Where to stay in Rovaniemi – Find the best accommodation in the Capital of Lapland

As a Finn who has lived and studied Tourism Research in Rovaniemi, I want to give you insider tips and unique behind-the-scenes knowledge to choose actually the best accommodation in my previous hometown Rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi is the biggest town in Lapland and oftentimes the first touch to Finnish Lapland.

With my insider knowledge, I’ll guide you through the best areas to stay in Rovaniemi, tailored to your specific interests—whether you’re a first-time visitor, a Northern Lights seeker, or someone who wants to explore the wilderness.

How to find the best hotels in Rovaniemi tailored for you from this article:

As we are all different and the best accommodation in Rovaniemi means different things for all of us based on interests, budget, and other criteria, I have made it easy for you to compare the Rovaniemi hotels and areas in this article.

Centre of Rovaniemi offers the best amenities, like shopping centre Rinne and Revontuli, multiple restaurants, pubs and bars preferred both by locals and tourists, as well as cultural experiences.

Staying in the Rovaniemi centre allows you to discover the city by foot, but also to take public transportation for example to Santa Claus village, which is located 16kms from Rovaniemi Centre.

If you are wondering are you going to see any nature in the centre of Rovaniemi, don’t worry, it’s a town of 50 000 people surrounded by lots of nature.

Santa Claus Village is located just 16kms from the centre of Rovaniemi, offering magical Christmas vibes with reindeer, snow, luxury accommodation to spot Northern Lights and of course, the Big Guy with long beard.

Staying nearby Santa Claus village is a good option for families who have kids willing to see the Santa and his reindeer while enjoying also glass igloo accommodation.

Ounasvaara is a ski slope in Rovaniemi, and it is the best choice to stay for people who want to go skiing or snowboarding during their stay in Rovaniemi.

Ounasvaara is also just 5kms from Rovaniemi centre so you can also discover the city.

Ounasvaara is a great option for adventure seekers, who want to try for example e-fatbiking in snow, skiing and hiking, while still having the amenities of the city nearby.

As a Finn, going to Lapland for me means going into the woods. So if you want to have real Lappish experience, I recommend staying outside of the city. This allows you to spot Northern lights directly from your accommodation and feel the tranquillity of Finnish nature.

PS. If you are planning to stay in Rovaniemi only at the beginning/end of your trip and want to discover also other destinations of Lapland (which I highly recommend!), check this:

1 week in Lapland: 7 day Lapland itinerary

In the itinerary article I give you three itinerary options based on interests and budget.

Now that you have an idea of different locations, let’s discover the top hotels in Rovaniemi in different categories.

This iconic treehouse hotel with large windows is ideal for northern light spotting ad luxurious experience.

If you are planning to produce content for Instagram/otherwise want to have those bucketlist images from Lapland in a luxurious set up with comfortable bed, choose this one.

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Glass-roofed igloo is definitely so iconic and ideal bucketlist item during your stay in Lapland, that I can recommend this one.

Santa’s Igloos is nearby Santa Claus Village and the Premium igloos come with a private hot tub. Even talking about it makes me want to book it instantly!

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This cottage style accommodation offers luxury in more traditional Finnish way. Finnish people would stay in a cottage during their holidays and with Nova Skyland you get the experience this in a luxurious way with modern design.

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If you want luxury right at the centre of Rovaniemi, I recommend Arctic Light Hotel. Note that this is not a glass igloo, but more of a traditional hotel, yet the experience is great and everything is super nearby.

You don’t need to trust just my word, Arctic light hotel has rating of 9,3 among 1462 guests in Booking.

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If you want to find a nice place to stay, but not to pay extra for stuff you don’t need, check these mid-range accommodation options in Rovaniemi.

Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is a typical hotel to stay with good location, good sauna and all the basics you would want from a hotel.

This is a comfort option without splurging. Great place to stay if you for example continue later your trip to more northern Lapland.

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Scandic is a good, basic Scandinavian hotel option. Having worked in Scandic, I would highlight the great breakfast.

Location is central, the place follows eco-friendly practices and provides good value for money.

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I know Lapland and Finland in general can be a pricey destination. Yet if you know few insider’s tips, you can save hundreds of euros.

The absolute best way to budget travel while getting a nice and practical place to stay in Rovaniemi is renting a place from a local.

I used to live in centre of Rovaniemi and used to rent out my place as well resulting in very happy visitors, as they got to see Finnish home, have own kitchen and sauna and central location.

This is especially good budget option if you are travelling with multiple people, as you can rent an apartment that fits more than 2 people.

I recommend checking out these apartments, as they are well located, typical Finnish homes with great reviews:

Place nearby ski slopes and centre

Unique Finnish home in nature 6kms from Rovaniemi centre

I would say this cozy hostel in the centre of Rovaniemi is more like a hotel. The place has cozy, social atmosphere and it is literally located next to pricey luxury option: Arctic Light Hotel.

From Hostel Café Koti you can easily discover anything in Rovaniemi and surroundings.

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There is also a Guesthouse Borealis nearby Rovaniemi Train station, but I would not recommend it.

To be honest, I think you get much more value for money by renting an apartment than going to this guesthouse.

Also the proximity to train station is not really handy as Rovaniemi is already the northernmost point where the trains in Finland go.

I know the unique glass igloos come with a price, but I would say glass igloo is an experience you want to experience during your stay in Lapland.

If you are not traveling furthern North in Lapland, you should stay in this Arctic Snow Hotel Glass igloos.

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Located a bit further from Santa claus village, you can stay in iconic Apukka resort, which offers fantastic glass igloos, but also many kinds of tours, like reindeer safaris.

The rural location also makes it more likely to spot northern lights directly from your glass igloo.

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So Snowhotel is actually what the name says: a hotel completely made of snow.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience is amazing if you really want to do something unique.

PS. This one is NOT in centre of Rovaniemi, but nearby Sinettä. I just wanted to list it for you as something special.

In Rovaniemi I recommend also this Cozy Snow Villa.

I assume kids who travel to Rovaniemi, want to either: stay nearby Santa Claus or nearby ski slope. From parents point of view I recommend renting a Finnish house where you can enjoy nature, sauna, fireplace and own kitchen.

Santa Claus holiday village is in great nature location near the Papa Noel, offering accommodation varying from cottages to hotel rooms and family suites.

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Ounasvaara chalets are located in a ski slopes with plenty of outdoor activity opportunities.

The spacious chalets offers family-friendly amenities and great location for sporty family.

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If you are looking to stay in central location with your family in Rovaniemi, I definitely recommend Piriko Studio apartments. It comes with all the amenities and it is located in the heart of Rovaniemi.

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Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara

If you are into skiing, you can literally ski into your hotel if you stay in Sky Ounasvaara.

This luxurious hotel offers proximity of nature and outdoor activities from skiing and snowboarding to e-gatbiking in snowy rails and snowmobiling.

If Sky Ounasvaara hotel does not exactly fit into your budget and you prefer having your own chalet in the same area, check out ounasvaara chalets.

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If you want something special, I recommend this Finnish log house 57kms from Rovaniemi.

Kotatuli experience offers multiple unique experiences at their wooden house varying from snowy horseriding into snow mobile safari and building snowmen.

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As master of Tourism Research specialized in Responsibility in traveling, I find this slightly controversial topic.

To be honest, in Finland all hotels follow rather good sustainability protocols, just like in Finland in general.

So if you stay in any officially listed hotel in Finland, you can be sure they have already considered the sustainability on bigger picture than just one tourist’s point of view.

However, if you want to stay in bit more eco-conscious place, check these out in Rovaniemi.

I mentioned Scandic already in the best mid-range budget hotel options, yet scandic is also following great eco-friendly practices, like minimizing food waste. This practical hotel in great location is ideal for environmentally conscious traveler

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If you still want to have a unique stay rather than simply a hotel room, check out this Finnish innovation eco glass igloo that floats in the water.

The glass igloo is absolutely stunning experience, but the room is smaller, thus making it more eco-friendly to heat in freezing environment.

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Other sustainable accommodation choices generally speaking are more traditional hotels that can operate consuming less electricity and water per person.

To simplify, luxurious private lodge with private hot tub outdoors naturally is less ecological than a room from an aparthotel.

City Center: Ideal for first-time visitors who want easy access to restaurants, shops, and attractions.

Secluded Areas: Perfect for those seeking tranquility, privacy, and better chances to view the Northern Lights.

Must-Haves:Finnish sauna, kitchen facilities, or unobstructed views of the Northern Lights.

Enhance Your Stay: Choose accommodations with the amenities that will make your trip more enjoyable.

Set a Budget: Determine your spending limit before searching.

Look for Deals: Check booking platforms, direct hotel websites, and consider off-peak travel for savings.

Peak Seasons: Christmas and Northern Lights season fill up quickly. Book early to secure your spot and better prices. In my honest Finnish opinion, Christmas is not at all the best time to visit, as the prices are through the roof, there is hardly any daylight during the polar night and you likely need to queue for a long time to visit Santa Claus.

Best time to travel to Lapland in winter in my opinion is in March as there is daylight but also high chance for northern lights.

Your choice of accommodation in Rovaniemi can significantly shape your experience, whether you're looking for luxury, adventure, or a family-friendly stay.

Selecting the right place based on your preferences—like proximity to attractions, available amenities, or desired seclusion—can greatly enhance your trip.