If you are travelling to Rovaniemi as a family of seven, eight or nine, an apartment is usually the easiest way to stay together under one roof. The things that decide whether it works are not the glossy ones: they are the number of real beds, a kitchen that can cope with nine people, a washer and dryer, and a parking space you can actually use in winter.

We are Joona and Alla, a local couple who host families in Rovaniemi, and this is the checklist we would use ourselves if we were booking for a big group in Lapland.

Why is a large family often better off in an apartment than in hotel rooms?

Most Rovaniemi hotel rooms sleep two to four people, so a group of eight usually means two or three rooms, often on different corridors. That is fine for some travellers, but with small children it means one parent per room, nobody to share a bedtime routine with, and nowhere to sit together in the evening that is not a restaurant.

An apartment gives you a living room, a dining table and a kitchen. Dinner happens at the table, the little ones fall asleep while the grown-ups talk in the next room, and breakfast does not depend on a buffet’s opening hours. For a trip built around cold-weather outings, that shared base matters more than a lobby.

How many beds do you really need, and what kind?

Count sleeping places, then check what they are. A listing that says “sleeps 9” can mean nine proper beds or five beds plus floor mattresses. Ask three questions: how many adults need a full-size bed, which beds are singles, and which sleeping places are sofa beds that will be made up every night.

At Nine Pines the arrangement is: bedroom one has a 160 cm double bed, bedrooms two and three each have two 90 cm single beds, and the living room has a sofa bed sized for two children plus an armchair bed. That adds up to nine places across three bedrooms and the living area. We also have a baby cot, free on request, and colouring books for children.

Whatever you are comparing, work out your own split before you book. Two couples and five children is a different puzzle from three couples and three teenagers.

What should the kitchen look like for nine people?

This is where large-family apartments often disappoint. Look for a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave, a coffee machine and a kettle, and then look at the table. If the kitchen is good but the dining table seats four, you will eat in shifts.

Our dining table seats six, and we are upfront about that: with nine guests, the children tend to eat at the table first or sit on the sofa with a plate, and the adults follow. Plenty of families find this works well, but it is better to know before you arrive. A dishwasher is the quiet hero of group travel, because nine people generate a surprising amount of washing up.

Do you need a washing machine and a tumble dryer?

Yes, and we would put this near the top of the list. In winter, outdoor clothes get wet from snow, sweat and the odd sledging crash, and a snowsuit that is still damp the next morning ruins a day. A washing machine alone is not enough, because drying racks in a heated apartment take far too long. A tumble dryer means snowsuits go in after dinner and are dry by morning.

Ask the host to confirm both machines are in the apartment itself and not shared with the building, because a shared laundry room is a different proposition at 7 a.m. with three children.

How many bathrooms are enough?

Nine people with one shower is a morning queue, however you organise it. Many Finnish family homes have one bathroom, and ours does too: one bathroom with a shower, plus a separate second toilet. That second toilet is a bigger deal than it sounds, because it takes pressure off the bathroom when children need the loo at the same moment someone is in the shower. If you are travelling with several adults who like to shower in the morning, build in a rota the night before, or take turns in the evening.

What about parking and getting around?

If you are hiring a car, check that there is a parking space included and where it is. A free space in the yard next to the entrance, with room for a car plus roof box, is worth far more in January than it sounds. At Nine Pines we provide an ice scraper and a snow brush, so you are not hunting for one at -20 °C.

If you are not hiring a car, check the bus. Our bus stop is 150 m from the door, with a direct bus to the city centre in about 15 minutes that continues to Santa Claus Village. By car it is about 8 minutes to the centre and 15 minutes to Santa Claus Village, SantaPark and the airport.

Is a quiet residential area a good idea with kids?

For us, yes. Nine Pines is in Korkalovaara, a residential hill 3.5 km west of the centre, where Rovaniemi families live. There are two grocery stores nearby (K-Market and Sale), forest trails a few minutes away for walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and sledging on the local hills (ask us for a sledge). Skies are also darker than downtown, and on a strong night the aurora can show from the yard.

The flip side: it is a quiet family building, so there are quiet hours from 22:00 to 07:00, a maximum of nine guests and no parties. If you want a hotel bar downstairs, this is not the place; if you want children to sleep, it is.

FAQ: Renting an apartment in Rovaniemi for a large family

Is there a lift?

Not at Nine Pines. The apartment is on the second floor, so you carry luggage up the stairs. Tell us if anyone has difficulty with stairs before you book so that we can be honest about whether it will work.

Can we bring a baby?

Yes. A baby cot is free on request. Please ask when you book so that it is set up before you arrive.

Are linen and towels included?

Yes, for everyone in the group.

How do we see prices for our dates?

Our prices change with the season and demand, so we do not quote them in blog posts. Check live dates and prices on Airbnb or Booking.com, using the links below.

For a look at the whole apartment, see the Nine Pines page, or the location page for distances and bus details.