Heart of Sámi Culture & Arctic Wilderness. Top attractions, local tips and how to reach Inari in Finnish Lapland.
Heart of Sámi Culture & Arctic Wilderness
Sámi heartland on a lake of 3,000 islands
Home to the Siida museum and the sacred island of Ukonkivi on Lake Inari.
Inari is the spiritual and cultural heart of the Finnish Sámi, on the shores of Lake Inari, Finland's third-largest lake with over 3,000 islands. This is the deep north, at 69 degrees north and 250 km above the Arctic Circle.
Year-round. Winter for aurora & snow. June for midnight sun. September for ruska.
Fly to Ivalo airport (40 km south). Drive from Rovaniemi (330 km, 4h). Bus from Ivalo or Rovaniemi.
Finland's national museum of the Sámi people. Indoor and outdoor exhibitions covering Sámi history, culture, reindeer herding, and Arctic nature. The best place to understand who the Sámi are.
1,040 km², Finland's third-largest lake with over 3,000 islands. Boat cruises in summer, ice fishing in winter. The scale of this lake is humbling.
4.5 km hike through old-growth forest to a 260-year-old wooden church in the wilderness. One of the most atmospheric walks in Lapland. The church is still used for services.
The parliament building of the Finnish Sámi. Modern architecture in Inari centre. Exhibitions, cultural events, and the Sámi library open to visitors.
2,855 km², Finland's largest national park. Gold-panning heritage, river boat trips, and some of the most remote wilderness in Europe. Wolverine and bear territory.
At 69°N, Inari is one of the northernmost settlements in Finland. The aurora is visible up to 200 nights a year. Lake Inari's frozen surface provides perfect open views.