Star Arctic Hotel
Star Arctic Hotel, Saariselkä: which room to book, and who it suits
A hotel on the top of a fell, with nothing but forest and sky in every direction, and glass-roofed cabins for watching the aurora from bed. Star Arctic Hotel is one of the most striking places to stay in Finnish Lapland. Here is what each room gives you, which one to book and who it suits.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: Star Arctic Hotel
Where: on top of Kaunispää fell above Saariselkä, a minute's walk from the ski slopes and about 20 minutes by road from Ivalo Airport.
Best for: couples and families who want the northern lights, a view and skiing from the door.
Guest rating: 9.4 out of 10 across 265 reviews on Hotels.com.
Included: breakfast buffet. There is Restaurant Kaunis, a bar, a sauna and a hot tub, and an airport shuttle for a fee.
Our room choice: an Aurora Cabin for the northern lights from bed, an Aurora Suite with Sauna for more space. Check availability and prices at Star Arctic Hotel
Which room to book
Aurora Cabin (about 20 m², up to 4 people): a compact cabin with a glass roof for watching the sky from bed. Small, so best for a couple.
Aurora Suite with Sauna (about 35 m², up to 4): the glass-roofed option with more space and a private sauna.
View Suite (about 30 m², up to 4): large windows over the fells rather than a glass roof.
View Suite with Sauna (about 36 m², up to 4): the same view, plus your own sauna.
Our advice: if the northern lights are the reason for your trip, book an Aurora Cabin or Aurora Suite. The View Suites have the panorama, but you watch the sky through a window, not above you.
The glass-roofed Aurora Cabins at Star Arctic Hotel
The northern lights and the fells
Saariselkä lies more than 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, under the band where the aurora appears most often. The hotel stands above the village lights on the top of the fell. The season runs from about September to March. Book at least three nights, as clouds are the biggest risk. Urho Kekkonen National Park starts a few minutes away, with skiing, snowshoeing and husky trips on its edge.
Eating: Restaurant Kaunis serves breakfast and dinner, with Scandinavian dishes made with Lappish ingredients.
Getting there from the UK
Finavia lists direct flights to Ivalo from London Gatwick in winter 2026/27, and several tour operators fly charters to Ivalo and Kittilä. From Ivalo Airport, Saariselkä is about 20 to 30 minutes by road. From Kittilä the transfer takes about three hours, so Ivalo is the far better choice.
Restaurant Kaunis, with Lappish ingredients on the menu
Alternatives near Saariselkä
Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos
Log cabins and igloo-style rooms on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park, about 20 kilometres from Saariselkä. Choose it for a quieter wilderness stay. Rated 9.4 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Wilderness Hotel Muotka
Northern Lights Village Saariselkä
Cabins of about 29 m² with a kitchenette, a short walk from Saariselkä village. Choose it if you want shops and restaurants within reach. Rated 8.8 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Northern Lights Village Saariselkä
Our recommendation
Star Arctic Hotel: a glass roof on top of the fell
Star Arctic Hotel stands on the top of Kaunispää fell above Saariselkä, with forest and fells in every direction and glass-roofed cabins for the northern lights. Ski from the door by day, watch the sky from bed at night, and book at least three nights.
Our verdict
What Picolo would choose: an Aurora Cabin for a couple on a three or four night northern lights trip. For a family or a longer stay, choose an Aurora Suite with Sauna.
Why: the fell-top location gives you the darkest sky and the widest view in Saariselkä, with skiing a minute's walk away and a short transfer from Ivalo.
The trade-off: the Aurora Cabins are small, and the village is a short drive down the fell. Direct flights from the UK are mainly from Gatwick, so travellers from the north of England may find Levi or Rovaniemi easier.
Frequently asked questions
Is Star Arctic Hotel good?
Guests rate Star Arctic Hotel 9.4 out of 10 across 265 reviews on Hotels.com, with high scores for cleanliness, staff and facilities. It suits couples and families who want the northern lights, a view over the fells and skiing from the door. It suits less well if you want restaurants and shops on foot.
How far is Star Arctic Hotel from Ivalo Airport?
About 20 minutes by road. The hotel runs an airport shuttle for a fee. Saariselkä village lies just below the fell, and Urho Kekkonen National Park starts a few minutes' drive away. Avoid flying into Kittilä if you can, as the transfer from there takes about three hours.
Can you see the northern lights from Star Arctic Hotel?
Yes, when the sky is clear and the aurora is active. The hotel stands above the village lights on top of Kaunispää fell, and the Aurora Cabins and Aurora Suites have glass roofs for watching from bed. The season runs from about September to March. Book at least three nights to allow for cloud.
Which room should you book at Star Arctic Hotel?
For the northern lights, an Aurora Cabin of about 20 m² or an Aurora Suite with Sauna of about 35 m², both with glass roofs. The View Suites look out over the fells through large windows instead. Families of four will find the suites more comfortable than the compact cabins.
Is Star Arctic Hotel good for families?
Yes, for families of up to four. Every room type sleeps four, the ski slopes are a minute's walk from the door. The Aurora Suite with Sauna and the View Suites give more space than the compact Aurora Cabins. Restaurant Kaunis serves breakfast and dinner, so you need not drive down to the village to eat.
Sources
Room types, sizes and facilities come from Hotels.com and Expedia, and the guest rating from Hotels.com. Transfer times come from Inghams. Direct flights from the UK come from Finavia and Time Out. The aurora forecast for Finnish Lapland is published by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The room comparison, the transfer times and our choice of room are Picolo's own. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Happy aurora hunting
Picolo Editorial