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Rovaniemi is THE tourist destination in Finnish Lapland. It’s a bit like Tromso in Norway, in that it’s the region’s capital, the city where most of the activities take place, the city where everything is easy in fact.
So if you want to visit Lapland, choosing Rovaniemi over any other city makes sense. On the other hand, where there’s tourism, there’s a high supply of accommodation and the prices that go with it. And that’s a little problem in Rovaniemi!
But if you get in early, you’ll be able to treat yourself to some great accommodations, and above all, you won’t have to sell a kidney for a place to stay here.
Anyway, let’s take a look at the accommodation options in Rovaniemi!
Find a cottage in the countryside around Rovaniemi
If you rent a car in Rovaniemi, then you can easily find very nice family accommodation in the middle of nature, and it’s just a few kilometers to find yourself by a lake, in a cottage in the middle of the forest, in short, far (but close) from civilization! Here are a few examples. However, it’s quite popular, so bookings need to be made well in advance.
4 superb resorts surrounded by nature
Around Rovaniemi, there’s more than just cottages lost in the forest. If you want to be pampered and treated with the utmost care, then there are some very nice resorts that will provide you with all the comfort you need, just to make you dream a little!
Good hotels in Rovaniemi
If you want to be right in the center of town, that’s also super easy. As the city is quite large, there are lots of hotels, and some of them are really good. We’ve got the classic northern chains like Scandic and Sokos, but generally speaking, what stands out in these establishments is the bedding, which is fantastic, and the buffet-style breakfast, which will delight absolutely everyone. Well, I love it!
Prices can really vary from simple to triple in low season (April or September) and high season (February). I’m only giving you a small selection, as there are many more, but these ones seem to me to be really good and not (too) expensive compared to some of the others
ORIGINAL SOKOS HOTEL VAAKUNA
- A great value in the center of Rovaniemi
- 8.6/10 on Booking!
- From €150 (but goes up in high season!)
ARCTIC LIGHT HOTEL
- A good, efficient hotel, right in the city center
- 9.3/10 on Booking
- From €175
Staying at Santa Claus Village
Of course, visiting Santa Claus Village is one of the must-do activities in Finnish Lapland, but the good news is that you can sleep there, and unlike many tourist centers, the accommodations here are really nice! You have several options:
NOVA SKYLAND HOTEL
- A great hotel in the heart of Santa Claus Village
- 9.4/10 on Booking
- From €240
4 superb accommodations in Ounasvaara
Ounasvaara is the ski resort, the big hill of Rovaniemi. It’s also a place of superb natural beauty where you can stay in the middle of nowhere while overlooking Rovaniemi. And what’s more, it’s a great place to see the Northern Lights! Basically, you want to have your cake and eat it too, and staying at Ounasvaara means having it all at the same time!
LAPLAND HOTELS SKY OUNASVAARA
- Beautiful hotel in the heart of nature
- 9,0/10 on Booking
- From €160
Rent an apartment in Rovaniemi
If you prefer an apartment, for practical reasons, to have space, to be with your family, or for any other totally valid reason, then you’ve come to the right place. There are lots and lots of apartments available in Rovaniemi! And frankly, it’s not bad at all! Most of the apartments are new and, as is often the case in Finland, the buildings are well built and superbly insulated. And they usually all have a sauna. The basics!
COSY APARTMENT
- A pretty 70m² apartment in the center of town
- 9.6/10 on Booking
- From 260€ onwards
CAR RENTAL IN LAPLAND
Wander in Finnish Lapland with Discover Cars
- Rent a car from many airports or in the city
- Small model, SUV or 4×4 for adventure!
- Prices from €20
Low prices and quality hostels in Rovaniemi
Well, if you’re on a budget, all is not lost in Rovaniemi! Fortunately, there are several youth hostels. These hostels offer dormitory beds, of course, but also single or double rooms that aren’t necessarily too expensive, so they can be an interesting option, I think. Especially as the quality and feedback are pretty good.
HOSTEL CAFE KOSTI
- Dormitory or room, it’s not bad!
- 8.9/10 on Booking!
- From 33€ in dormitory
GUESTHOUSE ARCTIC HEART
- A small, inexpensive guesthouse
- 8.3/10 on Booking
- From 40€ in dormitory
Staying in a glass igloo around Rovaniemi
To fall asleep under the northern lights and wake up in the middle of nature! That’s the cool thing about Finnish Lapland, it’s flat, open views and super mild weather that allows this kind of accommodation. And that’s cool! I’m a bit jealous because in Norway we only have a few.
There are over thirty glass igloos in Finnish Lapland, including 6/7 just outside Rovaniemi. And there’s no worry about light pollution, because as soon as you leave the city, you’re in the middle of nature and absolute calm!
Well, I admit that the only worry is the price, especially in high season (like Christmas, February). But in early autumn prices are much more reasonable, and there are auroras too!
AITO IGLOO & SPA RESORT
- Igloos and elevated cabins at their best!
- 8.8/10 on Booking
- From €170
ARCTIC SNOWHOTEL & GLASS IGLOO
- Yes, yes! An ice hotel but also with glass igloos!
- 8.6/10 on Booking
- From €500
To make it easier to organize your trip (and mine too!), I’ve created a map of Finnish Lapland with all the information you need (landscapes, places to see, activities…), including accommodation around Rovaniemi. Don’t hesitate to click on it to see the map in detail!
In conclusion
That’s it! You know almost everything! The hotel offer in Rovaniemi is really excellent. Because it’s an important city, but above all because the Finnish way of thinking encourages you to be close to nature. So you can easily find magnificent chalets or resorts lost in the forest, on the edge of a frozen lake – in short, experience Lapland as it should be!
But if you ever want to stay in the heart of Rovaniemi, you’ll also find a wide choice that I’d describe as efficient. It’s never bling bling, it’s always good. Well insulated, good bedding, good breakfasts. And that’s what I love about the Nordic countries!
Don’t forget that if you have a question or can’t find your accommodation, you can send me a message
If you’d like to know more about Finnish Lapland, then I recommend the following articles:
- Preparing your trip to Finnish Lapland – all the info you need to help you plan your stay in paradise
- Which is the right town to go to – there are lots of great resorts in Lapland, which one is right for you?
- What to do in Finnish Lapland – it’s not all sled dogs and auroras! Discover all the best things to do in the region!
- Sleeping under the Northern Lights in Lapland – book a glass igloo and fall asleep in the middle of nature, under a magnificent sky!
- Where to go dog-sledding in Rovaniemi – there are lots of kennels here, find out which ones are good and which ones to avoid!
- Dog sledding in Finnish Lapland – plenty of practical advice before you set off with your pooches!
- Where to see the Northern Lights in Lapland – how to find the right place, when to see them, I tell you everything!
- How to go from Rovaniemi Airport to city center – there are buses and ride-sharing companies, i tell you everything!
- An itinerary in Rovaniemi during Winter – 7 days to discover Lapland and enjoy as much as you can!
