It’s no secret that Lapland is home to some of the most beautiful arctic resorts and unique places to stay. From glass igloos that provide uninterrupted views of the Northern Lights to cosy log cabins immersed in a winter wonderland, there’s no shortage of Instagram-worthy places to stay that should be on your bucket list.
In this blog post, we’ll be sharing some of Lapland’s most extraordinary and visually stunning accommodations, with our own experiences of staying in these magical arctic resorts.
Syote Igloos
Best for Skiing – Syote
When it comes to attention to detail and creating a cosy and comfortable atmosphere, Syöte Igloos truly stands out. The igloo is designed with comfort in mind, providing an inviting space to unwind and enjoy the beauty of Lapland. The Igloo sits alone on Pikku-Syöte hill, making it unique as you have your own private setting, surrounded by the untouched wilderness of Lapland.
Located in the village of Syöte, the Igloo offers a tranquil escape just a 2-hour drive south of Rovaniemi, the capital city. While you won’t find an abundance of shops, cafes, and restaurants nearby, that’s precisely what makes it so special. This peaceful surrounding creates the ideal setting for a quiet and relaxing retreat.
The Igloo is an incredible and thoughtful design, maximising the small space to contain a kitchenette, bathroom, dining table and double bed. The highlight of the igloo experience is definitely the 360-degree glass windows, offering an uninterrupted view of the surrounding nature, and the chance to marvel at the northern lights, all while snuggled in a warm bed.
As for the activities available at Syöte, the Igloo is situated within a ski resort, granting you direct access to skiing routes just steps away from the door. Since it wasn’t exactly ski season during our stay, we ventured out and discovered picturesque walking routes that wind through the peaceful wilderness.
Bearhill Huskey
Best for Wilderness – Rovaniemi
One of our favourite experiences in Lapland was at Bear Hill Husky, a family run husky kennel offering tours and a private rustic cabin set on the edge of a lake. We spent the night in their cosy cabin and experienced their Born to Run Husky Tour in the morning, where you learn about the life of huskies and experience a husky sledding ride!
Located just 30 minutes outside of Rovaniemi, Bear Hill Husky is set in a private woodland next to a lake. The location is perfect for those who want to be closer to shops, cafes and restaurants, but also want to experience staying in the peaceful Finnish wilderness and meeting some adorable huskies.
The cabin itself is a unique mix of luxury blended with rustic Finnish tradition, with a self contained design and a warming fireplace. The highlight of staying in this rustic cabin is the traditional sauna and hot tub outside. The cold nights are perfect for warming up in the hot tub under the stars, and if you’re lucky, northern lights.
3. Apukka Resort
Best for Families – Rovaniemi
Apukka Resort is a one of a kind resort, offering a variety of unique accommodations and exciting winter activities. The resort feels like a true winter wonderland, and after a full day of exploring the arctic landscapes, there’s nothing better than returning to a cosy and warming cabin.
Located just 15 minutes from Rovaniemi, Apukka Resort is close to the city centre and attractions such as Santa Claus Village. The Resort has a variety of accommodations, from Aurora Cabins to Glass Igloo Suites.
We stayed in the Kammi Glass Igloo Suite, with a unique split-level layout. The top floor featured a double bed under a 360 panoramic glass roof. The lower level featured a cosy living area with an electric fireplace, bathroom, dining table and convenient kitchenette.
The best thing about this resort is the activities they have on offer, such as snowshoeing, husky safaris, aurora hunting and traditional sauna & ice baths to name a few. During our stay, we experienced a Husky Safari and sauna & ice bath experience, which were both incredible and the best way to experience Finnish Lapland.
Northern Lights Village
Best for Northern Lights – Levi
The Northern Lights Village is another magical resort, with winter activities, luxurious aurora cabins and a beautiful cosy restaurant, located in the Finnish wilderness.
We stayed in the Aurora Suite in Levi, and were in awe of the luxurious design and amenities. The Aurora Suite is much like the Aurora Cabin, with 360 panoramic glass windows surrounding the bed, allowing you to watch the northern lights from the comfort and warmth of the cabin.
The main difference between the cabins is the size and amenities, with the Aurora Suite having a living area with an electric fireplace, and your very own private sauna. This was definitely the highlight of the whole experience, and we loved coming in from the snow covered landscape to warm up in our private sauna.
Although the resorts are located at a distance from nearby shops, cafes, and restaurants, they offer full and half board options, removing any concerns about dining arrangements. In fact, the location is advantageous, as the lack of nearby buildings means there’s reduced light pollution, which is ultimately better for aurora hunting.
The resort offers a variety of experiences, including aurora hunting by snowmobile, heated sleigh, snowshoes and even an aurora photography workshop. They also offer ice fishing, snowmobiling, husky safaris, cross country skiing, and reindeer safaris, making this resort perfect for an adventure filled holiday.
Campervan
Best for Adventure
We decided to travel to Lapland in our campervan, and it’s certainly a unique place to stay in an arctic environment. Camping in a van came with advantages, like being able to drive to any location and stay there overnight.
The ‘Finnish Everyman’s Rights’ Law in Finland allows you to explore freely, meaning you can camp anywhere a reasonable distance from homes – as long as you leave no trace and respect the land. This gave us the freedom to explore Lapland at our own pace and chase after dark skies for aurora hunting.
However, it also came with its disadvantages, such as sleeping in freezing temperatures, and dealing with van maintenance issues like our hand-brake freezing! (don’t be like us – make sure to leave your hand-brake off in the winter!). On top of that, we had to deal with our battery dying from the cold, and the lack of heating overnight meant we were waking up in an ice cube every morning – literally, everything froze!
Overall, we definitely don’t recommend staying in a campervan during winter in Lapland. It would be a great option for the spring and summer months, but stick to the warm cosy cabins for the arctic weather.
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