Snowy log cabins at sunset in Saariselkä, Lapland

Finland · Urho Kekkonen National Park · Northern lights · Glass igloos

Where to stay in Saariselkä: glass igloos and auroras

Where to stay in Saariselkä, northern Lapland: village cabins, glass igloos or Ivalo to save money. When to go for the northern lights and how to get there.

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Photo: Ninara from Helsinki, Finland · CC BY 2.0

In short: where to stay in Saariselkä

By Martín Bastias· Reviewed: November 2026

Tight budget: Ivalo — apartment or simple cabin
Mid-range: Saariselkä village — log cabin with a sauna
Treat yourself: Outskirts and forest — glass igloo
Best time: Winter (December to March): Snow, cross-country skiing, reindeer and northern lights.
Getting there: Ivalo airport is about 25 km away, with flights from Helsinki and, in winter, some seasonal flights from other European cities.

Key facts

Urho Kekkonen National Park: ≈ 2,550 km², Finland's second largestsource
Park established: 1983source

Worth it

Why go to Saariselkä

More dark nights

Further north than Rovaniemi with less light pollution: better conditions for aurora hunting.

A huge park next door

Urho Kekkonen National Park, about 2,550 km², starts right by the village: endless trails and cross-country skiing.

Glass igloos

It is one of Lapland's best-known places to sleep under a glass roof.

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Where to stay in Saariselkä by budget

The scores you will see come from guests who booked and stayed there. We take you to the search for each area; once there, sort by "Price (lowest first)" or "Guest review score" to compare with real data.

Ivalo

Tight budget

Ivalo

apartment or simple cabin

Cheaper and next to the airport.

See places to stay in Ivalo

Saariselkä village

Best balance

Mid-range

Saariselkä village

log cabin with a sauna

Everything on foot and the national park next door.

See places to stay in Saariselkä

Outskirts and forest

Treat yourself

Outskirts and forest

glass igloo

Auroras from bed, far from any light.

See places to stay in Saariselkä

Reviews from guests who actually stayed
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Map of places to stay in Saariselkä

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Why Saariselkä

Saariselkä is a small village in northern Finnish Lapland, next to Urho Kekkonen National Park. It is one of the best-known places to sleep in glass igloos and watch the northern lights, with less light pollution than Rovaniemi and snowy forest in every direction.

How to choose

Auroras: a glass igloo outside the village.
Cross-country skiing and walks: a cabin in the village.
Tight budget: Ivalo.

When to go

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DecPeak❄

Good time to save
Peak season: pricier and busier
❄ Usual snow season
A guide only: varies each year.

Best months to save: Jan, Mar, Sep, Oct

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Winter (December to March)

Snow, cross-country skiing, reindeer and northern lights. Being further north than Rovaniemi means more dark nights and less light pollution.

Autumn (September and October)

Ruska: autumn colours in the national park, with the first auroras and lower prices.

Summer (June to August)

Midnight sun and hiking in Urho Kekkonen National Park.

Getting there

Ivalo airport is about 25 km away, with flights from Helsinki and, in winter, some seasonal flights from other European cities.
From Rovaniemi it is about 3 h 30 min by road, by car or bus.
Everything in the village is walkable; for lakes and other trips a car or tour helps.

Which area to choose

Saariselkä village

Best for: walking everywhere and having services

A small fell village with hotels, cabins, restaurants, cross-country trails and a small ski area.

Outskirts and forest

Best for: auroras from bed

Glass igloos and log cabins in the forest, south of and around the village, away from the lights.

Ivalo

Best for: tight budgets

The airport village, about 25 minutes away, with supermarkets and cheaper places to stay.

Where to stay

Cabins and glass igloos

Log cabins with saunas and glass-roofed igloos to watch the Arctic sky.

Cabins in Saariselkä

Apartments and hotels

Hotels and apartments in the village, practical for short stays.

See places to stay in Saariselkä

Lakeside houses

Large houses and cabins near Ivalo and Lake Inari, for groups.

Places to stay in Ivalo

Tip: in the search, use the "Property type" filter to see only cabins, chalets or apartments, and sort by price if you want the cheapest options.

On a budget

Saariselkä on a budget

Northern Lapland is expensive, but there are ways to trim the bill.

1Book a glass igloo for a single night and spend the rest in a self-catering cabin.
2Shop in Ivalo or at the village supermarket.
3Hunt for auroras on your own from the village viewpoints on clear nights.
4Avoid the Christmas and New Year weeks.

See places to stay in Saariselkä See places to stay in Ivalo

Sources and how we made this guide

A researched guide, not visited in person: we use official sources (parks, ski areas, local tourism), maps and real routes. We do not publish our own prices or reviews: prices and reviews come live from the booking platforms. Who writes

FAQ

Where to stay in Saariselkä on a tight budget?

In Ivalo: apartment or simple cabin. Cheaper and next to the airport.

Where to stay in Saariselkä on a mid-range budget?

In Saariselkä village: log cabin with a sauna. Everything on foot and the national park next door.

Where to stay in Saariselkä for a treat?

In Outskirts and forest: glass igloo. Auroras from bed, far from any light.

Is Saariselkä or Rovaniemi better for the northern lights?

Saariselkä is further north with less light pollution, which helps. Rovaniemi has more services, flights and things to do with kids.

Where are the glass igloos?

On the outskirts of the village and in the surrounding forest; several are a few kilometres south, on the road towards Ivalo.

How do I get to Saariselkä?

Fly to Ivalo, about 25 km away, or drive from Rovaniemi, about 3 h 30 min.

Can you ski?

Yes: there is a small downhill ski area and many kilometres of cross-country trails.

Saariselkä

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