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A glass igloo and a campfire on the snow beneath a green band of northern lights

Where to Stay in Rovaniemi

Glass igloo, forest cabin, snow hotel or city-centre room: choose the kind of night first, then the place.

Where you sleep shapes a Rovaniemi trip more than in most destinations, because the choice is not just between neighbourhoods but between kinds of night: under a glass roof watching for the aurora, in a log cabin with your own sauna, in a room made of snow, or in an ordinary warm hotel with restaurants at the door.

We describe four options below — Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle, wilderness resorts and snow hotels outside town, the city centre and Ounasvaara hill — with well-regarded places in each. Every property links to its live page on Trip.com.

We do not print nightly rates, because they would mislead. A glass igloo can cost several times as much at Christmas as it does in October, and city hotels also raise their prices steeply in December. Follow the links for the rate on your dates.

The smart compromise: glass igloos and aurora cabins are memorable but expensive, and you will be out on activities most of the day. Many travellers book one or two nights in an igloo and spend the rest of the stay in a city hotel — which also puts you within walking distance of restaurants and safari offices.
Where to stay

Santa Claus Village & the Arctic Circle

Eight kilometres from the centre and a few minutes from the airport. Glass igloos, treehouse suites and family cottages within walking distance of Santa — magical with children, and convenient for the many safaris that start here. Restaurants are fewer and dearer than in town.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Design suites on stilts among the pines beside SantaPark, each with a wall of glass facing north over the forest. One of the most sought-after addresses in Lapland, a short drive from Santa Claus Village.

  • Panoramic window by the bed
  • Well-regarded restaurant on site
  • Next to SantaPark, near the airport
See rates & availability

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle

Heated glass igloos a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Santa Claus Village, with glass roofs for watching the sky from bed and a restaurant on site.

  • Glass-roofed igloos with private bathroom
  • Walk to Santa’s office and the Arctic Circle line
  • Aurora viewing from your bed
See rates & availability

Glass Resort

Two-storey glass-fronted apartments inside Santa Claus Village, beside Snowman World, each with its own sauna and an outdoor hot tub on the terrace.

  • Private sauna and hot tub
  • Glass roof over the bedroom
  • In the middle of the village
See rates & availability

Santa Claus Holiday Village

Rows of red cottage apartments within Santa Claus Village itself, each with a kitchenette and its own sauna. The practical, good-value family choice on the Arctic Circle.

  • Own sauna in every cottage
  • Steps from Santa and the activities
  • Kitchenette and space for families
See rates & availability

Nova Skyland Hotel

A newer hotel of suites and villas set among trees on the edge of Santa Claus Village, with saunas, kitchenettes and large windows.

  • Spacious suites with sauna
  • Quiet forest setting
  • Short walk to the village
See rates & availability

Wilderness resorts, snow hotels & aurora cabins

Fifteen minutes to half an hour out of town, by frozen lakes and in deep forest. No light pollution, activities from the door and real silence. You will depend on the resort’s own restaurant and transfers.

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

The famous hotel built of snow and ice each winter at Sinettä, half an hour from town — plus a village of heated glass igloos on the lakeshore that operates for a longer season.

  • Snow rooms or glass igloos
  • Ice restaurant, ice bar and snow sauna
  • Dark skies over a frozen lake
See rates & availability

Apukka Resort

A lakeside resort about 15 minutes’ drive from the city, with glass-roofed aurora cabins, igloos and suites, and its own husky, reindeer and snowmobile activities starting at the door.

  • Aurora cabins by a frozen lake
  • Activities on site
  • Away from city lights
See rates & availability

Lapland Hotels Bear’s Lodge

A traditional log-built wilderness hotel beside a small lake in the forest, around half an hour from Rovaniemi. Quiet, dark and a starting point for snowmobile and ski trails.

  • Lakeside sauna
  • Real forest quiet
  • Good aurora conditions
See rates & availability

Vaattunki Wilderness Resort

Log suites and cabins in the forest north of the city, close to the Arctic Circle Hiking Area. A retreat for travellers who want nature on the doorstep rather than a town outside the window.

  • Wilderness setting near hiking trails
  • Sauna
  • Dark skies
See rates & availability

Rovaniemi city centre

The practical choice and the best value. Restaurants, supermarkets, museums and safari offices are all a few minutes’ walk away, tours collect from the door, and the riverbank is close for a quick look at the sky.

Arctic Light Hotel

A stylish boutique hotel in Rovaniemi’s former town hall, in the middle of the centre. Individually designed rooms and one of the best breakfasts in the city.

  • Boutique design in a historic building
  • Excellent breakfast
  • Walk to restaurants and safari offices
See rates & availability

Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus

A large, dependable hotel on the pedestrian street beside Lordi’s Square — as central as it gets, with several restaurants in the building and tour pickups at the door.

  • Right on Koskikatu
  • Restaurants on site
  • Popular with families
See rates & availability

Scandic Rovaniemi City

A well-run chain hotel a block from Lordi’s Square, with reliably comfortable rooms, saunas and a generous Nordic breakfast.

  • Central location
  • Guest saunas
  • Good breakfast buffet
See rates & availability

Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi

A long-established central hotel close to the river and the shopping streets, with refurbished rooms and a restaurant.

  • Five minutes from Lordi’s Square
  • Sauna
  • Easy walk to Arktikum
See rates & availability

Scandic Pohjanhovi

A Rovaniemi institution on the bank of the Kemijoki, with river views, a swimming pool and saunas, a short walk from the centre and the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge.

  • Riverside setting
  • Pool and saunas
  • Riverbank aurora spot outside
See rates & availability

Arctic City Hotel

A straightforward, friendly mid-range hotel in the heart of the centre, often among the more affordable central options.

  • Central
  • Saunas
  • Good value outside peak weeks
See rates & availability

Hostel Café Koti

A design-led hostel in the centre with dormitory beds and private rooms, a café-bar downstairs and a rooftop sauna. The best budget base in town.

  • Dorms and private rooms
  • Rooftop sauna and terrace
  • Guest kitchen
See rates & availability

Guesthouse Borealis Apartments

Simple, homely guesthouse accommodation close to the railway station — handy for night-train arrivals and for keeping costs down.

  • Near the train and bus stations
  • Budget-friendly
  • About 15 minutes’ walk to the centre
See rates & availability

Ounasvaara hill

Across the river, three kilometres from the centre: forest, ski slopes and cross-country tracks, with aurora views from the hilltop. A good middle way between town and wilderness.

Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara

A hotel on the very top of Ounasvaara hill, surrounded by forest and ski tracks, with a roof terrace for watching the northern lights and a restaurant known for Lappish cooking.

  • Roof terrace for aurora watching
  • Ski trails from the door
  • Many rooms with their own sauna
See rates & availability

Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets

Log chalets and apartments at the foot of the Ounasvaara ski slopes, with kitchens, fireplaces and saunas — good for families and groups who want space.

  • Own sauna and kitchen
  • Next to the ski lifts
  • Three kilometres from the centre
See rates & availability

Santasport Resort

A sports resort on the slope of Ounasvaara with a swimming and spa complex, bowling and indoor play — a practical, good-value family base.

  • Pools and spa
  • Indoor activities for children
  • Ski tracks nearby
See rates & availability
Browse all Rovaniemi hotels on Trip.com

The options compared

Where Best for Bear in mind Typical price level
Santa Claus Village & Arctic Circle Families, Christmas trips, glass igloos near the airport Limited dining; taxi or bus into town High to very high
Wilderness resorts & snow hotels Aurora watching, couples, silence, on-site activities Isolated; meals and transfers add up High to very high
City centre Value, restaurants, walking to museums and safari offices City lights — walk or ride out for the aurora Medium (high in December)
Ounasvaara Skiers, families, aurora views close to town A taxi or a 40-minute walk from the centre Medium to high

Glass igloos, aurora cabins and snow hotels: what to expect

  • Glass igloos are small, heated rooms with a glass roof and usually a compact bathroom. The glass is heated to stay clear of snow and frost. Some have an aurora alarm that wakes you when the lights appear.
  • Aurora cabins and glass villas are larger: a normal cabin with a glass wall or roof over the bed, often with a private sauna, a kitchenette and sometimes an outdoor hot tub.
  • Snow and ice rooms stay just below freezing. You sleep in an expedition sleeping bag and use heated bathrooms nearby. One night is an adventure; few people want two.
  • None of them guarantees the aurora. A glass roof helps only if the sky is clear and the sun is active. Treat a sighting from bed as a bonus, and book a northern lights tour as well.

Booking tips

  • December and New Year: the most popular igloos and cabins are often fully booked many months — sometimes a year — in advance, and minimum stays apply. Book accommodation before flights if you can.
  • Cheaper and nearly as good: January (cold and dark, but quiet), and March (long sunny days, deep snow and good aurora odds).
  • Look for a sauna. Many Finnish hotel rooms and almost all cabins have their own; after a day at −20 °C it is worth more than any other amenity.
  • Check the transfers. Out-of-town resorts may charge for airport and city transfers, and taxis add up. Most tours pick up from the centre and from Santa Claus Village; ask before booking somewhere remote.
  • Families should look at cottages and apartments with a kitchenette — eating out for every meal in Lapland is expensive.
  • Free cancellation rates cost a little more and are worth it when you are booking far ahead.

Staying outside Rovaniemi

If you are making the day trips, two overnight options are worth knowing. At Ranua, an hour south, there are holiday villas and glass-roofed igloos beside the wildlife park. At Kemi, glass villas face the frozen sea next to the SnowCastle, close to the icebreaker.

Once you know where you are sleeping, plan your days with our itineraries and reserve the tours and safaris that sell out.

Accommodation links go to Trip.com. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Properties are chosen for location and reputation; none has paid to appear here.
Plan your Rovaniemi trip

Winter dates sell out. Book before you fly.

Husky safaris, aurora tours and the icebreaker run with limited places, and December to March fills up months ahead. Compare and reserve in a couple of taps — most tours can be cancelled free of charge.

Browse Rovaniemi tours & tickets Compare all tours
Good to know

Where to stay in Rovaniemi: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to stay in Rovaniemi city centre or at Santa Claus Village?

The city centre is better value and has far more restaurants; Santa Claus Village is more atmospheric, especially with children, and is next to the airport. They are 8 km apart, about 15 minutes by taxi or 30 by bus, so you can easily visit one from the other.

Are glass igloos worth the money?

For one or two nights, most people think so — it is a unique way to sleep. For a whole stay it is a costly choice, as you spend little waking time in the room. Splitting your stay is the usual answer.

Can you see the northern lights from a glass igloo?

Sometimes. You need a clear, dark sky and solar activity, and properties outside the city have less light pollution. It is never guaranteed.

How far ahead should I book for Christmas?

As early as possible. Igloos, cabins and family rooms for the weeks around Christmas and New Year are commonly booked six to twelve months in advance.

What is the cheapest way to stay in Rovaniemi?

A hostel or guesthouse in the centre, or an apartment with a kitchen shared between a family or group — and travelling outside December.

Do I need a car if I stay outside the centre?

Not necessarily. Resorts run transfers and many tours collect from the main properties, but check both before you book, and budget for taxis.