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

Should you visit Rovaniemi or Gjovik?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rovaniemi and Gjovik. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Rovaniemi or Gjovik?

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.

Gjovik

Gjovik is a small town that is one of the five towns that are found around Norway's largest lake, Lake Mjosa. The other towns include Hamar, Lillehammer, Brumunddal and Moelv. The town's population is small, with only 28,807 residents. The town administration also includes the suburban area of Hunndalen and the rural districts of Biri, Snertingdal, and Vardal. Gjovik's early industry was originally centered around glassworks, dating back to the early 1800s. The city continued to grow through immigration throughout the 1800s until it was given a town charter in 1864. The town's economy today is more centered around regional trade and agriculture as well as education. There is a university in town, Gjovik University College, which focuses on information security, the medical industry, and engineering. Gjovik is also the last stop to the north on the Gjovikbanen railway line.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Norway, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway.


Which place is cheaper, Gjovik or Rovaniemi?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, while the average daily cost in Gjovik is €70. 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 Rovaniemi and Gjovik in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rovaniemi 93
    Gjovik 44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rovaniemi 186
    Gjovik 88
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Gjovik

Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Gjovik? 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 Rovaniemi


Hotels in Gjovik


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: Rovaniemi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rovaniemi 31
    Gjovik 5.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:

  • Transfer from Rovaniemi to Helsinki: $1,955
  • Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi by private van: $652
  • Transfer Rovaniemi - Kakslautanen by private van: $868
  • Transfer Rovaniemi - Ivalo by private van: $977
  • Trip to Santa Claus Village with Hotel Transfer: $98
  • Santa Claus Village Tour with Transfer: $98
  • Santa Claus Village Guided Tour with Transfer: $87
  • Rovaniemi Northern Light Hunt with Campfire and BBQ with Transfer: $87
  • Private Transfer from Rovaniemi airport-city centre: $76
  • Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Tromso: $109
  • Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi: $109
  • Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Kiruna: $109

Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Gjovik?

Prices for flights to both Gjovik and Rovaniemi 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
    Rovaniemi 47
    Gjovik 22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi

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

  • Lappish Cooking Master Class: $136
  • Snow Hotel Tour and Ice Restaurant Dinner: $151
  • From SnowHotel Aurora Experience with Dinner: $151
  • Traditional Lappish evening in the wilderness with dinner: $171
  • Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights : $171
  • Arctic Snowcastle with Dinner in Ice Restaurant: $178
  • Lappish Evening Experience with Dinner: $179
  • Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner: $179
  • Snow Sauna Experience with Dinner: $205
  • Ice Restaurant Dinner with Snow Sauna & Transfer: $216
  • Northern Lights dinner in a Glass Igloo: $226
  • PRIVATE Glass Igloo Dinner Under Northern Lights : $226

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rovaniemi 48
    Gjovik 6.14

Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi

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

  • Ice Waterfall Tour in Korouoma: $149
  • 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Adventure in Rovaniemi: $108
  • 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Experience : $98
  • 2-Hour Ice Fishing Experience in Rovaniemi, Finland: $99
  • 2h Winter Bike Tour - Riversides of Rovaniemi: $105
  • 3-Hour ATV Experience in Rovaniemi: $131
  • 3-Hours Small-Group Ski Trekking by Night Experience: $127
  • 5km Self Driven Husky Sled Adventure in Rovaniemi: $242
  • All in One Santa Claus Village with Dog Sledding Adventure: $274
  • Apukka Husky Adventure in Rovaniemi: $186
  • Arctic Adventure through Magical Frozen Forests of Riisitunturi: $263
  • Arctic Animals Combo Safari, Reindeer and Husky Adventure: $193

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rovaniemi 21
    Gjovik 5.53


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Gjovik, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Gjovik much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gjovik would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gjovik 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 Gjovik.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Gjovik Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Gjovik?

Rovaniemi has a larger population, and is about 98% larger than the population of Gjovik. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Gjovik, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Rovaniemi or Gjovik?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Rovaniemi or Gjovik in the Summer?

Both Gjovik and Rovaniemi during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Gjovik in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Rovaniemi is cooler than Gjovik in the summer. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around 15°C (60°F) in July, and Gjovik fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In Gjovik, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rovaniemi. In the summer, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Gjovik. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gjovik receives 246 hours of full sun.

Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in July than Gjovik. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Gjovik receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Rovaniemi 15°C (60°F) 
    Gjovik 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Rovaniemi or Gjovik in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Gjovik. Furthermore, most visitors come to Gjovik for the shopping scene during these months.

Rovaniemi can get quite cold in the autumn. In the autumn, Rovaniemi is much colder than Gjovik. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rovaniemi in October average around 2°C (36°F), and Gjovik averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Gjovik during autumn. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Gjovik receives 86 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Gjovik. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Gjovik receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


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

Should I visit Rovaniemi or Gjovik in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Gjovik. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Gjovik because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Gjovik can be very cold. Rovaniemi can be very cold during winter. In January, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Gjovik. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around -12°C (10°F), and Gjovik fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Gjovik. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gjovik receives 40 hours of full sun.

Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in January than Gjovik. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Gjovik receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Rovaniemi -12°C (10°F) 
    Gjovik -4°C (25°F)

Should I visit Rovaniemi or Gjovik in the Spring?

Both Gjovik and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. Rovaniemi is much colder than Gjovik in the spring. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around -1°C (31°F) in April, and Gjovik fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Rovaniemi usually receives more sunshine than Gjovik during spring. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Gjovik receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Gjovik. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Gjovik receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Rovaniemi -1°C (31°F) 
    Gjovik 6°C (42°F)

Typical Weather for Gjovik and Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi Gjovik
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -12°C (10°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) -4°C (25°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Feb -12°C (11°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) -3°C (26°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Mar -7°C (19°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 1°C (33°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Apr -1°C (31°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 6°C (42°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
May 6°C (43°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 12°C (53°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Jun 13°C (55°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 16°C (61°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in) 18°C (64°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Aug 13°C (56°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 16°C (61°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Sep 8°C (46°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 2°C (36°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 7°C (45°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Nov -4°C (24°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 1°C (35°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Dec -10°C (15°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) -2°C (28°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)