Where to Stay in Rovaniemi: Best Locations, Map & Hotels
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Planning a trip to Rovaniemi, Finland, and wondering where to stay? In this guide, we share the best areas to stay in Rovaniemi, including their pros and cons, and some hotel recommendations to help you choose the perfect base for your trip.
As the official hometown of Santa Claus and a gateway to Arctic adventures, Rovaniemi is a top winter destination. Since most visitors come during the colder months, this guide focuses on winter stays. In fact, some of the most unique hotels in the region don’t even operate in the warmer season. If you’re visiting in the summer, I recommend renting a car and skipping the city altogether, staying in a more remote location surrounded by nature.
That said, if you are traveling in winter, choosing where to stay in Rovaniemi can make a big difference in your experience. Thus this guide – to give you a better idea of what to expect in each area and help you plan a truly unforgettable trip.
TIP: If you can’t decide where to stay in Rovaniemi – whether due to location, availability, or budget – consider splitting your stay, like we did. We spent a few nights at a luxury glass igloo at Apukka outside the city and a few nights at the budget- and family-friendly Santasport Resort in Ounasvaara, just outside the city center.
On the days we stayed at the more affordable hotel, we booked full-day tours to Korouma Canyon and Riisitunturi National Park, keeping us out exploring all day (although there was plenty to do in and near this hotel too). And on those days when we stayed at the luxury glass igloo, we planned all the amazing winter activities at the same resort, making the most of the experience.
PRO TIP for a winter trip: For the best prices and availability, book your accommodation in Rovaniemi as soon as you know your travel dates. We traveled in March (booked in January) and I couldn’t find anything I liked for 4 nights in a row. That’s why we ended up with two different hotels; luckily, it worked out great.
Best Areas to Stay in Rovaniemi – Overview:
1. Santa Claus Village
BEST CENTRAL LOCATION, FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE & CONVENIENT TRANSPORT OPTIONS
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|
| Very central location with good transport connections. You can walk to SCV and take shuttles to other places. | Super busy and commercialized (but you can avoid this by staying outside the main village). |
| Direct access to SCV, restaurants, and all activities offered here (although we highly recommend doing most of them elsewhere). | Not the best area for experiencing local life beyond the Christmas theme. |
| Accommodations for all budgets, with spacious rooms and cabins that can accommodate most families. | Limited good value dining options (but depending on the hotel you’re staying at, you don’t have to eat at SCV restaurants). |
| Magical Christmas atmosphere – good choice for families with kids who want an immersive holiday experience. | |
| Good possibilities to see the Northern Lights without traveling anywhere. |
Located 5 minutes drive from the airport and 8 minutes from the city center, Santa Claus Village (SCV) is arguably the best place to stay in Rovaniemi. Its central location and convenient transport options make it an excellent base for exploring everything Rovaniemi has to offer.
While I’m not the biggest fan of overly commercialized SCV, I’d still consider staying here – especially since you can take advantage of the free shuttles to other locations, tours, and activities in the area. If you are looking for just one base location to stay in Rovaniemi in winter, the area within walking distance of SCV is an excellent choice.
There are several accommodation options, each offering a slightly different location and experience:
- €€ Santa Claus Holiday Village. This is the main and best-value accommodation right at SCV with cozy cabins, offering enough space for 3-4 people and private saunas. By far, the most popular option at SCV.
- €€€ Nova Skyland Hotel. Modern suites and cottages (with options from 2 to 8 people), surrounded by nature yet just steps away from SCV.
- €€€€ Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle. Luxury glass-roofed igloos for 2-4 people. This hotel is located in a more secluded location, about 10-15 minutes walk from SCV.
- €€€€€ Glass Resort. Luxury family-friendly glass igloos further away from all the hustle and bustle of SCV, but still super close to everything. All apartments here have floor-to-ceiling windows, sauna, and a private outdoor hot tub.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Rovaniemi
2. Rovaniemi City Center
BUDGET-FRIENDLY & CONVENIENT TRANSPORT OPTIONS
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|
| Walking distance to restaurants, bars, and attractions in the center. | You’ll need transportation for pretty much anything you want to do – whether it’s visiting SCV or any winter activities. |
| Good (public) transport connections. All activity providers offer free shuttles and transfers from the city center. | It’s a small and not the most exciting town that has no Lapland feel or any wilderness areas you can walk to. |
| A variety of hotels and restaurants to choose from, ranging from budget-friendly to upscale. | Limited accommodation options for families, especially if you are with more than 4. |
| Local atmosphere that allows you to experience daily life in Rovaniemi. | Not all hotels offer (free) parking, so double-check this if you are planning on renting a car! |
| Limited opportunities for seeing the Northern Lights due to city lights. |
Staying in Rovaniemi’s city center is often more budget-friendly than staying outside the city. Hotels tend to be more affordable, and you’ll have a wider selection of restaurants to suit all budgets. Plus, you are close to shops, museums, tours, and transportation options.
If you’re planning winter excursions, staying in the city gives you the flexibility to choose the best price-to-quality options, as all major tour operators include transfers from the center. However, keep in mind that all the top winter experiences take place outside the city, so you’ll need transportation for nearly everything, except for a visit to Arktikum and possibly one other museum, if you choose to go.
Here are some of the best-rated hotels in the center:
- €€ Scandic Rovaniemi City. A reliable mid-range option with good amenities.
- €€€ Arctic City Hotel. One of the best price/quality hotels in Rovaniemi.
- €€€+ Arctic Light Hotel. The best-rated hotel in the center. This luxury hotel is stylish and modern, yet very cozy. It’s also one of the few hotels in the city with spacious family rooms.
- €€€€ Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus. One of the priciest options, the modern hotel is best for couples.
3. Ounasvaara
CLOSE TO NATURE & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|
| Close enough to the city, but in a quieter setting with beautiful nature surroundings and local atmosphere. | Can feel a bit secluded, especially if you don’t have a car. You’ll need transportation for anything beyond Ounasvaara. |
| Accommodations for all budgets – from excellent lower-budget options to luxury resorts. | Limited hotel options, but there are also some self-catering chalets. |
| Great for outdoor activities and winter sports. | |
| Good possibilities to see the Northern Lights. |
Just across the bridge from the city center, Ounasvaara is home to Rovaniemi’s ski resort and a network of hiking and biking trails. It’s an excellent choice for active travelers looking for easy access to outdoor adventures like downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and winter walking trails.
However, Ounasvaara is a large area, so your experience will depend on where exactly you stay. Having a car can make things much easier, though taxis, Uber, and guided tours are also available. That said, transportation options aren’t as convenient as in the city center or Santa Claus Village, so it’s something to keep in mind when planning your stay.
Here are the best hotels in this area, each in a very different location:
- €€ Santasport Resort and Santasport Apartment Hotel. These are the best-value hotels in Rovaniemi for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Located within a large sports complex near the Ounasvaara nature area, it offers free access to the swimming pool and spa, as well as facilities like bowling, an indoor playroom for young children, several restaurants, and more. You can also rent sports equipment, fatbikes, snowshoes, and other gear for outdoor adventures.
- €€€€ Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets. Set by the river at the base of Ounasvaara Ski Centre and a short drive from the city center, this hotel offers cozy suites and traditional-style chalets. It’s a great place to stay for skiing in Rovaniemi.
- €€€€€ Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara. A luxury hilltop hotel with panoramic views and direct access to ski trails. Its rooftop terrace is perfect for Northern Lights viewing.
READ ALSO: Where & How to See the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi
4. Unique Accommodations Near Rovaniemi
TRUE ARCTIC EXPERIENCE
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|
| Unique stays for a truly memorable trip. | Very expensive. |
| Ideal for Northern Lights viewing with minimal light pollution and aurora alerts. | Limited dining options (that said, restaurants are usually excellent). |
| A more immersive nature experience. | Requires a car or transfers to the airport and other attractions. |
If you are looking for a truly special stay, Rovaniemi offers some unique accommodations a bit further from town. From an ice hotel to glass igloos, these stays all have one thing in common – you’ll be surrounded by forests and lakes, immersing yourself in the Arctic wilderness in a more secluded setting.
The remote, dark locations and large glass windows also give you a better chance of spotting the Northern Lights. Plus, many of these hotels issue real-time aurora alerts in the Aurora Alert Real Time App (more information in our Rovaniemi Northern Lights guide).
Of course, unique stays come at a higher price. If you want to splurge without completely blowing your budget, consider booking one for just a night or two. Alternatively, you can experience two of the best resorts on guided tours – see below for more details.
In addition to the earlier-mentioned Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle and Glass Resort at Santa Claus Village, here are the most unique hotels near Rovaniemi:
- Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. Located about halfway between the city center and Santa Claus Village, this hotel offers unique glass-walled cabins on stilts in a forest setting. If you want to stay really close to the city, right at Santa Park (a seasonal Christmas theme park), and a short drive from SCV but surrounded by nature, this is a great option.
- Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos. Located about 30 minutes north of Rovaniemi, this resort offers a mix of rooms in an ice hotel (one night is enough!) or a heated glass igloo. No matter which one you choose – or both – staying here is a truly memorable experience!
TIP for day visitors: The ice hotel is a popular day trip destination from Rovaniemi with various tour options such as an ice hotel visit, a sauna experience, dinner at an ice restaurant, or a combination of the above.
- Apukka Resort & Glass Igloos. Located about 15 minutes east of Rovaniemi, this resort has several different types of glass igloos, glass-roofed accommodations, and lakeview suites. What makes Apukka stand out from the rest is a wide selection of activities directly at the resort – from husky and reindeer-sledding and snowmobiling to snowshoeing, ice fishing, and lakeside saunas – there’s so much to do here that you can easily fill several days.
Good to know: This resort provides a complete set of winter gear during your stay, so if you come here directly from the airport and stay here during your entire vacation, you could save a small fortune by not having to buy winter jackets, pants, and boots for the whole family. This could offset some of your accommodation costs.
TIP for day visitors: Take a look at all the activities offered at Apukka and book two tours on the same day (or a full-day family-friendly tour) – that way, you can spend a great day at this resort even without staying here. They also have a Northern Lights snowtrain if you want to try and catch auroras here.
READ ALSO: Husky Sledding in Rovaniemi
So, this is our guide to the best places to stay in and near Rovaniemi. As you can see, each area – and even hotel – offers something different. So where to stay depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for.
One thing I can assure you – no matter where you stay, Rovaniemi in winter promises an unforgettable trip!
TIP: Wondering how to plan your trip? Take a look at our itinerary for Rovaniemi in winter. It covers all the top winter experiences and includes lots of useful tips to help you plan a truly magical trip. Check it out!
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