A Local’s Guide to Visiting Rovaniemi in January (2026)

Are you planning a trip to Rovaniemi in January and want to know everything about the Lapland destination? I’ve got you covered!

I live here and January in Rovaniemi is one of my favorite times of the year.

January is one of the most popular times to visit Rovaniemi. The Christmas traffic has left, and a new wave of tourists arrives. And the best part about visiting during this month is that everything is open the ENTIRE month.

All attractions and tours run throughout the entirety of January, making it an easy time to plan whatever you want to do. It also tends to be our snowiest month. Sometimes that means cloudy skies (more about that later), but January is still an epic month for northern lights viewing if you plan accordingly.

A January trip to Rovaniemi is one of the more expensive ones, but there are ways to cut costs. If you want to learn more, be sure to check out my budget tips for Rovaniemi as well as my guide to the top budget excursions in Rovaniemi.

If you have any questions about visiting Rovaniemi in January, please let me know in the comments (or feel free to send me a message). Thanks!

Weather in Rovaniemi in January

January is our cloudiest winter month in Rovaniemi. But with those clouds comes snow. So it tends to also be the snowiest month. Snow coverage and accumulation vary from year to year, but you can almost always expect there to be a decent amount in January!

Temperatures range from -15°C to -7°C (4°F to 19°F) during January.

January Daylight Hours

January starts pretty dark and ends with a lot more daylight. On January 1, we have 2 hours and 45 minutes of daylight. By January 15, however, we have 4 hours and 16 minutes. On January 31, we have 6 hours and 18 minutes of daylight.

While it may seem dark, the snow on the ground lightens things up quite a bit! Here are the sunrise and sunset times during January (this may aid you in trip planning):

• January 1: sunrise 10:58am, sunset 1:43pm
• January 15: sunrise 10:18am, sunset 2:35pm
• January 31: sunrise 9:21am, sunset 3:59pm

Please keep in mind that each year is slightly different, so times may shift a little.

Northern Lights in January

January is a great time to see the northern lights but maybe slightly worse than around the equinox (fall/spring). Either way, I recommend booking a tour to maximize your chance of seeing the aurora here in Rovaniemi.

While a lot of people will say a northern lights tour ‘is not worth it’, if you have no rental car and we have complete cloud coverage in Rovaniemi throughout the entire duration of your trip, you will not see the northern lights. Simple as that.

Aurora tours can be great because they will drive you to where there are clear skies, giving you a lot better chance of witnessing the phenomenon you (probably) came here for!

Best Things to Do in Rovaniemi in January

Below are a few of my favorite things to do in Rovaniemi in January. While December is our busiest month, January is a close second, so be sure to plan your tours and tickets as far ahead as you can to ensure availability!

All of these tours and attractions are available throughout the whole month of January. I can rarely write that on any of those posts, so it makes me pretty excited! I will also include festivals and events in Rovaniemi being held in January, including the date they take place on:

• Go on a northern lights tour: This is why most people come to Rovaniemi! Since January can have a lot of cloud cover, I think booking an aurora tour is imperative.
• Snowmobiling: One of my favorite tours here. The tours run all month and you will get to see some beautiful scenery throughout the journey.
• Arctic SnowHotel: Amazing hotel and restaurant built completely of ice! One of my favorite spots to take people to when they visit.
• Feed reindeer at Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi: My favorite spot to feed reindeer. You can also take them on a walk through the forest!
• Arctic Lapland Rally: This is rally racing… my partner likes going to it. It takes place from January 29-31, 2026 this year.
• Dog-sledding: A fantastic experience for adults and kids both!
• Kotatieva Resort: One of my favorite spots in Rovaniemi; they offer ice skating through a forest, kick sledding, and so many more snow activities.
• Arktikum Museum: Our local museum that exhibits all things Arctic. I love this place and go frequently.
• Snowman World: A frozen winter park at Santa Claus Village. They also have lunch/dinner options.
• Korouoma Canyon: You will head to see a frozen waterfall on this day trip from Rovaniemi. A medium level of fitness is required to do the hike.
• SnowGlow Winterpark: This is in the city center and not my favorite spot but good for kids.

You can still visit Santa Claus Village and it will still be busy! SantaPark is also still open until January 10 before closing for the season.

For a more in-depth guide about visiting Rovaniemi in winter, you can check out my dedicated guide I linked here!

Visiting the Tykky (Popcorn) Trees

Whenever someone sees photos of Lapland, they will inevitably see these jaw-dropping trees covered in deep snow. These are called ‘Tykky’ in Finnish, but we just kind of call them Popcorn Trees in English.

Anyway, this phenomenon is not an ‘all winter’ sight! The best month to see them is in January and after there is a ton of snow. The best spot to visit them, somewhat close to Rovaniemi, is in Riisitunturi National Park (you can take a tour there, or drive if you’re comfortable with snowy conditions).

Please search Instagram or TikTok prior to ensure they are still around. If there is warm weather or even a slight bit of wind, it can knock the snow off and it may never reappear again for the season.

What to Wear & Bring

We can have temperatures that are super cold or super mild. I know, I know… super helpful. But it really just depends on what type of year we are having and we won’t really know how the winter is behaving until mid-December. So far, the start of the 2025-2026 winter season has been cold and snowy (thank goodness).

I recommend you pack your heaviest winter gear. Here are some things I recommend bringing with you:

• Parka or heavy winter coat
• Wool sweater (I like ones from Devold of Norway or Dale of Norway)
• Base layers (I use ones from Kari Traa… but they are only for women. Devold of Norway is also good for men and women both.)
• Mittens or gloves (I prefer mittens as they keep your hands warmer)
• Wool socks
• Snowboots
• Crampons (December can be icy as the snow finally settles in, especially if you venture outside the city center or main parts of SCV)
• Hat
• Mobile power bank (phone batteries can drain in cold weather – especially on northern lights tours)

If you don’t want to purchase all new clothing for this trip, don’t worry! You can rent clothing in Rovaniemi at two different places, Wild Nordic (SCV) or Winter Rent (city center).

Tips for Visiting Lapland in January

✅ Plan ahead. This is still one of the busiest periods and activities sell out! If you have to choose early January or the end of January for your trip, I’d pick the end. More daylight and fewer clouds as the season edges toward spring.

✅ Rent clothing if you can. If you’re from Southern Europe or somewhere where winter clothing is not a necessity, opt for renting clothing here! It is a sustainable option and may be cheaper in the long run when you factor in checked baggage and the purchasing of items.

✅ Book reservations for restaurants. I recommend this all winter long, but it is critical in January!

✅ Ski season is full on! You can visit our local ski resort called Ounasvaara or head to one of the bigger ones like Levi or Ruka. Levi is easy to get to on the OnniBus (Ruka is more challenging).

Do you have any questions about visiting Lapland in January? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

*This site uses affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission.