Luxury Apukka Resort, Rovaniemi, Finland

The luxury hotel market in Finland is relatively small, a testament to how untapped Finland is as a major tourism destination. Unlike the nearby Scandinavian countries of Norway and Iceland, tourism just hasn’t quite boomed yet in Finland.

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However, one type of luxury hotel in Finland is making recent travel headlines – the glass igloo. Glass igloos (or aroura cabins) have seen the north of Finland quickly gain the attention of travelers from all around the world.

Apukka Resort is one of these stunning glass igloos in the north of Finland, just outside of Rovaniemi. With its comfortable rooms, decent pricing, and great location, it absolutely needs to be on your luxury hotel bucket list.

Reader bonus, check out these nine amazing glass igloos in Finland; there are options in both Lapland and southern Finland to choose from.

Located about 16 kilometers northeast of Rovaniemi’s town center, the Apukka Resort area consists of farmland, lakes, and forests. This seclusion keeps the winter night skies darker and the long summer days all the more peaceful. It is easily accessible yet distant enough to feel as a retreat should.

Throughout the autumn and winter months, Apukka Resort is the idyllic spot for watching the northern lights. Visitors can lay back in bed with the comforting warmth of a blanket, heater, and hot chocolate and gaze up at the shimmering colors in the dark night sky.

The chances of seeing the northern lights from Apukka Resort are quite high, some of the best in the country. 

Popular winter activities such as husky sled rides, reindeer tours, northern lights tours, and snowmobile tours can all be booked directly at reception.

There are still plenty of outdoor activities to choose from during the summer months in the almost endless days. Hiking, rowing, berry picking, exploring the lakes and nearby waterfalls are all popular with the Finns. A typical summer temperature of 25 degrees Celsius is a lot more comfortable than the freezing winter climate.

Apukka Resort is located north of the Arctic Circle, which means you will also witness continuous 24-hour sunlight during the Midnight Sun period (6^th June to 7^th July). This is perhaps as stunning as the northern lights throughout the winter and makes Rovaniemi one of the top places to visit in Finland all year round.

Activities Nearby Apukka Resort

Apukka Resort is located alongside the calm waters of Olkkajärvi, part of the stunning lakes system just east of Rovaniemi. Down by the water, a proper Finnish sauna is available for use all year round and free of charge for hotel guests.

Looking to explore the lake? Hop in the resort’s own wooden rowboat and paddle out on the water. There is a small island called Tervasaari located less than one kilometer from the shore. This makes for a fantastic afternoon summer trip under the late-night sun.

For those looking to explore the forest, you will only need to take a few steps from the resort to find the Ounasvaara Winter Trail. This short forest walk leads you around to the Olkkajärvi public beach, arguably one of the best swimming locations near Rovaniemi.

Just seven kilometers further northeast, you will find the Arctic Circle Hiking Area. This zone offers a whole range of hiking trails for visitors, varying in length from an easy 1.5-kilometer loop trail to a more challenging ten-kilometer one-way hike.

Which Months is Apukka Resort Open?

Winter is the peak tourist season, with rooms booked out months in advance. If you intend to stay at Apukka Resort, you will need to book weeks, if not months, beforehand to secure a spot.

Many glass igloos in Rovaniemi close their doors for the summer. You only have to search online for a while to find that “no rooms are available in this period” until you will realize they’re not full but closed.

Apukka Resort is one of the few glass igloos which remain open to visitors all year round. Summer is definitely the low season. In fact, it is possible to have the resort entirely to yourself. While that may seem odd initially, it is quite a satisfying feeling knowing you have complete privacy and amenities all to yourself.

Oh, did we mention that nightly rates are also typically half the price throughout the summer?

How to get to Apukka Resort

Apukka Resort is located about 16 kilometers northeast of Rovaniemi along Route E75 towards Kemijarvi. Coming by car, it is an easy 15-minute drive from Rovaniemi’s town center.

There are multiple daily flights from Helsinki to Rovaniemi for those arriving by plane with Norwegian Air and Finnair. The flight time is about one hour and 15 minutes. Norwegian Air tends to be the cheaper option. 

Apukka Resort offers private transfers to and from the airport, which should be booked a day in advance via their website. However, the transfer is about the same price as a taxi which can be taken directly from the airport without prior booking.