If you are planning a trip to Lapland, Finland, chances are, you will pass through Rovaniemi, the capital of this Arctic region, which is also the largest city in Europe in terms of land area, not population! Rovaniemi Finland is the official home of Santa Claus, as well as the jumping off point for Arctic expeditions in Finland.  

There are many hotels in Rovaniemi, Finland, including unique Rovaniemi accommodation options like treehouses and igloos to rent in Finland. While many Rovaniemi hotels are located near the city center, you will find additional accommodation in Lapland, scattered throughout the countryside. Keep reading to find the best area for tourists visiting Finnish Lapland.

We will cover off all types of Rovaniemi accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Rovaniemi hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Rovaniemi, the best Rovaniemi hotels, best places in Rovaniemi to visit, the best places to stay in Rovaniemi, hotels near Rovaniemi attractions, Rovaniemi neighborhood guide and many more.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Rovaniemi City Centre – Where to stay in Rovaniemi for Tourists

If you are visiting Rovaniemi for an extended time, and planning several day trips out into the countryside, then the city centre is the best place to stay. You’ll find the largest concentration of hotels in Rovaniemi right in the city centre, and you can easily walk all over town. If you are looking for a hostel in Rovaniemi, there are budget friendly options here, too. There are many restaurants and shops to browse between trips.

You can also visit Arktikum, the Science Museum of Rovaniemi, which sits on a beautiful location on the river and is also a good spot to see the Northern Lights from the city. If you have booked tours from Rovaniemi into the Arctic, most will offer pickup from Rovaniemi hotels in the city center.

Best places to stay in Rovaniemi City Center

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Rovaniemi City Center:
GuestHouse Arctic Heart
Hostel Cafe Koti
Wherever Hostel
Santa’s Hotel Rudolf

Budget Hotels in Rovaniemi City Center:
Guesthouse Borealis
Villa Virpi
Kotareitti Apartments
Hotelli Aakenus

Mid range Hotels in Rovaniemi City Center:
Lauri Historical 19th Century Manor
Scandic Rovaniemi City
Arctic City Hotel
Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna,Rovaniemi

Family Friendly Hotels in Rovaniemi City Center:
GuestHouse Arctic Heart
Scandic Pohjanhovi
Santasport

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Rovaniemi City Center:
The Luxury Downtown Rovaniemi
HAAWE Boutique Apart Hotel
Arctic Light Hotel
Arctic Resort Delight

Santa Claus Village – Where to stay in Rovaniemi with Family

If you are planning a family friendly trip to Finland, you will definitely be visiting Santa Claus Holiday Village. This winter wonderland is the official home of Santa Claus, and is just 15 minutes from the city center of Rovaniemi. There are dozens of activities for travelers of all ages, including a petting zoo, reindeer farm, and Arctic tours.

If you are looking for places to stay near Santa’s Village, you can actually stay right in the village, as they have apartments and cottages available to rent. There are also hotels near Santa’s Village which you can choose. If you would like a Rovaniemi hotel with igloo, there are some very near Santa’s Village.

Best places to stay near Santa Claus Village

Mid range Hotels near Santa Claus Village:
Santa Claus Holiday Village

Affordable Luxury Hotels near Santa Claus Village:
Nova Skyland Hotel
Glass Resort
Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Ounasvaara – Where to stay in Rovaniemi to see Northern Lights

For an accommodation option just 3 kilometres from the city centre, consider the Ounasvaara resort area, which sits on a hill overlooking the city. If you want to know where to stay in Rovaniemi to see Northern Lights, then Ounasvaara is a great location. The ski resort offers many hotel options, and the ski slopes and forested areas are a great place to look for the Northern Lights.

The resort at Ounasvaara and nearby hotels offer the best of both worlds, as you are close to the city, but surrounded by nature. In addition to ski runs, there’s an adventure park, golf course (open in winter and summer!), indoor swimming, and an observation tower.

Best places to stay in Ounasvaara

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Ounasvaara
Hostel Cafe Koti

Budget Hotels in Ounasvaara
Kotareitti Apartments
Ounasvaaran Sporttimajoitus

Mid range Hotels in Ounasvaara
Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets
Santasport
Scandic Pohjanhovi

Family Friendly Hotels in Ounasvaara
Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus
Ounasvaaran Lakituvat
Scandic Rovaniemi City

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Ounasvaara
Arctic Light Hotel
HAAWE Boutique Apart Hotel

If you’d like to save it for later, please save it to Pinterest.