Travel guide / Saariselkä, Ivalo and Inari
Saariselkä, Ivalo and Inari
3–4 hours north of Rovaniemi. Winter here is longer, the sky is darker, and in December the sun does not rise at all for several weeks. The three places are close to each other: Saariselkä is the holiday village, Ivalo has the airport and the town, and Inari is the heart of Sámi culture in Finland.
Getting there
| From Rovaniemi | Distance | By car | By bus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saariselkä | ~260 km | ~3 hours | ~3–4 hours |
| Ivalo | ~290 km | ~3.5 hours | ~4 hours |
| Inari | ~330 km | ~4 hours | ~4.5 hours |
On icy winter roads the times can be longer. The buses are the Eskelisen Lapin Linjat Rovaniemi–Ivalo line; for times, check Matkahuolto.
- By air: Ivalo Airport (IVL) is Finland's northernmost airport. Finnair flies from Helsinki all year round. The airport is ~11 km from Ivalo town, ~25–30 km from Saariselkä and ~40 km from Inari.
- From the airport to Saariselkä: There is a bus timed to the flights. It goes to Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen and Kiilopää and takes about 20 minutes. You buy the ticket on the bus.
- From the airport to Inari: There is no regular line; you need a transfer booked in advance. To hire a car, see the car hire guide. In December prices in Ivalo are higher than in Rovaniemi and there are fewer cars.
Saariselkä
The region's holiday village: a compact centre, two ski hills and, on its doorstep, one of Finland's largest national parks. Wikivoyage sums it up like this: this is a place for things to do rather than things to see.
Free
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Urho Kekkonen National Park
A vast wilderness explored on skis or snowshoes. The open huts in the park have firewood, free to use. Long routes need a map, a compass and winter experience. Families should stay on the short, marked trails near the village.
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Kaunispää hill
From the top you see the fells and the sea of forest; in clear weather you can even make out the Russian mountains 40 km away. There is a restaurant at the top serving reindeer dishes. In the evenings it is also a natural spot to watch for the aurora.
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Kiilopää
No lifts, no crowds. Trails up to the 546-metre fell summit, a restaurant, equipment hire and an entry point to the national park.
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Cross-country ski and snowshoe trails
They start from the village centre. Equipment hire is in the village.
Paid
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Sledding hill
A favourite with families with children. There are packages that include the lift, sledge and snowtube hire.
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Alpine skiing
A calm, family-sized ski resort. The season runs from late November to early May.
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Kakslauttanen glass igloos
The famous glass igloos where you watch the sky from your bed; for 2 and 4 people. Expensive, and booked out months ahead. One fact to know: the aurora does not appear every night, and on a cloudy night an igloo is just a nice room. Looking for the aurora outside, in the dark and according to the weather forecast, greatly improves your chances.
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Safaris
Booked through the tour companies in the village. Dinner in a kota (a traditional Lapland tent) is also one of the region's classics.
Who it suits: Very suitable for families (sledding hill, child-friendly skiing, igloo). For couples, the igloo and the aurora. For hikers, the national park. 3–4 nights is good; you can visit Inari as a day trip.
Ivalo
Ivalo is not a holiday destination in itself but the gateway to the region: the airport, shopping, the health centre and fuel are here. The town was burnt in the Lapland War of 1944–45 and rebuilt afterwards; do not expect an old town centre.
- Ivalo River: The river of the gold rush of the 1870s. There are still people panning for gold today.
- Aurora: A small, quiet town; the sky gets dark once you move a little away from the lights.
- Accommodation: There are a few hotels and riverside cabins, but not much choice. Most visitors stay in Saariselkä.
- How long: 1 night is enough for arrival or departure.
Inari
Inari is the administrative and cultural centre of the Finnish Sámi. The Sámi Parliament and the national Sámi museum are here; four languages are spoken in the village: Finnish, Northern Sámi, Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi. Inari Sámi is spoken only in Finland, by a few hundred people. The village is small and quiet; do not expect a big holiday resort.
Free
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Lake Inari and the mouth of the Juutua river
One of Finland's biggest lakes, in winter bright white and endless. Siida and Sajos are within walking distance from here.
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Sajos Sámi Cultural Centre
The building of the Sámi Parliament. You can have lunch at the Čaiju café inside.
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Siida open-air museum
Old Sámi buildings and trapping pits. In winter it is covered in snow and slippery; wear good boots.
Paid
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Siida: Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre
If you want a single reason to come to the region, this is it. Adults €18, ages 7–17 €7, under 6 free, family ticket (2 adults and their children) €36. Ticket sales stop 45 minutes before closing. The authenticity of the products in its shop is guaranteed.
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Frozen Lake Inari tours
Half-day tours on the lake. Prices vary by company; they start at about €120.
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Reindeer experience
In Inari, reindeer herding is a real livelihood. If you choose farms run by Sámi families, you get a more authentic experience and the income stays local.
About the Pielpajärvi church
A marked trail of ~5 km leads to the wilderness church dating from 1760. Sources conflict on winter safety; according to Metsähallitus the trail is meant for the snow-free season. Do not go in winter without a guide, especially with children.
Who it suits: Couples and families interested in culture. There is little to do for small children. One day is enough for Siida, Sajos and the lake; you can come as a day trip from Saariselkä.
Respect for Sámi culture
Most of Inari, Ivalo and Saariselkä lie within the legal Sámi Homeland. The essence of the principle the Sámi Parliament publishes for visitors is this: behave here as you would as a guest in a Sámi home.
- Photography: Do not photograph without permission; a hesitant answer means "no". Do not photograph someone wearing traditional dress (gákti) without their consent, or children without a parent's permission.
- A gákti is not a costume. Do not wear one unless you are invited to, and do not pose in "Sámi-style" costumes.
- Reindeer belong to someone. Do not approach them without the owner's permission, do not enter fenced areas, and do not scare them with a drone.
- Privacy: Do not look in through the windows of homes. Religious ceremonies and family celebrations are not for uninvited visits.
- Souvenirs: "Sámi" written on a product does not mean Sámi people made it. The "Sámi Duodji" label shows that a Sámi craftsperson made it using traditional methods. The Siida shop is also reliable.
- Sacred places: The island of Ukonsaari in Lake Inari is a sacred Sámi place; tours have not stopped there since 2020.
- Language: Say "Sámi" for the people. "Lapp" is a word seen as old and derogatory. Using "Lapland" as the name of the region is fine.
Polar night and cold
The further north you go, the longer the period when the sun does not rise. Approximate dates (2026–27, calculated for a flat horizon; hills and trees hide the sun a few days longer):
| Place | Period without sunrise | January average |
|---|---|---|
| Saariselkä | ~7 December – 7 January | Close to Ivalo |
| Ivalo | ~5 December – 9 January | −11.8 °C |
| Inari | ~3 December – 11 January | −13.0 °C |
| Rovaniemi (for comparison) | The sun rises every day, if only briefly | −10.3 °C |
The polar night does not mean a pitch-dark day: around midday there are a few hours of blue twilight. But on the coldest days temperatures below −30 °C can occur; the lowest recorded temperature in Ivalo is −48.9 °C.
How to plan
- Make Saariselkä your base. It has the most accommodation and activity options.
- Set aside a day for Inari: Siida in the morning, lunch at Sajos, back before dark.
- Connecting from Rovaniemi: You can fly to Ivalo on the way there and come back to Rovaniemi by bus or car; ask about the one-way car hire fee in advance.
- If you want to continue to Norway: Inari is the natural stop for northern tours. See the Great Northern Tour page.
Sources
Information checked in October 2026. Times and prices may change; confirm on the official websites before you go.
- Siida: visiting, opening hours and fees; Sajos
- Sámi Parliament: guide for responsible visitors; Sámi Parliament tourism pages; Metsähallitus: outdoor etiquette in the Sámi Homeland
- Finavia: Ivalo Airport; Eskelisen: Oulu–Rovaniemi–Ivalo bus
- Saariselkä; Saariselkä skiing; Pielpajärvi church
- Wikivoyage: Saariselkä, Ivalo, Inari; Wikipedia: Inari
- finland.fi: when the sun doesn't rise in northern Finland