A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Riga vs. Rovaniemi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Riga or Rovaniemi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Riga or Rovaniemi? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Riga or Rovaniemi?

Riga

Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.

Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it's a modern city known for being the "official" home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It's home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.

Which place is cheaper, Rovaniemi or Riga?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €103, while the average daily cost in Rovaniemi is €174. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Riga and Rovaniemi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Riga €53
    Rovaniemi €93
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Riga €106
    Rovaniemi €186
Compare Hotels in Riga and Rovaniemi

Looking for a hotel in Riga or Rovaniemi? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Riga


Hotels in Rovaniemi


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Riga Hotel Prices and Rovaniemi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Riga €15
    Rovaniemi €31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:

  • Private Departure Transfer from Riga City to Riga RIX Airport: $15
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Riga to Riga International Airport (RIX): $18
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga City Center: $19
  • Private Departure Transfer from Riga City Center to Riga Airport (RIX): $19
  • Private Transfer: Riga to Riga International Airport (RIX): $21
  • English Speaking Private Arrival Transfer from Riga Airport: $25
  • Airport transfer & private driver services: $25
  • Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Sedan Car: $26
  • Private Minibus Departure Transfer to Riga Airport: $27
  • Private Taxi transfer from Jurmala to Riga: $27
  • English Speaking Private Departure Transfer to Riga Airport: $37
  • Transfer service Riga airport: $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:

  • Ultra - Rovaniemi Private Airport Transfer - City Centre to Rovaniemi Airport: $8.71
  • Ultra - Rovaniemi Private Airport Transfer - Rovaniemi Airport to City Centre: $9.41
  • VIP Transfer Rovaniemi and Airport: $56
  • Private Chauffeur Transfer Rovaniemi: $56
  • Private transfer in Rovaniemi: $56
  • Private Transfer Rovaniemi Railway station, Arktikum or Snowland to City - Sedan: $57
  • Private Transfer City to Rovaniemi Railway station, Arktikum or Snowland - Sedan: $57
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station: $64
  • Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi: $64
  • Departure Private Transfer from Rovaniemi City to Rovaniemi Airport RVN by Sedan: $78
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport RVN to Rovaniemi City by Sedan: $78
  • Private Transfer Rovaniemi Railway station, Arktikum or Snowland -Luxury Vehicle: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Rovaniemi?

Prices for flights to both Rovaniemi and Riga change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Riga €32
    Rovaniemi €47
Typical Food prices in Riga

Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:


  • Fast Food Lunch
    €5.77

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.

  • Private Guided Virtual Food Tour of Riga: $12
  • Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $34
  • Riga Medieval Dinner: $102
  • Riga Medieval Dinner: $102

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.

  • Northern Lights Hunt in a local Kota in Rovaniemi with Dinner: $111
  • Snow Hotel Tour and Ice Restaurant Dinner: $135
  • Lappish evening in the Wilderness with dinner: $156
  • Lappish Cooking Master Class: $156
  • Traditional Lappish evening in the wilderness with dinner: $167
  • Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights: $172
  • Northern Lights Experience with Ice Hotel Visit and Traditional Dinner: $190
  • Arctic Snowcastle with Dinner in Ice Restaurant: $190
  • Snow Sauna Experience with Dinner: $192
  • The Taste of Lapland (Cooking & Aurora Hunting): $197
  • Lappish Food Tour with Dili: $274
  • Full Day Lapland Tour, including Lunch and Dinner: $310

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Riga €21
    Rovaniemi €48

Tours and Activities in Riga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:

  • An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $5.00
  • Riga's Architecture: An art nouveau history audio tour: $5.00
  • Riga Art Nouveau walking tour: $8.71
  • Classic Car Museum Tour: $9.95
  • Riga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Riga Sightseeing Tour by Canal Boat: $16
  • Gastronomic tour with professional chef: $19
  • The Best Of Riga Walking Tour: $22
  • Daily Riga Bike Tour: $22
  • The Best Of Riga Walking Tour: $23
  • Best of Riga Walking Tour - Regular Walking tours: $25

Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:

  • Meeting Santa Claus Virtual Experience in Rovaniemi: $45
  • Aurora Hunting Photo Tour with Barbeque: $67
  • Rovaniemi City Photography Tour: $74
  • Arctic Circle: Special Northern Lights Hunting Tour by minibus: $78
  • Rovaniemi photography tour: $81
  • Northern lights tour+photos: $82
  • City Tour And Santa Claus Village: $87
  • Lapland Winter Experience: $88
  • Private Northern Lights hunt tour by VIP car with from Rovaniemi: $89
  • Hiking and Snowshoeing Adventure in Lapland: $90
  • Ice Fishing Experience: $91
  • Vaattunkiköngäs Nature Trail Hiking Tour: $93

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Riga €19
    Rovaniemi €21

Sample the Local Flavors in Riga

Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl in Riga: $37
  • Pub Crawl- Your best night out in Riga with our local guide!: $47
  • Riga Public Pub Crawl: $60
  • Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $64
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $83
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $83
  • Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $83
  • Riga Wine Tasting Session: $115
  • Gauja National Park Tour: Castles and Wine Tasting: $149
  • Culinary, Historic and Wine Tour to Sigulda and Cesis: $224
  • Exclusive Latvian Wine Tasting In Riga: $380
  • 1.5-Hour Latvian Wine Tasting Experience: $476

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Rovaniemi, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Rovaniemi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rovaniemi than you might in Riga.


When is the best time to visit Riga or Rovaniemi?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Riga or Rovaniemi in the Summer?

Both Rovaniemi and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Riga for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Riga is around the same temperature as Rovaniemi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Riga in July are around 17°C (63°F), and Rovaniemi is about 15°C (60°F).

In July, Riga usually receives more rain than Rovaniemi. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Riga 17°C (63°F) 
    Rovaniemi 15°C (60°F)

Should I visit Riga or Rovaniemi in the Autumn?

Both Rovaniemi and Riga during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Riga because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the autumn. In October, Riga is generally much warmer than Rovaniemi. Temperatures in Riga average around 7°C (45°F), and Rovaniemi stays around 2°C (36°F).

Riga usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Rovaniemi. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Riga 7°C (45°F) 
    Rovaniemi 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Riga or Rovaniemi in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Rovaniemi. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Riga this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Rovaniemi. It's quite cold in Riga in the winter. Riga is much warmer than Rovaniemi in the winter. The temperature in Riga is usually -5°C (23°F) in January, and Rovaniemi stays around -12°C (10°F).

In January, Riga usually receives less rain than Rovaniemi. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Riga -5°C (23°F) 
    Rovaniemi -12°C (10°F)

Should I visit Riga or Rovaniemi in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Riga as well as Rovaniemi. Many travelers come to Riga for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Rovaniemi can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Riga is much warmer than Rovaniemi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Riga in April are around 5°C (42°F), and Rovaniemi is about -1°C (31°F).

Riga usually gets more rain in April than Rovaniemi. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Riga 5°C (42°F) 
    Rovaniemi -1°C (31°F)

Typical Weather for Rovaniemi and Riga

Riga Rovaniemi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -5°C (23°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) -12°C (10°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Feb -4°C (24°F) 25 mm (1 in) -12°C (11°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar -0°C (31°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) -7°C (19°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 5°C (42°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) -1°C (31°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
May 12°C (53°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 6°C (43°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Jun 15°C (60°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 13°C (55°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 17°C (63°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Aug 16°C (62°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 13°C (56°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 76 mm (3 in) 8°C (46°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Oct 7°C (45°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 2°C (36°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Nov 2°C (36°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) -4°C (24°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Dec -2°C (28°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) -10°C (15°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)


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Riga vs. Rovaniemi Travel Comparison

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