Saariselkä
Saariselkä and Inari: where to stay for the northern lights
Saariselkä is a small village on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park, with fells, forest and some of the darkest skies in Finland. Ivalo Airport is a short drive away, and Lake Inari and the Sámi capital lie further north. Here is how to choose a base, and the hotels we would book.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: Saariselkä and Inari
Where: the far north of Finnish Lapland, more than 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, about 20 to 30 minutes by road from Ivalo Airport.
Best for: a northern lights trip with wilderness, skiing on the fells and Sámi culture in Inari.
From the UK: direct flights to Ivalo from London Gatwick in winter 2026/27, and charters from several regional airports.
How long: at least three nights, ideally four or five.
Our first choice: Star Arctic Hotel on Kaunispää fell. Check availability and prices at Star Arctic Hotel
Where to stay: three bases
On the fell: above Saariselkä village, with skiing from the door and the widest view of the sky.
In the wilderness: lodges on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park, further from the lights, with activities arranged for you.
By Lake Inari: about 40 minutes from Ivalo, close to Siida, the Sámi museum, with a frozen lake behind the hotel.
Our advice: for a first trip, stay on the fell in Saariselkä. For a quieter, darker stay with guided activities, choose a wilderness lodge.
Wilderness Hotel Muotka, on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park
The best hotels in Saariselkä and Inari
Star Arctic Hotel: glass roofs on the fell
On top of Kaunispää fell, a minute's walk from the slopes, with glass-roofed Aurora Cabins, suites with a sauna, Restaurant Kaunis and a hot tub. Rated 9.4 out of 10 across 265 reviews. See our full review of Star Arctic Hotel
Check availability and prices at Star Arctic Hotel
Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos: on the edge of the national park
Log cabins and igloo-style rooms about 20 kilometres from Saariselkä, a few minutes from Urho Kekkonen National Park, with Restaurant Tuisku and guided activities. Aurora Cabins are about 34 m². Rated 9.4 out of 10 across 183 reviews.
Check availability and prices at Wilderness Hotel Muotka
Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos: by the lake
On the shore of Lake Inari, a few minutes from Siida and Inari church, with Aurora Cabins of about 35 m² and log cabins for six. Guests praise the restaurant. Rated 9.4 out of 10 across 439 reviews.
Check availability and prices at Wilderness Hotel Inari
Aurora Village Ivalo: close to the airport
Aurora Cabins and two-storey Aurora Towers by the Ivalo River, about 17 minutes from Ivalo Airport, with Restaurant Loimu and a sauna. Rated 9.4 out of 10 across 174 reviews. Choose it for a short trip with little travel time.
Check availability and prices at Aurora Village Ivalo
Northern Lights Village Saariselkä: near the village
Cabins of about 29 m² with a kitchenette, a short walk from Saariselkä's shops and restaurants, with Restaurant Kota and a sauna. Rated 8.8 out of 10 across 213 reviews. Choose it for a family trip on a budget.
Check availability and prices at Northern Lights Village Saariselkä
Getting to Saariselkä from the UK
Finavia lists direct flights to Ivalo from London Gatwick in winter 2026/27, and several UK tour operators fly charters to Ivalo. Saariselkä is about 20 to 30 minutes by road from Ivalo Airport, and Inari about 40 minutes. Avoid Kittilä unless you have to: the transfer from there takes about three hours.
Wilderness Hotel Inari, on the shore of Lake Inari
When to go
The northern lights season runs from about September to March. In December the sun barely rises, which gives you long dark hours but little daylight for activities. February and March bring more snow, more daylight and often clearer weather, which suits the February half term. Whatever the month, book at least three nights.
Our recommendation
Star Arctic Hotel: glass roofs on the fell
Star Arctic Hotel stands on top of Kaunispää fell above Saariselkä, about 20 minutes from Ivalo Airport. It has glass-roofed Aurora Cabins, Restaurant Kaunis and the ski slopes a minute's walk from the door.
Our verdict
What Picolo would choose: Star Arctic Hotel for a first northern lights trip, Wilderness Hotel Muotka for a quieter wilderness stay. If you want Sámi culture and a lakeside setting, choose Wilderness Hotel Inari.
Why: Saariselkä and Inari combine dark skies, real wilderness and a short transfer from Ivalo, with fewer crowds than Rovaniemi.
The trade-off: direct flights from the UK are mainly from Gatwick, and there is less to do in the evenings than in Levi or Rovaniemi. For Santa and a choice of airports, Rovaniemi is easier.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saariselkä good for the northern lights?
Yes. Saariselkä lies more than 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, under the band where the aurora appears most often. The village is small, so the sky is dark a short walk from the centre. The season runs from about September to March. Book at least three nights to allow for cloud.
How do you get to Saariselkä from the UK?
Fly to Ivalo, which Finavia lists in winter 2026/27 with direct flights from London Gatwick, or book a charter from a regional airport through a UK tour operator. Saariselkä is about 20 to 30 minutes from Ivalo Airport by road. The transfer from Kittilä takes about three hours, so Ivalo is far better.
Saariselkä or Levi?
Choose Saariselkä for wilderness, darker skies and a quiet village by the national park. Choose Levi for a bigger ski resort, more restaurants and nightlife, and direct flights from four UK airports. Both have glass-roofed hotels. For a pure northern lights trip, Saariselkä is the stronger choice.
Where should you stay in Saariselkä?
On Kaunispää fell for skiing and the widest view, at Star Arctic Hotel. In the wilderness for a quieter, darker stay, at Wilderness Hotel Muotka. By Lake Inari for Sámi culture, at Wilderness Hotel Inari. Near the airport for a short trip, at Aurora Village Ivalo, about 17 minutes from the terminal.
Can you ski in Saariselkä?
Yes. Saariselkä Ski & Sport Resort has its slopes on Kaunispää fell, a minute's walk from Star Arctic Hotel. A ski bus runs from the village to other fells such as Kiilopää. Urho Kekkonen National Park starts at the edge of the village for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, so you can ski by day and watch for the aurora at night.
Sources
Hotel facilities, room sizes, distances and guest ratings come from Hotels.com and Expedia. Direct flights from the UK come from Finavia and Time Out, and transfer times from Inghams. The aurora forecast for Finnish Lapland is published by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The three bases, the comparison of the hotels and our picks are Picolo's own. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Happy aurora hunting
Picolo Editorial