How to Get from Rovaniemi Airport to the City Centre: All the Options

Rovaniemi Airport is about 10 kilometres from the city centre, so getting into town is easy whatever time your flight lands. Airport shuttle, private transfer, taxi or hire car: here are all the options, with approximate prices and journey times, so you can decide before you even touch down.

The real difference between them isn't so much the price as the comfort. Getting off the plane with little ones, suitcases and all the winter gear for the trip and climbing onto a bus that stops along the way is a very different thing from having a car waiting with your name on a sign.

Airport shuttle: the cheapest option

The Airport Express is the bus that connects the terminal with Santa Claus Village, the city centre and the train station, and it's the cheapest way in: a one-way ticket costs €8 (summer 2026 price in their online shop, so confirm it if you're travelling in winter). No advance booking needed; you can pay by card directly on the bus, or buy the ticket online before boarding.

The timetable is built around arriving flights, so in high season it runs fairly often and outside it the service thins out. In winter the Santa's Express is added as extra capacity from the same operator. It's worth checking the latest timetable before you travel, especially if your flight lands late in the day.

A warning about Line 8: it doesn't go to the airport

You'll read it in a fair few places, and it isn't true: Line 8 of the Linkkari does not serve Rovaniemi Airport. Its route connects the train station, the city centre and Santa Claus Village, where it terminates. The airport and Santa Claus Village are reasonably close to each other, but Line 8 doesn't pass by the terminal, so don't count on it for that first leg if you've just landed.

Where Line 8 does come in handy is later, once you're in the city: it's the cheapest way to get to and from Santa Claus Village. You pay the driver directly, in cash or by contactless card, or through the Waltti Mobiili app. Linkkari's current timetable is valid from 12 August 2026 to 6 June 2027, so it's worth checking the latest Line 8 timetable before you travel.

Private transfer, booked in advance

If you're travelling with children, landing at night or would simply rather not depend on timetables, a private transfer booked in advance is the most comfortable option. They meet you at arrivals with a sign bearing your name and take you straight to your accommodation.

The advantage over a taxi is that you pay per vehicle rather than per person, and you know exactly what it costs before you book. It varies with the size of the car and the number of passengers, so for a family of four it usually works out well.

Taxi

There's a taxi rank right outside arrivals, and cars wait there for scheduled flights to land. The companies operating at the airport are Taksi Rovaniemi (0600 14000), Menevä (0800 02120) and Lähitaksi Rovaniemi. The ride into the centre usually runs €25-35 depending on the time and the company, and a bit more at night, on Sundays and on public holidays. No booking needed, so it's the most flexible option if you land without having arranged anything.

You can pay in cash or by card without any problem, and you can also book by phone with any of the companies if you'd rather not hunt for a taxi at the kerb the moment you walk out. Each company sets its own fares, so the least stressful thing is to ask for a fixed price when you book rather than leaving it to the meter. And if the fare is on the meter, check it's set to zero before you set off.

Uber and Bolt also operate in Rovaniemi, so they're another option. That said, it's a small city and there may be fewer cars available than in a big one, so if you're going to rely on the app, it's better to book ahead rather than request a ride at the last minute.

Hire car

If your plans take you beyond Rovaniemi (to Levi, Ylläs, Saariselkä or anywhere else in Lapland), hiring a car at the airport itself can be worth it. Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Enterprise, National, Alamo and Green Motion all operate there, among others. Some have a desk in the arrivals hall and others work by prior reservation only, so check their opening hours before you count on someone being there to meet you.

The price swings enormously with the date. Out of season you can find small cars for around €25-40 a day, but in winter it climbs a good deal, and Christmas and New Year are the most expensive of all. If you're travelling then, book well ahead.

If you want to reach other parts of Lapland without driving, buses run from the airport itself to Pyhä-Luosto (about four times a day in high season and twice the rest of the year) and to Ruka-Kuusamo. For Levi, Ylläs or Saariselkä there are long-distance coaches with Matkahuolto and OnniBus, but they leave from Rovaniemi bus station rather than the terminal, so you have to get into the city first.

If this option appeals, you can compare car hire prices in Rovaniemi before you arrive.

Compare hire cars in Rovaniemi

All the options compared (2026 prices)

Which one should you choose?

If you have little ones with you or you land at night, book a private transfer: it's the option with the fewest surprises.

If you're travelling light and want to save money, the airport shuttle does the job perfectly.

If you'll be moving around different parts of Lapland during your trip, consider a hire car from day one.

And if you arrive without anything booked, there's always a taxi.

Book a private transfer

And if you're still planning the rest of the trip, we have a basic guide to planning a family trip to Lapland with the first steps.