Rovaniemi vs Levi for Families: Which One Is Right for You? (2026)

Are you planning a family trip to Finnish Lapland but can’t decide between Rovaniemi vs Levi? You are not alone! This is one of the most common questions I hear from families who want to visit Lapland for the first time.

I am from Rovaniemi, so I know this destination inside out. And while I have spent less time in Levi, I have done plenty of research to give you a fair, honest comparison of both. My goal is to help you pick the destination that fits YOUR family best. Or maybe even convince you to visit both!

In this post, I will walk you through what makes each place special, the best family hotels in both destinations, and give you a clear answer to the big question: Rovaniemi vs Levi, which is better for families?

Rovaniemi vs Levi: A Quick Summary

Before we dive into the details, here is a quick overview so you know what you are getting into with each destination.

Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and the official hometown of Santa Claus. It is a proper city with restaurants, museums, and a wide variety of family activities. It is a great choice for first-time visitors to Lapland and for families with younger children who dream of meeting Santa.

Levi is Finland’s largest ski resort, located about 170 km north of Rovaniemi. It is a compact, purpose-built resort village surrounded by fells and forests. If skiing is a priority for your family, Levi is hard to beat. It also offers wonderful husky safaris, reindeer experiences, and some of the best Northern Lights viewing in the country.

Both destinations are wonderful, they just offer slightly different experiences. Keep reading to find out which one is right for you.

What Makes Rovaniemi Special for Families

The Official Home of Santa Claus

If you are travelling with young children, Rovaniemi has one major advantage that no other destination in the world can offer: it is the official, internationally recognized home of Santa Claus.

Santa Claus Village sits right on the Arctic Circle, about 8 km from Rovaniemi city centre. You can meet Santa year-round, cross the Arctic Circle line, visit Santa’s reindeer, and explore the village. For little ones who still believe in the magic of Christmas, this experience is truly something special. I grew up here, and I still love seeing the joy on children’s faces when they meet Santa for the first time.

I highly recommend booking your Santa meeting in advance, especially if you are visiting in December. Slots fill up quickly!

Family Activities Beyond Santa

Rovaniemi offers a wonderful variety of activities for families beyond the Santa experience. You can go on a husky safari, take a reindeer sleigh ride, go snowshoeing in the Arctic forest, try ice fishing on a frozen river, or hunt for the Northern Lights on a guided evening tour.

In summer, Rovaniemi is equally magical. The midnight sun means your children can play outside at 2am — which sounds strange but is actually a lot of fun! You can go hiking, kayaking, berry picking, and visit Ranua Wildlife Park to see polar bears and other Arctic animals.

I have written a full guide to things to do in Rovaniemi if you want to explore all the options in detail. There really is something for every age group.

The Arktikum Science Museum is also worth a visit with older children — it tells the story of Arctic life and the history of Lapland in a really engaging way.

Best Family Hotels in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi has a great selection of family-friendly hotels. Here are my top picks:

Santa Claus Holiday Village

Santa Claus Holiday Village is located right next to Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, which makes it a fantastic choice for families. The accommodation ranges from cosy hotel rooms to charming cottage-style units, and the location means your children can wake up practically in Santa’s backyard.

The hotel offers free breakfast, a playground, and easy access to all the Arctic Circle activities. It is one of the most popular family hotels in Rovaniemi, and for good reason.

Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara

This is a beautiful hotel located on top of Ounasvaara fell, right next to the ski slopes. The views over Rovaniemi are stunning, and it is a great base if your family wants to do some skiing as well as other Lapland activities.

The hotel has a lovely restaurant and a relaxing atmosphere. It is a bit more peaceful than staying in the city centre, which many families appreciate.

Apukka Resort

Apukka Resort is one of my personal favorites in Rovaniemi. It is located about 15 minutes from the city centre on the shores of Lake Olkkajärvi, and it offers a wonderful mix of cosy accommodation and fantastic activities right on the property.

You can stay in a glass igloo and watch the Northern Lights from your bed, or choose a spacious family suite. The resort has its own husky farm, reindeer, snowmobile tours, and a lovely sauna. It is an excellent choice if you want everything in one place.

If you are interested in glass igloo stays, I have also written a guide to the best glass igloos in Finland that you might find helpful.

For even more accommodation ideas, check out my post on the best places to stay in Rovaniemi with kids.

What Makes Levi Special for Families

Finland’s Biggest Ski Resort

If your family loves skiing or snowboarding, Levi is the place to go. It is Finland’s largest ski resort with 43 slopes, and it is set up beautifully for families.

The resort has dedicated children’s areas with gentle slopes, and the Levi Ski School offers excellent lessons for beginners in English. Children under 6 years old can even ski for free when accompanied by a skiing adult — which is a wonderful bonus for young families.

The Kids’ Land area is especially popular with younger children. There you can find tobogganing hills, gentle slopes, and the Leevilandia zone with snow tubing and sledging. Even if your little ones are too young to ski properly, they will have a fantastic time in the snow.

According to Levi’s official resort guide, the family slopes at Utsuvaara and Sammu are particularly well suited for beginner skiers, with easy gradients and beautiful scenery.

Family Activities Beyond Skiing

Levi is not only about skiing. There is a wonderful range of other activities for families, and you do not need to ski at all to have a great time here.

Husky safaris are one of the highlights. You can mush your own husky team through snowy forest trails — a truly wonderful experience. Children ride as passengers in the sleigh while adults drive. Reindeer sleigh rides are also very popular and give a lovely gentle introduction to Lapland’s reindeer culture.

Levi is also an excellent place for Northern Lights viewing. The resort is located well above the Arctic Circle, and the surrounding fells offer beautiful open skies for aurora hunting. Many tour operators offer guided Northern Lights safaris from Levi, including snowmobile tours and heated sleigh excursions.

Other fun family activities include ice fishing on a frozen lake, snowshoeing through the Arctic forest, and visiting the local reindeer farm. In summer, the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park nearby is great for family hikes.

As Flashpacking Family notes, there are over 20 things to do with kids in Levi — so you will never run out of things to fill your days.

Best Family Hotels in Levi

Levi has some wonderful family hotels. Here are my top recommendations:

Design Hotel Levi

Design Hotel Levi is a stylish and comfortable hotel located right in the heart of Levi resort, with ski-to-door access — which is a huge convenience for families with children. The hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool, which kids absolutely love after a day on the slopes.

The location is excellent, within easy walking distance of the ski lifts, restaurants, and shops.

Northern Lights Ranch

Northern Lights Ranch is a beautiful option for families who want something a bit more cosy and nature-focused. The property features log cabins with large windows and heated glass ceilings — perfect for watching the Northern Lights from the warmth of your bed.

It is a romantic and magical property, but families with children will love the peaceful forest setting and the chance to spot the aurora without having to leave the accommodation.

Northern Lights Village Levi

Northern Lights Village Levi is a wonderful resort that combines stylish glass-roofed cabins with a great range of included activities. The property is designed for guests who want to experience the magic of Lapland in comfort, and they offer family packages that include husky safaris, reindeer rides, and Northern Lights excursions.

As Fifty Degrees North describes, their family Lapland packages are particularly well-suited for parents who want everything organised for them in one place.

Rovaniemi vs Levi: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is a quick comparison to help you see the differences at a glance:

	Rovaniemi	Levi
Santa Claus experience	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Official home of Santa	⭐⭐ Santa available but smaller scale
Skiing	⭐⭐ Small ski centre (Ounasvaara)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finland’s largest resort, 43 slopes
Non-skiing activities	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Huge variety	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent but more skiing-focused
Northern Lights	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great viewing	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent — above Arctic Circle
City amenities	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Proper city with restaurants, shops	⭐⭐⭐ Resort village, more limited
Best for young children	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Santa, easy logistics	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kids’ slopes, snow activities
Best for older children	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great variety	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Skiing, adventure activities
Budget-friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐ More affordable overall	⭐⭐⭐ More expensive if not skiing
Ease of getting there	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Direct flights from many cities	⭐⭐⭐ Fly to Kittilä or drive from Rovaniemi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rovaniemi or Levi Better for Young Children?

For families with young children — especially those under 8 years old — I would generally recommend Rovaniemi first.

The main reason is Santa Claus Village. For little ones who believe in the magic of Christmas, meeting Santa in his official hometown is a truly wonderful experience that is very hard to replicate anywhere else. Rovaniemi also has a wider variety of activities that work well for small children, including the Ranua Wildlife Park, easy reindeer sleigh rides, and gentle snowshoe walks.

That said, Levi’s Kids’ Land with its tobogganing and gentle snow activities is also fantastic for young children, especially if they are excited about snow play and simple skiing. If your children are between 5 and 8 and ready to try skiing, Levi is a great choice.

If you are really unsure, visiting both is always a good option!

Can You Visit Both Rovaniemi and Levi on the Same Trip?

Yes, absolutely — and many families do exactly this! Rovaniemi and Levi are about 170 km apart, which is roughly a 2 to 2.5-hour drive in winter road conditions. You can also take a bus between the two destinations.

A popular approach is to spend 3 nights in Rovaniemi for the Santa experience and city activities, then travel up to Levi for 3 or 4 nights of skiing and wilderness adventures. This gives your family the best of both worlds.

If you are flying into Finland, Rovaniemi has its own airport with direct connections from many European cities. You can check my guide on how to get from Helsinki to Rovaniemi for all the transport options. Levi is served by Kittilä Airport, which also has seasonal direct flights from major European cities.

Which Is Cheaper — Rovaniemi or Levi?

In general, Rovaniemi tends to be slightly more affordable than Levi, especially for families who are not skiing.

Rovaniemi has a wider range of accommodation options at different price points, from budget guesthouses to luxury glass igloo hotels. There are also plenty of free or low-cost activities, like visiting the Santa Claus Village area, walking along the Kemijoki River, and exploring the city.

Levi, as a purpose-built ski resort, is naturally more oriented around skiing, and the prices reflect that. Lift passes, ski rentals, and ski lessons for a family can add up quickly. If your family loves skiing and will use the slopes every day, the cost is absolutely worth it. But if skiing is not your priority, Rovaniemi will likely give you better value for money.

That said, prices at both destinations vary significantly depending on when you visit. For advice on timing, I recommend reading my guide to the best time to visit Lapland.

Do You Need to Ski to Enjoy Levi?

No, you absolutely do not need to ski to enjoy Levi! There is a great range of other activities available, including husky safaris, reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobile tours, ice fishing, snowshoeing, Northern Lights excursions, and relaxing in spa facilities.

That said, if nobody in your family skis or plans to ski, you might find that Rovaniemi offers a more complete experience overall, since its activities are not built around skiing. Levi is at its best when at least some members of your group want to hit the slopes.

If skiing is something you are curious about, Levi is actually one of the best places in Finland to try it for the first time. The slopes are gentle, the ski school is excellent, and the atmosphere is very welcoming for beginners.

Which Should You Choose?

Here is my honest recommendation based on different family situations:

Choose Rovaniemi if:

• You are travelling with young children (under 8) who dream of meeting Santa
• It is your first time in Lapland
• You want a wide variety of activities and city amenities
• You are travelling on a tighter budget
• Skiing is not a priority for your family

Choose Levi if:

• Your family loves skiing or wants to try it for the first time
• You have older children or teenagers who want more adventure-focused activities
• You prefer a cosy, compact resort feel over a city environment
• Northern Lights viewing is high on your list — Levi’s open fells are excellent for aurora hunting
• You want a more peaceful, nature-focused atmosphere

Visit both if:

• You have at least 7 nights in Lapland
• You want the complete Lapland experience — Santa magic AND ski slopes
• You are flexible with transport and accommodation

Honestly, if your budget and time allow, I think doing both is the most rewarding option. Start with Rovaniemi for the Santa experience and city activities, then head north to Levi for a few days of skiing and fell adventures. It makes for a wonderful Lapland trip that your family will talk about for years.

Final Thoughts

Both Rovaniemi and Levi are wonderful family destinations, and you really cannot go wrong with either choice. Rovaniemi is my home, so I may be a little biased — but I genuinely believe it offers something very special, especially for families with young children.

Levi, on the other hand, is a fantastic resort with excellent skiing and a beautiful wilderness setting. If skiing is important to your family, Levi deserves a top spot on your list.

I hope this guide helps you make your decision! If you have any questions about either destination, feel free to leave a comment below — I am always happy to help.

Ready to book? Check out the best family hotels in Rovaniemi on Booking.com and Levi on Booking.com.

I am Henriikka, born and raised in Rovaniemi, Lapland. I write about travel in Finland and Lapland with a focus on families and couples. If this post was helpful, you might also enjoy my guides on things to do in Rovaniemi and the best glass igloos in Finland.