Thinking about finally making that dream trip to Lapland this winter? Stop thinking and start doing! We are happy to help you and we have a really great travel tip for Rovaniemi!
Think of an amusement park but in Lapland. Where you can have unlimited fun in the snow all day long. That's Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park. They have something very special that you won't find anywhere else, so keep reading!
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She visited Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.
Table of Contents
Location
Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park is located 10 kilometer from Rovaniemi. The address to KotatievaWinter Leisure Park is Ounasjoen itäpuolentie 828, 96900 Rovaniemi. From Rovaniemi Center head towards road Ounasjoki 4 / E75. Make sure you continue on Ounasjoki east side / route 934. Then start following the Kotatieva signs from the main road and continue for another 2.5 km. In the middle of the forest you will arrive at Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park. Park your car and have lots of fun.
Transportation Service
Don't have a car or simply don't feel like driving yourself? No problem. Kotatieva also offers transportation service. The shuttle drives from Rovaniemi town centre via Santa Claus Village to Kotatieva and back, three times a day. The transportation service is available only when you buy a day in Kotatieva ticket. This shuttle service is free of charge and must be booked at the same time with the ticket. Please be aware that availability is very limited per day.
Ice skating forest track
Doesn't it sound like a fairytale? An ice skating forest track. Trust me when I say it's even more magical in real life! It's a unique experience in the middle of the woods of frozen Lapland. The track is almost 1000 meters long, so go crazy! Ice skates are included with your ticket. There is a warm and cozy changing room next to the track where you can hop into the skates and other gear necessary. There are kick sledges if you need a hand, and then just kick it away.
This ice skating forest track is a one of a kind in Nordic countries. Extremely special!
When I heard about this special ice track I was immediately enthusiastic. We visited Kotatieva on the very last day of the season. The sun had been shining for days and the temperature occasionally rose above 0. Bad for the ice and that was noticeable. We went there as early as possible so we could get on the ice right away.
It was absolutely fantastic. Clear blue sky and a lovely sun, what more could you want? It was our very first time on ice skates so it took some time getting used to it at first. But once we got the hang of it we skated lap after lap. We can only wholeheartedly recommend this unique experience.
Sled hill
Apparently this is a guests favorite and we understand why. A huge hill to slide down from. The slide is built on a large, natural hill and assures a fun and speedy ride down. As an adult you immediately feel like a child again.
You grab a mat, walk to the top and just slide down as fast as you can.
Snowshoe disc golf
During our previous visits to Lapland we had heard about disc golf, but we had never played it ourselves. When we saw that you can play it at Kotatieva, on snowhoes no less, we were sold! It's a super fun activity, although it does take some practice in the beginning.
Finnish sauna
Of course, it wouldn't be Finland if you couldn't enjoy a wonderful Finnish sauna here. You can combine a traditional Finnish sauna even with hot tub with a day in Kotatieva. It's an add on to the ticket, so you can easily book it online. I can imagine it's the best relaxation after an intense and active outdoor day at Kotatieva. The towels are provided by Kotatieva. The wearing of swimming suit in the hot tub is mandatory so please bring your own swimming gear with you.
Equipment
All equipment needed for the activities is available for you free of charge. Ice skates, helmets, skis, sleds, snowshoes, disc golf equipment, just ask for it when you want to use it. Of course you are always free to bring your own gear if you want to.
Restaurant
Kotatieva has an onsite restaurant that is open daily during the opening hours. You can purchase drinks, snacks, warm bites and lunch here. The restaurant isn't that big, it seats 16 people at a time.
A much more fun thing to do and highly recommended if you ask us, is buy sausages from the restaurant and grill them on the fire by yourself. So much fun.
We were surrounded by a large group of locals and truly had an amazing time grilling sausages. I can honestly say that we had the best lunch out there!
Please note that the fireplaces in the area are not public, so bringing your own food is not allowed.
Costs
A day ticket costs 59 EUR for adults and 49 EUR for children. Included with this ticket is entrance to Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park for one day, all the activities you can do and the equipment needed for the activities. And of course as a super benefit free transportation is also included.
A day in Kotatieva is highly recommended if you visit Rovaniemi. There is so much to do and so much fun to be had here. The ice skating track in particular is of course very special. But be honest, what is more fun and enjoyable than spending a whole day in the Lappish nature?