From Rovaniemi, our corner of Lapland is about 290 km further north, where Lake Inari opens out between the fells. Getting here is simpler than the map suggests. Public transportation by bus covers the whole way with no changes, or our own private transfer can take you from anywhere in Rovaniemi straight to your hotel.
Many of our guests arrive this way, and plenty of them say the ride north was very easy, practical and quite an enjoyable experience of the trip. For the bigger picture of flights into Lapland, see our guide on how to get to Lapland, and for what waits at the end of the road, read our Inari travel guide.
Public transportation by bus
Public transportation by bus leaves Rovaniemi twice a day, runs straight up the E75 and reaches Ivalo in about four hours. You board once and step off at your hotel’s stop. Check routes, timetables and tickets through Matkahuolto. Contact us before booking if you need help choosing the right stop or arranging a transfer to your hotel.
Where to get off:
Saariselkä hotels: the Holiday Club stop, about 3.5 hours from Rovaniemi
Wilderness Hotel Nellim and Wilderness Hotel Nangu: about 4 hours
Wilderness Hotel Muotka: Kakslauttanen bus stop
Wilderness Hotel Inari and Wilderness Hotel Juutua: the bus stops right beside both, a little over 4 hours
Tell us which public transportation you are on and we will meet you at the stop. For Nangu, Muotka and Nellim, we pick you up from the nearest one.
Within an hour of Rovaniemi the traffic thins out. After Sodankylä the forest closes in, the villages grow further apart and the snow sits heavier on the trees. In midwinter the sun barely clears the horizon, and for a few hours around noon the whole landscape turns blue. Past Vuotso you are in fell country, and soon the first signs for Saariselkä appear.
Public transportation by bus | Connecting flight | |
Route | Rovaniemi straight to Ivalo | Rovaniemi to Helsinki to Ivalo |
Door-to-door time | about 3.5 to 4 hours | about 5 hours or more |
Typical cost | around €50 to €70 one way | usually higher, often much higher |
Airport time | none, you are already north | two airports, two check-ins |
What you see | the whole road north | a runway, then cloud |
Driving the E75
If you want a car for exploring up north, the drive is straightforward. It is about 290 km on the E75, a wide main road that is ploughed and gritted all winter. Allow around three and a half hours, a little more in deep winter, with a coffee stop in Sodankylä.
Two tips for the winter drive. Keep an eye out for reindeer on the road, especially at dusk. And top up the tank in Sodankylä, as petrol stations are few between towns. Rental cars in Lapland come with winter tyres as standard.
Why flying from Rovaniemi takes longer
There is no direct flight between Rovaniemi and Ivalo, so any flight connects through Helsinki.
If you have not flown north yet, the quickest way of all is the direct flight from Helsinki to Ivalo. Ivalo Airport is a short drive from all our hotels, and we can arrange your transfer from the airport.
Coming by train
Finland's railway ends at Rovaniemi, with branches to Kemijärvi and Kolari, so there is no train to Ivalo. The overnight sleeper from Helsinki pairs well with the public transportation, though: together they take you all the way to Lapland without a flight. Plan the first half with our guide to the Santa Claus Express night train.
The easiest way: book our direct transfer
We arrange private transportation from anywhere in Rovaniemi straight to our hotels, whether you arrive by plane or train or are already staying in town. Contact us for a seamless transfer. Flying into Ivalo instead? Our transfers run from Ivalo Airport too, and they are included in most of our ready-made packages. Send us your travel details when you book and we will take it from there.
Destination | From Ivalo |
Wilderness Hotel Nangu | about 35 min |
Wilderness Hotel Saariselkä, Kieppi, Arctic Log Villas, Kelo Lodge | about 40 min |
Wilderness Hotel Inari, Juutua, Muotka, Nellim | about 45 min |
Which option suits you?
If you are | Choose | Why |
Watching the fare | Public transportation by bus | The lowest cost by a clear margin, and barely slower than driving |
Travelling with luggage and children | Our private and direct transfer | No car to load, someone who knows the road at the wheel |
Already flying from Helsinki | Helsinki to Ivalo direct | Skip Rovaniemi entirely, land near us |
Wanting a car up north | Rental car on the E75 | Freedom to explore, if you are happy on snow |
Not flying at all | Sleeper train, then the bus | A civilised journey the whole way from Helsinki |
Plan the last leg with us
Tell us where you are landing and we will plan the last leg with you, whether that is the bus, a rental car or our own transfer from Rovaniemi or Ivalo.
Plan your Arctic adventure with our sales team.
Contact us: sales@wildernesshotels.fi · +358 10 212 3990
Wilderness Hotels & Safaris, Inari and Saariselkä, Finnish Lapland
Frequently asked questions
How far is Ivalo from Rovaniemi?
About 290 km by road, north on the E75 through Sodankylä and Saariselkä. The drive takes around three hours in good conditions, and the direct public transportation around three and a half to four.
What is the least expensive way from Rovaniemi to Ivalo?
Public transportation by bus, run by Eskelisen Lapin Linjat and sold through Matkahuolto. A one-way ticket is typically around €50 to €70, well below the cost of the connecting flight.
Can I fly from Rovaniemi to Ivalo?
Not directly. Any flight routes back through Helsinki, so it takes about five hours in total and costs more than the bus. If you have not yet left Helsinki, fly Helsinki to Ivalo direct instead.
Is there a train from Rovaniemi to Ivalo?
No. The railway ends at Rovaniemi, so the last stretch north is by road. The public transportation from Rovaniemi is timed around the arriving sleeper trains.
How long is the bus from Rovaniemi to Ivalo?
Around three and a half to four hours on the direct service. The same bus carries on to Saariselkä and Inari, so you do not need to change.
How do I get from Ivalo to my hotel?
Every one of our hotels is 35 to 45 minutes from Ivalo, and direct transfers are included in most of our ready-made packages. Send us your arrival time and we will take care of the rest.
Expert info
Written by: the Wilderness Hotels guide team, Inari & Saariselkä.
Arranging the last leg of the journey is a daily part of our work. We have met guests off the Ivalo flight, the northbound bus and the road from Rovaniemi since 2004, across our hotels in the Inari and Saariselkä region. Wilderness Hotels is a family-owned company; its founders, Mari and Jouko, were named National Entrepreneurs of the Year in Finland in 2024. All locations hold Green Key (since 2022) and Sustainable Travel Finland (since 2024) certifications.
📞 Contact: sales@wildernesshotels.fi · +358 10 212 3990
Sources:
Eskelisen Lapin Linjat, Rovaniemi to Ivalo public transportation service and timetables (eskelisen.fi)
Matkahuolto, bus tickets and timetables in Finland (matkahuolto.fi)
Finavia, Ivalo and Rovaniemi airport information (finavia.fi)
Wilderness Hotels, own transfer operations, Inari and Saariselkä
