Wondering where to stay in Rovaniemi? After three DIY trips to Finnish Lapland, including two stays in Rovaniemi, we've experienced several very different types of accommodation, from spending a night at the incredible Arctic SnowHotel to staying in modern city-centre apartments just a short walk from restaurants, shops and activity pick-up points.
One thing we've learnt is that there's no single "best" place to stay. The right choice depends on the type of trip you're planning.
If your priority is meeting Father Christmas, staying in Santa Claus Village might be perfect. If you're planning a DIY itinerary packed with excursions, I'd personally recommend staying in the city centre. And if you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, spending a night at the Arctic SnowHotel is something you'll never forget.
In this guide, I'll explain the best areas to stay in Rovaniemi, who each one is best suited to, and share where we've stayed ourselves to help you decide which option is right for your trip.
From DIY itineraries and Northern Lights tips to budgeting advice, destination guides and honest reviews of the places we've visited, you'll find everything together in our Lapland Travel Guide Hub
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⭐ Best overall: Rovaniemi City Centre
🎅 Best for first-time families: Santa Claus Village
❄️ Most unique stay: Arctic SnowHotel
💰 Best for budget travellers: City centre apartments
🚶 Best if you don't want a car: City Centre
🌌 Best for a bucket-list experience: One night at the Arctic SnowHotel
👨👩👧👦 Our experience: We've stayed twice in Rovaniemi—once at the Arctic SnowHotel and twice in city-centre apartments.
💙 My recommendation: Stay in Rovaniemi city centre and, if your budget allows, add one unforgettable night in a heated glass igloo or at the Arctic SnowHotel for a truly unique Lapland experience.
Absolutely. If you're planning your first DIY trip to Finnish Lapland, I'd actually say Rovaniemi is the easiest place to base yourself.
As the capital of Finnish Lapland, it offers the widest choice of accommodation, from budget-friendly apartments and family hotels to luxury glass igloos and unique stays like the Arctic SnowHotel. It's also home to Santa Claus Village, making it one of the most popular destinations for families visiting Lapland for the first time.
We've now visited Rovaniemi twice and chosen to stay in the city centre both times. Being able to walk to restaurants, supermarkets and activity pick-up points, while having plenty of accommodation choices, made the whole trip incredibly easy without needing to hire a car.
Most organised tours include hotel transfers, public buses run regularly to Santa Claus Village, and the airport is only around 15 minutes away, so getting around is straightforward even if you're only visiting for a few days.
The only downside is that Rovaniemi is also Lapland's busiest destination. If you're looking for complete wilderness, a quieter atmosphere or the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights directly from your accommodation, destinations such as Levi, Saariselkä or Pyhä-Luosto may be a better fit. If you're still deciding between the two most popular destinations, take a look at my Levi vs Rovaniemi guide. And if seeing the aurora is one of your main reasons for visiting, my Northern Lights in Lapland guide explains where you're most likely to see them.
For most first-time visitors though, I think Rovaniemi offers the best balance of convenience, activities and accommodation choices. It's also the easiest destination to plan independently, with plenty of direct flights from the UK, excellent transport links and a huge choice of places to stay. If you're still deciding how to get there, my UK Flights to Lapland guide compares the different airports, airlines and routes.
Before choosing where to stay, it's worth understanding the four main areas visitors typically base themselves in Rovaniemi.
Rovaniemi isn't a huge city, but choosing the right area can completely change your trip.
Some visitors want to wake up a short walk from Father Christmas, while others prefer having restaurants, supermarkets and activity pick-up points on their doorstep. There are also unique places to stay, such as the Arctic SnowHotel, where the accommodation becomes part of the experience itself.
These are the four main areas I'd consider when planning a DIY trip to Rovaniemi.
Best for: First-time visitors, DIY trips, couples, families and anyone not hiring a car.
If someone asked me where I'd stay in Rovaniemi, my answer would almost always be the city centre.
We've stayed here twice and would happily do so again. Having restaurants, cafés, supermarkets and shops within walking distance made the whole trip feel much easier, especially after spending hours outside in temperatures well below freezing.
Another huge advantage is how easy it is to get around. Most organised excursions collect you from central hotels or nearby meeting points, the airport is only around 15 minutes away, and regular buses run to Santa Claus Village throughout the day. We never felt the need to hire a car.
Staying in the city centre also gives you the widest choice of accommodation. Whether you're looking for a modern apartment, a family-friendly hotel or something a little more luxurious, you'll usually find better availability and prices here than elsewhere in Rovaniemi.
If you're planning to pack your days with activities, I'd honestly recommend using the city centre as your base. Being able to return to our apartment to warm up, dry our winter clothing and head back out again made a huge difference to both of our trips.
We've shared the apartments we stayed in as part of our 2-Day Rovaniemi Itinerary and 3-Day Rovaniemi Itinerary, where you can see exactly why we chose them and how they worked for our trips.
If you're still looking for somewhere to stay, other highly rated city-centre options include Hostel Café Koti, Arctic Light Hotel, Scandic Rovaniemi City and Santa's Hotel Santa Claus, all of which are within easy walking distance of the city's restaurants, shops and activity meeting points.
• Excellent choice of hotels and apartments
• Plenty of restaurants, cafés and supermarkets
• Easy access to activity pick-up points
• Regular buses to Santa Claus Village
• No car required
• Less peaceful than staying in the surrounding forests
• Less chance of seeing the Northern Lights from your accommodation
Best for: Families with younger children, first-time visitors and anyone wanting to stay close to Father Christmas.
If meeting Father Christmas is the main reason for your trip, staying in Santa Claus Village is hard to beat.
Instead of catching the bus from the city centre, you'll be able to walk straight to Santa Claus' Office, the Main Post Office, souvenir shops, Snowman World, and many of Rovaniemi's most popular family attractions. During the day, the village has a wonderfully festive atmosphere, particularly in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Accommodation here is very different from the city centre. Rather than apartment blocks and traditional hotels, you'll find cosy cabins, glass igloos and luxury lodges, many surrounded by snow-covered forests.
That said, we deliberately chose not to stay here on either of our visits.
Although we loved spending time in Santa Claus Village, we preferred staying in the city centre, where we had a much wider choice of restaurants, supermarkets and accommodation. It also made it easier to enjoy evenings in Rovaniemi after spending the day at the village.
If you're visiting with younger children and want to fully immerse yourselves in the Christmas magic, staying here could be the perfect choice. However, if you're planning a DIY trip with lots of different activities across the region, I still think the city centre offers better overall value and convenience.
• Walking distance to Santa Claus' Office
• Perfect for younger families
• Beautiful cabins, lodges and glass igloos
• Magical Christmas atmosphere
• Great if you're only staying a couple of nights
• Accommodation is generally more expensive
• Fewer restaurants and supermarkets
• You'll usually need transport into the city centre if you want more dining options
• Can feel very busy during peak Christmas weeks
Best for: Couples, bucket-list stays and anyone looking for a truly unique Lapland experience.
If you're looking for somewhere unforgettable to stay in Rovaniemi, the Arctic SnowHotel is unlike anywhere else we've ever visited.
We spent our first night in Lapland here as part of our three-day itinerary, and it was an experience we'll never forget. Sleeping in a hotel built almost entirely from snow and ice had been on our bucket list for years, and it certainly lived up to the hype.
The resort is around 30 minutes from Rovaniemi city centre and offers much more than just the famous SnowHotel. There's also a collection of heated glass igloos, an incredible Ice Restaurant, the Snow Sauna, outdoor hot tubs and regular Northern Lights opportunities away from the city lights.
Although we absolutely loved staying here, I probably wouldn't choose it as a base for an entire holiday. It's quite remote, so you'll either need your own transport or rely on transfers to reach many of Rovaniemi's attractions.
Personally, I'd recommend spending one memorable night here before moving into the city centre for the rest of your trip. That way, you get the best of both worlds: a once-in-a-lifetime Arctic experience alongside the convenience of staying closer to restaurants, shops and activity pick-up points.
If you'd like to see exactly what it's like, I've shared our full experience in my Arctic SnowHotel Review, including the SnowHotel, Ice Restaurant and Snow Sauna.
• One of the most unique places to stay in Lapland
• Choice of SnowHotel rooms and heated glass igloos
• Home to the Ice Restaurant and Snow Sauna
• Excellent location for a peaceful Arctic escape
• Great opportunity to see the Northern Lights away from city lights
• Around 30 minutes from Rovaniemi city centre
• Limited dining options compared with staying in town
• Better suited to one or two nights than a full holiday
• One of the more expensive places to stay in the area
Best for: Couples, luxury stays, Northern Lights seekers and anyone wanting a peaceful Arctic escape.
If your idea of Lapland is a secluded cabin surrounded by snow-covered forests, this could be the perfect option.
Just outside Rovaniemi you'll find a range of luxury cabins, boutique lodges and glass igloo resorts tucked away from the city. These offer a much quieter experience, with beautiful natural surroundings and far less light pollution than staying in the centre.
Many people choose these properties specifically for the atmosphere. Instead of walking to restaurants or shops, you'll wake up to snowy forests, enjoy evenings by the fire and, if you're lucky, might even spot the Northern Lights from your accommodation.
The trade-off is convenience. Most of these resorts are located several kilometres from the city centre, so you'll either need to hire a car, arrange transfers or rely on taxis. While some hotels offer shuttle services and on-site restaurants, you'll have far fewer dining and shopping options compared with staying in Rovaniemi itself.
If you're looking for inspiration, some of the best-known forest resorts near Rovaniemi include Apukka Resort, Invisible Forest Lodge & Spa, Halo Igloos Resort, SkyView Igloo Resort & Spa and Silver Birch Resort.
Each offers a different take on the Lapland experience, from luxury glass igloos and private saunas to secluded cabins surrounded by Arctic woodland.
If you're looking for even more inspiration, including some of the most unusual places we've discovered across Finnish Lapland, take a look at my 10 Most Unique Places to Stay in Lapland guide.
• Peaceful woodland setting
• Better chance of seeing the Northern Lights from your accommodation
• Beautiful cabins, lodges and glass igloos
• Ideal for couples and special occasions
• Perfect if you want a quieter Lapland experience
• Further from Rovaniemi's attractions
• May require a car, taxi or hotel transfer
• Fewer restaurants, shops and supermarkets nearby
• Accommodation is often more expensive than staying in the city centre
Whether you're looking for a modern city-centre apartment, a family-friendly hotel or a once-in-a-lifetime Arctic escape, these are the places I'd recommend based on our own trips and research.
If I were booking another trip, these are some of the properties I'd have on my shortlist:
• Invisible Forest Lodge & Spa – Boutique suites, aurora huts and log cabins just outside the city, offering a peaceful forest setting without being too far from Rovaniemi.
• Apukka Resort – One of the best-known resorts near Rovaniemi, famous for its glass igloos, Arctic activities and Northern Lights experiences.
• Halo Igloos Resort – Luxury glass igloos with private saunas and hot tubs, ideal for couples looking for a special stay.
• Silver Birch Resort – A small collection of exclusive glass cabins in a secluded woodland setting, perfect if privacy is your priority.
• Vaattunki Wilderness Resort – A boutique wilderness resort with riverside suites, panorama huts and aurora cabins surrounded by nature.
After visiting Rovaniemi twice, I'd still choose to stay in the city centre.
For us, it offered the best balance of convenience, value and flexibility. We loved being able to walk to restaurants, supermarkets and activity meeting points, while buses made it easy to visit Santa Claus Village without hiring a car.
If your budget allows, I'd then add one unforgettable night somewhere unique. That could be a heated glass igloo, a luxury forest cabin or the Arctic SnowHotel, depending on the type of experience you're looking for. For me, splitting the trip this way gives you the best of both worlds – the convenience of a city-centre base combined with one truly memorable Arctic stay. This "split stay" approach is commonly recommended because it combines practicality with the bucket-list experience many people travel to Lapland for.
If you're travelling mainly to experience the magic of Father Christmas with younger children, then staying in Santa Claus Village could be worth the extra cost. Being able to walk to Santa's Office, the Main Post Office and many of the festive attractions creates a magical experience that many families love.
Ultimately, there's no wrong choice. The best place to stay in Rovaniemi depends on whether your priority is convenience, Christmas magic, luxury or escaping into the Arctic wilderness.
It depends on the type of trip you're planning.
I'd recommend the city centre for most first-time DIY visitors because you'll have a wider choice of accommodation, restaurants and supermarkets, while still being only a short bus ride from Santa Claus Village. If your main priority is meeting Father Christmas and you're travelling with younger children, staying in Santa Claus Village can make the whole experience feel even more magical.
No. We've visited Rovaniemi twice without hiring a car and never felt we needed one.
Most organised excursions include hotel or central meeting point pick-ups, public buses run regularly to Santa Claus Village, and taxis are easy to find. If you're staying in the city centre, you can also walk to many restaurants, shops and attractions.
Yes, but sightings are never guaranteed.
You can occasionally see the Northern Lights from the city, especially during strong displays, but light pollution makes conditions less favourable than in quieter areas. For the best chance, I'd recommend joining a Northern Lights tour or staying somewhere further from the city lights.
If you're travelling with younger children or visiting primarily for Father Christmas, then yes.
However, for most DIY visitors, I think staying in the city centre offers better value, more dining options and greater flexibility while still making it easy to spend a full day exploring Santa Claus Village.
Absolutely, if you're looking for a unique experience.
We loved spending a night there and would happily recommend it as a bucket-list stay. Personally, though, I'd treat it as a one-night experience before moving to accommodation in the city centre for the rest of your trip.
You can read more in my Arctic SnowHotel Review.
I'd recommend at least three days if it's your first visit.
That gives you enough time to experience Santa Claus Village, enjoy a couple of Arctic activities and hopefully have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights without feeling rushed.
If you're still planning your itinerary, my How Many Days Do You Need in Lapland? guide compares different trip lengths, while my 2-Day and 3-Day Rovaniemi Itineraries show exactly how we spent our time.
For younger children, I'd consider Santa Claus Village if your budget allows.
For most families, though, I'd recommend staying in the city centre. It offers excellent transport links, plenty of family-friendly apartments and easy access to restaurants, supermarkets and activities, making it a much more convenient base.
Whenever I spot great-value DIY Lapland flights and accommodation from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club. If you'd like to experience Lapland without paying package holiday prices, it's a great place to start.
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