FAQ

There are direct flights from several European cities during the winter season. Edelweiss has been offering direct flights from Zurich to Ivalo since February 2024. Otherwise you can get to Ivalo via a stopover in Helsinki.

We always recommend our guests to rent a car. This allows maximum flexibility for travel, shopping and activities. A cab can also be booked for the transfer from the airport to the cottage and back (as well as for shopping/activities).

We recommend booking this in advance: Tapani Mikkola, taksi.tapani@gmail.com / +358 (0) 50 344 60 70 or Ivalon Taksit OY, taksi.asema@co.inet.fi / +358 (0) 50 468 22 44 or +358 (0) 40 054 02 22.

The distance is about 24 km (30 minutes driving time).

• Ivalo: 15 – 20 minutes / 14 km

• Inari: 30 minutes / 30 km 

• Saariselkä (Urho Kekkonen National Park, starting point for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, hiking, sledging): 40 minutes / 45 km.
  

Ivalo

• Restaurant Kultahippu

• Pub: Pubi.fi Ivalo

Inari

• Restaurant Aanar

• Restaurant Ukko / Wildernesshotel Inari

Saariselkä

• Restaurant Laanilan Kievari

Check-in: 18.00 - 21.00 hrs. Later check-ins only by arrangement (extra charge possible). Earlier check-in may be possible at short notice depending on our cottages occupancy.

Check-out: 11.00 am at the latest.

Ivalo has three grocery stores (S-Market / K-Supermarket / K-Market). K-Supermarket offers a counter with fresh meat / fresh fish from Mon-Fri.

In the grocery stores, beer & cider are available until 9pm. ALKO in the S-Market building offers a large selection of wines & spirits.

Opening hours grocery stores: Usually from 07:00 - 22:00

ALKO opening hours: see https://www.alko.fi/myymalat-palvelut/2851

There are several cross-country ski trails in the village of Ivalo. The closest one is at Jänkävaara in Ivalo (15 minutes / 13 km). There are also groomed trails in Saariselkä and Inari. Details about the trails (routes, maintenance etc.) can be found on the website: https://ladulle.fi/en/ivalo

There are various providers in Ivalo, Inari and Saariselkä. You can find an overview here: https://laplandnorth.fi/en/things-to-do/winter/

Here are the most important maps of the most beautiful national parks in the region:

https://laplandnorth.fi/en/maps/.

Information about the different national parks with various hiking trails can be found here: https://www.nationalparks.fi/nationalparks

In our region there are Northern Lights about 200 nights a year, but you need some luck. The Northern Lights can be seen from the end of August to mid-April.

The sky must be at least partially clear and it must be dark enough to see the lights. If the weather conditions are favorable and the Northern Lights are active, you can marvel at the Northern Lights directly on site, as many of our guests have already experienced (several times).

Recommended links:

- Local weather (Finnish Meteorological Institute)

- App to download «Aurora»