Lapland: Where to sleep in and around Rovaniemi
Some posts on this website contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you.
There are such places where spending the night can be not only a ‘regular accommodation’, but also an incredible attraction and experience.
Rovaniemi is one of them.
In this post, I will show you ideas and contact details for various accommodations: both unusual and standard, in the city itself and outside of it.
Accommodation in Rovaniemi
As you probably expect, Finland, and even more so Lapland, is not the cheapest. Rovaniemi is also an increasingly popular tourist destination, which also affects the prices. However, you can still book accommodation at a pretty decent price.
It is worth booking accommodation as soon as possible, because the most attractive or those at an attractive price sell out quickly.
The time when you visit Rovaniemi is also important. The highest season is winter, from December to February-March, with December being the hottest month, of course.
And this is really visible in the prices of accommodation. The apartment where we spent a few nights at the end of November cost almost three times as much in December.
Take this into account if you want to limit your costs.
During my trip to Rovaniemi, I slept in two places. First, in a flat in the centre, and then in yurts. I definitely recommend both of these places, and I will describe them in more detail soon.
It is worth considering whether such combined accommodation would be a solution for you. This is of course partially inconvenient. It involves changing places, packing, waiting for check-in. But on the other hand, it gives you the opportunity to see two different places and maybe a more interesting (and often more expensive) place to stay, even just for one night.
Accommodation in the city centre
When it comes to accommodation types, the choice is big.
There are hotels in the city centre, and there are also many apartments for rent. Most of them look very good, in a typical Nordic style. The advantage of living in the city itself is definitely the convenience. Easy access from the airport or train station, city bus to Santa Claus Village, shops, restaurants. In the city centre there are also offices of companies organising one-day trips and attractions, for which transport starts from the city centre (although some also offer transport from several other hotels outside the centre).
It is worth considering living in the city centre if you are not planning to rent a car. Rovaniemi itself is not one of the most beautiful and interesting cities, but you will find museums there, such as Arktikum, or enough restaurants and cafes.
Accommodation in the city is usually cheaper, too.
Apartment which I recommend
I can definitely highly recommend the flat where we stayed in November 2024. It had a great location, on the main street, a walk to the city centre and the river (which is important for observing the aurora borealis). It was clean, new, nicely and cozily furnished in Nordic style. It also had a large balcony, which is probably more useful in the summer. The owner was nice, hassle-free, and we could also enter the apartment before check-in time.
And most importantly, the apartment had a sauna included in the price. I know that this is rather normal in Finland, but in such a small, one-room apartment, it was still quite surprising to me.
By the way, the sauna was very useful after a whole day spent in the cold.
Other apartments and hotels in the city centre
When looking for my accommodation, I looked through almost all the offers. These are a few places that have very good reviews and also just look good:
If you prefer hotels:
Hostel Cafe Koti – I had lunch here, which was very good. The interior of the hotel lobby with a restaurant was in a very ‘typical’ style, pleasant and cosy. It was here that I drank delicious glögi (something like mulled wine), but without wine, but made with sea buckthorn juice.
I recommend both lunch and this interesting drink, but it also looks inviting as a place to stay, not like a typical hostel.
And probably the most typical hotel chain in this part of Europe, the Scandic Rovaniemi City hotel.
If you prefer apartments:
Northern Comfort Sauna Suite, looks very good, just like it’s called:)
Harju-Hill, a bit further from the centre, but with a view of the lake
Nordic City Suite, with a view of the city
Accommodation outside the city
Outside the city you will find independent houses for rent and beautiful hotels. However, these are not large hotels with hundreds of rooms, but most often stylish cottages or even glass-covered igloos. These are, it must be admitted, the most interesting, but also the most expensive.
A huge advantage of such accommodation is definitely the surroundings. Nature, rivers, lakes, forest, a real Lappish adventure. In addition, there are no lights, so it’s also easier to observe the aurora borealis.
If you stay in such remote houses, it is worth thinking about shopping in advance, because there may be problems with the store.
Here it will definitely be more convenient if you have a car. But you can also get there by taxi or hotel transfer.
Some of these hotels are designed in the style of traditional Lappish igloos. In a modern version, glass-covered so that you can watch the views or the aurora borealis. They simply look amazing.
Despite their prices, it is still not easy to find a free place in them, and it is worth booking them well in advance.
Interesting overnight stay in nature, which I recommend
During my trip, I spent one night in such a place far from the city, in yurts by the forest and by the river. This stay made such an impression that I’ve prepared a separate post describing all the details. You can find it here.
In short, I can say that I liked almost everything there. The idea, the yurts themselves, their interior, the surroundings, the barn, the service.
It was truly an adventure in itself. I am very glad that I managed to find an available yurt at that time.
Other accommodation outside the city that looks very interesting
Among the interesting offers, we can definitely distinguish:
Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets, close to the ski slope
Nova Gallaxy Village, looks absolutely unique, a bit similar in concept to the previously described yurts
Sky Lodging, an independent cottage like from a fairy tale.
Apukka
Apukka Resort is probably the most famous resort that appears very often on social media.
In addition to accommodation, Apukka also offers attractions such reindeer sleigh, huskies, etc. Importantly, the resort has the ability to produce artificial snow, so it is also a place that will save you in the absence of natural snow.
Ice Hotel – Arctic SnowHotel
Another amazing place that you can also find quite often on social media. The hotel has two parts. One is a glass igloo. The other is an ice hotel, which also has rooms carved in ice. In these rooms, due to the conditions, it is recommended to book only one night.
Obviously, the ice part of the hotel only operates for a few months during the greatest frosts and is opened since mid-December. The ice is stored for the summer and then used for construction.
In the hotel you will find, for example, an ice and snow sauna.
Important information – Arctic SnowHotel can also be visited. Even if you do not want to sleep there, you can drop in for a few hours’ trip to see the hotel and have a drink in the ice bar.
Accommodation in Santa Claus Village
When in Rovaniemi, you will definitely visit the Village. I will describe all the information useful for such a visit in a separate post.
Anyway, in the village, you will also find the hotel.
In my opinion, there is no need to sleep in the Village, because it is an attraction typically for a few hours.
However, several hotels in the area look very inviting, e.g.: Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle or Nova Skyland Hotel. It is worth remembering that it is outside the city centre.
Where to sleep in Rovaniemi: Summary
I hope this article helped you find the right accommodation for your Lapland trip. I am sure it will be unforgettable and amazing, because this is how Lapland is.
And a well-chosen accommodation can make your trip even better.
Check out these posts, I think they may help you organize your trip to Rovaniemi:
Aleksandra
Aleksandra is a travel blogger from Poland who specializes in European destinations. She is Master in Croatian and Serbian studies (philology) so Croatia and whole Balkan region is very important on her travel routes. Aleksandra is close to visiting all countries in Europe, and many countries she has visited multiple times. She is also crazy sport supporter and sport volunteer participating in biggest sports events for over 10 years now (for example, Aleksandra was a volunteer during Paris Olympics).
