I know how hard it is to find truly cheap places to stay in Rovaniemi once winter comes… everything sells out fast and prices jump overnight. Sharing a few finds of my own that I’ve been tracking for a while, real options that stay affordable even in peak season.
I’ve been to Rovaniemi quite a few times – ever since I settled in Tallinn, it’s been easy to just hop on an overnight Santa Claus train or short flight north. And with each trip, I realized how quickly prices skyrocket in winter. So I started tracking hotels and apartments for months, comparing deals and locations, and ended up creating this list of affordable places that actually feel worth it (and I stayed in some of them).
They are all in different areas, some in the center, others surrounded by trees outside the city or close to Santa Claus Village. But each has something cool about it. Below, I give examples and explain why these accommodation options are great (and not only cheap), where they are located, what to expect, and how to get there.
NOTE: If you try to travel to Lapland on a limited budget, then you need to be flexible with dates. All the places I mention below have different prices depending on the week. The most expensive nights are in December around Christmas, as well as the first two weeks of January and some days in February.
Do you know any other hotels, guesthouses, or cabins on a budget where to stay in Rovaniemi? Share them in the comments, so I can add them to this list and others can see and benefit from them too!
Before you jump in: When I say ‘cheap accommodation in Rovaniemi’, I mean the best value you can get – clean, comfortable places that still feel nice for around €80–€110 per night outside the December holiday season, depending on location and how early you book. In the second half of December, the same places will cost between €200–€300 per night, so “cheap” here doesn’t mean the same as in many other destinations in Europe.
My Top Picks for Affordable Hotels, Apartments & Cabins in Rovaniemi for Winter
Hostel Cafe Koti (City Center)
If you want to stay right in the center of Rovaniemi without breaking the bank, Cafe Koti Hostel is perfect for that. I like that it doesn’t feel like a typical hostel because it’s warm, stylish, and actually has a small Finnish sauna for guests.
Dorm beds start around €47 (even on some days in winter) and private rooms from €80. Breakfast is included and rooms are private, so even couples or solo travelers who prefer privacy can stay comfortably. It’s also ideal if you plan to explore on foot since everything in town is nearby.
This place gets booked far in advance (obviously, with such a price!), so if you are in the planning stage right now and travel on a budget, book it if it’s available.
Motelli Rovaniemi (Near City)
This one is a bit outside Rovaniemi, about 10 minutes by car, but it’s one of the best-value options if you are renting a car. Rooms seem to be simple but clean (based on reviews from different platforms) and there is free parking.
It is a quiet spot surrounded by trees, so if you like that “Lapland cabin” feeling without paying for a full wilderness lodge, it’s a good compromise. Great for travelers on a budget who want to stay near nature but still be close to the city.
Scandic Rovaniemi City (Hotel Chain)
I stayed here briefly on one of the trips (one night only when driving through) and can say that it is a decent, affordable place to stay in Rovaniemi. Price matches the quality here, but without anything extraordinary. Not a hostel, but for a mid-range hotel in the city center, Scandic offers good value in winter.
Breakfast is included (and genuinely good), rooms are warm and modern, and it’s easy to walk to restaurants and tour meeting points. It’s the kind of place that works if you want all the comfort of a proper hotel but still need to keep the budget reasonable. Families and couples who want convenience usually end up here.
Hotel Metsähirvas (a Bit Outside the City)
I found this hotel by accident when looking for an affordable place to stay near Rovaniemi with a high possibility of seeing northern lights. It is located a bit farther away from the city (towards Kemi), but with a car, reaching it is not a problem. Especially considering that it feels like a peaceful riverside lodge hidden in the forest (in summer, you can even swim in the river nearby).
Rooms are simple but warm with beautiful design, some with views of the frozen river. There is a sauna (with a large window) and a cozy lounge (with a fireplace), perfect on cold days.
Because the location is outside the city lights, you can sometimes see Northern Lights right from the property on clear nights or take a short walk to the riverbank for a darker view. It’s ideal for people with a car who want calm, nature, and a good chance of spotting the aurora without paying resort prices.
Hotel Boreas (Quiet Area South of Rovaniemi)
This is probably the cheapest hotel among all on this list, located in the same area where the previous hotel is (just a bit more south), so you do need to drive here. It’s a small, quiet place surrounded by forest. If you are lucky on your trip and get snow, you’ll be waking up to a white wonderland just outside your window.
Rooms are beautiful (even the most basic ones), some have a private sauna or kitchenette, which saves a lot if you want to cook instead of eating out.
It is also best suited for people who decide to rent a car in Rovaniemi – you’ll have free parking and be about 20 minutes from the center (30 from Santa Claus Village). I think it’s ideal if you want to be away from Christmas chaos, in an area not polluted with lights, and still stay somewhere affordable while not too far from everything.
Yurt With a River View
This place is different from anything on my list because it is not directly in Rovaniemi but near it. It’s also not a hotel, not a cabin, but a real heated yurt set by the river about 25 km from the center. It’s quiet, surrounded by snow, and completely away from light pollution, which means you can often see Northern Lights right outside.
Inside, it’s simple but warm, with a comfortable bed, small heater, and just enough space for two people. This yurt is all about the atmosphere, nature around it, silence, and that unique feeling of Lapland.
It’s cheaper than most aurora lodges and still gives you the same experience when you can watch the sky turn green while standing by a frozen river. For the price, it’s one of the most unique places to stay around Rovaniemi.
Lapland Winter Cottage (On the Outskirts of Rovaniemi)
I came across this small cottage a bit outside the center, and honestly, it’s a great deal for Rovaniemi in winter. It’s very simple, but quiet, and feels much more personal than it seems in photos. You get your own space, a warm living area, and a little sauna (for extra payment in winter) that heats up fast.
It’s cheap mostly because it’s self-catering and not part of a resort. You just get the key, make your own breakfast, and live a few days like a local. For me, that’s a very nice place for staying… nothing fancy, but still lovely, warm, and private. And for Rovaniemi in December, finding that at a decent price is rare.
Studio Central (Near the Train Station)
This small studio is another affordable apartment in Rovaniemi, where you just get the code, walk in, and that’s it. It seems quite small but nice and many reviews are saying that it’s warm, clean, and perfectly located.
You can walk everywhere from there to tours, shops, or even Santa’s Express bus, which already saves a lot in December when prices go crazy.
There is also a kitchenette to cook or heat food and a parking spot if you are driving (although with the location, no car is needed). Nothing fancy, just a quiet, practical place that does the job.
Hotel Aakenus (Near the Arktikum Museum)
Hotel Aakenus is one of the few central hotels in Rovaniemi that can still be called affordable in winter. It’s just a short walk from the city center (and from the Arktikum), which makes it easy to reach tours, restaurants, and main Christmas spots without paying for taxis.
Rooms are simple and a bit dated, but seem to be warm, clean, and include breakfast, something you’ll appreciate when everything else in Lapland costs extra.
I checked reviews on multiple sites and see that some are low because some people mention outdated interiors or some maintenance issues, so that’s probably why prices have dropped lately. But honestly, that also makes it one of the better-value stays in town. If you care more about saving money than design details, Aakenus is still a decent base for a few winter days in Rovaniemi.
Scandinavian Dream Oy
If you are still figuring out what kind of stay fits your Rovaniemi trip, keep this one in mind too, as another budget-friendly accommodation near Rovaniemi and not far from Santa Claus Village. I found it by chance when looking for an accommodation for our road trip from Rovaniemi to Inari and was surprised by how cheap it is outside of December.
It’s a set of small wooden cottages about 20 minutes from town, each with its own sauna, kitchen, and fireplace.
It’s not a hotel where you just sleep and go, it’s more like your own little house in the snow. For many people, this ends up being cheaper than staying in the center, and you get that Lapland feeling right outside your door.
The only thing to consider is that you’ll need a car to move around because the location is quite distant for bus travel, but if you want comfort and space for less, this is a good direction to look.
Map of Cheap Accommodation Options in Rovaniemi
More Guides From Lapland
In recent years (after settling in Tallinn and having the opportunity to travel to Finland often), I’ve fallen in love with Finnish Lapland and traveling around it. I’ve been to many places, done and seen a lot, and now I am sharing it all in my posts.
Some are still in progress, but a few are already available to read now:
- One Week in Lapland – one of my own winter itineraries that I love so much
- Wilderness Hotel Inari in Winter – things to know before booking
