Train stations in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi station on Ratakatu has VR day trains from Helsinki in about 8 hours, night trains with cabins, and bus 8 to Santa Claus Village.
- Stations
- 1
- Primary station
- Rovaniemi
- Passenger operators
- 1
Every train to Rovaniemi stops at Rovaniemi station on Ratakatu, and VR runs day trains and night trains with sleeper cabins from Helsinki. Linkkari bus 8 links the station with the centre and Santa Claus Village.
From the station into the centre
Rovaniemi station is at Ratakatu 3. The waiting room is open daily from 05:00 to 21:30, with ticket machines, a toilet and luggage lockers, but no staffed ticket office. The bus station on Lapinkävijäntie sells no tickets either. Bus 8 starts at the station, reaches Ruokasenkatu, the main stop in the centre, five minutes later, and arrives at the Arctic Circle in Santa Claus Village after 35 minutes. From 12 August 2026 to 6 June 2027 it leaves the station about every 45 minutes on weekdays, from 05:50 to 19:00. On Saturdays and Sundays it runs six times, every 75 minutes from 11:15 to 17:30, so after a weekend night-train arrival before 11:15 you walk into the centre or take a taxi.
The centre and Santa Claus Village are both in fare zone A. A single ticket costs €3.30 in the Waltti Mobile app and €3.60 on the bus, paid by contactless card or cash, and lets you change buses within 60 minutes. A day ticket costs €9.00 in the app or by contactless payment.
The Airport Express and Santa's Express buses link the station, Santa Claus Village and Rovaniemi Airport. Buy a ticket at airportbus.fi or pay the driver by card; they do not take cash.
Trains to Rovaniemi
All times apply from 10 August to 12 December 2026. A new timetable starts on 13 December.
- Day trains from Helsinki: InterCity trains leave at 05:03 (Monday to Saturday, a Pendolino on Saturdays), 06:20 (Sunday only), 08:20, 12:20 and 14:20. They reach Rovaniemi at 14:41, 14:41, 16:46, 20:23 and 22:45. The 12:20 is the quickest, at about eight hours.
- Day trains to Helsinki: from Rovaniemi at 05:15 (Monday to Saturday), 09:22, 11:00 (Sunday only), 13:02 and 15:35, arriving in Helsinki at 13:39, 17:39, 19:39, 21:39 and 23:39. The 15:35 is the quickest, also about eight hours.
- Night trains: VR sells these as the Santa Claus Express. The 19:29 from Helsinki and the 23:13 run daily and reach Rovaniemi at 07:20 and 10:59. A third train leaves Helsinki at 21:19 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 28 October to 11 December and arrives at 09:58. From Turku, sleeper cars and a car carrier leave daily at 21:08 and join the 23:13 from Helsinki at Tampere. Going south, the 17:52 from Rovaniemi runs daily and reaches Helsinki at 06:27, the 16:46 runs on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 29 October to 12 December and arrives at 07:14, and the daily train from Kemijärvi leaves Rovaniemi at 21:00 and reaches Helsinki at 09:15. For Turku, change at Tampere, where a train leaves at 05:50 and arrives at 07:33.
Cabins are sold whole, never by the berth, and start at €59. The night trains also have seats, and a car costs from €49 and a motorcycle from €39. Day trains call at Muurola and Tervola before Kemi, which is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Rovaniemi.
Winter, Christmas and works
Day train tickets are on sale until 14 February 2027 and night train tickets until 3 October 2027, so Christmas and New Year trains can be booked now. VR advises buying early for the Christmas trains.
On Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 November 2026 buses replace trains between Tampere and Parkano. The 05:15 from Rovaniemi runs to Seinäjoki and a bus continues to Tampere, where the train to Helsinki leaves at 12:00 and still arrives at 13:39. The 08:20 from Helsinki runs to Tampere, and after the bus the train leaves Seinäjoki at 11:09 and still reaches Rovaniemi at 16:46. On Saturday 5 December trains between Seinäjoki and Kokkola are replaced by buses. The 13:02 and 15:35 from Rovaniemi run only as far as Kokkola, and the trains that normally arrive in Rovaniemi at 20:23 and 22:45 start from Kokkola at 16:14 and 18:28.
Tickets
Buy VR tickets at vr.fi or in the VR Matkalla app. Prices change with the date of purchase and travel, so buy early for a good price. The station machine sells single long-distance tickets no earlier than 30 days before travel and charges €0.50 per order. The conductor sells tickets by card for a surcharge of €3 on trips under 76 km and €7 on longer ones.
Rail passes and reservations
As of October 2026, an Interrail Global Pass or Finland Pass is valid on VR's day and night trains to Rovaniemi. Seat reservations are recommended on InterCity and Pendolino trains but not required; they cost 25% of the full fare, from €3 in second class, plus €1 at a Finnish station. Night trains need a reservation for any cabin, between €39 and €150 (up to €160 with a private bathroom). A night train seat reservation is optional, from €5 to €32.70. In high season these prices can rise by 20%.
Things that catch travellers out
The Kolari night trains do not stop at Rovaniemi. For Levi, the Kolari train has the shorter bus transfer, 80 km in about 1 hour 15 minutes; from Rovaniemi the connecting bus covers 170 km in about 2.5 hours, and VR sells train and bus on one ticket. There is no 05:15 train on Sundays, so the first departure that day is 09:22.
Where to book
Train tickets
- Check times & prices
Omio
Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning.
Passenger train operators
- Check times & prices
VR is Finland's national railway; InterCity and Pendolino reservations are recommended, while night trains to Lapland require them.
Official website
Train stations in Rovaniemi
Find places to stay in Rovaniemi
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi take?
The quickest day train, the 12:20 from Helsinki, takes about eight hours. The 05:03 is slower, arriving at 14:41. Night trains take 11 hours 46 minutes to 12 hours 39 minutes, leaving Helsinki between 19:29 and 23:13 and arriving between 07:20 and 10:59. These times apply until 12 December 2026.
Is the night train or a day train better for Rovaniemi?
The night train gives you a full day in Rovaniemi, because it arrives between 07:20 and 10:59 and you sleep on board in a cabin that is yours alone. A day train arrives between 14:41 and 22:45, so you lose most of the first day. For the shortest daytime journey, take the 12:20 from Helsinki, or the 15:35 from Rovaniemi.
Can I get to Levi, Ruka or Saariselkä from Rovaniemi station?
Yes, by connecting bus, sold with the train ticket. From Rovaniemi Levi is 170 km, Ruka about 200 km and Saariselkä 260 km, with a ride of 3 to 4 hours to Saariselkä. Kemijärvi is the closer railhead for Ruka, at 130 km by direct bus.
Can I take my car on the train to Rovaniemi?
Yes, on the night trains, including the Turku sleeper that joins at Tampere. A car spot starts at €49 and a motorcycle spot at €39, and you add it when you buy your ticket or afterwards. You can change the date of the vehicle spot at least 72 hours before departure.
Is there a train from Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi?
Yes, the night train from Helsinki leaves Rovaniemi at 07:35 and reaches Kemijärvi at 08:50. In the other direction the night train from Kemijärvi leaves at 19:00 and reaches Rovaniemi at 20:10. VR runs no day trains on the branch in this timetable.