Souvenirs from Rovaniemi: how to choose a puukko, treats and wool, and get them home safely

We already have a list of things worth bringing back from Lapland in our article What to bring home from Lapland: 9 authentic Finnish souvenirs. This time we're getting more practical: where to shop in Rovaniemi, how to tell a quality knife from a souvenir knock-off, and how to get it all home without trouble at the airport.

1Where to shop in Rovaniemi

You'll find souvenir shops mainly in Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle and in the city centre around the pedestrian zone. The selection is wide, but prices reflect the touristy location. If you have time, compare what's on offer in the centre with the village.

For food – chocolate, jams, salmiak or dried reindeer meat – head to ordinary supermarkets. Big chains like K-Citymarket, Prisma and S-market stock the same brands as the souvenir shops, just without the gift packaging and usually for less. We cover getting around town in our article How to get around Rovaniemi.

Save your shopping for the end of your stay. You'll keep space free in your suitcase during trips, and you won't be hauling chocolate and jam all over Lapland. Just bear in mind that smaller shops may have shorter opening hours on Sundays and public holidays – check in advance.

2Puukko and Marttiini knives

The puukko is a traditional Finnish knife with a single edge and a short blade. In Finland it isn't a decoration but a working tool – used in the forest, for fishing and in the kitchen. Typical features are a handle made of curly birch (wavy-grained birch wood), sometimes combined with reindeer antler, and a leather sheath.

Rovaniemi is home to the Marttiini brand, which has been making knives here since 1928. You'll find its products in many shops around town, ranging from simple work knives to hand-decorated pieces with antler and engraved motifs.

What to look for

• Purpose: do you want to use the knife or display it? For cooking and outdoor trips, a simpler model with a solid handle will do; decorated pieces are more for the display cabinet.
• Steel: stainless is maintenance-free, carbon steel is easier to sharpen but needs protecting from rust.
• Handle: hold the knife – it should sit well in your hand and not slip.
• Origin: look for the maker's mark and "Made in Finland". Cheap unbranded knives are often imported.

Knives go in checked luggage. In your carry-on, airport security will confiscate it. And don't wear it on your belt around town – Finnish law prohibits carrying knives in public places without a good reason. Carry it out of the shop wrapped in a bag.

3Cloudberry jam and other forest treats

Cloudberries (lakka or hilla in Finnish) grow in northern bogs and are picked by hand, which makes them one of the most expensive wild berries. Cloudberry jam – lakkahillo – has a distinctive, slightly tart flavour. Finns eat it with warm leipäjuusto cheese, on pancakes or with ice cream.

If cloudberries seem pricey, go for lingonberry or bilberry jam instead. They're more affordable, just as "Lappish", and supermarkets carry several kinds. Wild berry liqueurs and dried berries are interesting too.

At the airport, jam counts as a liquid. Jars over 100 ml don't belong in your carry-on. Pack them in your suitcase wrapped in socks or a sweater and put them in a resealable bag in case one breaks.

4Fazer and salmiak

Finnish confectioner Fazer has been around since 1891, and its milk chocolate in the blue wrapper is something of a national symbol for Finns. Beyond the classic, it's worth trying flavours you won't usually find back home, as well as sweets and pastilles from the same brand.

A bolder gift is salmiak – salty liquorice with ammonium chloride. Its taste splits people into two camps, which makes it a great souvenir for the office: entertainment guaranteed. You can buy both in any supermarket and at the airport.

5Wool socks and reindeer products

Wool that keeps you warm

Knitted wool socks with Nordic patterns are a practical souvenir you can use straight away – say, on an evening northern lights hunt. Hand-knitted pairs are sold by local craftspeople and some souvenir shops; machine-made ones are cheaper. Check the composition: the more wool, the warmer they are. We cover how to dress for real frost in our article What to wear at −30 °C.

What the reindeer offers

Reindeer are herded in Lapland and almost every part of them is used. Souvenirs include:

• dried or smoked reindeer meat and sausages – vacuum-packed, they'll survive the journey without refrigeration,
• reindeer hides – as a rug or seat cover; choose one where the fur holds firmly,
• antler products – buttons, pendants, knife handles,
• small leather goods – wallets, cases, bracelets.

You can bring meat from the EU into the Czech Republic, but buy products in their original packaging with a label. Roll the hide up fur side in and put it in a large bag so it doesn't shed onto your clothes in the suitcase.

6Extra tips

• Where: souvenir shops in central Rovaniemi and in Santa Claus Village (about 8 km north of the centre); food is cheaper in supermarkets.
• When: shops are open year-round; opening hours vary by season and day of the week, so check current times.
• Knives: checked luggage only, and don't carry them openly around town.
• Jams and liqueurs: over 100 ml goes in your suitcase, packed against breakage.
• Meat: buy vacuum-packed with the producer's label.
• Origin: for handicrafts, look for labels indicating Finnish or Sámi origin.
• Prices: vary by shop and season; food is much cheaper in the supermarket than in gift packaging.
• Suitcase space: leave some spare room; socks and sweaters make good padding for jars.