Wondering how much you can realistically fit into two days in Rovaniemi? More than you might think.
This is the exact itinerary we followed during a 30-hour winter weekend in Finnish Lapland, flying out early on a Saturday morning and returning home late on Sunday evening. It was originally planned for our daughter's 14th birthday, but the itinerary is just as suitable for couples, friends and anyone looking to experience Lapland beyond the traditional Santa attractions.
Over the course of one weekend, we went ice karting, enjoyed a husky ride through the snowy forest, had dinner inside the Arctic SnowHotel's famous Ice Restaurant, relaxed in a traditional Finnish sauna and even managed to see the Northern Lights.
As always, this was a DIY trip that we planned and booked ourselves rather than a package holiday. In this guide, I'll share our complete 2-day Rovaniemi itinerary, including where we stayed, how we got around, what everything cost and a few things we'd do differently next time.
From DIY itineraries and Northern Lights tips to budgeting advice, destination guides and honest reviews of the places we've visited, you'll find everything together in our Lapland Travel Guide Hub.
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✈️ Early morning flight from Manchester
🥐 Breakfast at Manchester Airport
🥪 Lunch on the plane to save time
🧥 Collect winter clothing from Rovaniemi Insider
🏎️ Ice karting at Santa's Motor Park
🐕 2km husky ride at HuskyPark
🏨 Check into our city centre apartment
🚌 Shuttle to the Arctic SnowHotel
🍽️ Dinner in the Ice Restaurant
🌌 Northern Lights
🔥 Drinks in the kota
🏨 Check out
🚕 Taxi to Santa Claus Village
🍔 Early lunch at Santa's Pizza & Burgers
📮 Santa's Main Post Office
🛍️ Souvenir shopping
☃️ Snowman World
🧖 Lapland Winter Park & Sauna World
☕ Hot chocolate and cake
🚌 Shuttle back to the city
🧥 Return winter clothing
✈️ Evening flight home
Our flight departed Manchester early on Saturday morning, giving us almost two full days to explore Rovaniemi before flying home on Sunday evening.
Originally, we were due to leave at 6am, but freezing fog in Rovaniemi delayed our departure by an hour. Thankfully, this actually worked in our favour. The weather improved before take-off, meaning we avoided the diversions to Helsinki that can sometimes affect winter flights.
We landed in Rovaniemi at 12:20pm (Finland is two hours ahead of the UK) and were through passport control in around 15 minutes. One of the things I love about Rovaniemi Airport is how small and efficient it is. There was only our flight arriving, so we were outside and ready to start our trip almost immediately.
Knowing we had a busy afternoon ahead, we deliberately ate a proper breakfast at Manchester Airport before boarding, then picked up lunch on the flight.
It meant we could head straight to our first activity without wasting time looking for somewhere to eat after landing.
Before heading to our first activity, we made a quick stop at Rovaniemi Insider in the city centre to collect our winter clothing. Rather than packing bulky ski gear, we decided to hire everything once we arrived, which made travelling with hand luggage much easier and saved us paying for checked baggage.
The clothing hire includes a thermal jacket, snow trousers, boots and gloves, with the option of an all-in-one snowsuit if you prefer.
At the time of our visit, prices were:
1 day: €35
2 days: €45
Each additional day: approximately €10
This worked perfectly for us. My daughter had outgrown her old ski gear, my husband had never been to Lapland before, and hiring everything was far more convenient than buying new clothing for one weekend.
One thing we particularly liked was being able to try on different sizes until everything fitted properly.
They stock sizes from young children right up to adult XXXL, and because they're open until 7pm, we were able to return our clothing after our final activity before heading straight to the airport.
Once we'd collected our winter clothing, we took a taxi to Santa's Motor Park, located just across the road from Santa Claus Village. The journey cost €32, and with a 2pm booking, we headed there straight away rather than stopping for lunch.
Because our flight had been delayed by an hour, we'd already adjusted our plans by eating a proper breakfast at Manchester Airport and picked up a Boot's meal deal to eat on the plane. It saved us valuable time after landing and meant we could make the most of our first afternoon in Lapland.
Snow karting was one of the main reasons we planned this itinerary, and it definitely lived up to expectations. Unlike traditional go-karting, the icy track makes every corner unpredictable, with plenty of drifting, sliding and laughter along the way.
Each person gets two 10-minute driving sessions, with groups split so there are never too many karts on the track at once. Although the driving time sounds short, it actually feels much longer once you're out on the ice. I'd allow around 1 to 1.5 hours for the full experience.
No driving licence is needed, but there is a minimum height requirement of 140cm, which is measured before you start.
Between sessions, there's a warm kota where you can thaw out beside the fire with hot berry juice, biscuits and coffee brewed in a traditional Finnish kettle. After standing outside in temperatures well below freezing, it was a welcome chance to warm up before heading back onto the track.
At the time of our visit, the experience cost €94 per person.
For us, this was one of the highlights of the weekend. It's exciting, well organised and something that feels completely different from the more traditional Lapland activities, making it an excellent choice for older children, teenagers and adults.
After snow karting, we walked around five minutes to HuskyPark, located within Santa Claus Village. There's an underpass connecting the two attractions, so make sure you use that rather than trying to cross the main road.
We booked the 2km husky ride, which, having now done husky sledding several times in Lapland, I still think is the perfect option for most visitors. The ride lasts around 8 to 10 minutes, taking you through snowy woodland and open countryside beyond Santa Claus Village. It's long enough to enjoy the experience without spending too much time out in the freezing temperatures.
HuskyPark also offers a shorter 500-metre ride, a longer 5km safari and park entry tickets if you'd simply like to meet the dogs without going sledding.
At the time of our visit, the 2km ride cost €65 per adult and €45 for children aged 4 to 12, with park entry included.
The rides regularly sell out, particularly during the winter season, so I'd definitely recommend booking in advance.
After an early start, followed by ice karting and husky sledding, we were more than ready to warm up. We jumped in another taxi back to the city centre, checked into our apartment and had a chance to relax before heading out again for one of the highlights of the weekend.
By this point we'd been travelling since the early hours of the morning, so after our husky ride we took another €32 taxi back into Rovaniemi city centre and checked into our apartment.
We stayed at Arctic Golden Sun City Suite, which cost £277 for one night. The location was ideal for a short break, just a two-minute walk from the main shopping centre and within easy reach of the shuttle pick-up point for the Arctic SnowHotel later that evening.
The apartment had one double bedroom and a double sofa bed, comfortably sleeping up to four people. It also included a fully equipped kitchen and washing machine, making it a great option for anyone staying in Rovaniemi for longer than a weekend. I have linked where we stayed here.
Check-in was straightforward, with all the instructions sent through on the day of arrival. As a bonus, our host messaged us around 1pm to let us know the apartment was ready early, giving us somewhere warm to relax before heading out for the evening.
After a short rest and a chance to freshen up, we walked to the city centre shuttle pick-up point ready for one of the experiences we'd been looking forward to most – dinner at the Arctic SnowHotel's famous Ice Restaurant.
After a short rest at our apartment, we headed back into the city centre to catch the 7pm shuttle bus to the Arctic SnowHotel, one of the experiences we were looking forward to most.
I'd previously stayed overnight at the Arctic SnowHotel and visited the Snow Sauna, so I couldn't wait to bring my husband and daughter back to experience it for themselves. If you'd like to know more about staying overnight, I've shared our full review in my Arctic SnowHotel guide.
We booked the guided tour and Ice Restaurant dinner package, which included return transfers from Rovaniemi city centre. The journey took around 30 minutes, arriving just in time for our guided tour of the hotel before dinner.
Our evening looked like this:
7:00pm – Shuttle departs Rovaniemi city centre
7:30pm – Arrive at the Arctic SnowHotel and join the guided tour
7:45pm – Explore the ice bedrooms, sculptures and hotel rooms
8:30pm – Three-course dinner in the Ice Restaurant
9:30pm – Free time to visit the Ice Bar, explore the grounds and, if you're lucky, look for the Northern Lights
11:00pm – Shuttle back to Rovaniemi
One of the unexpected highlights of the evening was seeing the Northern Lights dancing above the SnowHotel while we were outside exploring. We also spent some time warming up in the traditional kota, making it the perfect way to end our first day in Lapland.
The food was genuinely excellent, although one thing to bear in mind is that it cools down quickly when you're eating inside a restaurant made entirely of ice! At the time of our visit, the package included a three-course meal, return transfers, a guided tour and free time to explore the hotel and surrounding grounds.
We arrived back in Rovaniemi at around 11:30pm, exhausted after almost 24 hours on the go, but it had been an unforgettable first day. You can find the package we booked here, readers save 5% via the GetYourGuide app with the code discount code BUILDABREAK5
After a much-needed lie-in, we checked out of our apartment at around 11am and headed back to Santa Claus Village. Although we'd already visited the previous afternoon for ice karting and our husky ride, we hadn't had time to explore the village itself.
With another busy afternoon planned, we decided to stop for an early lunch before making our way around the village. It worked out perfectly, giving us plenty of time to browse the shops, send postcards home and enjoy a few more attractions before heading to our final activity of the weekend.
Before exploring Santa Claus Village, we stopped for an early lunch at Santa's Pizza & Burgers, knowing we had another busy afternoon ahead.
Lunch for the three of us came to around €55, which included a huge pizza (easily enough for two people to share), two double cheeseburgers, three portions of fries and three refillable drinks.
I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Tourist attractions aren't always known for their food, but the burgers were surprisingly good. They were freshly cooked, generous in size and much better quality than many of the fast-food chains back home.
It also worked out well from an itinerary point of view. By eating a proper lunch before continuing around the village, we only fancied hot chocolate and cake later that afternoon at Lapland Winter Park, rather than another full meal.
Our next stop was Snowman World, located within Santa Claus Village.
We've visited before, so this wasn't completely new to us, but it was still a fun way to spend an hour before heading to our final activity of the weekend.
Inside you'll find an indoor and outdoor ice world featuring beautifully carved ice sculptures, an ice maze, ice slides, an ice skating rink, an ice bar and even an ice restaurant. There's also an ice disco, making it feel much more interactive than simply walking around an ice exhibition.
At the time of our visit, tickets cost €35 per person.
If you've already visited the Arctic SnowHotel, you'll notice some similarities, as both attractions are owned by the same company. Personally, I think the Arctic SnowHotel offers the more impressive overall experience, particularly for teenagers and adults, while Snowman World is better suited to younger families.
That said, we still enjoyed our visit, and its location within Santa Claus Village makes it easy to include as part of a day exploring the area.
If you'd like a closer look at everything inside, I've also written a complete guide to Snowman World, including what's included, ticket prices and whether I think it's worth visiting.
Our final activity of the weekend was Lapland Winter Park, located around 20 minutes from Santa Claus Village.
We'd pre-booked the Sauna World experience for 2pm. Lapland Winter Park operates a free shuttle bus between Rovaniemi city centre and the park throughout the day, but unfortunately the departure times didn't fit with our itinerary. Instead, we took a taxi directly from Santa Claus Village, which cost around €50.
After our sauna session, our timings worked much better, so we caught the free shuttle bus back to Rovaniemi city centre. If your plans are a little more flexible than ours, I'd definitely recommend checking the shuttle timetable before booking a taxi, as it can save a significant amount on transport costs.
Sauna World was the ideal way to finish our weekend in Lapland. After spending almost two days outdoors in freezing temperatures, relaxing in a traditional Finnish sauna felt like the perfect reward before travelling home.
The experience lasts around 90 minutes and, at the time of our visit, cost €65 per person. It includes access to eight different themed saunas, outdoor hot tubs, a jacuzzi, cold plunge pool, robes, towels, Crocs-style footwear and bottled water.
One thing I really liked was that you don't need to buy a general admission ticket to Lapland Winter Park. If you're mainly interested in the sauna experience, you can simply book Sauna World on its own.
After our sauna session, we warmed up even further with hot chocolate and cake in the café.
We'd eaten a big lunch earlier at Santa Claus Village, so we weren't hungry enough for another full meal, making it the perfect way to round off the afternoon before catching the shuttle back into Rovaniemi.
After relaxing in the saunas, we stopped at the café for a hot chocolate and cake before catching the free shuttle bus back to Rovaniemi city centre.
Our final stop was Rovaniemi Insider, where we returned our hired winter clothing. One of the reasons we'd chosen them was their convenient city centre location and evening opening hours, making it easy to fit into our itinerary before heading home.
From there, we took one last taxi to Rovaniemi Airport, which cost €32, arriving in plenty of time for our evening flight back to the UK.
Looking back, we couldn't quite believe how much we'd managed to fit into just 30 hours. From ice karting and husky sledding to dinner inside the Arctic SnowHotel, exploring Santa Claus Village and ending the trip with a traditional Finnish sauna, it felt like we'd experienced so many different sides of Lapland without ever feeling rushed.
We flew out with easyJet and returned with Ryanair, allowing us to make the most of the weekend by choosing the best flight times rather than sticking with one airline.
At the time of booking, our flights cost:
Manchester to Rovaniemi (easyJet): £44.49 per person
Rovaniemi to Manchester (Ryanair): £44.31 per person
Total return flight cost: £88.80 per person
It's worth mentioning that flights to Rovaniemi can often be found for as little as £29 return during January. We paid more because we specifically wanted an early Saturday departure and a late Sunday evening return, giving us almost two full days in Lapland without taking any time off work or school.
If your dates are flexible, it's often possible to save even more by travelling midweek or choosing less popular flight times.
✈️ Return flights: £88.80
🧥 Winter clothing hire (2 days): €45
🏎️ Ice karting: €94
🐕 2km husky ride: €65
🏨 Accommodation: £92
🍽️ Arctic SnowHotel tour & Ice Restaurant: €174.90
☃️ Snowman World: €35
🧖 Sauna World: €65
🚕 Taxis: €70 per person
🍕 Food & drinks: Variable
£180.80 (flights + accommodation)
€548.90 (activities, clothing and taxis)
≈ £653 per person (excluding food, drinks and souvenirs)
Absolutely.
The flights and accommodation were actually very reasonable for a weekend in Lapland, especially once the apartment cost was split between the three of us. Where our budget really increased was on transport and activities.
Looking back, I'd seriously consider hiring a car for 24 or 48 hours instead of relying on taxis. We spent around €210 on taxis during the weekend, so a hire car would likely have worked out cheaper while giving us more flexibility.
We also deliberately chose some of Lapland's premium experiences. Ice karting, the Arctic SnowHotel and Sauna World aren't the cheapest activities, but this was my husband's first visit to Lapland and I wanted him to experience some of the very best attractions. If you're travelling on a tighter budget, we've also put together a guide to 15 budget and free things to do in Rovaniemi, proving you don't need to spend hundreds of euros every day to have an amazing trip.
Even with those higher activity costs, I still think this itinerary offers excellent value for money. Many one-day Lapland trips cost around £600 per person, yet don't include an overnight stay, offer far less time in the destination and often only include one or two organised activities.
For around the same overall budget, we enjoyed almost two full days in Rovaniemi, stayed overnight in the city centre, experienced some of Lapland's best attractions and had the freedom to plan the trip exactly how we wanted. For us, that's exactly why we prefer DIY travel over traditional package holidays.
Although this itinerary only covers a weekend, it's amazing how much you can fit into just two days in Rovaniemi with a little planning. Whether you're visiting as a couple, travelling with teenagers or simply want to experience Lapland beyond the traditional package holidays, I hope this itinerary has shown what's possible.
If you're looking for even more inspiration, these guides will help you plan the rest of your trip:
❄️ 15 Things to Do in Lapland for Teens – Our favourite experiences after three trips to Finnish Lapland, from ice karting and snowmobiling to husky rides and Finnish saunas.
❄️ Our 3-Day Rovaniemi Itinerary – A longer itinerary including our overnight stay at the Arctic SnowHotel and more time to explore the city.
❄️ Lapland Travel Guide Hub – Browse all of our Lapland itineraries, attraction reviews, Northern Lights guides, packing tips and budget advice in one place.
Whenever I spot great-value DIY Lapland flights and accommodation from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club. If you'd like to experience Lapland without paying package holiday prices, it's a great place to start.
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