In this article we explore the best aurora chasing hotel in Finland. Northern Lights can be elusive and difficult to catch, but with the right destination, your chance of seeing the aurora in Finnish Lapland is greatly maximized. That’s where having the right hotel or resort can help.
Whilst Aurora Borealis can be observed in other locations around the world, Finland’s location in the Aurora Zone, its rugged pristine beauty with clear dark skies makes it a top choice for chasing those breath-taking dancing lights in the sky.
Whether you are looking for a stay that is a bucket-list experience or want a luxurious base to cater to your quest for fun and adventure, we have a pick of hotels and resorts in Finland that are sure to meet your needs and make for memorable experiences.
Where are the Best Northern Lights Hotels in Finland Located?
To see the Northern Lights in Finland, you want to head as far north as possible, as discussed in our article on the best places to see the aurora in Finland. This means going to Lapland. It is therefore no surprise that all of these Finland Northern Lights hotels are located in Lapland.
Lapland Finland is one of the most popular destinations in the world for viewing Northern Lights for good reason. Located in the high-latitude region known as the Aurora Zone, chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis are relatively high compared to other places around the world.
With a selection of airports in even the remotest areas of northern Finland, travel into the Lappish wilderness is made easier and more accessible while remaining affordable. The further north you go, the better your chances of encountering the northern lights, and staying in remote wilderness no longer means you have to forgo luxury. Keep in mind, the further north you travel, the more daylight hours you will encounter in summer (known as the ‘Midnight Sun’) so make sure you also choose the best time of year to visit Finland for Northern Lights, in particular the cooler, darker months from late Autumn through to early Spring.
Finnish Lapland’s pristine landscapes of snow covered hills, crystal-clear skies that are dark in winter, and excellent location makes for an aurora chaser’s delight. There are so many exciting experiences to be had and enjoyed while visiting Lapland that coupled with a quirky, interesting or simply luxurious hotel or resort stay is sure to make for memorable, once-in-a-life time experiences you will want to return to do over and over again.
Read on for our picks for best hotels in Finland for northern lights.
Shortlist: Best Hotel in Finland (Northern Lights Travel)
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
- Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Rovaniemi, Finland
- Trip Advisor Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- From $740 USD per night.
The Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is a stunning architectural, sustainability and design choice that has won numerous awards for its unique and luxurious accommodation, including being the first private hotel In Finland to be awarded the Green Key eco-label for environmental and ecological sustainability. The hotel is an elegant blend of Scandinavian design and luxurious comfort that directs focus to spectacular views of the Arctic landscape.
The hotel features cozy, ‘nest-like’ modern cabins on stilts with north-facing floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The cabins are designed to provide excellent views of auroras at night skies and the Arctic landscape by day, whilst giving occupants privacy and a sense of being immersed in the forest.
The Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is located in Rovaniemi, the capital city of Finnish Lapland, home to Santa Claus and gateway to Lapland. The hotel offers various Northern Lights tours such as Aurora Hunting by car or snowmobile, and you can also indulge with an Arctic Spa with Finnish sauna and hot tubs. While in Rovaniemi, don’t forget to visit some of the nearby local attractions such as Arktikum science centre and museum and Santa Claus Village.
Nellim Wilderness Hotel
- Nellim Wilderness Hotel, Nellim, Finland
- Trip Advisor Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- From $250 USD per night.
Nellim Wilderness Hotel is part of the Wilderness Hotels group which are an adventure-based eco-tourism company that pride themselves on memorable experiences. Of the chain of hotels, Nellim is the original Wilderness Hotel that started it all.
Located in remote northern Lappish wilderness, Nellim is a 45 minute drive from Ivalo airport, Finland’s northernmost airport, and 5 hours by bus or car from Rovaniemi. Situated near Lake Inari, the resort is in the Inari-Saariselkä region where it is said that the northern lights appear every 3 days out of 5.
Like its sister hotel, Wilderness Hotel Inari, Nellim offers a variety of suites, glass-ceiling aurora cabins, and log cabins that you can stay in but comes with just that bit more wow-factor than the other Wilderness Hotel destinations. For something quirky and different, try their Aurora Bubbles, which are cosy, heated glass-domed cabins that allow for optimal Northern Lights viewing. You can, of course, also stay in the hotel in one of the Wilderness Rooms.
Beana Laponia
- Beana Laponia, Meltaus, Rovaniemi, Finland
- Trip Advisor Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
- From $316 USD per night.
Beana Laponia is an adults-only, husky-themed boutique hotel with 11 rooms that provides luxury accommodation, services and experiences in a “perfect hideaway” for honeymooners and couples. The hotel name comes from the Sami word beana for dog and Lapponia is Latin for Lapland. If you want to complement your aurora hunting stay with husky safaris and huskies on site, this boutique hotel is the one.
Located in Meltaus on the shores of Ounasjoki river, the hotel is a 40 minute drive north of Rovaniemi and is situated in the aurora zone making is a good choice for viewing the northern lights. Given the reasonable proximity to Rovaniemi, the hotel can arrange a shuttle service for those wanting to include a trip to the Arctic SnowHotel and its ice bar, ice restaurant and ice chapel. The hotel also arranges a variety of other safaris and experiences, such as tours to local handcrafting studios and reindeer farms.
Arctic SnowHotel
- Arctic SnowHotel, Sinettä, Rovaniemi, Finland
- Trip Advisor Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
- From $350 USD per night.
We’ve written about the Arctic SnowHotel in other Aurora Tracks articles yet any talk about best hotels in Finland Lapland would be incomplete with this memorable bucket-list addition. In our article, 4 Amazing Lapland-Finland Glass Igloo Stays we talked about the Arctic SnowHotel’s ice igloos. The real star of the show however is the hotel itself.
The Arctic SnowHotel is on the outskirts of Rovaniemi is made from ice and snow and rebuilt every year with different designs and ice carvings. Even if not staying in the hotel, it is a marvel and worth visiting. Guests can visit the ice bar for drinks in sub-zero temperatures, eat in the ice restaurant, visit the ice chapel, or stay overnight in one of the snowcave-like ice suites. If staying overnight in the hotel, guests sleep on transparent beds made from ice in sleeping bags designed for extreme temperatures.
With an ambient room temperature that is below freezing, check-in is at 7pm and guests are given safety briefings on how to make their stay safe and comfortable. If the cold gets too much during the night, guests can move to a warmer part of the hotel to sleep. The hotel also provides an Aurora Alarm service to alert guests when the northern lights make an appearance. The hotel is available from December to March each year.
Our Pick for Best Northern Lights Hotel in Finland
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel: Best Hotel in Finland for Aurora Borealis
With so many excellent options and experiences to choose from, we found the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel stands out as a luxurious stay with memorable views and plenty of opportunities for adventure to complement aurora hunting. Whether that meets your idea of best for your adventure, we’ll leave up to you to decide.
We have sought out the most interesting, luxurious, and quirky places to appeal to your sense of adventure and comfort. Some of our firm favourites like Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi, Snowcastle Resort in Kemi, and the iconic Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä feature in our other articles, 4 Amazing Lapland-Finland Glass Igloo Stays and 8 Stunning Ice & Igloo Hotels, so be sure to check those articles out too when seeking a hotel in Finland for your northern lights hunting adventures.
We hope you’ll find one of our recommendations here to match your interests and give you the best experience for your aurora adventure in Lapland Finland.
Further Reading for Best Hotel in Finland Northern Lights:
- Lapland Above Ordinary: Visit www.lapland.fi/visit
- Visit Rovaniemi www.visitrovaniemi.fi/see-do/sights-and-attractions
- Green Key https://www.greenkey.global
Comments. Our articles are not open to comments, however, if you have a correction, question or suggestion concerning this article, please Contact Us directly.
