Make the Most of Rovaniemi in 3 Days

The first thing to do for an easy day one is to explore the capital of Finland's Lapland. The city center itself is relatively small. One of the highlights there is a fun, free Angry Birds-themed playground for kids—and adults, because enjoying a sledge ride doesn't know any age limits! It's safe and simple, and definitely worth stopping at even if you're with a group of friends.

The day can continue by exploring Santa Claus Village. The village is accessible by buses from the city center that take roughly 10 to 20 minutes. It's also possible to book a comfortable taxi ride from your accommodation and another one back right to the doorstep of your stay.

Santa Claus Village offers a lot of activities: reindeer tours, dogsledding, shopping for souvenirs, waving to your family back home from the live camera, playgrounds for kids, and, most importantly... meeting Santa Claus in person! Depending on when you go, the lines to meet Santa can be really long, but it's worth it when you see the starstruck look on your kid's face. Of course, this is only recommended if you're traveling with kids who believe in Santa—otherwise, time is better spent making snowballs, taking pictures in the Arctic, and enjoying the warmth of a blueberry juice.

There are multiple restaurants and cafés in the village. Souvenir shops are also nice and offer many cute things to take home.

Today can be fully spent in snow, from snowshoeing in the middle of nature to snowmobiling in the heart of the forest. I personally prefer to start a day active then slow down, but nothing prevents you from doing it the other way around or having a fully active day.

You can start day two with snowshoeing, which is simply walking on snow with special wide footwear. A guide can take you for a snow-beginner-friendly hike to enjoy the stunning stillness of the north and the peaceful scenery. This type of activity can last one hour, sometimes more, and is often combined with lunch or other activities, such as visiting a local farm or snow fishing.

A second activity of the day could be to choose an animal-friendly tour that takes you to visit specific farms that are run by locals and are not fishing for tourism, where you can see the reindeer, learn their stories, feed them, and watch how some of them can be so cutely shy but adorable. Husky sledding could also be an option, which often includes petting them and making great memories.

For dinner, visit Taiga, an authentic Lappish restaurant that's also recommended by locals. The atmosphere is cozy and warm, the service is excellent, and the food is exquisite.

Waiiit a minute... aurora can only be chased at night, what would I do with my day? I strongly recommend not leaving Lapland without taking a snowmobile tour! Not just any crowded tour; no, I can recommend a tour led by a team who loves what they're doing and lead the way so it never gets old. My tour guide made it so enjoyable as I could see the genuine love our guide had for his work, his country, and his landscape.

It's important that you feel comfortable driving a snowmobile—no pressure and no stress. It really is made to be enjoyed rather than feared. The guide gives you clear instructions on how to accelerate and brake, hand signs you need to grasp, and how to stay safe. I only drove for 10 minutes as I found the vehicle a bit too heavy for me. Most of the time, I was in the back, treating my eyes to the marvelous view of the trees, the pink-blue sky, the all-white tall trees, and the magical landscape.

There's a nice shopping center in the city called Rinteenkulma, which includes a big supermarket, clothing and souvenir shops, and various restaurants of different cuisines.

At the end of the day, when the sun has set and the sky is (hopefully) clear, that's when it can happen. The Northern Lights can be seen from the windows of your hotel room (given that there's no light pollution) or you can go all in and join a tour that will make sure you won't go home until you see that dancing phenomenon in the sky. After all, how many times will you get the chance to be in the Arctic during the seasons of darker and longer days (September-April)?

Please keep in mind that this is a natural phenomenon that is beyond human control and depends on many factors such as the weather, the sun activity, and the sky. If you really want to see the Northern Lights, you should aim for a tour that is reputable for going the extra mile for their customers, and be flexible—plan more time than just three days to be able to see them. In my experience, my tour was booked for a Sunday, but the weather was very bad that day, so I got rescheduled to a Tuesday, which, luckily, was one day before my return flight.

The Northern Lights adventure is memorable, but it requires a clear sky, which means the "feels like" temperature will be much colder than the actual one, so it is mandatory for your own safety to wear layers, listen to the guide, and stay warm.