The best spas in Lapland for an arctic escape

What is it? Tucked away in complete tranquillity on the shores of Lake Palojärvi, just a 40-minute drive from Rovaniemi, Aito Resort has only been around for a couple of years, but it’s already made a name for itself with its stunning Arctic Spa Center, birdhouse-shaped luxury accommodation and Wildwoods restaurant.

Why we love it? Arctic Spa Center is beautifully designed. There are pools both indoors and outdoors, plus salt beds and loungers for kicking back. Outside, you’ll find Jacuzzis and a separate hot sauna where you can experience a proper Finnish sauna with seriously intense heat. You can also take a dip in the lake straight from the jetty. This is what a spa experience should feel like: not just pools, but a chance to unwind, cleanse, recharge and try something special. The space is divided into different areas, so you can switch up the atmosphere whenever you fancy.

Time Out tip: You can book your spa visit with a transfer from Rovaniemi, so there’s no need to worry about driving back into town after a relaxing session.

Address: Seitarannantie 437, Rovaniemi
Opening hours: Treatments 12:00–19:00, spa admission 11:00–19:00. Book a two-hour slot in advance.
Expect to pay: Guests staying at Aito Resort get one wellness pass per day included in their stay. For non-residents, an Arctic Spa Center wellness pass costs €99 during the winter season and €69 at other times.

What is it? Cape East is a spa hotel in Haparanda, Sweden, just across the Finnish border. At the heart of the spa is a staircase inspired by a Mayan temple, spanning three floors and forming part of one of the world’s largest saunas. Temperatures on the uppermost steps can reach a scorching 100°C.

Why we love it? There are saunas, pools and experience showers spread across several levels, each with different temperatures. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll find a few more pools on the rooftop where you can soak up the views. Time flies as you explore what else the spa has in store. Drinks and fruit are available in the lounge area. The spa is for adults aged 18 and over.

Time Out tip: Stay overnight and explore the history of the place. The hotel buildings have served various purposes over the years, including as a reception centre.

Address: Sundholmen 1, Haparanda, Sweden
Opening hours: Open to non-residents outside the winter season.
Expect to pay: SEK 549 (approximately €52), including a bathrobe, towel and slippers.

What is it? A private sauna available to hire at the relatively new Kurula’s Resort, a log-built hotel on the shores of a lake in Pyhätunturi. The space also comes with an outdoor pool and a private spot for ice swimming.

Why we love it? Having a beautiful place all to yourself is always a treat. You could even do yoga in the sauna, named Lohkare, as there’s certainly enough room! The spa is housed in a completely separate building from the hotel, with a pool in an open-air space at its centre. The sauna and showers occupy their own separate section. The sauna itself deserves a special mention as the most beautiful, photogenic and sculptural sauna I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. There’s always room for traditional sauna experiences, but I’d love to see more places like this!

Time Out tip: All that relaxing in the hot tub and sauna is bound to work up an appetite, and the resort restaurant’s reindeer burgers are just the thing!

Address: Pyhäntie 1788, Pyhätunturi
Opening hours: The sauna can be booked for 90-minute sessions from 09:00, with the last available booking at 19:00.
Expect to pay: From €250 for one to four people, plus €30 for each additional guest. The sauna can accommodate a maximum of ten people. It’s worth checking for discounts during the low season.

What is it? Gáldu is a new 31-room boutique hotel in Saariselkä, and its biggest draw is its stylish outdoor spa. Gáldu says it is the world’s northernmost outdoor spa. Use of the spa is included in the room rate, while non-residents are also welcome for an additional spa fee.

Why we love it: Set in the forest beside the hotel, the spa has three outdoor pools and three different saunas: a Finnish sauna with forest views, a wood-fired panoramic sauna and a steam sauna. Outside, there is a heated swimming pool, a hot tub and, of course, a cold plunge pool. The hotel’s name comes from the Sámi word gáldu, meaning a cold spring or a place for winter swimming. Between sauna sessions and dips, you can retreat indoors and relax by the fire.

Time Out tip: As well as visiting Gáldu’s spa, make time for a sauna session at Kuurakaltio’s smoke sauna at the foot of Kiilopää fell. It is one of Finland’s best saunas.

Address: Viskitie 1, Saariselkä
Opening hours: The spa is usually open from 4pm to 9pm. Advance booking is required for non-residents; seasonal opening hours should be checked directly with the hotel.

What is it? Levi Spa is a large spa complex with plenty of pools both indoors and outdoors. You can whizz down waterslides, swim laps, let the current carry you along, relax in bubbling pools inside and out, soak in hot pools and try walking pools designed to refresh tired feet.

Why we love it? It’s a fun, well-designed spa where you can easily spend hours, whether you’re visiting as a family or a couple. As you’d expect from a family-friendly spa, there’s always plenty of excited chatter from children, but those after a little peace and quiet can retreat to the warmest relaxation pool, tucked away on an upper mezzanine. The outdoor hot tubs are another highlight, especially popular with visitors during the winter months.

Time Out tip: If you’re more into spas than outdoor adventures, it’s worth heading here earlier in the day. The spa tends to fill up more quickly in the evenings.

Address: Levintie 1590, Sirkka
Opening hours: Daily 12:00–20:00. Hours may vary on public holidays. Morning swimming sessions are also available on Mondays.
Expect to pay: €25 for adults and €17 for children aged 4–14. Discounted rates are available for guests staying at Levi Hotel Spa.

What is it? We’re stretching the boundaries of Lapland a little here, as Iso-Syöte isn’t technically in Lapland, but this spot at the top of Finland’s southernmost fell absolutely deserves a place on the list. The Arctic Spa at the striking Hotel Iso-Syöte is a relaxing retreat with perhaps the most generous opening hours on our list.

Why we love it? The saunas are heated to just the right temperatures for Finnish tastes. From the pools, you can gaze out at the Arctic landscape, with trees blanketed in thick snow. The spa isn’t huge, but the clever layout of the pools means there’s even room to swim a few lengths. There’s also a hot tub for soaking and lounging around. Massage showers and soothing saunas work wonders on muscles tightened up by outdoor adventures. It’s exactly the kind of place that leaves you feeling thoroughly content after a long cross-country ski. The dark tones and lighting create a pleasing contrast.

Time Out tip: The hotel has more bathing experiences to offer beyond Arctic Spa. The Feenix, Karhunpesä and Kotkanpesä suites offer some of the most sought-after suite experiences in Finland, each with its own large hot tub. The two-storey Kotkanpesä suite even features a round bed and a genuine standing dead pine tree trunk right in the middle of the room.

Address: Isosyötteentie 246, Syöte
Opening hours: Pools Monday 10:00–21:00 and Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–21:00. Saunas Sunday–Friday 13:00–21:00 and Saturday 11:00–21:00.
Expect to pay: €25 for adults and €5–15 for children, depending on age.

What is it? Completed in time for Christmas 2025, Kaamos Lodge is one of Lapland’s newest hotel and spa arrivals, tucked into the slopes of Aavasaksanvaara near the western border. The hotel itself is a charming, hobbit village-like retreat, with a beautiful spa hidden inside its main building.

Why we love it? It’s easy to fall for this timeless, peaceful and spacious spa from the moment you step inside. The music plays at just the right volume, while the gentle lapping of water and the hiss of steam in the sauna create an almost ASMR-like soundtrack to complement the other sensory pleasures. The views from high above the surrounding countryside are a treat for the eyes. The sauna is spacious enough for a larger group to sit back and take in the scenery. There’s one heated pool indoors and another outside. If you fancy some extra pampering, the separately bookable Kaamos Day Spa treatments are just through the door. Time seems to stand still here.

Time Out tip: Aavasaksa is a popular spot for outdoor adventures. Along the scenic trail at the summit, you’ll find an observation tower, the Emperor’s Lodge and a point on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Struve Geodetic Arc. All three are well worth exploring before settling in for some spa time.

Address: Kalliorinne 40, 95620 Aavasaksa
Opening hours: Daily 07:00–09:00 and 15:00–21:00. Hours may vary during the summer season. Check your preferred time with the hotel reception.
Expect to pay: €55 for adults and €38.50 for children. The entire spa can also be booked for private use.

What is it? At the top of Saarua fell in Ruka (we know, not technically in Lapland either), you’ll find a fantastic spot for adults to unwind. The Base Heat&Eat concept combines sauna sessions and dining experiences with spectacular views. You can reach the summit either by gondola lift or on foot.

Why we love it? Base’s sauna is the perfect place to spend an evening after a day of skiing or outdoor adventures. The sauna heat is absolutely spot on. Outside, tucked beneath a canopy, are a hot pool and a cold plunge pool where you can soak up the scenery and, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Drinks from the restaurant are served in the sauna area. Once you’ve discovered this place, it’s hard to imagine visiting Ruka without booking a session at Base!

Time Out tip: Book your two-hour spa session in advance. Keep an eye on the weather when planning your visit, as the gondola lift to the summit closes in strong winds. You might find yourself having to hike up the fell, or back down again!

Address: Gondola upper station, Saarua summit, Ruka
Opening hours: Daily 12:00–22:00. Sessions booked after 18:00 are for adults only.
Expect to pay: €25 per person.

What is it? A sauna experience at Arctic SnowHotel that will surprise even seasoned sauna-goers with its unusual take on Finnish bathing. You can book a private 90-minute experience that includes access to a snow sauna (yes, a sauna built from snow), your own hot tub and a private heated space with a changing room, shower and indoor sauna. A sauna guide is on hand to explain how everything works and sell sauna drinks.

Why we love it? The snow sauna is a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Even climbing the icy steps to reach the sauna benches inside a snowy cave feels extraordinary. I’ve never experienced heat quite like the steam rising from its sauna stove. Imagine the thick steam of a gentle steam room, except that it feels more like warm slush washing over your body than traditional sauna steam. As I said, you really have to experience it for yourself! Lounging in your private hot tub after the sauna, surrounded by crisp, freezing air, feels like just the right recipe for a brilliant night’s sleep.

Time Out tip: If you’re not staying at SnowHotel, it’s worth booking an experience package with transfers from central Rovaniemi. I’d recommend the package that includes dinner at the ice restaurant, a tour of the ice hotel and the snow sauna experience, along with transport. The schedule isn’t too packed, so there’s plenty of time to look around at your own pace and perhaps stop for a drink at the ice bar.

Address: Lehtoahontie 27, Rovaniemi
Opening hours: The snow sauna is a winter attraction. Being built from snow and ice, it naturally depends on the season and weather conditions. During the season, sauna sessions are available daily from 10:00–00:00.
Expect to pay: €99 for adults and €45 for children. Additional experiences cost extra.