Destination Comparison
Rovaniemi vs Kiruna for Northern Lights
Finnish Lapland's iconic Arctic Circle capital versus Swedish Lapland's mining city and ICEHOTEL gateway — both are popular Scandinavian winter breaks with excellent aurora viewing. Rovaniemi sits right on the Arctic Circle while Kiruna is 145km further north.
✦7/10
Aurora Score
✓✦8/10
✓$130/day
Daily Budget
$160/day
Easy ✈️
Accessibility
Easy ✈️
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Best Months
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
✓21h
Dark Hours (Winter)
20h
Arctic
Region
Arctic
✓18 types
Activities
16 types
Our Verdict
Kiruna wins on aurora reliability due to its higher latitude and proximity to Abisko; Rovaniemi wins on tourism infrastructure, Santa Claus Village, and international name recognition.
Choose Rovaniemi if:
Santa Claus Village, glass igloos, better flight connections, bigger restaurant scene, Arctic Circle novelty
Choose Kiruna if:
ICEHOTEL at Jukkasjärvi, higher latitude for better aurora, Abisko close by, iron ore mine tour, quieter wilderness feel
Finland
Rovaniemi
Families and couples wanting the full Finnish Lapland winter magic with glass igloo stays
Sweden
Kiruna
Couples wanting the Icehotel experience combined with excellent aurora viewing and dog-sledding