When you have time, it’s nice to spend peaceful days exploring new destinations and attractions. Especially in Lapland, the lack of rush and enchanting nature entice you to spend lively retirement days, focusing only on what you want to do. Ski in quiet forests, spin on the dance floor or spend a rainy day with interesting exhibitions in a museum.
The legendary Santa’s Hotel Tunturi has been accommodating tourists for more than thirty years, and many come back year after year – possibly for a reason. For decades, people have flocked to Saariselkä in the fall to admire the autumn colors and in the spring to ski on the well-maintained tracks, and often the trip also includes going to traditional Finnish dances. Our hotel still respects these traditions, and dances fill the parquet of our Siula restaurant in the spring and autumn. The dancers are paced annually by a huge group of industry professionals and well-known names in Finnish dance music, and the evenings are never short of rhythm or pace.
During the autumn weeks and as the spring days get longer, the fell village is bustling with activity, but unlike many other ski resorts Saariselkä is more suited for adults – this fell is not full of parties or discos. For skiers, Saariselkä is a sure choice, as the area has also been named a cross-country skier’s paradise, and downhill skiers can enjoy the long slopes of two fells. If the weather is bad, for example Tankavaara Gold Museum (30km) and Sámi Museum Siida in Inari (70km) offer excellent places to visit and an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the area.
Our Rovaniemi city center hotel, Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus, is a great base for a cultural trip to the capital of Lapland. Our hotel is located right in the heart of Rovaniemi, and all the city’s cultural attractions are within a 15-minute walk from us. Arktikum houses the Lapland Provincial Museum and the Arctic Center under one roof, whose exhibitions introduce you to for example the military history of Lapland, northern nature and the Arctic region. The Culture House Korundi is a home for the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra, where the world opens up from a northern perspective in different forms of art. Performing arts invite you to experience theatrical experiences at the Rovaniemi Theater, where varied performances take you along and awaken emotions in one direction and another.
Santa’s Hotel Rakka in Kilpisjärvi is just a short drive away from our neighboring country Norway. Northern Norway is known for its stunning landscapes, and the popular travel destination Tromsø offers memorable experiences all year round. In winter, humpback whales and orcas come to the fjords to eat herring, and on a whale safari you can see the whales in their natural habitat and learn more about the behavior of the species. Harbour porpoises and various seabirds also attract visitors to the fjords. Inspired by snow and ice, the Arctic Cathedral also known as Tromsdalen Church, is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Especially during summertime it’s worth visiting a concert in this impressive building, as the midnight sun creates a magnificent light effect on the glass mosaic on the east wall. When visiting Tromsø in the summer, it is also worth including a trip to the idyllic fishing village of Sommarøy, located about an hour’s drive away from the city, where white sandy beaches and turquoise sea water await you.
