Arctic Panorama Resort Review | Brand New Rovaniemi Hotel
The popularity of Lapland has been growing at an unprecedented rate in recent years, and with it, interest in Rovaniemi, as the capital of Finnish Lapland, is also growing. At the busiest point in winter, it can sometimes be difficult to find suitable accommodation.
Team Traveltomtom has been a regular visitor and big fan of Rovaniemi for the past few years. In just 4 years, we have already seen a lot of change. We see the biggest changes in the accommodation and resorts. New accommodation are being built and opened at a rapid pace for yet another new winter season.
Traveling to Rovaniemi in Winter then check out our Rovaniemi Winter Travel Guide.
We wonder if these new resorts can find their place in Rovaniemi and if they can compete against existing, popular bucket-list-worthy resorts.
And so we set off! Our first stop, the brand-new Arctic Panorama Resort.
Location
The location of the new Arctic Panorama Resort is excellent. It is situated on the slopes of Ounasvaara Fell and is therefore surrounded by beautiful and pristine nature. There are actually no other accommodation or resorts in the vicinity of Arctic Panorama Resort, and that is definitely a plus! You notice this as well when walking around the resort; there is a real sense of calm and tranquility.
The resort is easy to reach by car. The same, of course, applies to taxis. However, if you travel by public transport, it becomes a bit more difficult. Although the nearest bus stop is only 850 meters from the hotel, the road from this bus stop ascends at a 12% gradient. That is a really tough climb; we walked it, and you certainly wouldn't want to do that with suitcases through the snow. So our advice would be to use your own transport or a taxi, and in this case, not public transport.
The location of the Arctic Panorama Resort is also a dream for winter sports enthusiasts who love skiing and snowboarding. After all, the slopes of the Ounasvaara ski area are within walking distance of the hotel. The Santa Claus golf course is located at the foot of the hotel. In winter, you will find cross-country ski tracks here, and in summer you can play a round of golf.
We are avid hikers and set out on foot from the Arctic Panorama Resort. Given the location on Ounasvaara Fell, we had initially thought and hoped that it would be easy to reach the summit and follow existing trails from there. Unfortunately, this is not (yet) possible. The hotel has only been open since December 1st 2025 and is still very much under development. So we sincerely hope that new hiking and cycling paths linked to existing ones are part of the plans they still have for the resort.
In any case, we set off on foot and enjoyed a lovely walk in the area, and eventually took a chairlift up Ounasvaara Fell to do some more hiking there. Highly recommended.
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Aurora Cabins
If you travel to Lapland, chances are very high that seeing the Northern Lights is also on your wish list. Naturally, accommodation are increasingly catering to this. This also applies to the Arctic Panorama Resort.
It’s all in the name, so they offer so-called Aurora Cabins. Their chalets stand on high stilts at the front, giving you a feeling of freedom and being above everything else, which basically you are.
Their chalets can currently be divided into three types, the Panorama Chalets, the Romance Chalets and the Polar Chalets. From the outside, they look virtually the same; the details on the inside will vary, making the differences clear. We had the Panorama Chalets with beautiful views of the North, which, by the way, is the perfect direction for spotting the Northern Lights!
The chalets have a real Arctic and Scandinavian look and feel from both the inside and outside due to the use of Lapland timber. Once you step in to your chalet you will feel at home instantly. It’s the interior and decoration that gives this place a warm look and feel.
The chalet has a rather small and basic bathroom with a shower, a sink and some storage space. Very basic but very perfect! The shower is warm with a good pressure, exactly what you need when you want to warm up after a long day in the freezing cold.
The room itself can be divided into two parts. The first part is the seating area with a very comfortable sofa that can be extended into a sofa bed. There is also a separate chair and a small table. So, this is the perfect place to relax. If you walk further, you have the bed. Nice and big and comfortable.
The bed is positioned in front of the window, the perfect location to spot the Northern Lights from your bed if you are lucky. Due to the bed and the sofa bed, our chalet would be suitable for a maximum of four guests. In terms of sleeping arrangements, that is of course correct, but in terms of space, I honestly think that is quite a lot for the space these chalets offer.
We travelled and stayed at Arctic Panorama Resort with two adults and two large suitcases for a week in Lapland. We were able to lay the suitcases down properly, but there was no room left for two more people and their suitcases.
Half Board
What I really love about the Arctic Panorama Resort is that a booking here always includes Half Board. Although Rovaniemi naturally has a huge number of great restaurants, having half board is always a nice extra as far as we are concerned. It is also nice when you don't have to think about what you are going to eat or where you are going to eat. Arctic Panorama Resort has got you covered with their Half Board deals.
Polára Restaurant
Just like the Arctic Panorama Resort, Polára Restaurant is brand new and opened its doors on December 1st 2025. The interior, which makes extensive use of natural materials and warm colors, contributes to a very warm feeling and atmosphere in this restaurant. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting creating a peaceful setting for a very relaxed breakfast or dinner.
Polára Restaurant offers authentic Lappish flavors, local cuisine combined with beautiful views over the surrounding landscape. Good food, nature and a relaxed dining experience are key at Polára Restaurant.
As a guest staying at the Arctic Panorama Resort, the Polára Restaurant is your place to be for breakfast and dinner. We started our mornings with a very generous breakfast buffet.
Fresh ingredients and a wide selection of warm and cold dishes. In addition to the buffet, you can also order freshly made eggs if you like.
In the evening dinner is served here. Half board bookings come with a set three course dinner menu with multiple choices per course. We stayed at the resort for four nights, so we had dinner here four nights as well.
We absolutely loved every course we got to enjoy here. Very delicious, flavorful and well balanced dishes using high quality and local ingredients.
They also offer an à la carte menu in their restaurant. So, even if you are not staying as a guest at the Arctic Panorama Resort, the Polára Restaurant is highly recommended for an evening meal.
Arctic Sauna Escape
Of course, a visit to Finland is not complete without a sauna experience. Every self-respecting hotel or resort has a sauna, so the Arctic Panorama Resort certainly does too. Their current sauna and spa area can be found in the main building.
They offer a sauna, outdoor jacuzzi and cold plunge pool. The sauna and spa are open daily from 4PM to 8PM and are shared facilities. These facilities are still brand new and are a great addition to the resort. The sauna offers amazing and very peaceful views.
If you’re looking for a more exclusive and personal experience, the sauna and spa can be reserved for private use as well. You reserve the sauna for 2 hours and can then enjoy it to the fullest in complete peace and privacy.Please note that there are additional costs associated with this.
We really enjoyed this sauna and spa. We had it for two hours all to ourselves and made the most of them. The sauna is always a treat, but the addition of the jacuzzi and the cold plunge pool is truly amazing. During our stay, the cold plunge pool was unfortunately not available, so we mainly enjoyed the sauna and a whirlpool.
It must be said that quite a few expansions at the resort are expected in 2026, including a large wellness center.We expect that this will be ready in the winter of '26/'27 and will be an even more beautiful experience.
Activities
Lapland is the place to be for outdoor enthusiasts. A stay in Lapland, and also in Rovaniemi, is not complete without a few truly bucket-list-worthy activities. At the Arctic Panorama Resort, this can easily be arranged for you. All activities offered at Arctic Panorama Resort are offered in collaboration with their trusted partner Access Lapland. They offer various packages that include activities. If you are looking for something different, be sure to contact the resort; anything is possible here!
Northern Lights Alerts App
For us personally, seeing the Northern Lights was once the main reason for our first trip to Lapland. We have since had the privilege of witnessing this extraordinary natural phenomenon multiple times, and we never get used to seeing it.
In recent years, we have always used The Northern Lights Alert app during our visits to Rovaniemi. An app designed and maintained by a Finn. This app works with Aurora cameras. You can set up an alert for various locations. As soon as the camera at that location detects the Northern Lights, the alarm goes off, and you can rush outside to see it for yourself in real life!
More and more hotels and resorts are now offering this amazing Northern Lights App to their guests.
If you are staying at one of the affiliated accommodation, you can use this app for free based on your location. The good news is that Arctic Panorama Resort is also one of the participating hotels. So all you have to do is download the app, set up the alert, and then keep your fingers crossed for the Northern Lights.
Are you not staying at the Arctic Panorama Resort, or one of the other affiliated hotels or resorts? No problem, be sure to check their website.
The Northern Lights Alert App has proven itself multiple times during several trips we took to Rovaniemi and is absolutely worth the money!
Future plans
We already briefly mentioned it in this blog, but the Arctic Panorama Resort isn't even halfway there yet. Currently, they have approximately 40 chalets and a general building housing the reception, the restaurant, and the sauna and spa area.
The Arctic Panorama Resort therefore has grand plans for 2026, because everything needs to be ready again for next winter. We already found the Arctic Panorama Resort grand and impressive as it is now. We can hardly imagine what it will look like when it roughly doubles in size in 2026. In any case, it makes us incredibly curious about what the Arctic Panorama Resort will look like next winter.
Overall thoughts
Our stay here was amazing. We really liked the somewhat more secluded location, away from the hustle and bustle, right in nature. Although it is a brand-new resort, the first outlines of a lasting and successful resort are already visible. Unique chalet accommodation, friendly and helpful staff, warm and inviting interior, and a promising future. As far as we are concerned, absolutely a good addition to Rovaniemi.
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She stayed at Arctic Panorama Resort, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.