Plizio Visual Lab
Saariselkä
ℹ️Practical info — Saariselkä
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Utilize the local ski bus; it's a very efficient way to travel between the village, hotels, and the ski slopes.
- This area is a cross-country skiing paradise. You can access hundreds of kilometers of well-maintained tracks directly from the village.
- Book wilderness safaris, like husky or reindeer sledding, well in advance as they sell out quickly in peak winter.
- Experience local culture by booking a traditional smoke sauna session, followed by an invigorating dip in an ice hole.
🍽 Food
A rich and warming local staple, perfectly served with dark rye bread in village ski cafes.
Look for tender elk or bear meat dishes in the upscale traditional restaurants in the center.
Enjoy a classic slice accompanied by warm berry juice at a trailside resting spot.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Beautiful silver and reindeer bone items crafted by local artisans, found in specialized boutiques.
Buy smoked reindeer meat and wild berry jams from local grocery stores to take a taste of Lapland home.
Bordering the village, it gives vast, silent snow-covered landscapes well-suited for a peaceful snowshoe hike.
Walk or take a lift to the top for panoramic views and silence, then take Europe's longest toboggan run back down.
Water temperature…
Saariselkä is located in the Inari municipality, far above the Arctic Circle, making it the northernmost holiday resort in the European Union. It serves as the gateway to the vast Urho Kekkonen National Park, which begins literally at the village's edge. The landscape is characterized by rolling fells rather than steep mountains, offering 15 slopes across the Kaunispää and Iisakkipää fells. It is also home to one of Finland's longest toboggan runs, a favorite for families. Thanks to its extreme northern location, Saariselkä is a premier destination for witnessing the Aurora Borealis from September to late March. The region is deeply intertwined with Sami culture, and a visit to the Siida Museum in nearby Inari provides profound insights into the indigenous heritage. Unique local activities include gold panning in the summer, a nod to the area's gold rush history, and sleeping in glass igloos during the winter. The summit of Kaunispää provides a panoramic 360-degree view of the Arctic tundra. Local cuisine is centered on reindeer, wild berries, and fish from Lake Inari. The resort is conveniently served by Ivalo Airport, just a 20-minute drive away. The best time for winter activities is late February to April, while the 'Ruska' season in September features spectacular autumn colors for hikers.
- Location: Finland
- Top sights: Chapel of St. Paul in Saariselkä · Kaunispään torni · Kaunispää Fell
- Nearby: Ivalo (27 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -13 | -13 | -8 | -3 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 6 | -1 | -7 | -11 |
| Rain mm | 39 | 32 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 95 | 115 | 104 | 76 | 60 | 45 | 44 |
Geography
Facts
- Northernmost EU resort
- Gateway to Kekkonen Park
- 15 ski slopes
- Finland's longest toboggan run
- 20 mins from Ivalo Airport
- Heart of Sami culture
- Prime Northern Lights location
- Historic gold panning area
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Saariselkä (3)
Kaunispään torni
Observation tower on Kaunispää Fell, offering panoramic views.
Kaunispää Fell
Fell bordering Urho Kekkonen National Park, reachable by hiking, skiing or car.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Saariselkä located?
What is the Urho Kekkonen National Park?
Can you sleep in glass igloos there?
Is there a toboggan run?
Which airport serves Saariselkä?
Saariselkä: where is it located?
Saariselkä: what is there to see?
Saariselkä: when is the best time to visit?
Saariselkä: why is it worth visiting?
Nearby cities
