On a recent visit to Lapland, we decided to treat ourselves to a stay in one of the glass igloos in the Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi. We loved our stay there and made some unforgettable memories with our three young kids, We wanted to give all our tips and advice for anyone planning a trip to this magical place.
Is Apukka Resort Worth it?
Apukka Resort is a luxury wilderness village with stunning accommodations consisting of Aurora cabins, and glass igloo suites – perfect for viewing the Lapland skies and the Northern Lights if you are fortunate to stay during an appearance. Of course, this luxury Lapland resort comes at a price and we weighed up the pros and cons a lot before booking. Having stayed at Apukka Resort with our kids we can definitely say that it’s worth the price.
There are a few reasons why we think Apukka Resort is worth the luxury price tag:
Aurora Cabins: the panoramic windows showcase the Lapland skies straight from your cosy, king-size bed. We spent many hours admiring the views and our kids loved the easy access to the snow outside.
Location: Apukka Resort is located only 15 minutes drive from Rovaniemi, however, it feels like you are somewhere much more remote and secluded. Santa’s Village and the city of Rovaniemi are only a short drive away, while the resort feels like you are in the middle of the forests.
Experience: The resort setting is truly magical. Nestled on the shore of Lake Olkkajärvi, the resort has all the touches of Finnish Lapland and the on-site activities are fantastic. From sleigh rides across the resort to hot chocolate and marshmallows by the campfires, tubing down the snow slides and watching the nightly outdoor movie, we had a lot of fun just exploring the resort.
Activities: Apukka Resort offers lots of free activities, including snow slides, kids sleighs and simply exploring the resort in the snow. In addition, it also offers many of the popular Lapland activities directly from the resort, including reindeer and husky tours, snowmobile tours and Northern Lights tours – these require an additional fee.
Breakfast: The included breakfast in the Aitta Restaurant is really good and our kids were huge fans of the sweet treats on offer!
Book your stay at Apukka Resort now
How to get to Apukka Resort
There are a number of ways to get to Apukka Resort.
Taxi
Taxis are a popular way to get to Apukka Resort from the airport, Santa Claus Village or Rovaniemi City, however they can work out very expensive if you plan to use them throughout your trip. Uber is a popular option and there is a local taxi company called Menevä that you can pre-book in advance here.
Rental Car
Having a rental car is the best and most cost-effective way to get around Rovaniemi, especially if you plan to stay at Apukka Resort. We rented a car in Rovaniemi and it was definitely worth it. Driving felt very safe and we saved a lot of money compared to taking taxis and buses. Having the rental car was a lot more comfortable than waiting at the bus stops (especially with our young kids) and it gave us the flexibility to see everything at our own pace.
We recommend booking your rental car with DiscoverCars.com. We find they have a wide selection of cars and rental car companies to choose from. Their prices are competitively priced and we’ve always secured the car we want at a good price – check prices now!
Book your Rovaniemi Rental Car now
Shuttle Bus
Apukka operates a shuttle bus to Santa’s Village and the city of Rovaniemi during the winter season (approx. September to April each year). There is a charge for this bus (adults €8 and kids (4-14) €4 – each way), however, it’s a great way to get to Santa’s Village if you don’t have a rental car.
Apukka Resort Accommodation
Apukka Resort has three main accommodation options: the Aurora Cabins and Glass Igloo Suites can cater to couples, small groups and families. There is also a villa aimed at larger groups and families.
We travelled as a family of 5 with three young kids (age 5, 4 and 1) and the Aurora King Cabin Glass Igloo worked great as our one-year-old was still in a cot – there are also Aurora Family Cabins which sleep up to 6. There was plenty of space and the cabin was extremely cosy throughout our stay.
While we didn’t get to see the Northern Lights (thankfully, we saw a spectacular Northern Lights display in Donegal, Ireland not long after our visit!), the views from the cabin were stunning and we spent hours just relaxing on the bed looking at the skies.
The Aurora Cabins
The Aurora Cabins are set on one level (which we wanted as we have young kids) with a convertible sofa bed and a main double bed set under a panoramic window/roof. The cabins have everything you need for a cosy stay.
There is plenty of storage for your winter gear and luggage near the door, tea and coffee-making facilities and a wetroom bathroom with shower.
The entire cabin was very cosy with underfloor heating and an additional heater. The windows also had heating to keep the glass clear of snow and ice.
Glass Igloo Suites
The Glass Igloo Suites are another popular option at Apukka Resort. These suites are perfect for couples or small groups as they feature a main bedroom set on the second level under a 360-degree panoramic glass roof. These suites are two-story cabins, with the main bedroom on the second level offering panoramic sky views, and the sitting area/sofa bed/kitchenette (if applicable) on the ground floor.
Komsio: These suites are more suited to couples as it’s a slightly smaller suite with a smaller sitting area and no kitchenette.
Kammi: The Kammi glass igloo suites are aimed at larger groups as they sleep up to 4 people and have a larger sitting area and a kitchenette.
Apukka Lakeview Suite
The Lakeview Suite is the largest room available at Apukka Resort. The suite is located on the shore of the lake and has a bigger kitchen, two bedrooms and glass walls overlooking the lake.
Dining at Apukka Resort
There are two restaurants at Apukka Resort: Restaurant Aitta serves breakfast, lunch a la carte and half-board dinner, while Restaurant Kota is open each evening offering casual dining in a relaxed setting.
Apukka Resort tip: IF you plan to dine at either restaurant for dinner it is recommended to book your seats in advance. We didn’t do this and both restaurants were booked up when we arrived!
Breakfast
Apukka Resort includes breakfast for guests and is served in Restaurant Aitta each morning. It is buffet style and is served from 8am to 10.30 am. There is a great selection of food, from traditional breakfast pastries and warm food to traditional Finnish foods such as pickled and smoked fish.
Our kids loved the sweet treats section and the chocolate fondue fountain was a big hit each morning.
Lunch is served from 12.00 to 15.00 each day and does not need to be pre-booked.
Dinner
Dinner is served at both restaurants restaurant Kota and should be reserved in advance.
Viewing the Northern Lights at Apukka Resort
The glass roofed cabins at Apukka Resort and the fact that the resort is located away from light pollution of the city make it a perfect location to experience the Aurora Borealis, aka the Northern Lights..
Viewing the northern lights in Rovaniemi is weather dependent. The solar activity needs to be above a certain level for the lights to be visible and the night sky also needs to be clear. We recommend downloading the Aurora Alert Realtime app Play store / iOS and setting up alerts to notify you when is the best chance of viewing the northern lights.
We were unlucky during our visit to Rovaniemi as low cloud cover meant we didn’t get to see the Northern Lights, even though there was significant solar activity each night!
We did get very lucky during a trip to Donegal in Ireland a few months later and experienced an incredible night of the Northern Lights.
Apukka Resort Included Activities
One of the best reasons to stay at Apukka Resort is the range of activities and facilities that are offered on-site. Our kids loved exploring all the free things, so we didn’t feel the need to book additional activities on-site. We chose to do activities at Santas Village instead. The resort also offers a wide range of additional paid activities at the resort
Sleighs
Our kids loved the complementary sleighs for getting around the resort. These are available for all guests to use at the resort and can also carry luggage. It is so much fun transporting kids around the resort on a sleigh!
Campfires
There are several campsite huts dotted around the resort and you can request the fires be lit at reception. One of our favorite memories of Rovaniemi was enjoying hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows (we brought these with us) at the campfires in Apukka Resort.
Apukka Resort tip: We recommend packing marshmallows, hot chocolate and a flask for your trip to Roveniemi. You’ll save a lot of money compared to buying them there and our kids loved roasting marshmallows on the fires.
Snow slides
Our kids absolutely loved the snow slide behind Aitta Restaurant. We spent a lot of time sliding down on the rubber rings!
Aurora Movie Screening
Each night during the winter months a movie is screened outdoors at the snow slide area. It’s a unique experience.
Apukka Resort Paid Activities
Apukka Resort offers a wide range of paid activities for guests, from husky and reindeer sleigh rides and a reindeer ride to Santa in the Magic Forest.
Tours and Day Activities
Husky, reindeer, snowmobile and Northern Lights tours are popular throughout Rovaniemi and are available onsite. Apukka also offers two Santa Claus tours: a snowmobile tour to Santa Village and a unique reindeer ride to Santa through the Magic Forest.
We didn’t try out any of the activities at the resort. We did the short reindeer and husky rides (these were the perfect duration for our 5, 4 and 1-year-old in the cold) and the kids snowmobile circuit in Santa Village and we used our rental car to check out Northern Lights viewing opportunities – check out our guide to renting a car in Rovaniemi. All our time at the resort was spent walking on the frozen lake, toasting marshmallows on the campfire, tubing on the snow slide and playing in the snow!
Sauna Experiences
Appuka Resort offers a range of classic Finnish sauna experiences:
- Sauna and outdoor jacuzzi: electric sauna with outdoor jacuzzi
- Sauna Carriage: Apukka Resort has a private mobile sauna that guests can reserve and have delivered directly to their cabin! Sauna sessions are 1.5 hours and accommodate 4 people – it’s a real treat.
- Arctic Bath and Lakeside Sauna: a private lakeside sauna with the option to take a cold plunge into Lake Olkka.
Overall
Due to it’s high price tag, staying at Apukka Resort is a big decision for anyone planning a trip to Rovaniemi. We were really happy that we made the choice to stay there as it made our time in Lapland even more special. The resort location, facilities and all round vibe meant we’ll remember our time there for many, many years. We highly recommend anyone thinking of staying at Apukka Resort to take the plunge, you won’t regret it.