How to get around
Although in small towns like Kemi, Rovaniemi and Tornio all the services are in the center, within walking distance, a bicycle is a nice way to familiarize with the surroundings of the towns. There is also a possibility to buy a buss card and use the public transportation for moving around towns.
Travelling by bus from Kemi to Tornio or vice versa costs you 6,90 €. If you need to take a bus daily, it is worth buying a monthly card. It is valid for 30 days from the date you buy the ticket within the Kemi-Tornio transport area and costs 69 euros + a renewable card 6,50 euros (deposit). The card can be purchased at bus stations and it can be renewed on buses. Local buses depart from the bus stations in Kemi and Tornio. Timetables are available at the bus stations, the Matkahuolto office and on buses. In Rovaniemi the bus card at student price is 31€/month and you can buy it from Osviitta (located in the city hall of Rovaniemi) or Matkahuolto (Lapinkävijäntie 2). Don’t forget to take Lapland UAS attendance certificate and pass-port with you.
If you take a bus ride to a destination of a distance of 80 km or more, you are entitled to a special student rate. The discount is 50 % for a one-way or return ticket. You need to present your Student Union membership card (SAMOK student card) or a special Matkahuolto/ VR discount card when purchasing the ticket.
Travelling by train you are entitled to a special student rate. Beginning on June 3rd 2013 the student discount percentage for Basic and Extra class tickets has started to vary between 45 to 55 per cent. What this means is that students receive the highest discount for tickets with low demand, while more popular tickets entitle to a lower discount. VR has convinced the student organisations that the reform will, on average, make travelling by train more affordable for students – even despite the slight increase in the prices of the most popular departures.
You need to present your Student Union membership card (SAMOK student card) or a special Matkahuolto/ VR discount card when purchasing the ticket. Train connections in Finland: www.vr.fi/
Bicycles
With some good luck you may find and buy a decent bicycle for a reasonable price from a bicycle repair shop, recycling center (kierrätyskeskus), flea market (kirpputori) or your fellow student. When you park your bicycle always remember to lock it and preferably fasten it to a bicycle rack or some other solid structure to avoid anyone steeling your bike. You can buy bicycle locks from wellstocked stores.
Please remember to also purchase a light for your bike, because the Finnish law demands you to have one. Light helps other traffic users to see you better and makes it easier to drive your bike when it’s dark. It is also good to have a bicycle helmet.
These shops sell used bikes and are located in the city centre of Rovaniemi:
- Mountain Bike Center, Ruokasenkatu 10
- Tuhattori, Harrikatu 2
With good luck you can find used bikes in Kemi and Tornio from:
- Viikkotori, Keskuspuistokatu 17, Kemi
- Monitarmo Kierrätys, Asemakatu 4, Kemi
- Tositori, Länsiranta 13, Tornio
Shopping
Rovaniemi offers variety of shopping possibilities. There are many supermarkets, grocery stores, home-furnishing and clothing shops. In downtown you can shop in three shopping malls: Sampokeskus, Revontulikeskus and Rinteenkulma, which are only a short walking distance away from each other. Another great place to shop and visit is Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle. There are many specialty shops and souvenir shop in the center of Kemi and Tornio, as well as a mall in Tornio. You can also enjoy a mall and lots of other shops in Haparanda, Sweden. In Sweden the currency is Swedish krona, but in Finland the currency is Euro.
Shopping hours are generally 9 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. Saturday. Stores are typically closed on Sundays, but grocery stores are usually open every day.
Second hand shops
Second-hand stores are ideal for lowbudget shopping. You can find many second-hand shops in Rovaniemi:
- Tuhattori, Harrikatu 2
- Varastotien kirppis, Varastotie 8
- Rovaniemen Kontti, Kierrätystavaratalo, Teollisuustie 13
- Vintikki, Varastotie 2
- Toivon Tori, Lapinkävijäntie 23
There are many second-hand shops also in Kemi and Tornio:
- Viikkotori, Keskuspuistokatu 17, Kemi
- Aseman tori, Rautatiekatu 9, Kemi
- Meriva, Valtakatu 27-29, Kemi
- Vaarin Vintti, Länsiranta 13, Tornio
- Tositori, Länsiranta 13, Tornio
- IHA Lähetyspuoti, Kauppakatu 11, Tornio