Where to Stay in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi (& Nearby)

This site uses affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you.

Post overview: This guide covers where to stay near Santa Claus Village and some of my top recommendations for hotels, guesthouses, glass igloos, and hostels in and around SCV.

I will also discuss some pros and cons of staying at Santa Claus Village and where to consider if you find the area is not for you.

A lot of people don’t realize this, but Rovaniemi isn’t just one large area where you can stay anywhere and be close to everything. Rovaniemi city center is actually just over 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) from the center of Rovaniemi.

When I moved here, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to live, but I chose to live close to Santa Claus Village for the nature and easy access to the E75. So this post is essentially about my own backyard!

Even though I am a local and stay home most of the time, I do stay at a lot of hotels in Rovaniemi on my own dime to test them out and recommend them on this blog.

Below, I give an overview of where to stay in Santa Claus Village (and nearby). This will include options for every budget, taking into account that December is expensive even for a hostel! I also share some pros and cons of staying around SCV and where you may want to consider if you decide it’s not for you.

If you have any questions about Santa Claus Village hotels, guesthouses, or places to stay, please leave a comment below or feel free to send a message! Thanks!

Where to Stay Near Santa Claus Village Overview

I have curated a list of places to stay in SCV and nearby throughout this guide. I will cover luxury, mid-range, and budget options, along with a few options that are NOT in Santa Claus Village that offer shuttles to the place.

There is also one place on this guide that is ultra-luxury and is kind of in a category of its own. Hotels, hostels, and guesthouses mentioned in this guide:

Ultra Luxury Hotel in Santa Claus Village:

• Santa’s Luxury Boutique Villa

Luxury Hotels in Santa Claus Village (and Nearby):

• Glass Resort (home to my favorite restaurant in Rovaniemi, and each unit has a hot tub)
• Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle
• Arctic TreeHouse Hotel (close to SCV and a world-famous hotel)
• Nova Skyland

Mid-range Hotel in Santa Claus Village:

• Santa Claus Holiday Village (also has upscale glass igloos)

Budget accommodation near Santa Claus Village:

• Capsule Hotel Ibedcity (about 1km from SCV)
• Hostel Tikka (a little over 1km from SCV)

Please do price out your trip before booking a plane ticket here to ensure you can afford it. Otherwise, coming in autumn or spring may be a better option for you (and personally, I prefer both seasons over winter from a traveler’s perspective!).

Ultra Luxury Accommodation in Santa Claus Village

Santa’s Luxury Boutique Village

Santa’s Luxury Boutique Villa is situated directly in the heart of Santa Claus Village and offers a spacious villa complete with five bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is the perfect accommodation for a group traveling together that may have a higher budget to spend in Rovaniemi. There is also a sauna, fireplace, balcony, and kitchenette available inside.

Luxury Hotels in Santa Claus Village (& Nearby)

Most hotels near Santa Claus Village actually fall into the luxury category (according to price). While I question the ‘luxury’ aspect of some of these places, they are all pretty nice, and I have stayed at all four places I list here (although I stayed at Santa’s Igloos in Luosto and not the SCV location, but I have been to the SCV location a few times for drinks).

Please know that I am writing this with peak season, or winter, in mind. Each of these places drops significantly in price outside of winter. Like a drastic increase! While some shut during the summer months, I would say that the rates in autumn and spring make most of these lodging options, aside from Glass Resort, fall into the mid-range price tier.

Glass Resort

The Glass Resort is locally owned and some of the best accommodation in Rovaniemi. I first visited it during its second winter season, as they expanded their hotel offerings. This is my favorite accommodation that is within Santa Claus Village and the one I recommend staying at if you have the budget to do so.

The apartment-style lodging is two-story, has a sauna, and also has individual hot tubs for each unit (which is my favorite thing!).

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle are glass igloos in Santa Claus Village that offer a luxurious experience right in the heart of the resort area. They are situated at the north end of SCV and they have an on-site restaurant and bar.

While I have never stayed at these ones, I did stay at their sister property in Luosto. The interior, design, and shape of the glass igloos are the same. I have to say that the interior of these is nicer than other glass igloos around Lapland (trust me, I have stayed in heaps of them!), but the location is not 100% ideal for aurora viewing because of SCV light pollution.

However, you can walk away from them a little bit into an area with less light pollution, so I do still recommend them as an accommodation option in Rovaniemi.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Probably the most famous hotel in Rovaniemi, Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is located a short distance from Santa Claus Village, but is not inside it. I am putting it here anyway because it is close and offers a one-of-a-kind hotel experience in Lapland.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel has raised cabins nestled in a beautiful forest close to SCV. They have a secret forest, reindeer on-site, and many activities there. They also serve meals at Rakas Restaurant on-site.

I live right beside Arctic TreeHouse Hotel and have stayed there 3 times over the years for mini staycations. It always impresses me, and I continue to recommend it. You can read my review here.

Nova Skyland

Nova Skyland is another luxury option at SCV. I have stayed here only once, but I am constantly reconsidering a second stay there (in the autumn when it is at its most affordable!). The accommodation is apartment-like (kind of), with a bottom living space and a bedroom up the stairs. There is also a sauna, free breakfast, and more.

Even though Nova Skyland is situated at Santa Claus Village, it is tucked away in the back a bit, so it doesn’t experience as much of the hustle and bustle of the attractions.

Mid-Range Hotels in Santa Claus Village (& Nearby)

Okay, so here’s the thing: most of our mid-range hotels are just not in Santa Claus Village. OR… they are at SCV, but not during the peak season. The hotels I listed above as luxury are actually pretty mid-range outside of the high season (winter).

I stay at Arctic TreeHouse for ⅛ the price in autumn and spring. The only hotel that tends to stay in the luxury category year-round is Glass Resort (in my opinion). I never see the prices dip into mid-range territory.

As a result of this, I am only listing one place as mid-range in this guide. And Santa’s Holiday Village actually is building more cabins and igloos currently, so they will eventually cover a few categories here (and may dip more into the ‘luxury’ side of things).

Santa Claus Holiday Village

About once a month, I consider staying at Santa Claus Holiday Village for this blog but never actually make the booking. One day, one day (SCHV is within walking distance of my house, so I usually just opt for the saving-money side of things).

Santa Claus Holiday Village is a large complex at Santa Claus Village that is home to several styles of cabins and glass igloos (new this season). The glass igloos seem to be overpriced in the off-season (in my opinion), so I am not sure what their future is. The glass igloo part of them does not face north either, which is kind of odd.

Anyway, the rest of the accommodation falls into a mid-range category and looks super nice! They have kitchenettes in many, an on-site restaurant, and saunas in many of the units.

Budget Hotels and Hostels in Santa Claus Village (& Nearby)

Capsule Hotel Ibedcity

In my neighborhood is a budget-friendly accommodation called Capsule Hotel Ibedcity. The building is completely unassuming, but the place looks super nice on the inside.

There’s parking and the hotel is within reach of cross-country ski trails, an observation tower, and within walking distance of Santa Claus Village. But this is NOT located at Santa Claus Village, so please check a map before to ensure it is close enough for you.

Hostel Tikka

Also not too far from Santa Claus Village is Hostel Tikka. I have never stayed here, but it is located right next door to my neighborhood’s grocery store, so I pass it regularly. It offers affordable accommodation to travelers and is within walking distance of Santa Claus Village (or you can take Bus #8 a few stops to SCV).

Rovaniemi Hotels and Resorts with an SCV Shuttle

Apukka Resort

Apukka Resort is one of my favorite places to stay in Rovaniemi and it is located around 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) from Santa Claus Village. One great thing about the resort is that they offer a shuttle bus to guests that drops them off at SCV.

This shuttle is €8 one-way and can also be pre-booked on their website. There are discounts for children, families, etc. Click here to check rates and availability for Apukka Resort.

Vaattunki Wilderness Resort

Another place that is not too far from Santa Claus Village is Vaattunki Wilderness Resort. I have an entire review on the blog about Vaattunki, so I recommend checking that out if you’re considering a stay here.

There is a shuttle that goes to and from SCV that you can price with reception during the season you’re staying there (it varies depending on the season). Click here to check rates and availability for Vaattunki Resort.

✅ Pros of Staying Near Santa Claus Village

You are closer to ‘less’ light pollution than staying in Rovaniemi city center.

I will always recommend taking a northern lights tour for travelers to Rovaniemi (especially first-timers), but if you’ve already done your aurora tour and don’t have another one booked, I think SCV can be a more opportune place to be if the skies are clear.

There is a lot of light pollution at Santa Claus Village, but it is a short walk away from the resort area to less light pollution. If you always walk to the area north of Santa’s Igloos, you will find less light pollution, and the area faces north.

No transportation to SCV is needed.

I mean, this is kind of an obvious one. You’re already there and don’t need to get there from another part of the city. If you do stay at a place like Arctic TreeHouse, Hostel Tikka, or Ibed City Capsules, these are slightly outside of SCV and will require a short walk into the village.

The area around Santa Claus Village is forested and beautiful.

This is a large reason as to why I wanted to move to the area instead of the city center. From Santa Claus Village, you have trails into the forest and bogs (right across from the resort area) and nearby in Syväsenvaara.

The trees are snow-covered during winter, and it becomes like a postcard. I absolutely love it!

You’re closer to the airport than the city center is.

This doesn’t particularly matter that much because the center isn’t that far from the airport, but it can make things easier if you’re taking the public bus or a taxi. It will reduce the price and/or travel time a bit.

Most tour companies pick up at Santa Claus Village.

If you are stressing about staying at SCV because you fear tours won’t pick up from there, just know that most will! Be sure to put in your hotel at the time of booking or ensure one of the hotels in this guide is included in the hotel pickup list. But almost every tour that I know of does a round of pickups from SCV.

❌ Cons of Staying Near Santa Claus Village

Buses in Rovaniemi don’t run late into the evening.

If you are staying around Santa Claus Village and have meals included in your hotel stay, this likely won’t affect you. This does, however, impact those who want to go out in Rovaniemi city center for food, drinks, and more.

Linkkari operates the buses in Rovaniemi, and honestly, the schedules suck. Most of us locals have a car to get around, so buses are somewhat infrequent (I know this personally because I didn’t have a car for my first 8 months of living here).

Anyway, there is one Linkkari bus that goes to and from Santa Claus Village, and that is the #8 bus. The last bus goes from the city center to Santa Claus Village at 7pm on weekdays and 5:30pm on weekends. You can see the current schedule here.

Another option you have for getting to/from Santa Claus Village and the city center is to take the Santa Claus Express. This is operated by the same group that operates the Airport Express (although these are two separate buses). Their winter schedule is not out just yet, but it usually doesn’t run into the evening any later than Linkkari’s bus 8. You can see the Santa’s Express website here.

Alternatively, taxis can easily be booked through Meneva (a local company that I highly recommend), Uber, or Bolt. I don’t really recommend Uber and Bolt during the winter months, though, because most drivers come up from areas that are not Lapland, and their driving skills can be questionable in winter conditions.

Food options are very limited at Santa Claus Village.

Unfortunately, food options are limited at Santa Claus Village. In fact, you can see my guide to where to eat at SCV and see for yourself.

So, if you do not have food included in your hotel stay around SCV, you will need to do some planning yourself, considering that the resort area is 8 kilometers (5 miles) away from the city where more food options exist.

Shopping, cafes, and other amenities are also limited.

Along with limited food options at SCV, shopping is also limited. They have finally put a mini grocery store at SCV that has the essentials, but you will pay a hefty price for them.

There is a gas station across the E75 that you can visit for essentials, as well as a small pharmacy.

At SCV, you will find a small cafe called Loft that also has a cocktail bar beside it, so you can grab coffee and drinks there… but aside from that, you have limited year-round options there.

Can be extremely busy during the winter months.

To no one’s surprise, Santa Claus Village is BUSY during the winter months. During summer, spring, and autumn, it is pretty quiet. So if this is something that matters to you, it may be worth considering.

Santa Claus Village Accommodation FAQ

Can you actually sleep inside Santa Claus Village? What are the accommodation options inside the village itself?

Yes, you can stay inside the village. The village contains many hotels like Glass Resort, Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Holiday Village, and Nova Skyland. Otherwise, there are plenty of places like Arctic TreeHouse Hotel and Capsule Hotel Ibedcity nearby that are also within walking distance.

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

It depends on your trip. If you’re traveling with kids and plan to spend multiple days at Santa Claus Village (and nearby SantaPark), it may be worth staying inside Santa Claus Village. Snowman World is also located there.

However, if you’re traveling with other adults, you may want to consider the city center as you have more food options, museums, cafes, and bars.

How do I get between the city centre and Santa Claus Village if I stay in one or the other?

You can take a taxi with Meneva, Uber, or Bolt… or Linkkari’s Bus 8 to and from the city center. During the high season, Santa’s Express bus also runs between the city center and Santa Claus Village.

How close is Santa Claus Village to Rovaniemi Airport?

Santa Claus Village is pretty close to the Rovaniemi Airport (RVN). The two are 3.9 kilometers apart, which is closer than going to the city center from Rovaniemi Airport. The Airport Express bus connects SCV to the airport.

Are the glass igloos worth the money?

If you have the budget to stay in a glass igloo in Lapland, it is worth staying in one for a night or two. I am not sure I would stay longer than that in one.

When should I book accommodation in Santa Claus Village?

As soon as you have your plane tickets booked, I would get that accommodation booked. Especially if you are visiting Santa Claus Village in winter. If you’re visiting outside of the winter months, you may find plenty of availability or last-minute deals. But you will NOT find those in winter.

Is it expensive to stay in Santa Claus Village?

During the peak season (winter), it is extremely expensive to stay in Santa Claus Village. In the off-season, however, it is extremely affordable to do so. The convenience may make it worth it during the high season, though.

Do you have any questions about where to stay in Santa Claus Village, or nearby? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!