FI · Lapland · 68.91°N 27.03°E
inari
Sámi stories, a vast island-dotted lake and dark skies in northern Finnish Lapland.
- Best time
- February–March is snowy, with daylight returning. June–August is for the lake under the midnight sun, September brings autumn colour and the first northern lights, and December–January is very cold and dark.
- How long
- 3 days
- Getting there
- Fly with one stop to Helsinki, usually via Singapore, Doha or Istanbul (about 16–18 hours all in), then about 1 hour 40 minutes on to Ivalo. Inari is about 40 minutes by bus or taxi. Finland is 5 hours behind KL in summer and 6 in winter.
inari
Dear group chat,— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingInariFI, Lapland
Photo: Manfred Werner - Tsui · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Helge Høifødt · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Manfred Werner - Tsui · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Manfred Werner - Tsui · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: MyName (Vberger) · Public domain
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.
Inari is a small lakeside village in the far north and the heart of Sámi culture in Finland. It's much quieter than the big ski resorts, with a vast island-dotted lake and dark skies.
Makan
Things to do
- SiidaThe Sámi museum and nature centre, with an open-air museum of old buildings in the forest.Map ↗
- Lake InariSummer boats go out among its 3,000 islands, including Ukonsaari, sacred to the Sámi.Map ↗
- Pielpajärvi Wilderness ChurchA wooden church from the 1700s, at the end of a forest walk of about 5 km each way.Map ↗
- SajosThe Sámi Parliament's striking wooden building, with a crafts shop and events.Map ↗
Good to know
- The Pielpajärvi walk takes half a day, and in snow you'll need snowshoes.
- Inari is small and has no halal meat, so plan on fish and self-catering.
Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.