Getting a crew and a case of equipment to Rovaniemi is easier than most producers expect, but the details matter: which flight, whether the night train works with your kit, and what a rental car must have in a Finnish winter.

This guide gathers sourced logistics from Finavia, Visit Rovaniemi, VR, Fintraffic and Finnish traffic authorities. We are Joona and Alla, a couple living in Rovaniemi; we do not book transport, but we can tell you what we see locally.

Three ways to reach Rovaniemi with a crew

A film crew can reach Rovaniemi by air, by train or by road, and the right choice depends on how much equipment you carry and where you start. In short: flying is fastest and the airport is only about 10 km from the city centre; the night train from Helsinki is a good way to arrive with a vehicle or a lot of kit; and a hired car is almost always needed once you want to leave the town, which makes Finland’s winter tyre rules relevant. Rovaniemi is one of Europe’s largest cities by land area, over 8,000 square kilometres according to Visit Rovaniemi, so distances inside the municipality are not small.

By air: Rovaniemi Airport

Finavia, the airport operator, reports that Rovaniemi Airport served 1.1 million passengers in 2025, up 18.4%, passing one million for the first time just before Christmas. For the 2025–26 winter season Finavia said direct flights would run from 38 airports besides Helsinki, and that Finnair would operate up to more than ten flights a day between Helsinki and Rovaniemi on the busiest days, with Norwegian operating two or three.

For winter 2026–27, Visit Rovaniemi’s flight page lists 47 direct flight routes, including routes from several German airports (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich), and notes that Helsinki–Rovaniemi flights run several times daily year-round. It also lists Tromsø–Rovaniemi flights, operated daily between 26 October 2026 and 28 March 2027, which can suit a crew covering both Arctic cities. Seasonal routes start and stop on specific dates, and many run only on certain weekdays, so check the airline schedule for your exact dates.

• Distance to the city: about 10 km by road, around 12 minutes (OpenStreetMap-based routing); Santa Claus Village is only a few kilometres from the airport.
• Buses: Visit Rovaniemi says there are airport bus connections via Santa Claus Village (“Airport Express”), operated year-round, and that no pre-reservation is required.
• Car rental: Visit Rovaniemi lists international and local rental agencies at the airport, the train station and in the city centre.

By train from Helsinki

VR, Finland’s state railway, runs both daytime InterCity trains and overnight trains between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. The table shows direct trains on a sample date, 10 December 2026, from Fintraffic’s Digitraffic open timetable data (retrieved 10 November 2026). A date in January 2027 showed the same pattern with small time changes. Timetables change, so check VR before booking.

On its night train page, VR says tickets are on sale until 10 October 2027, private cabins start from €59 and cabins with a shower from €74. It lists a two-person cabin on the lower floor, a two-person cabin with a shower on the upper floor and a nostalgic three-person cabin. Luggage normally travels with you in the cabin; larger luggage can go in a paid luggage storage, and you should ask the conductor. VR also lets you add a vehicle to a night train order, with car spots from €49 and motorcycles from €39. Prices are “from” prices, checked in November 2026, and change by date.

The train is a useful option when the crew already has a vehicle in southern Finland, or when you want to arrive rested at 07:20. See also our post on arriving on the night train and going straight to an aurora tour. Rovaniemi railway station is in the city centre, and car rental agencies operate there too.

Winter car hire and the winter tyre rules

Once you leave the town centre, a car or van is the practical choice. Finland has specific rules for winter driving, and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and the road safety organisation Liikenneturva describe them as follows:

• Winter tyres must be used in winter conditions from 1 November to 31 March; during that period summer tyres may be used if local road conditions are not slippery or at risk of becoming slippery.
• The main tread grooves of passenger-car winter tyres must be at least 3.0 mm deep.
• Non-studded winter tyres must carry the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol; from 1 December 2024 the older M+S marking alone is no longer sufficient. Studded tyres are also accepted.
• It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle has winter tyres in winter conditions.

In practice, in Lapland between November and March, you should expect winter conditions, and a rental car for that period should be winter-equipped. Confirm this with the rental company when you book, ask whether the car has an engine heater, and ask about the policy for studded or non-studded tyres. If you are hiring a van for equipment, check the load and the tyres for the same period.

Plan drive times with a margin. The road distances we calculated from the city centre are about 81 km to Ranua, about 116 km to Luosto and about 330 km to Inari, with drive times of roughly 1 h 10 min, 1 h 35 min and 4 h 35 min in good conditions; in snow and darkness these are longer. Reindeer on the road are a local reality, so allow time and drive with care.

Moving gear: customs, batteries and cold storage

• Customs: for crews bringing equipment from outside the EU, an ATA Carnet is an international customs document that lets you temporarily take professional equipment, including filming equipment, across borders without duties and taxes, for up to one year. In Finland it is issued by Chambers of Commerce. It does not replace other permits or insurance; check Finnish Customs for your situation.
• Batteries: IATA says lithium batteries can be carried by air depending on their Watt-hour rating, and that spare batteries are not allowed in checked baggage. Check your airline’s policy for each battery before you travel.
• Cold: do not leave batteries and electronics in a cold vehicle overnight if you can avoid it. Our cold-weather guide explains how.
• Drones: check Traficom’s rules before you pack one; see our drone rules guide.

Which route fits which crew?

Whichever route you choose, build in an arrival buffer. A crew that lands in the afternoon in December arrives in the dark, since the sun sets before 14:00 around the solstice (see our daylight table), so the first useful filming window is the next morning. If you arrive on the night train at 07:20, you have the whole short winter day available, but only if the equipment is easy to unload and the vehicle pick-up is arranged.

Where locals can help

We are a couple living in Rovaniemi and working in tourism marketing in Lapland. We can help journalists and producers with research, introductions and, where it makes sense, joining a shoot; we do not arrange vehicles, equipment or permits. Our practical guide for TV crews and our press page are good places to start.

FAQ

How far is Rovaniemi Airport from the city centre?

About 10 km by road, around 12 minutes, and only a few kilometres from Santa Claus Village.

How long is the night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi?

About 11 h 50 min on a sample date in December 2026: train 265 departs at 19:29 and arrives at 07:20. Daytime InterCity trains take about 8 to 9.5 hours.

Are winter tyres required in Finland?

Winter tyres must be used in winter conditions from 1 November to 31 March; the tread must be at least 3.0 mm, and non-studded tyres need the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol.

Can I take my vehicle on the night train?

VR lets you add a vehicle to a night train order; car spots start from €49 and motorcycles from €39.

Do we need an ATA Carnet?

If you bring professional equipment from outside the EU, an ATA Carnet is a common way to avoid duties and taxes temporarily; check Finnish Customs for your case.