12 Magical Glass Igloos in Finland to See the Northern Lights

Seeing the aurora borealis is one of the most common bucket list items out there — and Finnish Lapland is one of the best places to do it… and in response to that, there are lots of glass igloos all around Lapland, offering you the chance to see the aurora from your room.

In addition to glass igloos, there are other creative Finnish Northern lights hotels that offer the chance to see the aurora in a memorable way, whether it’s an aurora cabin with a panoramic glass wall in a birch forest or even a real snow hotel!

This post will cover the best places to stay in Lapland to see the Northern lights with an emphasis on the glass igloo hotels in Finland for observing the Northern lights.

What’s It Like to Stay in a Glass Igloo in Finland?

Don’t shiver at the term igloo! These are thermal glass igloos which are well heated. They are named “glass igloos” because they have the shape of a snow igloo, but instead of ice, there is a see-through glass dome, where you can hopefully catch a glimpse of the aurora.

Many glass igloos are fairly spacious and can fit at least two guests pretty comfortably. They will typically have a kitchenette, a private bathroom with shower facilities, and a double bed which you can watch the aurora from if it’s particularly strong.

Typically, there will also be a main building on-site where there is a concierge who will help you book outdoor activities, as these tend to be “all in one” type resorts, where you book all your activities through your accommodations. We’re talking snowmobile safaris, husky sledding, or even a reindeer farm visit — anything you want on your Lapland winter itinerary, these hotels can likely help you arrange! There’s also usually an on-site restaurant as well.

Most glass igloos in Finland will also have other amenities for guest to enjoy, like smoke saunas, outdoor jacuzzis, their own restaurant, etc. Apukka Resort even has its own snow sauna!

Note: While you can see the aurora from behind the glass on a particularly active night, it’s quite hard to do so, as generally the aurora looks more like pale-green wispy clouds. With a long exposure camera, you can sometimes capture the greens of the aurora from inside a glass igloo. However, keep in mind these igloos are marketed as if the lights are constantly bright-green and blaring through the glass ceiling panels. The reality is a lot more subtle, so have your expectations in the right place.

My Top 3 Picks for Glass Igloos in Finland

No time to read the full article and just want my top picks? Here are my three favorite glass igloo hotels in Finland to get you started on your search!

#1 TOP PICK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Apukka Resort
✔️ Husky and reindeer farm on site
✔️ Unique snow sauna & portable sauna amenities

↳ Book it

#2 PICK

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle
✔️ Nordic-chic interiors with boutique feel
✔️ Located in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

↳ Book it

#3 PICK

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos
✔️ On-site snow hotel to visit and explore
✔️ Close to Rovaniemi for all activities and restaurants

↳ Book it

How Much Does it Cost to Stay in a Glass Igloo in Finland?

It can be quite expensive, but if you’re going all the way to the Arctic Circle for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it is worth spending a night or two in a famous Finland glass igloo resort. During peak season, expect to pay about $600-800 USD per night, and more around Christmas or New Year.

You’ll also want to budget for any meals during your Finnish glass igloo stay. Breakfast is typically included, other meals are typically not. And since these glass igloos tend to be in remote areas away from light pollution, there typically aren’t a lot of other restaurants in the area, unless you stay in the Rovaniemi area.

Finally, you’ll want to also factor in any activity costs that you want to organize. If you’re staying in a glass igloo near Rovaniemi, it may be cheaper to organize your winter activities independently, as you have other options to choose between. On the other hand, if you’re staying somewhere more remote, you will likely have to organize through your hotel.

Another factor is transit costs to and from your hotel. Glass igloo hotels sometimes can be quite far from airports! When you’re trying to pick one, I suggest thinking about distance from the nearest airport, as well as whether you plan to rent a car or not.

Lastly, keep in mind that most glass igloo hotels in Finland are open year-round. While they are very popular during Northern lights season, if you come during the summer months, you can enjoy the magical midnight sun and beautiful Finnish nature.

If you do want to try to see the Northern lights in your cabin, I suggest coming in October or November, where you have pretty good aurora chances, fall colors, and much lower prices than in the peak winter season.

Best Finland Glass Igloos & Northern Lights Hotels (Broken Down by Region)

Glass Igloos Near Rovaniemi

Glass Resort – View Property Here

One of the best igloo hotels in Finland can be found right in Rovaniemi, and it’s the perfect place to stay in Rovaniemi in winter: Glass Resort, located right in Santa Claus Village. Each of these glass igloos is heated to toasty perfect, and the location is perfect — just five miles out of central Rovaniemi (shuttle services are provided!) in Santa Claus Village.

Each igloo includes a private bathroom with a rain shower, bathrobe, and slippers. They also each have their very own tablet which you can use to contact the front desk with any questions. But this tablet serves another useful purpose: you can also get Northern lights alerts so you can awake to see the lights dancing above without needing to stay up! 

They even have a button you can press to defrost the glass for the perfect view — they’ve really thought of everything. The premium igloos for two even include a private sauna, and there are also family igloos for four with an alcove for two more people to sleep!

Check availability, prices, and reviews here!

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle – View Property Here

Another glass igloo hotel located in Santa Claus Village, this is a great place to stay for a bucket list experience. Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle offer everything you want in a Finland glass igloo experience: a wake-up aurora alarm, comfortable rooms with heating and an en-suite bathroom, an on-site restaurant.

These glass igloos are stylishly furnished, more similar to a boutique hotel room than a ‘glamping’ type experience.

It is quite similar to the other option listed above, since they are located very near each other. I suggest comparing dates and availability to find the best combination of price and amenities to you.

Check availability, prices, and reviews here!

Arctic Treehouse Hotel – View Property Here

For a unique and memorable stay watching the Northern lights in Finland, the Arctic Treehouse Hotel is hard to beat. Despite the treehouse name, it has a ton of modern amenities, including all your creature comforts like WiFi.

So, why treehouse in the name? Well, the Arctic Treehouse Hotel features unique mini-cabins perched on stilts for a perfect unobstructed view. Each room houses a cozy bed that faces an enormous panoramic window — perfect for seeing if the Northern lights are out and dancing!

Each cabin suite has an en-suite bathroom, and some even have kitchenettes in case you prefer to self-cater during your stay, although there is also an on-site restaurant, Rakas Restaurant & Bar, that is quite good, according to my friend who lives within walking distance of this hotel.

There are also Arctic Glass Houses which are more like a chalet, but with tons and tons of windows so you can see the aurora from any room in the house. These private chalets also include an en-suite sauna in addition to a kitchenette, two bathrooms, and space for up to four guests.

There’s also the Arctic Scene Executive Suite, which has its own private sauna and bathtub — perfect if you’re coming to Rovaniemi for a honeymoon, anniversary, or other important celebration… or if you just want an extra special experience!

This hotel is located right next to Santa Park (perfect if you have kids who want to meet ‘Santa Claus’) and a short distance from all the amenities in town at Rovaniemi, including Santa Claus Village, which is also within walking distance (about 20 minutes’ walk).

Check reviews, room types, and availability at Arctic Treehouse Hotel here!

Apukka Resort – View Property Here

Just 15 minutes away from Rovaniemi is a charming town called Apukka, home to Apukka Resort, a gorgeous property in the birch forests outside of Rovaniemi. Imagine beautifully crisp clear night skies without any of the city or airport light pollution. Even if the Northern lights don’t dance, you’ll love the chance to admire the starry sky!

Apukka Resort is also home to a husky and reindeer farm, so you can go on a husky safari or try a reindeer safari. Personally, I didn’t get a chance to stay at Apukka yet, but I did do my husky safari with them while visiting Rovaniemi and I loved the property, activity, and premises.

What sets Apukka apart are all the unique amenities, especially their sauna offerings: we’re not just talking glass igloos, but also an ice sauna (what?!) and even moveable saunas that are portable and transported on skis if you want a truly special, private sauna experience!

The interior of the glass igloos are minimalist but with nice touches that make your stay more comfortable. All the little elements set Apukka apart: rooms have a seating area, an electric fireplace for coziness and warmth, a thermostat so you can control the temperature, and hooks for hanging your winter coat.

Best of all, these glass roof cabins (called Aurora Cabins) offer you incredible views of the Northern lights dancing overhead as you lay on your back in bed! It’s the perfect way to see the Northern lights.

They also have larger suites such as the Lappish Luxury Suite and the Lappish Kammi Suite, which still offer all the views of a glass roof but with more amenities inside.

All cabins include an en-suite bathroom so you won’t have to worry about going outside in the cold in the middle of the night! A free breakfast is also included.

Check reviews, room types, and availability here at Apukka Resort here!

Arctic Snow Hotel – View Property Here

So far we’ve mostly talked about Finnish glass igloos, but there is another kind of Finland Northern lights hotel that is a truly unique experience: a snow hotel (don’t worry, they also offer glass igloos)! These temporary hotels are built entirely of ice and are rebuilt every year — an impressively massive undertaking!

And with Arctic Snow Hotel, you don’t have to choose between the two, because the property has both snow rooms and glass igloos.

In these hotels, you’ll find everything ice related — you can stay in an actual ice room with an ice bed, covered in reindeer pelt, topped with a thermal sleeping bag. The property also has fun amenities like an on-site ice bar and ice restaurant.

Even if you are not a guest at the hotel, you can visit them as part of a winter day trip from Rovaniemi, as there are several tours offered there or you can go there yourself if you’ve rented a car.

That said, if you’re looking for glass igloos, you’ll find those here too, designed beautifully to be comfortable, heated, and with an excellent view of the Northern lights anywhere you look.

Best of all, it’s pretty close to all the sights of downtown Rovaniemi so organizing transportation, activities, and meals is easy if you get tired of what’s available at Arctic Snow Hotel and want to check out the offerings of the ‘big city’ instead.

Check reviews, room types, and availability here at Arctic Snow Hotel!

Glass Igloos & Northern Lights Hotels Near Levi & Kittilä Airport

Levin Iglut – View Property Here

Located a short drive from Levi, one of the most popular areas for downhill skiing in Finland, Levin Iglut is one of the best options for glass igloos in this area.

Even though Levi is a big ski destination, Levin Iglut is no average ski resort! It’s perfect for Northern lights viewing, with unique igloos with glass ceilings so you can perfectly enjoy the lights from your aurora dome.

Of all the igloo hotels in Finland, I think Levin Iglut is one of the most sophisticated in terms of design. The igloo rooms enjoy decor that would be beautiful even in a standard hotel room, and the private bathrooms are luxurious, almost spa-like.

The on-site restaurant serves fine dining that is elevated so that it looks as beautiful as it tastes! Despite being a bit far from Rovaniemi area, it’s still quite convenient to access: it’s just 11 miles from the Kittilä Airport and 5 miles from the Levi Ski Resort.

Check reviews, room types, and availability here at Levin Iglut here!

Northern Lights Village – View Property Here

Another great Northern lights hotel option in Levi is Northern Lights Village. It even has its own reindeer paddock, where you can meet the locals!

The Aurora Cabin rooms are designed beautifully, with wood paneling on a large portion of the room, which then open up to several panels of glass. Thoughtfully, the glass ceiling is heated — snow melts basically instantaneously, so you can always see above you. By day, enjoy the snowy forest views and by night, hopefully the aurora will make an appearance.

The rooms also have a seating area and en-suite bathroom included in each unit so that it’s quite spacious and there’s room for your suitcases without feeling too crowded.

On the property, there is also an on-site restaurant specializing in the cuisine of Lapland, so you can eat well without having to trek into town. Best of all? Dinner is included in your rental price!

There’s also an on-site sauna (complete with glass windows — they’ve really dedicated themselves to the ‘glass igloo’ theme here!) that is available for guests to use — there’s no better way to relax after trying to spot the aurora than in a sauna, after all.

There is also an outdoor jacuzzi you can sit in, in order to watch the lights. Note that the sauna and the jacuzzi can both be rented for private use.

Check reviews, photos, and availability at Northern Lights Village here!

Arctic Land Adventure – View Property Here

One of the more remote glass igloos in Finland on this list, Arctic Land Adventure is located in Kilpisjärvi, about 250 km from Kittilä Airport… yes, that’s the nearest airport, that’s how remote it is! 

Connections are provided by thrice-weekly transfers and a daily bus service, but if you land outside of convenient times, private taxis are also available, as is renting a car. It is actually closer to Tromsø (another fantastic winter destination in the Nordics), about 188 km away, where there is a daily bus that connects Tromsø and Kilpisjärvi.

Despite all the efforts involved in going there, you’ll see all pains taken to get there are worth it. Their glass igloos are large and can sleep up to 4 guests, and they have all the comfortable amenities you need: smart TVs with Netflix enabled, an en-suite bathroom, a kitchenette, heating, etc. Some of the rooms even have their own private hot tub to enjoy!

You’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains and frozen lake, and as a bonus, the Northern lights dance here more than anywhere else in Finland due to its super-inland location!

Past guests raved about the hospitality as well as the delicious on-site restaurant, serving local dishes with Arctic touches like reindeer meat and cloudberries. 

As if that wasn’t enough of a dream come true, Arctic Land Adventure is also located right on a reindeer farm, and you can even arrange to spend the day with a Sámi reindeer herder to see what their life is like. The reindeer are free to roam around the premises so you’ll often see them grazing through the snow around the glass igloos.

The reindeer are free to roam around your glass igloo so you can often spot them wandering around.

This glass igloo hotel also offer snowmobile rides and all sorts of other outdoor experiences, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything on your Arctic bucket list just because you’re in a remote location.

Check rates, reviews, and availability at Arctic Land Adventure here!

Aurora Pyramid Glass Igloo – View Property Here

Meet the new evolution of glass igloos in Finland: pyramid glass igloos! This is one of the more uniquely photogenic glass igloo resorts in Finland at the moment.

This stunning hotel, Aurora Pyramid Glass Igloo, is brand new and already turning heads. It’s located 4 miles from Levi and 11 miles from Kittila Airport, making it a convenient stay especially if you want to do a mixed ski holiday and Northern lights chasing trip.

The glass pyramids feature incredible views from every direction, with amenities like a kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, and seating areas. Admire the incredible views while being close to all the comforts that Levi offers!

Check reviews, photos, and availability at Aurora Pyramid Glass Igloo here!

Glass Igloo Hotels in Finland Near Ivalo Airport

Aurora Village Ivalo – View Property Here

Ivalo is a quiet, remote area of Finland located about 21 miles from Saariselkä and 25 miles from Inari. Aurora Village Ivalo is located just 8 miles away from the Ivalo Airport, though, making it relatively easy to get somewhere so remote!

This stunning property has the unique cabins with glass roofs, allowing you to watch the spectacular views of the Northern lights undulate overhead while you’re lounging in bed.

The cabins all have their own coffee machine, seating area, and en-suite bathroom with toiletries and hair dryer — it’s amazing how much fits into these small but scenic cabins!

There’s also a glass sauna — yes, you can watch the aurora from a sauna at Aurora Village Ivalo (nothing, not even the Northern lights, gets in between a Finn and their sauna!) In addition, they also offer an outdoor hot tub which is another fantastic place to spot the lights.

When you get hungry, there’s an on-site restaurant serving up new Nordic cuisine. The dishes are absolutely exquisite, using local ingredients and beautiful plating.

Check reviews, room types, and availability here!

Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos – View Property Here

For a beautiful, remote lakeside stay, Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos is a fantastic choice. The hotel takes inspiration from the Sámi culture which informs much of Northern Norwegian life and culture, in its food, decor, and architecture.

There are several options for the kind of accommodation at this hotel. The most affordable room style is the Wilderness Room, which is your typical hotel room with Scandinavian and Nordic design elements. It’s comfortable and has an en-suite bathroom, but isn’t as unique an offering as the other room types at this hotel (it should be noted this is not a glass igloo).

Another great choice are the Arctic Chalets with large panoramic windows for seeing the Northern lights from your window — and these come complete with a private sauna! These are also quite reasonably priced. They also have Log Cabins, which include a cabin and a fireplace, which can sleep six.

But the reason most people come to Wilderness Hotel Inari is for their Aurora Cabins, which feature several panels of glass shaped similarly to a Sami lavvo (similar to a tipi). This is where you’ve seen those viral photos of a person in bed with the Northern lights dancing all around them through the paneled glass windows.

In terms of amenities, there is an onsite restaurant that serves Lappish cuisine including dishes like reindeer and moose, well as an on-site sauna for communal use.

All sorts of activities are also on offer here, including snowmobiling, husky safaris, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and aurora chasing tours.

Check reviews, room types, and availability here at Wilderness Hotel Inari here!

Star Arctic Hotel – View Property Here

Located on top of a beautiful mountain, you can enjoy some of the best views of the aurora you can possibly imagine at Star Arctic Hotel! Just 17 miles from Ivalo Airport and yet feeling like another world atop beautiful Kaunispää Mountain, the property has everything you need to feel at home and tick seeing the Northern lights off your bucket list.

This hotel doesn’t have “glass igloos” per se but it does have Aurora Cabins, which feature pyramid-shaped glass roofs that give a similar 360-degree effect from the bedroom portion of the cabin. There are also View Suites which do not have the glass roof, but do have large panoramic windows, as well as View Suites that also come with en-suite saunas!

As with all the other Finland Northern lights hotels on this list, they can assist you with any winter activity bookings you want to make, from dog sledding to snowmobiling and beyond!

Check reviews, room types, and availability here at Wilderness Hotel Inari here!

Why Don’t I Recommend *That* Famous Glass Igloo?

If you read this post expecting to see the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort listed, well, I’m not recommending it for a number of reasons.

Its faced a good deal of criticism from past guests, who say that the premium prices don’t align at all with the value offered, nor has the service met expectations. In the case of a friend who visited, he reported that he was treated extremely poorly by the staff.

But most importantly, the hotel is facing some serious complaints, including allegations that it employs vulnerable workers from Southeast Asia and mistreats them, as well as countless other allegations that are too numerous to get into (I recommend reading this well-researched article for more information).

If you truly want to go, seek it out for yourself, but I won’t personally be recommending it as there are literally at least a dozen other excellent glass igloo hotels in Finland to choose from that don’t have worker abuse allegations trailing them.

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.