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Saariselkä · Getting there

How to get to Saariselkä: fly to Ivalo, or take the coach north from Rovaniemi.

Saariselkä has no railway and no airport of its own. Almost everyone flies to Ivalo Airport, about 25 km to the north, and takes the airport bus, a taxi or a resort transfer for the last 30 minutes. The alternative is the train or a cheaper flight to Rovaniemi and a coach ride of about 260 km and 3.5 to 4 hours up the E75.

Reviewed
2026-09-26
Sources checked
2026-09-26
Published by
Premier Nordics
Snow-covered pines and fell slope near Saariselkä in Finnish Lapland in winter light
Key numbers

The facts that decide this trip

Ivalo Airport (IVL)
About 25 km north of Saariselkä and 11 km south-west of Ivalo; Finland's northernmost airport, run by Finavia
Flights
Finnair from Helsinki year-round with more winter departures; seasonal charters from several European cities in winter
Airport to village
Airport bus or taxi about 30 minutes; buses meet scheduled flights, taxis should be pre-booked
From Rovaniemi
About 260 km on the E75; coach about 3.5 to 4 hours, car about 3 hours in good conditions
Railway
None north of Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi; the night train from Helsinki ends at Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi
Around the area
Ivalo about 30 km north, Inari village about 70 km north, Kakslauttanen about 10 km south, Kiilopää about 15 km south

Flying to Ivalo

Ivalo Airport is the northernmost in Finland and the natural gateway. Finnair flies from Helsinki year-round, with several daily flights in the winter peaks and fewer in autumn and spring, and winter charters arrive from cities such as London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Amsterdam and Paris on fixed weekly days. Connecting through Helsinki from most of Europe puts Saariselkä about five to seven hours from home.

Book the Helsinki to Ivalo leg as soon as the dates are fixed for Christmas and February; the aircraft are small and the fares climb steeply. Land by mid-afternoon so the arrival evening is free and the first tour can be on night two.

Airport to the village: bus, taxi or resort transfer

Airport buses run to scheduled flights and stop at the village hotels in about 30 minutes; check the current operator and whether the bus serves your flight, because the service is timed to arrivals rather than running to a fixed timetable. Taxis cover the same run and should be pre-booked for late arrivals. Kakslauttanen, Northern Lights Village, Aurora Village and the Wilderness Hotels arrange their own transfers, usually at a fixed price per car or per person; confirm the price and the pickup point when you book the stay.

  • Airport bus: cheapest, timed to flights, stops at the village hotels.
  • Taxi: pre-book for late flights; about 30 minutes to the village.
  • Resort transfer: book with the room; confirm price and meeting point.
Where to stay

Where to stay for an easy arrival in Saariselkä

For the arrival night, choose a village hotel on the airport bus route or a stay close to the airport; save the igloo and the lakeside for later nights.

Affiliate disclosure: the Stay22 comparison link is commercial. If you book through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost. Providers control prices, payment, changes and refunds; the picks stay editorial.

  • VillageSanta's Hotel TunturiCentral village hotel on the bus route with restaurants on site for a late first-night dinner.
  • Glass igloosAurora Village IvaloA few minutes from the airport, so a late arrival or an early departure can still include a glass-roof night.
  • Lake InariWilderness Hotel MuotkaA short drive north of the airport for a lakeside first or last night with the lodge transfer.
Stay22 · live value comparisonFind best-value stays around SaariselkäCompare live totals, map position and cancellation terms for the exact dates.
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Coach from Rovaniemi

Coaches run north from Rovaniemi to Saariselkä, Ivalo and Inari a few times a day, taking about 3.5 to 4 hours for the roughly 260 km. Matkahuolto sells tickets for the routes, which are operated by Eskelisen Lapin Linjat and others, and some departures connect with the night train from Helsinki at Rovaniemi station. The coach stops in the village centre, not at the resorts, so a Kakslauttanen night still needs a transfer.

This is the cheaper route and the one to use if Ivalo flights are sold out; it costs most of a day, so it suits five-night trips or a Rovaniemi plus Saariselkä split.

Driving and moving around the area

The E75 is a good two-lane road, cleared and gritted in winter, with rental cars available at Ivalo and Rovaniemi airports on winter tyres. Expect darkness, ice and reindeer on the road, and allow about 3 hours from Rovaniemi. Within the area a car is only needed for a split between the village, Kakslauttanen and Lake Inari; every operator collects from the village hotels and the resorts run their own safaris.

Why there is no train

The Finnish rail network ends at Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, about 260 km south of Saariselkä. The night train from Helsinki is a good way to reach Rovaniemi with a car or a family, but from there the choice is the coach, a rental car or a short Finnair hop to Ivalo. Plan the connection with a buffer: a delayed train can miss the morning coach.

Experiences

Reviewed tours to book once the arrival is fixed

A minibus aurora hunt for night two, a snowshoe walk into Urho Kekkonen National Park and a Lake Inari ice-fishing day for travelers staying north of the airport, all checked on the public product pages on 26 September 2026.

Affiliate disclosure: GetYourGuide and Viator links are commercial. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost. Providers control prices, operator terms, changes and refunds.

GetYourGuideSaariselkä aurora hunting photography tourA three-hour evening aurora hunt by minibus with guides who photograph you under the lights; confirm the pickup point, thermal clothing, start time and what happens on a cloudy night.
Check on GetYourGuide
GetYourGuideSnowshoeing in Urho Kekkonen National ParkA guided daytime snowshoe walk into the national park beside the village; confirm the distance, fitness level, whether snowshoes and poles are included and the meeting point.
Check on GetYourGuide
GetYourGuideLake Inari ice fishing with reindeer and lunchA daytime trip onto frozen Lake Inari for ice fishing with a reindeer visit and lunch; confirm the pickup area, the season dates for safe ice, clothing provided and what the lunch includes.
Check on GetYourGuide
Practical questions

Questions travelers ask before booking

Answers use the sources listed below. Re-check live hours, weather and operator terms close to the travel date.

How long is the flight from Helsinki to Ivalo?

About ninety minutes. Finnair flies year-round with more departures in the winter peaks; connecting through Helsinki from most European cities gives a total of five to seven hours to Saariselkä including the transfer.

Is there a train to Saariselkä?

No. The railway ends at Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, about 260 km south. Take the night train to Rovaniemi and continue by coach in about 3.5 to 4 hours, or fly to Ivalo.

Do I need to book the airport bus in advance?

The buses are timed to scheduled flights and usually take walk-up passengers, but check the current operator and whether your flight is served before relying on it. Taxis and resort transfers should be booked ahead, especially for late arrivals.

Can I drive from Rovaniemi to Saariselkä in winter?

Yes; the E75 is cleared and takes about 3 hours in good conditions. Rental cars come on winter tyres, but the drive is dark from mid-afternoon, icy in places and shared with reindeer, so allow extra time and do not plan a tour for the arrival evening.

Sources

Where the numbers come from

Checked 2026-09-26. These sources support hours, distances, transport and climate facts; they do not guarantee prices, availability or operator terms.

Keep planning

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