Ivalo

Ivalo, with the EU’s northernmost airport, is the gateway to Lapland North. The village serves as the service hub of Inari municipality. By the grand River Ivalojoki, its sandy beach and lively centre make Ivalo a natural starting point for exploring northern Lapland.

Luminen maisema, jonka taustalla on tiheä metsä lumipeitteisiä puita. Kolme poroa seisoo lumen peittämällä maalla vaalean taivaan alla.

Travel tips for Ivalo

Ivalo, the centre of Inari, lies by the scenic River Ivalojoki and offers a wide range of services and accommodation – from aurora igloos to hotels and cottages. Enjoy local flavours, sandy river beaches, and nearby nature. Activities range from hiking, paddling, and cycling to skiing, snowmobiling, and husky safaris.

Etualan luonnonkukat ja vihreät pensaat näkyvät kultaista auringonlaskua heijastavalle rauhalliselle joelle, jonka rannoilla on tiheitä puita ja kaukana pehmeät kukkulat.

Visit Inari – Hotel Kultahippu

Ilonka Farm & Café

High Hill Horses

Ivalo Trek Lapland

Ivalo Guide

Ivalo Experiences

Minna-Carita’s Design & Accommodation

Ilonka Farm & Café

Arctic Stargazing Tours

Arctic Crusade

Lapland Welcome

Tilava lentoaseman terminaali, jossa on kirkas, pyöreä, oranssin ja keltaisen värinen lattiakuvio, hajallaan olevia istuinalueita, käveleviä ihmisiä, suuria ikkunoita, lähtöselvitystiskit ja seinämaalausta, jossa on maisemallinen maisema.

Northernmost Airport

There are daily flights available to Ivalo. Direct flights from Helsinki and during the wintertime also from other European cities secure easy access to Lapland North. The airport is only 7 kilometres away 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.

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 its purest form — a perfect blend of northern wilderness and laid-back summer moments.

Pitkä, suora tie ylittää rauhallisen joen, jota ympäröivät vehreät puut lähellä Ivaloa, ja taustalla on pieni kaupunki ja kumpuilevia kukkuloita osittain pilvisen taivaan alla.

Herkät luonnonkukat etualalla ja pehmeä auringonlasku rauhallisen vesistön yllä taustalla luovat lämpimän ja rauhallisen luontokuvan.

The Golden River

Renowned for its rugged wilderness scenery, River Ivalojoki 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 runoffs. Prospecting sites of the Ivalojoki River, both past and present, are also accessible via signposted hiking routes.

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.

Rauhallinen joki heijastaa puita, joiden syksyn lehdet ovat kullankeltaiset, kirkkaan sinisen taivaan alla. Tiheät metsät reunustavat joen rantaa molemmin puolin luoden rauhallisen, seesteisen maiseman.

Karkea, vaalea luolan seinämä, jossa on epäsäännöllisiä, sileitä ja erikokoisia reikiä ja syvennyksiä, jotka muodostavat kuvioidun, luonnollisen kalliomuodostelman.

Karhunpesäkivi Rock

The cave of Karhunpesäkivi or “Bear’s den rock” is an erratic boulder located in Myössäjärvi, approximately 25km 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 m high.