Ivalo – Airport, River and Local Services
Ivalo is the largest village in Northern Lapland, offering all the services you need. From the village, you can step straight onto a nature trail or onto the sandy banks of the Ivalojoki River, known for its gold-bearing landscapes. Ivalo is also home to Finland’s and the EU’s northernmost airport, serving travelers year-round.
Travel tips for Ivalo
Ivalo is the main service village in Lapland North, located by the Ivalojoki River and only a short distance from Ivalo Airport.
Stay in hotels, cottages, aurora accommodation or holiday apartments, with restaurants, shops, transport services and activities close by.
Must-sees include the Ivalojoki River, Ivalo’s sandy river beaches, Karhunpesäkivi Rock, Hammastunturi Wilderness Area and nearby gold history landscapes.
Popular experiences include horse riding, hiking, paddling, cycling, fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, husky safaris and northern lights tours.
Ivalo Airport – the northernmost airport in Finland
There are daily flights available to Ivalo. Direct flights from Helsinki and during the winter season also from other European cities secure easy access to Lapland North. The airport is only 7 kilometres from the village centre. Ivalo is also conveniently located by the main road E75, which allows arrival by car or bus. There are several daily bus connections, also from the train station in Rovaniemi.
Explore Ivalo Airport
The Golden River
Renowned for its rugged wilderness scenery, the Ivalojoki River is the perfect location for canoeing and fishing in the summer and snowmobiling and skiing in the winter. The first gold rush in Finland took place on the River Ivalojoki, which is why it is also known as the “golden river”. There are still prospectors searching for gold in the river and its tributaries. Prospecting sites of the Ivalojoki River, both past and present, are also accessible via signposted hiking routes.
Ivalo’s Sandy River Beaches
Along the gently flowing Ivalojoki River, Ivalo reveals a surprising side of Lapland: peaceful sandy beaches that feel almost hidden in the Arctic landscape. In summer, locals and visitors gather on the soft riverbanks to enjoy warm breezes, picnics and refreshing swims under the midnight sun. These quiet natural beaches offer an ideal place to unwind, watch the river drift by and experience the serenity of Lapland North in a peaceful riverside setting — a perfect blend of northern wilderness and laid-back summer moments.
Hammastunturi Wilderness Area
Hammastunturi wilderness area is a vast uninhabited region between Urho Kekkonen National Park and Lemmenjoki National Park. The area is suitable for experienced wilderness trekkers only as there are practically no marked routes or other facilities. Finland’s most famous gold river Ivalojoki flows through the Hammastunturi wilderness area.
Explore Hammastunturi
Accommodation in Ivalo
Karhunpesäkivi Rock
The cave of Karhunpesäkivi or “Bear’s den rock” is an erratic boulder located in Myössäjärvi, approximately 25 kilometers north of Ivalo. It is a tafone rock formation similar to a giant’s kettle. The interior surfaces of the rock feature a honeycomb-like formation created by the weaker material eroding around the stronger material. It is possible to crawl into the cave of approximately 4 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1-2 meters high.
