Lapland's capital on the Arctic Circle
Rovaniemi straddles the Arctic Circle and has made the most of it: Santa Claus Village, just north of town, lets you cross the line and meet Father Christmas any day of the year. The town itself was rebuilt after the Second World War, partly to plans by Alvar Aalto, and the Arktikum museum explains Arctic nature and Sámi culture. Winter brings husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobiling on frozen rivers and good odds of the northern lights; summer brings the midnight sun.