Of course we understand that you are not traveling to Rovaniemi for shopping, but in and between all the amazing activities in Lapland Summer or Winter, we all love to hang out at a shopping mall and check out what we can bring home from Lapland.
Did you know that there are three shopping malls in Rovaniemi city centre?
What we especially like is that there are many real Finnish brands to be found. The small but lively town centre of Rovaniemi is great for shopping. Multiple shopping centers along with scores of specialized shops and boutiques really cater all preferences and needs.
From fashion and shoes to sports equipment and from souvenirs and local arts and handicrafts to classic Finnish design brands like Marimekko and Iittala. Rovaniemi has it all.
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She explored the cultural and shopping side of Rovaniemi, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.
Table of Contents
Sampokeskus Shopping Centre
Our first stop in Rovaniemi is always Sampokeskus Shopping Centre. It's located right in the middle of the city, at the main square. You really can't miss this one.
Sampokeskus is the most diverse shopping centre in Rovaniemi and located perfectly. At Sampokeskus you can find it all, fashion stores, cafes, restaurants and a pharmacy. You will also find the cinema and Arctic Glow Minigolf here. Our favorites at Sampokeskus are Espresso House, Marimekko and Pentik.
Pay close attention to the design of the building, don't you think the glass construction looks a lot like the one at the Arktikum?
Shopping Center Rinteenkulma
Rinteenkulma is local's shopping center in the middle of the City of Rovaniemi. Here you can find a great selection of local stores, services and restaurants. There is a large supermarket here, which we have often used ourselves. Next to that the sports and outdoor stores at this shopping centre are fantastic. Should you have forgotten something for your trip to Lapland, they have you covered at the Rinteenkulma Shopping Center.
Revontuli Shopping Centre
From Rinteenkulma you can easily walk through to Revontuli Shopping Centre as they are connected. This shopping centre is large and modern. It offers a wide variety of shops. Here you can find shops like H&M and Rituals.
Santa Claus Village
Santa Claus Village is probably the most popular place to visit in Rovaniemi as it is the place where you can meet Santa Claus. But, of course, you can also shop here! Of course you can find the real Finnish brands such as Marimekko, Pentik and Italla here as well. Santa Claus Village is also the place to be for some true Christmas or Santa Claus souvenirs.
Finnish Brands
We have mentioned them before in this blog, the Finnish brands. The nice thing about traveling is that you come into contact with these kinds of brands. And to be honest, we are really excited about these Finnish brands and have even taken some things home with us.
Marimekko
Marimekko is a Finnish textiles, clothing and home furnishing company. It was founded in Helsinki in 1951. Marimekko is famous for its brightly colored printed fabrics and simple styles. This is used both in women's clothing and in home furnishing. Marimekko is certainly not cheap, but the quality is very good. Marimekko can be found in Sampokeskus Shopping Centre and in Santa Claus Village.
Pentik
Pentik is a family-owned Finnish company, founded in 1971. Their roots are in Lapland, very close to the Arctic Circle in fact, in Posio. This is still their home and nowadays the Northernmost ceramics factory in the world. Pentik is famous for its ceramic dinnerware. They make wonderful products, we actually already have a couple at home ourselves.
It's hard NOT to buy anything when visiting Pentik. All their pieces are dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven safe! Pentik can be found in Sampokeskus Shopping Centre and in Santa Claus Village.
Moomin
The Moomins are a round fairy-tale character with large snouts. They are trolls who live in Moominvalley. The Moomin are central characters in a series of novels, books, and comics by Finnish writer Tove Jansson. They are very popular in Finland where they have special Moomin shops. In fact, a Moomin store has recently opened in Santa Claus Village. At Moomin Shop Rovaniemi you will find the widest Moomin product range in Lapland. You will also find rarer Moomin products that are not available everywhere. We haven't seen it ourselves yet, so we'll have something to discover next time.
Iittala
The Finnish brand's story goes back to 1881. Iittala was a pioneer of the minimalist and practical design that Scandinavia is known for. Originally Iittala is a glass factory. But the brand offers more than glasses & carafes. You can buy complete tableware sets. Iittala designs never go out of fashion and have a long lifespan. The idea is that you can enjoy Iittala tableware your whole life. By designing timeless and sustainable products, the brand wants to counteract overconsumption and the throwaway culture. Iittala is located in Santa Claus Village.
You can find very nice shops at Korundi, Arktikum and Pilke as well. They offer great souvenirs and local products. Definitely worth to check them out when you visit any of these museums.
Plenty of shopping to do in Rovaniemi. So if you're planning a trip to Rovaniemi, make sure to also make time for some shopping.