Piriko Apartments Review - Rovaniemi city centre accommodation

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When we were planning our DIY trip to Lapland with the kids, one of the biggest decisions was where to stay – so keep reading for my Piriko Apartments review – we booked a 2 bedroom accommodation in central Rovaniemi. Many Lapland hotels look magical, but they can also be incredibly expensive, especially for families. After seeing brilliant reviews online, we decided to try Piriko Apartments and it turned out to be a really practical base for exploring the city without spending a fortune. Staying in the city centre made it so easy to get around without a car or high travel costs. Here’s everything you need to know about Piriko Apartments – my review, photos, distances to popular attractions, getting around and more.

Location in the centre of Rovaniemi

One of the biggest advantages of Piriko Apartments is the central location. The apartments are right in the centre of Rovaniemi, which made it easy to walk almost everywhere we needed to go. There are plenty of shops, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants within a few minutes’ walk, so grabbing breakfast supplies or an easy dinner was really simple. After long days out in the snow, it was also nice to be able to walk back rather than needing transport – and it kept our costs to a minimum too. The central location also meant we were close to things like the riverfront, playgrounds and several sledging hills, which offer free activities for the kids. Piriko Apartments is also just a 15 minute walk from the Arctic Garden – which is the perfect place for a DIY aurora hunt without having to leave the city. We had the most magical evening there during our stay!

Do you need a car when staying there?

Rovaniemi Airport is located around 8-9km from central Rovaniemi. The journey to the city centre typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes by car – we booked Ubers to and from the airport for around £30 each way so it was simple and affordable. With a stay at Piriko Apartments you definitely don’t need to hire a car. Rovaniemi has a local bus network that connects the city centre with key locations, including Santa Claus Village, and many of the attractions (like Lapland Winter Park) include a free shuttle bus to and from the city. Most of the popular excursions such as reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling and husky safaris also include transport from central meeting points. Rovaniemi is such a convenient base for a Lapland adventure and we found Piriko Apartments to be so well located for everything that we wanted to see and do – so let’s dive into my review…

Apartment size and space for families

Another big advantage of staying in an apartment rather than a hotel is the extra space, which makes a big difference when travelling with children and bulky winter clothing. Piriko offers different apartment sizes, but many include:

Separate sleeping areas or bedrooms
A living area with a bed / sofa bed
A kitchen or kitchenette
A dining table
A private bathroom
A private sauna

Having a kitchen was particularly helpful. Even simple things like making breakfast in the morning or hot drinks after coming in from the cold made the stay feel much easier with kids. It was insanely well equipped too – a proper home from home – which made it easy to get dinners on the table after a long day and there was a dishwasher too. They’d thought about everything from pots and pans, to salt, tea and coffee, baking parchment, tea towels, an iron, a drying rack, a washing machine, washing up liquid and more. It also meant we could avoid eating out for every meal, which helped keep the overall cost of our Lapland trip down.

Our Piriko apartment

During our stay we had a modern 2 bedroom apartment with plenty of space for our family and all our winter gear. After spending hours outside in the snow each day, it was really nice to come back somewhere warm and comfortable. Extras like toiletries, towels, flannels and toilet rolls were included too which meant we could pack lightly and not have to worry about wet towels for flying home. (They’d even included 2 sledges!) The apartment was ridiculously clean too – everywhere was immaculate – and the beds were really comfy. It also included a TV and board games.

Things we particularly liked included:

Having a good amount of space compared with a hotel room.
A well-equipped kitchen area.
Really comfortable beds.
A quiet location despite being in the centre – the apartment had double layered windows.
The apartment felt very practical for a family trip with space to spread out – very helpful when you have hats, gloves, boots and snowsuits drying everywhere.
We were greeted by a member of staff who showed us around and made sure we had everything we needed.
The whole building was boiling hot – Finland really do know how to heat their houses!

Cost compared with Lapland hotels and igloo accommodation

Lapland accommodation can be extremely expensive, especially in winter when demand is high. Many of the well-known Lapland hotels and Arctic glass igloos cost hundreds of pounds per night for a family room. While they look amazing, they’re not always the most practical choice for a longer stay with children. Apartments like Piriko are usually much better value, particularly if you are staying for several nights. You also get more space and the ability to cook some of your own meals which is also a good way to save money. We paid around £850 for 4 nights in a 2 bedroom apartment – just over £200 per night. Many of the hotels I looked at were over £1200 for the same amount of time and would have also meant that we were confined to one room – not the best idea with two teenagers!

If you’re looking for more wow factor accommodation like forest huts and igloos you’ll likely be looking at costs of around £500+ per night. Whilst they do look absolutely fabulous – and are often well located for viewing the Northern Lights from your own accommodation – that would obviously take a huge chunk of your budget. We also found that we were really busy exploring during our trip. Most people only visit Rovaniemi for a few days so you’ll likely be making the most of it rather than spending long periods of time at your accommodation and, for that reason, I think the excursions and attractions should be the main priority. For families planning a DIY Lapland trip rather than a package holiday, apartments can make the overall cost of the trip much more manageable.

Is Piriko Apartments a good choice for families?

If you’re looking for luxury Lapland accommodation, there are certainly more unusual places to stay around Rovaniemi, including glass igloos and Arctic resorts. However, if you want a comfortable, clean, affordable and practical base in the city centre, Piriko Apartments worked really well for our family and I would highly recommend it. The communication and service was excellent and the addition of things like sledges and board games really enhanced our stay. The central location, easy access to buses and extra space compared with hotels made it a great option for exploring Rovaniemi without needing to hire a car. For families planning a DIY Lapland trip, it’s definitely worth considering apartments like this alongside the city centre Lapland hotels. To help with accommodation options, this article is a fabulous place to start: Where to stay in Rovaniemi with kids – the best hotels, apartments & igloos.

When’s the best time to visit Rovaniemi with kids?

If your family’s dream is snow, sledding and meeting Santa in a proper winter setting, December through to March is the most reliable window – often in November there just isn’t enough snow so booking too early in the season can be a risk. If budget matters and you still want snow, January and March can offer better value (and less crowds) than peak December. However, the temperature in January can drop as low as -30°C which can lead to cancelled excursions and intolerable outside conditions. If you want to avoid the extreme cold, late February – early March offers the perfect blend between snow and more manageable temperatures. By this time, there’s also a greater amount of daylight which is preferable for enjoying the activities and excursions on offer and it’s a fabulous time to see the Northern Lights. We visited the first week of March and the temperature was between -3°C and 0°C which was really pleasant.

How many days do you need in Rovaniemi?

I think to get the best experience and make the most of your time in Rovaniemi having 3 full days to explore with the kids works really well. Allowing for a 5 day trip (4 nights) with a travel day either side means that you can enjoy 3 days of excursions and adventures without rushing. We had so much fun just playing in the snow and sledging – plus you’ll want time to rest and warm up in between activities – so avoid booking too short of a trip. At a minimum, you need at least 2 full days for your visit and in this case I would recommend combining your visit to Santa Claus Village with the NordicUnique Snowmobile Safari as they’re located opposite each other. You’ll also want to allow a whole day to visit Lapland Winter Park as there’s a full day of fun to be had there and you can tag on paid activities if you like too. Check out my 3 day itinerary article to see what we got up to – or my guide on The 15 best things to do in Rovaniemi with kids is a great place to start.

Where are the best places to eat in Rovaniemi with kids?

Rovaniemi has a mix of casual pizza and burger restaurants, Finnish and Lappish cuisine, café-style lunch spots, buffet dining, hotel restaurants and a few higher-end Arctic meal experiences. Main meals in casual restaurants often sit in the mid to upper teens in euros, and traditional Lappish dishes can cost more. Planning ahead makes a big difference, especially for families eating out multiple times per day. It’s worth having some idea of where you might want to eat when you’re out and about exploring in Rovaniemi, which meals you’ll prepare yourself and also bringing some snacks along for the kids. From Piriko Apartments you can reach the shopping centre, supermarkets and loads of restaurants on foot in just a few minutes – it’s so well located for self-catering. To help you plan what and where you might eat during your stay, take a look at my article: Where to eat in Rovaniemi with kids – family restaurant guide.

What else should I know when planning a DIY Lapland trip?

Start by booking your flights and then pick a central location for your accommodation to make things nice and simple while you’re there. I hope that my Piriko Apartments review has been helpful and, wherever you decide to stay in Rovaniemi, you’ll find it’s a brilliant city for a winter break with the kids. It’s actually surprisingly easy to plan a DIY Lapland adventure – the attractions are easy to reach, you can book it all easily in advance on websites like Get Your Guide, Rovaniemi is close to the airport (no hire car needed) and there are loads of things to do within close proximity. I’ve written loads of articles (covering just about everything!) to make it easy as possible, so take a look below and have a magical time: