals and travelles gather during the summer months.