Rovaniemi and Levi are the two places most people think of when they plan a Lapland trip. They're about 170 km apart, a bit over two hours by car, and they feel quite different. We have homes in both, so here's how we'd compare them.
Rovaniemi in short
Rovaniemi is a real city of around 65,000 people, sitting right by the Arctic Circle. It's the official hometown of Santa Claus and has the biggest choice of activities in Lapland: husky and reindeer farms, snowmobile safaris, northern lights tours, museums and plenty of restaurants. The airport is about ten minutes from the centre, with direct flights from many European cities in winter.
Choose Rovaniemi if:
- it's your first time in Lapland
- you're travelling with children and want to visit Santa
- you want lots of activities without long drives
- you're here for a short trip of 3 to 4 nights
- you'd like to have restaurants and shops close by
Levi in short
Levi is a ski resort village in Kittilä, further north and higher up. Life there revolves around the fell: downhill slopes, long cross-country tracks, après-ski and a compact village centre where most things are walking distance apart. Kittilä airport is about 15 minutes away.
Choose Levi if:
- skiing is a big part of your holiday
- you like a lively resort atmosphere
- you're staying a week and want everything in one village
- you want fell views and big open landscapes
Snow and season
Levi usually gets reliable snow a bit earlier and keeps it longer, which matters if you're coming in late November or in April. In Rovaniemi the winter season is still long and snowy, roughly from December to March, with the best skiing and snow activities in February and March.
Northern lights
You can see the aurora in both places. Levi is slightly further north, but in practice the weather on the night decides far more than the location. What matters most is getting away from lights. A home outside Rovaniemi by a lake is just as good for aurora watching as anywhere in Levi.
Price
Levi tends to be more expensive in peak ski weeks, especially around Christmas, New Year and the Finnish winter holidays in February and March. Rovaniemi has more accommodation overall, so it's often easier to find something that fits your budget, except in December when everyone wants to meet Santa.
Can you do both?
Yes, and if you have a week it's a great combination. Spend three or four nights in Rovaniemi for Santa, huskies and reindeer, then drive or take the bus north to Levi for skiing and quieter days on the fell. The drive itself, through forest and small villages, is part of the experience.
Our take
For a first visit, short trip or a family Christmas, pick Rovaniemi. For a ski week, pick Levi. And if you can't decide, split the trip.
See our
homes in Rovaniemi and Levi, or
ask us which one suits your dates. We're happy to help you plan.
