A festive holiday in Lapland is about far more than snow-covered landscapes and searching for Santa. The accommodation you choose has a huge influence on the experience, shaping everything from the atmosphere of your trip to the activities on your doorstep. Whether you're travelling with young children, hoping to see the Northern Lights, celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to embrace the magic of winter, Lapland offers a remarkable variety of places to stay. From family-friendly wilderness resorts and adults-only hideaways to iconic ice hotels and luxurious glass-roofed cabins, these properties represent some of the very best festive accommodation options in Scandinavia.
For families: Hotel Harriniva
For families dreaming of a traditional Lapland Christmas, Harriniva offers the perfect blend of adventure, authenticity and accessibility. Located in the peaceful wilderness of Finnish Lapland, close to the village of Muonio, Harriniva is all about immersing guests in the Arctic environment while ensuring that younger travellers remain thoroughly entertained.
What makes Harriniva particularly appealing for families is the sheer range of activities available directly from the hotel. Children can meet reindeer, learn about sled dogs, enjoy gentle husky rides and experience the excitement of snowmobiling through snowy forests. The hotel's long-established connection with sled dogs means it offers some of the most authentic husky experiences in Lapland, often becoming the highlight of a family holiday. Accommodation is comfortable and welcoming, ranging from hotel-style rooms to rustic log cabins that provide plenty of space after a busy day outdoors. The atmosphere is refreshingly uncommercial compared to some of the larger Christmas resorts, creating a genuine sense of connection with Lapland's wilderness and traditions.
Parents often appreciate that Harriniva focuses on experiences rather than spectacle. While Santa remains an important part of the festive season, the emphasis here is on spending quality time together, exploring nature and creating memorable family moments. Sitting around an open fire after a day in the snow or watching children light up as they meet a reindeer herd often becomes every bit as magical as a visit from Santa himself.
For Northern Lights enthusiasts: Levin Iglut
For those whose festive wish list begins and ends with seeing the Aurora Borealis, few properties deliver quite like Levin Iglut. Perched on a hillside overlooking Levi fell, these renowned glass igloos have been specifically designed to maximise Northern Lights viewing opportunities. Their elevated position away from significant light pollution means guests can enjoy uninterrupted views across the Arctic sky from the comfort of their own bed. The accommodation itself perfectly combines practicality and luxury. The heated glass roofs remain clear even during snowy conditions, allowing guests to gaze skyward throughout the evening without stepping outside into the winter cold. During the festive season, when Lapland's landscape is blanketed in snow and darkness falls early, every night carries the promise of an unforgettable aurora display. For those seeking an extra touch of luxury, Levin Iglut's upgraded suites feature private outdoor hot tubs on the terrace, allowing guests to soak beneath the Arctic sky while surrounded by snow-covered landscapes and, with a little luck, the Northern Lights overhead.
Of course, Levin Iglut offers much more than just a chance to see the Northern Lights. The hotel restaurant enjoys some of the finest views in Finnish Lapland, while activities such as snowshoeing, husky safaris, reindeer excursions and snowmobiling are all easily accessible from nearby Levi. What truly sets Levin Iglut apart, however, is the anticipation it creates. There is something extraordinary about settling into your warm igloo after dinner, watching the stars emerge above the snowy wilderness and knowing that nature's greatest light show could appear at any moment. For couples celebrating Christmas together, milestone anniversaries or simply travellers looking to prioritise aurora viewing, Levin Iglut remains one of Lapland's most iconic and sought-after festive retreats.
For luxury travellers: Hidden Arctic Cloud
For guests seeking a truly exclusive festive escape, Hidden Arctic Cloud offers a level of privacy, sophistication and personalised service that is difficult to match anywhere else in Lapland. Located just a 20-minute drive from Rovaniemi, this boutique collection of luxury villas feels a world away from the festive crowds. Rather than focusing on large-scale tourism, Hidden Arctic Cloud is designed for those who value space, tranquillity and tailor-made experiences. The accommodation combines elegant Nordic design with high-end comforts, including spacious living areas, private saunas and beautifully crafted interiors.
The festive season is when the property truly comes into its own. Guests can enjoy bespoke itineraries built around their individual interests, whether that means private Northern Lights excursions, exclusive reindeer encounters, gourmet dining experiences or personalised visits to Santa's village. Everything feels carefully curated and distinctly premium. Unlike traditional hotels, Hidden Arctic Cloud provides a sense of ownership over your Lapland experience. Families can enjoy complete privacy, couples can celebrate special occasions without interruption and multi-generational groups can spend valuable time together under one roof.
Luxury in Lapland is often about access to nature, and Hidden Arctic Cloud delivers this beautifully. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame snow-covered forests, while private terraces provide opportunities to admire the Arctic landscape in complete seclusion.
For a truly unique stay: ICEHOTEL, Swedish Lapland
There are few hotels in the world that can genuinely claim to be unlike anywhere else. ICEHOTEL is one of them. Situated in Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland, this world-famous property is recreated every winter using thousands of tonnes of ice and snow harvested from the nearby Torne River. Each year, artists from across the globe design entirely new suites, transforming the hotel into a temporary work of art that exists for just one season before eventually returning to nature. A festive stay at ICEHOTEL feels wonderfully different from a traditional Christmas holiday. Guests can sleep surrounded by intricately carved ice sculptures, sip drinks from ice glasses at the famous Icebar and explore galleries where every surface has been sculpted from frozen water.
Importantly, visitors do not need to sacrifice comfort for the experience. Alongside the iconic ice rooms are warm accommodation options, allowing guests to enjoy the best of both worlds. Many visitors opt to spend one night in an ice suite before retreating to heated accommodation for the remainder of their stay. Beyond the hotel itself, the surrounding region offers exceptional opportunities for Northern Lights viewing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and encounters with Sami culture. This combination of artistic innovation and authentic Arctic adventure makes ICEHOTEL much more than simply a place to sleep. For those looking to tick off a genuine bucket-list experience during the festive season, few accommodation choices are as memorable or conversation-worthy as ICEHOTEL.
For authentic Lapland charm: Wilderness Hotels
For many travellers, the dream of Lapland involves cosy cabins, snow-laden pine forests, frozen lakes and a feeling of complete immersion in nature. If that's the vision, the Wilderness Hotels collection offers some of the best festive experiences available. Hotels such as Wilderness Hotel Inari, Wilderness Hotel Muotka, Wilderness Hotel Nellim and Wilderness Hotel Nangu are all located in stunning natural settings across Finnish Lapland. While each property has its own distinctive character, they all share a commitment to showcasing the region's wilderness, culture and traditions.
Hotel Inari enjoys a beautiful lakeside location overlooking Lake Inari, one of Finland's largest lakes and an important cultural area for the indigenous Sami people. Muotka appeals to adventurous travellers looking for direct access to untouched wilderness, while Nellim offers excellent opportunities for aurora viewing in one of Lapland's most remote locations. Nangu, meanwhile, provides a more refined adults-focused atmosphere with a strong emphasis on Northern Lights experiences. Accommodation ranges from cosy wilderness rooms and cabins to Aurora Cabins featuring glass roofs that bring the Arctic night sky indoors. The design throughout remains firmly rooted in Scandinavian simplicity, creating spaces that feel stylish without losing their connection to the surrounding landscape.
What makes these properties particularly special at Christmas is their sense of place. Rather than creating artificial festive experiences, they allow guests to experience the season as it has been celebrated in the far north for generations. Think candlelit dinners, snowy forests, traditional Finnish saunas and a genuine connection with the natural world.
For adults-only festive escapes: Beana Laponia
Not every festive holiday revolves around Santa and family activities. For couples, friends and adults seeking peace, exclusivity and romance, Beana Laponia offers one of Lapland's most distinctive luxury experiences. As an adults-only boutique hotel, Beana Laponia has been carefully designed for travellers who want to disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with nature. Surrounded by vast forests and untouched Arctic landscapes, the property combines personalised service with an intimate atmosphere that feels worlds away from the busier winter resorts.
The limited number of rooms ensures exclusivity, while the warm Scandinavian interiors create a cosy and welcoming retreat during the long winter nights. Attention to detail is evident throughout, from the property's excellent dining experiences to its carefully curated excursions. Guests can embark on guided snowshoe hikes, join Northern Lights excursions, enjoy husky adventures with a team of Beana Laponia's resident huskies or simply unwind in front of the fire after a day exploring the wilderness. The slower pace allows travellers to fully appreciate the tranquillity and beauty of the Arctic environment.
Christmas here feels refined rather than commercialised. Instead of crowds and queues, guests enjoy intimate celebrations, exceptional hospitality and a setting that encourages relaxation and reflection.
