Gay Friendly Hotels Lapland

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Rovaniemi Finland (2024 Updated)

Celebrate LGBT Pride at the Rovaniemi Pride Parade and stay in one of the gay friendly hotels Rovaniemi, Finland.

Finland is often referred to as one of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world and public acceptance of LGBT people and same-sex relationships is high. The “Gay Happiness Index” (GHI), based on a poll by PlanetRomeo, lists Finland as the twelfth happiest country for LGBT people, on par with countries such as New Zealand and Spain.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Finland are among the most advanced in Europe. According to an annual ILGA report, Finnish LGBT legislation is among the most extensive and developed legislations in Europe. Compared to fellow Nordic countries, it ranks near the top, outranked only by neighbouring Norway.

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it’s a modern city known for being the “official” home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It’s home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.

 Top attractions to visit in Rovaniemi

 

Best Day Trips in Rovaniemi

See all Day Trips in Rovaniemi on GetYourGuide Finland.

 

 1. Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi

Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle
Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle

Santa’s Igloos offer stylish glass-roofed igloos by the Arctic Circle, 8 km from central Rovaniemi. WiFi and parking are both free.

All air-conditioned igloos at Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle have a private bathroom with a rain shower. For extra comfort, sleeping masks, bathrobes and slippers are included. A flat-screen TV and electric kettle are also found in the rooms. Each igloo is equipped with a tablet through which guest can contact the reception and receive Northern Lights alarms.

Breakfast is served daily at the property.

During summer, guests can enjoy the midnight sun of the Lapland Region. Hiking and cycling are popular activities in the area. Santa Claus Village is just 600 m away. Rovaniemi Airport is a 5-minute drive away from Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle.

This laid-back hotel in a wooded area is an 8-minute walk from the Santa Claus Village, 4 km from Rovaniemi Airport, and 12 km from the Arktikum science center and museum.

The partially glass-enclosed, igloolik rooms have a cozy vibe, and come with flat-screen TVs. Upgraded rooms feature private saunas and/or additional sleeping alcoves.

Santa’s Igloos are cozy and comfortable. It reminded us of luxury cruise ship accommodations in compactness and functionality. Temperature can be easily controlled, and was always perfect. There is a button you press to melt snow and ice off the glass roof to keep it clear for star gazing or the aurora (should you be lucky to see them – use the aurora alarm to try). The igloos with a sauna are connected to another igloo, but luckily it was vacant during our stay. They do not have stand alone igloos with sauna, so opt for the premium igloo without sauna for maximum privacy or book sauna igloo with a connected igloo. There were sleds available for guests to use on property.

Things we would improve about the igloos: more storage shelves (cabinets are mainly used as utility closets and locked) and individual toiletries instead of pump bottles on the wall. It would also be great to have some upgraded igloos available with a hot tub outside!

The price included breakfast and dinner (labeled as evening snack, but it was substantial enough for dinner). Breakfast was a bit hit and miss: there were some basics usually included in Finnish hotel breakfast (yogurt, bread, salmon), but there were no plain scrambled eggs (only eggs mixed with potatoes, which were extremely salty) and boiled eggs were too soft to our liking (7-minute eggs). One morning there were no croissants. Waffle bar, however, was a nice feature. Evening dinner was a buffet and excellent in variety and flavor. We found plenty of foods to enjoy at dinner.

The staff were pleasant and friendly. The walk to Santa Claus Village was a bit longer than from most of the resorts in the area, but it was not a problem to us. We loved being able to walk to all
the attractions.

This was a very interesting place. Close to Santa’s Village, the igloos are essentially studios with glass windows and ceilings covering half of the dwelling and a bathroom with a closet and storage near the entrance.

Perfect for viewing the northern lights, the igloos offered enough opportunity for privacy with curtains that could be pulled to cover the windows while still allowing for an excellent and unobstructed view of the sky. The great thing was that you could sleep and wait for the aurora alarm to awaken you if/when the northern lights are visible.

The rooms were very well furnished for their size and they included a little sitting area, kettle for tea or coffee, and televisions. Some rooms also had saunas in them.

This was definitely a beautiful, romantic place that could be cozy and absolutely wonderful. Minus one star because our room was freezing when we checked in and the water in the shower got cold quickly and needed about 30 minutes to warm back up. It would’ve been helpful if they’d turned the heat on prior to our checking in. But, seeing a glimpse of the northern lights more than made up for this.

Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi
Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi

How much does a room costs at Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle ?

Prices start 1211$/night for Glass Igloo. The Superior Twin Room with Sauna is  1220$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room has a bathrobe, satellite TV and electric kettle.

Where to book online – Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle – Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi you can find the best hotels deals in Rovaniemi during Winter Wonders   which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Rovaniemi on Booking.com or  Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Lapland Finland

Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara

Situated right next to the Ounasvaara Winter Sports Centre on Ounasvaara Fell, Lapland Hotel Sky Ounasvaara offers a restaurant and roof terrace with views over Rovaniemi city and the Kemijoki River valley. Parking is free.

A TV, tea/coffee facilities and private bathroom are standard at Lapland Sky Ounasvaara. Most rooms have a private sauna.

The Chaine des Rôtisseurs- and Nordic White Guide-awarded Restaurant Sky Ounasvaara offers an à la carte menu featuring Lappish delicacies and international dishes. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of the surrounding nature. A souvenir shop and a café-bar with cosy fireplace are found in the lobby.

Hotel details

This laid-back hotel is 8 km from Arktikum, an underground science center, and 9 km from SantaPark amusement park.

Snug rooms and suites feature wood-paneled accent walls and carpeted floors, and have Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee making facilities. Some have sitting areas, saunas and/or sofabeds. Cabins add kitchens and dining areas.

Amenities consist of a bar, a rooftop terrace and a restaurant, plus saunas, a convenience store, and meeting and event space. Breakfast and parking are available.

Hotel is situated right next to the Ounasvaara Winter Sports Centre on the top of the Ounasvaara Fell. Hotel offers a fine dining dinner restaurant and roof terrace with views over Rovaniemi city and the Kemijoki River valley. Hotel offers accommodation in hotel building and in wooden cottages next to the hotel. Most of the rooms has own private sauna and great views to the peaceful forest of unique Ounasvaara Fell. Saunas are very comfortable especially in winter time to warm up after a busy day. There are “sauna spa” products available at the hotel souvenir shop.

The Chaine des Rôtisseurs- and Pro Gala-awarded Restaurant Sky Ounasvaara offers an à la carte menu featuring fine and pure Lappish delicacies. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of the surrounding nature. A souvenir shop and a café-bar with cosy fireplace are found in the lobby. Guests can relax on the roof terrace and enjoy the Midnight Sun during summer or if lucky enough, the Northern Lights during mid-August until the end of March. The hotel offers direct access to ski slopes, cross country skiing tracks and pretty walking trails.

You can feel the true spirit of Lapland while wandering in the forest on the top of Ounasvaara Fell in a peaceful silence, relax and enjoy the fresh air and pure nature and pick a fresh blueberry and taste the wilderness. Rovaniemi city centre is 3 km away. Rovaniemi Airport is a 15-minute drive away.

Our modern, clean room had a floor to ceiling window that looked out onto the snow-covered, tree filled mountain. I loved the color palate and simplicity of the room’s design that is quintessentially Finland. And don’t get me started on the sauna- while some might find it strange that the sauna has a glass wall open to the bedroom-the ingenious design allows for access to that amazing view (there are curtains for privacy if needed).

The hotel service was friendly, professional, and helpful.

The cafe was perfect for light meals/snacks and a drink at the bar, we recommend trying the local Cloudberry liqueur.

The hotel is set up in the hills (Tui call it Forest Heights hotel) The views are stunning of the snow topped trees and hills, especially from the roof terrace. We sadly didn’t get to see the Northern Lights, however we did watch a beautiful sunset on the one clear day we had.

The restaurant is lovely and people come from outside just to eat here. The buffet selection was basic, but sufficient. Starters & desserts and for mains – 1 meat dish, 1 fish dish, 1 vegetarian dish & potatoes & veg. Breakfast was plentiful & a good variety. The restaurant boasts pretty views provided by the floor to ceiling glass windows.

There is a ski slope on sight, and you can hire a bum board for €1 to create your own fun on the slopes. There were always people enjoying themselves outside. The suits that are provided when you arrive are super warm, and when kitted up, we never felt cold at all. Wear a few layers under your suit and you’ll be fine. The hotel is extremely warm, at times our room was unbearably warm, so bring light clothes too.

A taxi into Rovaniemi centre is 5 minutes and cost €23 out & €18 return for us. We enjoyed a traditional Lappish meal at Nili.

Professional staff, log fire in reception and rooms spacious enough for 3 people with the added luxury of a private sauna. If they added a fridge it would be perfect. Rovaniemi has some drab housing blocks and little to see other than the spectacle of people walking and snowmobiling on the river, so staying on a snowy hilltop surrounded by trees with a view down the ski slope turned out to be the right choice.

Gay Friendly Hotels Lapland
Gay Friendly Hotels Lapland

How much does a room costs at Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara ?

Prices start 147$/night for Northern Comfort Room. The Lapland Suite with Sauna is  275$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This two-bedroom suite features a lounge area, a panoramic sauna, 3 flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee making facilities. Bathrobes and slippers are also included.

Where to book online – Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara – Gay Friendly Hotels Lapland Finland  you can find the best hotels deals in Rovaniemi during Winter Wonders   which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Rovaniemi on Booking.com or  Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Hostel Café Koti 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi

Hostel Café Koti
Hostel Café Koti

Hostel Café Koti is located in central Rovaniemi and offers bright and Scandinavian-style rooms and dormitories. Sampokeskus Shopping Center is 500 m away. Free WiFi is featured throughout the hostel.

Guests can choose between private rooms with a bathroom and dormitory rooms with shared bathroom facilities.

Hostel Café Koti has a shared, fully equipped kitchen and a common lounge for guests to use. A Finnish sauna is also included.

In a former bank in the city center, this informal hostel with modern decor is 2 km from Rovaniemi railway station and 4 km from Ounasvaara hill

Streamlined mixed-gender and female-only dorms provide complimentary Wi-Fi and lockers; bathrooms are shared. Private rooms with en suite facilities sleep up to 4 guests; some feature wood furnishings. A 2-bedroom apartment offers a TV, a kitchen and a washer, plus a balcony, and a living room with a sofa bed.

Breakfast is free. There’s an understated cafe/bar. A rooftop terrace has a bar and a hot tub. Other amenities include a shared kitchen, a sauna and lounges.

Here in Hostel Koti we have 23 rooms, 3 dormitories and one private apartment, all furnished in Scandinavian style. In total, we have 84 beds for our guests. We serve breakfast every morning and it’s included in the price for private rooms.

There is also a kitchen, comfortable lounge area, Wi-Fi and daily sauna, all free of charge for guests to use. At the Café, we want people to take a break from the Arctic city buzz and have a cup of coffee in relaxed atmosphere. There are 80 seats and we serve good coffee, soft drinks, pastries and food. A healthy lunch is also available daily during the week. The Café is a great melting pot for locals and travelers alike!

It was as central as you could get in rovaniemi – with restaurants, shops, tour providers and bus stops all within less than a 1km walk.

The rooms were small but cute and had everything we needed and the staff were helpful.
The lift is the weirdest lift I have ever seen in my life, but it made it good fun.

The only recommendations I would have is perhaps mixing breakfast up a bit (we were there for 5 mornings and it was the same thing every day).

Everything is new, stylish and clean. The lockers in the dorm rooms are very spacious (tall ones) so you can hang your coats as well as store all your luggage in there. The location is great, all the stores and travel offices and a bus stop are close by. I was able to save money by cooking at the hotel’s kitchen. The staff was always very helpful and friendly, making you feel welcome. The price is affordable, which is rare in Rovaniemi.

Hostel itself is was simple one, rooms were clean but beds were not comfortable enough. Upper sheets moves itself when you move in bed while sleeping and blankets were way too small to cover myself.
Hotel itself has a nice cafe, nice simple plates to dine or have brunch. Staff is great and they were always there when we need anything. I advise solo and group travelers to make their stay there.

We had a great stay at this clean and comfortable boutique hotel. We had a double/twin room with wonderfully comfortable beds and a great shower. Linens and towels were of good quality. The furnishings were Scandi/IKEA, tasteful.

It is basic in a way that you do not have TVs, coffee making facilities… but you have a fab little cafe downstairs serving food and drinks all day and evening. There is also a kitchen for guests use but we were very happy with all the restaurants in this central location so did not even see the kitchen.

Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi
Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi

How much does a room costs at Hostel Café Koti ?

Prices start 69$/night for Standard Double Room. The Superior Double Room is  84$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This spacious room features air conditioning, city views and a private bathroom with shower.

Where to book online – Hostel Café Koti – Gay Friendly Hotels Rovaniemi you can find the best hotels deals in Rovaniemi during Winter Wonders   which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Rovaniemi on Booking.com or  Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.