Rovaniemi, located just a few kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, is widely recognized as the official hometown of Santa Claus. Every day of the year, visitors can meet Santa in his workshop at Santa Claus Village, where the Arctic Circle line runs right through the middle of the park. Nearby, the Santa Claus Main Post Office receives hundreds of thousands of letters annually from children around the world. Travelers can even send postcards stamped with a special Arctic Circle postmark available nowhere else.

The natural surroundings in Rovaniemi provide striking experiences year-round. In winter, visitors can ride through snowy forests on husky or reindeer sleighs, or stay in hotels made entirely of ice and snow. From late August through early April, the Northern Lights are visible on clear nights, and several local guides offer nighttime tours to remote locations for optimal viewing. During summer, the sun doesn't set for weeks, giving travelers the rare chance to hike or kayak under a sky that stays bright at midnight.