Where to stay in Lapland (March–early April): Ivalo vs Saariselkä vs Inari — our real experience

If you’re planning a trip to Finnish Lapland (apart from Helsinki & Rovaniemi) around late March or early April, and you’re confused about where to stay up north — this might help you avoid the same mistake we almost made.

Like most people, we thought:

“The more north you go, the more snow you’ll get.”

So initially, we were planning to stay in Inari — since it’s further north and the final stop for many buses.

But we eventually booked Ivalo (specifically Hotel Ivalo), mainly because:

•	It’s right on the main road

•	There’s a bus stop directly in front (super convenient with luggage)

•	Easier access compared to Saariselkä, which looked slightly inside and more “resort-like”

We also avoided Saariselkä thinking it might be too commercialized.

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The Reality Hit Us on the Bus Ride 😅

While traveling from Rovaniemi to Ivalo:

•	Initially → less snow, dirty/black snow on roadsides

•	As we moved north → snow started increasing, trees looked beautiful ❄️

•	We got excited thinking Ivalo would be even better…

Then we reached Saariselkä.

The bus actually turns inside Saariselkä village and makes multiple stops — so accessibility is NOT an issue at all (this was our misconception).

And honestly, it looked like a perfect winter town — full snow, white landscapes, proper winter vibe.

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Then Came the Plot Twist 😐

As the bus continued north from Saariselkä to Ivalo…

•	Snow started reducing

•	Trees had little to no snow

•	Roadside snow looked darker/slushy

By the time we reached Ivalo —

we were genuinely disappointed. There was way less snow than we expected.

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Why This Happens (Important Insight)

We later asked at the hotel, and this changed everything:

👉 Saariselkä is at a higher elevation (~438 m)

👉 Ivalo is lower (~150 m)

👉 Inari is also low (~120 m)

So even though Saariselkä is south of Ivalo —

it has MORE snow because of altitude, not latitude.

This completely breaks the “go more north = more snow” assumption.

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Activities Difference (Big Factor)

Another thing we didn’t realize:

•	In Ivalo → very limited snow activities

•	In Saariselkä → everything

•	Skiing

•	Snowmobiling

•	Winter tours

We actually had to take a bus back to Saariselkä just to do a snowmobile ride —

and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of our trip. Highly recommend 🔥

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What About Levi?

If you’re exploring options:

Levi is another great choice.

•	Elevation \~531 m (even higher than Saariselkä)

•	Very good snow conditions

•	More developed ski resort

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Final Advice

If you’re traveling in late March / early April:

•	❌ Don’t assume “more north = more snow”

•	✅ Choose higher elevation locations