Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Finland, exploring the Lapland wilderness, riding reindeer, meeting Finland's own Father Christmas — Joulupukki — staying in transparent igloos and photographing the northern lights through the ceiling: it's the perfect combination for conjuring that cherished festive mood and stepping fully into the holiday spirit.
New Year in Finland for True Winter Lovers
1. The Golden Crown Levin Igloos
Getting There
The resort sits on a plateau 340 metres above sea level, carved through by numerous river valleys and mountain gorges. It lies 10 km from the town of Levi (Finland) and 170 km from the Arctic Circle. A bus runs daily from the town centre directly to the resort.
Where to Stay
Guests can choose between a transparent igloo or the Northern Lights villa.
On the slope of Levintunturi mountain, 18 transparent, spherical igloos are arranged along the first and second rows. From them, guests enjoy a panoramic view of the tundra, and in the evening and at night a canopy of stars and the northern lights. Each igloo covers 23 sq m and accommodates two to four people. A bed occupies the centre of every unit, while a fully equipped kitchen, shower and toilet are tucked into a dedicated alcove.
The 123 sq m Northern Lights villa sleeps up to six guests. According to the designers, the architectural concept and interior represent a contemporary take on a traditional reindeer herder's hut. It contains two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a fireplace, a sauna and a terrace with a hot tub right on the edge of the mountain.
What to Do
Beyond watching the northern lights and playing in metre-deep snowdrifts, guests can go snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and dog- and reindeer-sledding.
The one drawback noted by every guest: there is no Wi-Fi on the resort grounds.
2. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Getting There
The resort is located in Finnish Lapland, 250 km from the Arctic Circle. The wilderness here is so pristine that locals draw their drinking water directly from the lakes, of which there are many in the area. A taxi from Ivalo, Finland's northernmost airport, Ivalo to the resort takes just 30 minutes.
Where to stay
Guests can choose between glass, snow or standard cabins. Each comes with a double bed, a bathroom and a kitchen.
Travellers seeking an extreme experience typically stay in snow igloos, which accommodate 1–5 people. Each winter, resort staff build 60 igloos from snow, using no structural frames whatsoever. Temperatures inside range between -3°C and -6°C. To keep warm, guests sleep in specially designed thermal sleeping bags, which come complete with woollen socks and capes.
Those who come for the scenery tend to opt for glass igloos. There are 20 of them on the resort grounds. Through the glass sphere, guests look out onto the northern lights, the stars and silver-tipped pine trees.
Guests who prefer full comfort choose the standard cottages, which are built in the traditional manner: treated birch is covered with a half-metre layer of peat, which retains heat even in the depths of winter. Here, travellers can unwind by the fireplace or in the sauna, and seek out a touch of adventure in the ice-hole bathing pool beside the cabin.
Another unusual structure available for guests to stay in is a glass chum, both eight metres tall and eight metres wide. The chum is made from a specially developed heat-resistant ice. It is more comfortable and considerably less extreme than the snow igloos.
What to do
Guests are invited to join a coach tour to watch the northern lights, travel to the Arctic Ocean, or visit Urho Kekkonen National Park, just 5 km from the resort. For those who would rather stay closer to home, there is ice fishing, reindeer and husky safaris, and excursions by snowmobile, skis and snowshoes.
The resort has three restaurants, a bar, an ice gallery and an ice chapel. Families with children can visit Santa Claus's house and see the vast reindeer enclosure.
There are a couple of drawbacks: Wi-Fi is available only at the reception desk, and there are no televisions anywhere on the property.
3. Arctic Snow Hotel & Glass Igloos
Where to go
The hotel is situated on the shore of Lake Lehtojarvi, near the city of Rovaniemi. The Arctic Circle lies just 8 km away, which means the northern lights are often visible here over a long season running from September to March. Transfers and taxis are available from central Rovaniemi, the airport and the railway station to the resort.
Where to stay
Guests can choose between glass igloos and a snow hotel.
Thanks to the glass igloos, guests are guaranteed not to miss the northern lights. Thorough cold insulation, beds adjustable to the optimal sleeping position, and electrically heated floors and glazing all ensure a comfortable stay. Igloo size can be chosen according to the number of guests: a 20 sq m cabin suits two people, while a 33 sq m one accommodates four.
The largest snow hotel in Scandinavia snow hotel is built entirely from snow and ice. Every year the builders redesign the layout, lighting, furniture, ice sculptures and bas-reliefs in the rooms. The temperature inside stays around 0–5 °C, but the cold is kept at bay by thermal sleeping bags spread over reindeer hides. Room sizes range from 9 to 30 sq m.
To ensure guests do not miss the northern lights, the resort's watchman sounds an alert whenever activity appears in the sky.
What to do
The outdoor activities here are typical of Scandinavian resorts: guided snowshoeing and skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobile rides. What sets this place apart is the chance to work with an unusual sculptural medium — snow. Ice-sculpture workshops here draw visitors from other resorts in the area.
Those who prefer a more relaxed experience will enjoy the ice restaurants and bars, where the plates and glasses are made of ice. There is also a log-cabin restaurant built in the Sami style.
Even a seasoned sauna enthusiast will be impressed by the combination of steam and ice walls in the snow sauna, or by a jacuzzi set amid snowdrifts on the lakeshore.
Conclusion
The resorts share many similarities, but each has its own distinguishing features.
The Golden Crown Levin Igloos: seclusion, nature, and nature again.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort: outdoor activities, Joulupukki, a wedding chapel.
Arctic Snow Hotel & Glass Igloos: ice on every side, sculpture-making masterclasses.
For more ideas on snow-country travel, see our articles on climbing Elbrus and a journey to the South Pole.
