Visiting Finland has long been a goal of mine, and my first stop on my trip to Finland was Saariselkä. Saariselkä, Finland, is a dreamy winter wonderland of fun and excitement. Making sure that it was the ultimate vacation, I was lucky enough to have a local expert organize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What I learned and experienced I would like to share with you! These five secrets will assure the best experience, and you will come home with cherished memories.
Saariselkä, Finland
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'”
Lewis Carroll
I traveled to Saariselkä, Finland, with my Always5Star partner and daughter Brittany. It was an opportunity for mother and daughter to achieve a travel goal that was high on our list. We were very fortunate to get this trip organized by a Finnish travel professional, Mia Niemelä (LION)
of @Touchse. We also traveled with our friends RoarloudTravel and PipAndTheCity.
in Saariselkä, Finland at Santa’s Hotel Tunturi
Mia invited us to experience a stay at the beautiful Santa’s Hotel Tunturi, in Saariselkä, for the opportunity to showcase the hotel as well as the spectacular sunsets for our #Sundaysunsets* Twitter chat. The city is known for its stunning Northern Lights (which we witnessed here as well), but the sunsets are equally spectacular too!
5StarTip🌟:
#Sundaysunsets is an all-day twitter chat that Cathy, Frank, Brittany, and I own and encourage everyone to join in. The chat showcases sunset images from locations all around the world. To learn more about this inspiring and exciting chat:
#SundaySunsets
Secret #1: Saariselkä, Finland – Reason To Visit This City – Northern Lights!
Saariselkä is a vibrant resort town close to Finland’s northern edge that seems to have it all. The village is accessible throughout the year, surrounded by stunning, unspoiled landscapes. You will be able to experience several hotels, restaurants, stores, and activities/tours within the village. There are also plenty of nightlife spots too. Between beautiful open landscapes to admire and the village’s liveliness, it’s a perfect holiday destination. The best secret of all is The Northern Lights here are visible on average 200 nights a year. And… yes we did see them!
Beautiful Northern Lights at Saariselkä, Finland
Secret #2: Stay At Santa’s Hotel Tunturi Saariselkä in a Suite
When you visit Saariselkä, an excellent choice to stay near the village is Santa’s Hotel Tunturi. If you are interested in incorporating luxury in your stay, they offer a lovely suite, which will make your vacation Always5Star!
Santa’s Hotel Tunturi Saariselkä:
The hotel is the largest hotel in the village offering 260 rooms and suites. The hotel has three restaurants and many rooms have saunas. The main building is home to the reception. The hotel boasts that the hotel has been designed by the award-winning Finnish architect Kurt Moberg.
The hotel consists of multiple room types, including family apartment suites. Bonus; Breakfast is included with your stay.
5StarTip🌟:
My favorite room type was the Kontio Corner Suite, room number 322. The suite would enhance your stay as it is a spacious, luxurious and beautifully designed room!
Look at those views from the expansive windows!
Secret #3: Enjoy an Authentic Kota Lappish Hut Breakfast or Dinner
Would you like to try an authentic culinary experience when visiting Saariselkä? You can at Santa’s Tunturi Hotel! The hotel offers a wonderful traditional Lappish dining experience inside their Kota Lappish hut.
As you enter the hut you will see an open fire in the middle, where you can observe your chef cooking your meal. The shelter exudes a feeling of warmth and coziness. Deer hides decorate the walls for added warmth. We enjoyed a fabulous breakfast in the hut, and I highly recommend adding this to your stay!
Wonderful array of food for breakfast! Yum! 
Lovely table setting 
Grilling the meat 
Chef demonstrates cooking in the middle so that all tables can see 
Inside the hut
5StarTip🌟:
To learn how to cook a traditional Finnish meal, you may arrange for a special cooking class with the Chef in the hut. Contact: + 358-16-681-501 or speak to the reception desk about reserving this activity.
Secret #4: Tours and Activities
A significant benefit of staying at Santa’s Hotels Tunturi is that a tour/activity company is on-site just a short walk from your room. The company is Lapin Luontolomat Oy, Luontoloma Pro-Safaris.
There you will find a variety of tours and activities to reserve. We choose the following private tours:
- Snowmobiling, ice fishing, sunsets
- Cross Country Skiing
5StarTip🌟:
You will want the right clothes packed for your travel to Saariselkä, Finland. Click here for a free downloadable packing guide to make your trip to Finland enjoyable and fun. You will be able to do everything in warmth and comfort!
However, our friends RoarLoudTravel being experts at it enjoyed exploring the beautiful landscapes.
Check out their article about this experience:
Saariselkä: Why You Need to Visit The Winter Wonderland of Finland
5StarTip🌟:
You can customize your tour as well. We customized our snowmobiling tour to include an all-day ice fishing and a sunset tour! I highly recommend as this was an epic experience!
Secret #5: Culinary Experience
One of the many aspects I look forward to when traveling is a fun wine and culinary experience. Santa’s Hotel Tunturi, Kaltio Restaurant, Saariselkä, reached this goal. Kaltio Restaurant has been recognized by the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs for its excellent cuisine. Modern Lappish dishes are a highlight of the cuisine in a stylish dining room setting. The grand fireplace in the lobby provides a soothing atmosphere and yet a sophisticated vibe.
Interior View 
Enjoying a glass of Finland’s sparkling wine. 
Finland’s sparkling wine – Cheers! 
Amazing evening dinner with good friends!
A look at a couple of entree’s we ordered and the seafood buffet:
Seafood buffet – Yum!
Airport and Location:
Santa’s Hotel Tunturi Saariselkä, Finland is located:
Ivalo Airport (IVL)
The closest airport to Saariselkä, Finland is Ivalo Airport (IVL). The airport is about 20 to 30 minute drive to Saariselkä depending on traffic and weather conditions. The Ivalo terminal is compact but built to create a comfortable environment when waiting for your flight. It’s a pleasant airport experience, both in service and comfort. Though very small the terminal does offer the following services:
- Small Cafe and Restaurant Ilmasilta
- Free WiFi
- Charging stations
- Souvenir shop
- The waiting area offers a large fireplace and rocking chairs
Transportation to Saariselkä:
There are four ways to reach Saariselkä from the airport. Click on the links to learn more about these services:
Before You Go – Information You Need to Know:
Before you plan your trip to Saariselkä, Finland there are a few
5StarTips🌟 you will appreciate knowing before you even begin your journey. Click below to learn what those tips are:
5StarTips🌟: Before You Go to Lapland Finland – Information You Need to Know!
Always5Star Finland Winter Snow Packing List
Final Thoughts:
With the secrets above, you will enhance your travel to Saariselkä, Finland. It’s going to be a holiday that builds memories that you’ll treasure forever. Enjoy your trip to this magical place! If you have any questions please comment below. We’d love to help!
Please note: This was a sponsored opportunity to enjoy Santa’s Hotels and some of the activities mentioned. We were not compensated for writing this article and the opinions expressed are entirely authentic and our own.
About Pamela Rossi
I am passionate about travel and taking each moment and making it a five star experience. My goal is to create those experiences for YOU!
I miss the snow of Lapland! Seeing the Northern Lights was such an amazing experience, I’m so glad we got to experience it with both of you!