Inari Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Inari showing a lake or waterhole and tranquil scenes
Inari which includes a lake or waterhole and tranquil scenes
Inari
Pielpajarvi Wilderness Church featuring a church or cathedral and tranquil scenes
Inari which includes a lake or waterhole, views and landscape views
Travellers to northern Lapland can expect a landscape of fells where herds of reindeer wander. The clear waters of Lake Inari are a sight to behold.

Lovely Inari is the dream destination for hikers - a wilderness where traditional reindeer-herding and old Sami customs still thrive. The municipality of Inari is Finland’s largest, though fewer than 7,000 people live there. While on holiday in Inari, you can visit the Saariselkä fells region, and the islands that dot the watery expanse of Lake Inari. The Inari region also includes untouched areas of wilderness, a large part of the Lemmenjoki National Park, and the northernmost section of the Urho Kekkonen National Park.

The easiest way to get to Inari is by air, to the regional airport in Ivalo. Ivalo also serves as Inari’s administrative centre, and is its largest built-up area, catering for the many different needs of travellers. Distances are long in Lapland, though your sense of time becomes blurred as you drive through the tranquil landscape. The easiest way to explore the region is by car, though there are good public transport connections between Ivalo and the Saariselkä Ski Centre.

Saariselkä, just south of Ivalo, is a series of fells that extend into several different areas, and is a good place to start admiring the natural wonders of the region. In winter, you can sail down the ski slopes at the Saariselkä tourist resort, or ski along the various trails that the Urho Kekkonen National Park has to offer. The Park makes an ideal tourist destination all year round both for experienced off-trail trekkers and holidaymakers using marked footpaths. Why not take a look at the old trekking huts, Rumakuru or Rautalampi, both of which lie close to the Saariselkä tourist resort?

Inari is a cheap option for exploring nature trails, and Lemmenjoki National Park makes a splendid tourist destination. It is Finland’s biggest national park, offering an untouched environment and a chance to visit the old Kaapin Jouni reindeer farm, or watch gold prospectors at work, some of whom like to receive visitors. Ravadasköngäs is a tributary of the Lemmenjoki River, and is one of the most impressive sites the park has to offer, with its free-flowing waterfall, which you can reach either on foot, or by taking a boat along the river. Do a day’s hike from the village of Njurkulahti, or canoe along the Lemmenjoki River to the cottage known as Kalasatama, or to Lake Paadarjärvi.

One of the most striking sights that the Inari region has to offer is Lake Inari, which charms travellers at any time of the year. Canoe or cruise on the huge lake in summer time – you can stay the night in a remote hut on its banks, or on one of its islands. In winter, you can ski over the ice-covered lake to the island of Ukonsaari, once a Sami sacred site. The small, though hilly, island was a place of worship dedicated to the god Ukko, who was brought many sacrificial offerings in the form of forest deer bones.

In summer, you can sail to Ukonsaari from Inari, direct from the Siida museum, which incorporates both the Sámi Museum and the Northern Lapland Nature Centre. Enjoy a holiday in Inari to discover what the small town has to offer, and explore the fascinating culture of Europe’s only indigenous people. Inari is well known as a centre of Sami culture, as is demonstrated in the many handicrafts sold in the local shops, and in the importance of reindeer husbandry in the area.

Northern Lapland’s wilderness, splendid national parks and vibrant Sami culture, make Inari a unique travel destination that can be visited at any time of the year.

Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos
Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos
4 out of 5
Inarintie 2, Inari
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Inari. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (353 reviews)
Amazing stay
"Loved our stay at Wilderness Hotel Inari. The food, room, atmosphere, service, and guides were perfect, and made for an amazing few days."

Reviewed on 11 Feb 2025

Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos
Hotel Kultahippu
Hotel Kultahippu
Petsamontie 1, Ivalo, Inari, Inari
The price is ₹12,306 per night from 28 Apr to 29 Apr
₹12,306
₹14,029 total
includes taxes & fees
28 Apr - 29 Apr
Stay at this hotel in Inari. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a nightclub. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions Taidenayttelytila ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (171 reviews)
"Good. Recommend."

Reviewed on 19 Mar 2025

Hotel Kultahippu
Giellajohka
Giellajohka
3 out of 5
2920 Karigasniementie, Inari
The price is ₹11,465 per night from 26 Apr to 27 Apr
₹11,465
₹13,071 total
includes taxes & fees
26 Apr - 27 Apr
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Inari. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews.
9.6/10 Exceptional! (94 reviews)
"I really enjoyed my stay in Giellajohka.The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. The area was beautiful and peaceful and there was almost no light pollution."

Reviewed on 6 Feb 2025

Giellajohka
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Lake Inari Mobile Cabins
Lake Inari Mobile Cabins
2 out of 5
Sarviniementie 110, Inari
Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Siida and Sámi Museum are located nearby.
9.6/10 Exceptional! (13 reviews)
"What a unique place to stay! An amazing experience."

Reviewed on 29 Dec 2024

Lake Inari Mobile Cabins
Kuukkeli Apartments Inari
Kuukkeli Apartments Inari
57 Inarintie, Inari
Stay at this apartment in Inari. Enjoy free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Sajos Sámi Cultural Centre and Pielpajärven Kirkko are located ...
5/10 (2 reviews)
"If you need a place to sleep for a night you get that. A bed and a working toilet. Good for a solo dude traveling through. If you want any amenities, look elsewhere."

Reviewed on 5 Feb 2025

Kuukkeli Apartments Inari
Ukonjärven Holiday Village
Ukonjärven Holiday Village
3.5 out of 5
Ukonjärventie 141, Inari
Stay at this 3.5-star cottage in Inari. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Ivalo Church and Ivalo River Beach are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (13 reviews)
"Bungalows near the fjord in the middle of the lapland forrest. Great and quiet experience. No restaurant, so bring your food and drinks"

Reviewed on 12 Aug 2018

Ukonjärven Holiday Village
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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