Hotels
Glass igloos in the Nordics: watch the aurora from bed
Kakslauttanen, Apukka, Arctic TreeHouse and Treehotel. Where you lie warm beneath glass and watch the sky move.
The sound is the first thing you notice. The snow muffles everything outside, and inside the igloo it is warm enough to sleep without a duvet. Above you there is only glass, and beyond the glass the sky starts to move.
A glass igloo is a heated room with a glass roof. You sleep in an ordinary bed and watch the aurora without stepping into the cold.
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In short
Most glass igloos are in Finnish Lapland, around Saariselkä and Rovaniemi. Kakslauttanen is the classic, Apukka suits families and Arctic TreeHouse is for those who want design. The aurora season runs from September to March, and the igloos sell out before the rest of the hotel.
Our first choice: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort near Saariselkä, where the glass igloos began. Check availability and prices
How to choose a glass igloo
Check the distance to city lights. Igloos deep in the forest give the darkest skies. Those near town make it easier to reach restaurants and tours.
Look at the roof. Some have glass over the whole room, others only over the bed. Ask whether the glass is kept clear of snow and condensation.
Stay at least three nights. The sky can stay cloudy a couple of nights in a row.
Book the igloo first. They are few and sell out long before the ordinary rooms.
If you would rather sleep in a room made of ice, that is a very different experience. You will find it in our guide to ice hotels in the Nordics.
Glass igloos in Finnish Lapland
Saariselkä
Kakslauttanen sits in the forest by Urho Kekkonen National Park.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Saariselkä
Kakslauttanen was among the first with glass igloos and sits in the forest by Urho Kekkonen National Park, far from city lights. You can also stay in log cabins, and the husky and reindeer farms are close by.
Check availability and prices at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Tours in Saariselkä: See experiences and tickets
Rovaniemi
Apukka sits in the forest outside Rovaniemi, close to Santa Park.
Apukka Resort, Rovaniemi
Apukka sits in the forest outside Rovaniemi, with aurora cabins that have a glass roof over the bed. Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle is a short drive away, which makes it popular with families in December.
Arctic SnowHotel
A snow hotel and glass igloos on the same site outside Rovaniemi.
Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos, Rovaniemi
Here you can sleep one night in the snow hotel and the next in a warm glass igloo, on the same site. The snow hotel has an ice bar and a sauna, and breakfast is included.
Check availability and prices at Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos
Arctic TreeHouse
The suites stand on stilts on the slope, with glass walls facing the forest.
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Rovaniemi
The suites stand on stilts on the hillside, with a full glass wall facing the forest rather than a glass roof. In winter you watch the aurora from bed, in summer the midnight sun.
Check availability and prices at Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
Tours in Rovaniemi: See experiences and tickets
Treehotel in Swedish Lapland
Harads
The Treehotel rooms hang in the pine forest above the Lule River, between Jokkmokk and Luleå.
Treehotel, Harads
The rooms hang in the pine trees above the Lule river, designed by well-known Scandinavian architects. One of them is a mirrored cube that almost disappears into the forest. In winter the aurora can appear right above the treetops.
Check availability and prices at Treehotel
Glass cabins in Norway
You need not travel to Finland to watch the aurora from bed. AERA Aurora Glass Cabins outside Tromsø have glass walls facing the sky and the mountains, and are the closest thing to a glass igloo in Norway.
Check availability and prices at AERA Aurora Glass Cabins
More places in Norway are in our guide to aurora hotels.
When should you book?
Book three to six months ahead if you plan to travel in December, around Christmas or in February. The igloos fill first, so book them and build the rest of the trip around them. Avoid the days around a full moon if you can, as moonlight dims the aurora.
Frequently asked questions about glass igloos
Where can you stay in a glass igloo?
Glass igloos are found mainly in Finnish Lapland, around Saariselkä, Rovaniemi, Levi and Ivalo. Kakslauttanen near Saariselkä is the best known. In Norway, AERA outside Tromsø has glass cabins with glass walls, and in Sweden you can sleep in the trees at Treehotel in Harads.
Can you see the northern lights from a glass igloo?
Yes, from a glass igloo you can watch the northern lights from bed when the sky is clear and there is activity. Several places have an aurora alarm that wakes you at night. The sky can stay cloudy several nights in a row, so stay at least three nights to give yourself more chances.
When is the best time to stay in a glass igloo?
The best time to stay in a glass igloo is from September to March, when it is dark enough for the aurora. December and January give the most hours of darkness. February and March are often colder and clearer, with more daylight for dog sledding and skiing. Outside the season you see the midnight sun or stars instead.
Are glass igloos suitable for children?
Yes, glass igloos are warm rooms with ordinary beds, so they suit children of all ages. Apukka and other places around Rovaniemi are popular with families because Santa Claus Village is nearby. Check the number of beds before you book, as many igloos are built for two.