Four nights in a glass-walled family cabin outside Rovaniemi, with northern lights on several of them.
By Brooke Banville · We stayed November 25 to 29, 2025, with our kids, then 9 and 6
Our verdict
We loved Apukka. The location is close to the airport but away from the busiest tourist areas, the Aurora Family Cabin worked perfectly for two adults and two kids, and we saw the northern lights on several nights. Service was very good rather than luxury: about 4 stars.
What we loved
- The Aurora Family Cabin layout and very comfortable beds
- Location: 20 minutes from the airport
- The husky ride and the Reindeer Ride to Santa
- Northern lights on several nights
What we’d change
- The restaurant was understaffed
- Walkways got icy and dangerous on our last night
- Our cabin was a walk from reception and the restaurant
- A small kids’ area with few board games
Is Apukka worth it with kids?
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Is Apukka Resort good for families?
Yes. We would go back with our kids.
Apukka sits on the edge of Rovaniemi, near Lake Olkkajärvi. It is close to the airport but far enough from the busiest tourist areas to feel like a proper winter escape, and most of the family activities start right at the resort. For the other places we compared, see where to stay in Rovaniemi, including the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Santa’s Igloos and the Arctic SnowHotel. This trip also sits with our family trips.
Where does everyone sleep in the Aurora Family Cabin?
There is a separate bedroom with a queen bed, a queen sofa bed, and a king bed beneath the panoramic windows.
- Separate bedroom, queen bed: our daughter
- Queen sofa bed: our son
- King bed beneath the panoramic windows: us
The layout was perfect for two adults and two kids. All the beds were extremely comfortable, the shower was excellent, and there was lots of storage for our things.
The one catch: our cabin was a bit far from reception and the restaurant. The snowy weather made the walks enjoyable, since it wasn’t icy or rainy, but in worse weather that walk would be less fun.
The separate kids' room in our Apukka cabin
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How far is Apukka from the airport, Santa Claus Village and SantaPark?
About 20 minutes from Rovaniemi Airport, 10 minutes from Santa Claus Village and 15 minutes from SantaPark.
Apukka runs a bus to Santa Claus Village (we were quoted €20), but we took a taxi (€35) so we could keep our own schedule. More on that in our guide to getting to Lapland.
Which Apukka package did we book?
The Apukka Early Winter Fun package, plus the 3 km Husky Ride, Family Snowmobile and the Sauna & Jacuzzi experience.
We reviewed every activity, including the one we skipped, in our Apukka activities review.
What is the food like at Apukka?
We enjoyed the food. Breakfast is included, and you can do half-board buffet dinners or order à la carte.
- Breakfast (included): a buffet with fruit, desserts, an egg station, coffee and tea
- Lunch: à la carte. Great burgers, the kids loved the chicken fingers, and there’s a nice salad bar
- Dinner: the half-board buffet (the theme nights were fun) or the à la carte menu
- Lobby bar: pizzas and snacks to order
The restaurant was definitely understaffed. Kumar and his team were wonderful, but they need more help.
What should you wear at Apukka, and what do they provide?
Apukka gives you a list of what they supply, including a giant snowsuit. Bring your own thermals, hats, gloves and balaclavas.
I might have preferred my own snowsuit, but I’m not sure it would have been warm enough on the extra-cold days. For context, Philadelphia was colder than Rovaniemi at one point while we were there, and we’re used to winter weather.
The usual Arctic advice is layers: a thermal base layer (wool or synthetic, not cotton), a warm mid layer like fleece, then the snowsuit on top. Mittens beat gloves for warmth, and a balaclava makes snowmobile and husky rides far more bearable for kids.
What didn’t we like about Apukka?
The understaffed restaurant, icy walkways on our last night, and a small kids’ area.
On our last night the ice came in and the walkways became extremely slippery, which was surprisingly dangerous. I expected better clearing, though the rain and temperature swings may have made it hard.
There’s a small kids’ area in the lobby with two computers and some toys. My kids liked it mainly for the screens. There are a few board games to borrow too; hopefully they add more.
What do we wish we’d known before booking?
Book a family photo session in advance. It was completely sold out once we arrived.
Also check tour times before you add them: the Aurora Snow Train leaves at 7:45 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. and lasts three hours, which was too late for our kids.
What other rooms does Apukka have?
Aurora Cabins in several sizes, Komsio and Kammi glass igloo suites, Lakeview Suites and Villa Apukka.
The standard Aurora Cabin has twin beds that can be separated and a pull-out sofa. The two-story Kammi Glass Igloo Suite has a kitchenette and sleeps up to four, the Lakeview Suites have two bedrooms, and Villa Apukka sleeps up to 14.
Photos from our trip
More questions
Can you see the northern lights from Apukka Resort?
Yes, if the sky is clear and the aurora is active. We saw them on several nights in late November 2025.
Northern lights from bed at Apukka
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More from our Lapland trip
Sources
Our experiences are our own. Background facts were checked against: