Destination Comparison
Rovaniemi vs Saariselkä for Northern Lights
Finland's Arctic Circle capital versus the quieter fell resort 250km further north — Saariselkä sits noticeably higher above the Arctic Circle with darker, clearer skies. Both lie in Finnish Lapland but offer very different visitor experiences.
✦7/10
Aurora Score
✓✦8/10
✓$130/day
Daily Budget
$135/day
✓Easy ✈️
Accessibility
Moderate 🛤️
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Best Months
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
21h
Dark Hours (Winter)
✓23h
Arctic
Region
Arctic
✓18 types
Activities
17 types
Our Verdict
Saariselkä wins on darker skies and aurora probability due to its higher latitude; Rovaniemi wins on infrastructure, glass igloos, Santa Claus Village, and international flight connections.
Choose Rovaniemi if:
Santa Claus Village, glass igloos, major Lapland airport, more hotels and restaurants, family activities year-round
Choose Saariselkä if:
Better aurora probability, darker and clearer skies, higher latitude, quieter wilderness atmosphere, fell skiing
Finland
Rovaniemi
Families and couples wanting the full Finnish Lapland winter magic with glass igloo stays
Finland
Saariselkä
Skiers and snowmobilers who want aurora viewing combined with outstanding winter sports