Most December flights into Rovaniemi land at an awkward hour: late morning or early afternoon, hungry, a little dazed, with a hotel room that may not be ready and a winter day that is already shrinking. Guests ask us whether they should write the first day off. We say no. The first day can be the best one, if you plan it backwards from the evening.

This is the plan we give friends who land around lunchtime in December: how to get from the airport to a warm meal, a short outing, and a campfire aurora evening, without rushing and without booking more than you can enjoy. Prices are from the StayLapland booking page, and our 5% reader discount applies to everything you book here.

Why the first day matters more than people think

December in Rovaniemi is the peak of the Christmas season, and the first day sets the mood for the rest. If you arrive and spend it queueing, hunting for dinner and worrying about your next activity, you pay for it later. If you arrive, eat well, see one lovely thing and sleep, you start the trip calm.

The days are also very short in December. Light is thin and low, so the useful daylight hours go quickly. That makes an afternoon activity time-limited and an evening activity very doable, because darkness arrives early and the aurora season is in full swing. Landing at lunchtime fits this rhythm nicely: you have a window of light and a long dark evening.

We have written about the opposite scenario, landing after dark. This post is for the lunchtime landing, which gives you more options and more ways to get it wrong.

The first three hours: airport, lunch and a rest

Rovaniemi airport is small and close to the Santa Claus Village, so you will be in town quickly. The bigger question is the check-in time. Most hotels will not have your room ready at 13:00, so ask them to hold your bags and use the time for lunch. A bowl of salmon soup or a reindeer stew is a better start than anything you will order in a hurry later.

Resist the urge to book a long tour for your first afternoon. Your body is still on travel time, and winter clothing takes energy to wear. A walk by the river, a coffee and a proper rest is the correct plan. Then you are fresh for the evening, which is where the real value is.

If you have a small child, a nap before dinner is almost a requirement. Rovaniemi at four in the afternoon in December looks like midnight to a toddler. Plan accordingly. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

The evening: the campfire northern lights tour

For a first night we like the Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5. It is about three hours, rated easy, and includes a guide, winter clothing, overalls, boots, gloves and socks, plus local snacks and drinks by the campfire and information about the northern lights. The price starts from €99 per adult.

What we like for a first night is the pace. You are not driving for hours. You get a warm fire, something hot to drink, and a patient guide who tells you what the sky is doing. Even if the aurora does not appear, you have had an authentic evening in the Lapland forest, which is not a small thing for a first night.

A practical caution from the listing: some days require a minimum number of guests for the tour to run. At least two people are needed on weekdays and Saturdays, and a higher number on other days, so check the live calendar for your date and read the conditions. The cut-off is three hours before the start, so you could book on the day if you want to see how you feel after landing. Check campfire tour dates and prices →

If you land early enough: a short husky ride

Some flights arrive before noon. If yours does, you may have enough light for a short outing. The Arctic Paws husky ride5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is the one we would pick: it is only about ten minutes of driving over 2 km, it starts from €65, and the ticket shows a meeting time with the start within roughly 0-40 minutes of it.

It does not include thermal clothing, so you must have your warm layers with you when you arrive. If your luggage is in the hotel, plan a quick change. It does not include transport either, so think about a taxi.

The reason we suggest it is that a short, easy activity with dogs resets the mood. People step off a plane tired, and ten minutes with huskies has an extraordinary power over a tired traveller. Skip it if your flight is late afternoon or you are tired; the evening tour is enough on its own. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

What not to book on a landing day

Do not book a full-day tour or anything that starts early the next morning unless you really have to. We see guests pack a sunrise snowmobile safari into the morning after an evening northern lights tour, and then regret it. If you are tired, you pay for the experience twice and enjoy it half as much.

Do not book the hunting tour on a landing day unless you can sleep on the plane. Those five-hour nights are excellent, but they are best taken when you are rested. We always place them on night two or three. Our comparison of the hunting tours explains the formats.

And do not leave Christmas Eve or the days right around it to the last minute. If your trip falls on the peak dates, book earlier than you think, because the most popular tours sell out first.

Dressing for a lunchtime arrival and an evening outside

You will land in whatever you flew in, possibly a thin jumper, and walk into a December afternoon that can be well below freezing. The practical answer is a warm coat in your hand luggage, or on your body, and a hat. Do not pack your winter gear in the suitcase that goes to the hotel with a bag drop, or you will not have it for the first outing.

For the evening tour, overalls, boots and gloves are included according to the listing, so you only need good base layers and a warm hat. Our piece on what to wear on a northern lights tour goes deeper.

The biggest mistake is cotton. A cotton T-shirt under a jumper holds sweat and makes you cold. Wool or synthetic layers solve it, and everyone has an opinion about where to buy them. We wear ours for years.

How to build the next days around this first one

Once the first evening is booked, the rest of the trip falls into place. Keep day two for a bigger outdoor activity in daylight, such as a reindeer or snowmobile tour, and keep a spare evening for aurora if cloud takes the first night. Our guide to activities in Rovaniemi shows the whole range.

If you want a second aurora attempt, consider the cottage version, which has a surprise gift for children, or a hunting tour on night two or three. The point is to decide your risk. Cloud is the thing none of us can control, and the best way to deal with it is to have more than one evening available.

For travellers with only a long weekend, the campfire evening on night one and a hunting tour on night two covers almost everything. For longer trips, spread the activities so you always have a rest day. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do on the day I land in Rovaniemi in December?
Eat a proper lunch, rest, and book a campfire northern lights evening. If you land early, a short husky ride is also possible.

How much is the campfire northern lights tour?
It starts from €99 per adult, lasts about 3 hours and includes a guide, winter clothing, snacks and drinks by the campfire. Exact prices show in the live calendar.

How late can I book the campfire tour?
The cut-off is 3 hours before the start time, so you can decide on the day, subject to availability and the minimum numbers shown in the booking window.

Does the tour always run?
Some dates require a minimum number of guests. At least two are needed on weekdays and Saturdays, and a higher number on other days, so check the calendar.

Should I book the hunting tour on my arrival day?
We would not. Hunting tours are long nights, and they work better once you are rested, ideally on night two or three.

How do I get the 5% discount?
Type the code at checkout in the booking window on this page. You book directly with StayLapland and see the reduced total before you pay.

Our pick, and how to book your first evening

If you land around lunchtime in December, book the campfire northern lights tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for the first night, and the Arctic Paws husky ride5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 if your flight lands early. Open the live calendar below, pick your date, and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

You book directly with StayLapland on this page, and you can read the cancellation policy before paying. Make the first night easy, and the rest of the trip will follow. Check campfire tour dates →