01 About Santa's Hotel Aurora & Igloos
Boutique glass igloo hotel in Luosto with only 10 igloos. Pyha-Luosto National Park behind the hotel, ski slopes 2 min away, Europe's only public amethyst mine 3 km. Outstanding restaurant with local Lappish cuisine. Glass igloos from €285/night with breakfast.
The 10 glass igloos are built in Lappish hut style with heated glass roofs and glass walls, air-conditioned and fully equipped with minibar, TV, bathrobes and toiletries. Unlike the dome-shaped igloos at Rovaniemi resorts, these rectangular glass cabins blend better with the fell landscape of Luosto. All 30 hotel rooms have north-facing windows and a private sauna - even the standard rooms. Selected rooms add a real log fireplace for a true Finnish wilderness atmosphere.
The restaurant is one of the strongest reasons to stay here. The chef prepares 3-course dinners daily on an open lava stone grill using local Lappish ingredients. The dining room has panoramic windows overlooking the snowy forest and a fireplace bar where guests gather before dinner. Breakfast is a generous buffet.
Luosto itself is quieter and less commercialised than Rovaniemi - a proper Lappish fell village with cross-country and downhill ski slopes two minutes from the hotel door, direct access to Pyha-Luosto National Park trails, and the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine just 3 km away. The mine is the largest amethyst mine in Europe and the only one open to public gem-hunting visits.
For the best aurora views, step outside rather than relying on the igloo glass - hotel lighting creates too much ambient glow around the igloos. The restaurant 3-course dinners are genuinely excellent - book half board for the full experience. Ask for a Superior Room with fireplace if you combine an igloo night with a hotel room night. The Luosto Amethyst Mine tour (3 km away) is the only mine in Europe open to the public for gem hunting.
02 Photos
03 Accommodation
Glass Igloo (Lappish hut style with heated glass roof and walls, private bathroom, air-conditioning, minibar, bathrobes, TV, from €285/night); Log Villa Borealis (separate villa 400m from hotel, 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, private sauna, from €950/night)
Glass igloos here are Lappish hut style - rectangular cabins with fully heated glass roofs and glass walls, not dome-shaped. The heated glass prevents frost and snow accumulation year-round. The main hotel building with reception, restaurant and bar is just a short walk away. All 30 hotel rooms also have a private sauna and north-facing windows.
04 Price Guide
Usually includes
- Buffet breakfast
- free WiFi
- free parking (with heating plugs)
- private sauna in every room
Prices vary strongly by date, igloo category and availability. Check current rates before publishing a fixed price. Pre-packaged activity bundles are often better value when booked separately.
Check Live Prices →05 Review Highlights
Guests love
Exceptional staff warmth and attentiveness - the most cited highlight across all reviews. Outstanding restaurant with 3-course dinners using local Lappish ingredients. Private sauna in every room, aurora alarm system, and the quiet intimate atmosphere of a 30-room boutique hotel. Location beside Pyha-Luosto National Park.
Worth knowing
Glass igloos here are Lappish hut style - rectangular with glass roof and walls, not dome-shaped. Hotel lighting around the igloos creates ambient glow that reduces aurora viewing from inside - most guests go outdoors for the best aurora experience. Restaurant may have limited hours in low season. WiFi occasionally unstable.
Best approach
Two to three nights works well here - one night in an igloo, the rest in a hotel room with fireplace. Use the SkiBus from Rovaniemi Airport to arrive without a car. Combine with skiing, national park hiking and an amethyst mine visit for a complete Luosto experience.
06 Glass Igloo Score™
Santa's Hotel Aurora & Igloos offers something rare in Finnish Lapland: genuine boutique quality with only 10 igloos and 30 rooms, so every guest gets personalised attention. The restaurant is exceptional by any standard, not just for a remote wilderness hotel. And Luosto itself - quiet, authentic, with a national park behind the hotel and Europe's only public amethyst mine nearby - is the kind of destination that travellers return to year after year.
Aurora alarm system works well - hotel provides a mobile phone and app notifications when lights appear. However, hotel lighting around the igloos creates enough ambient glow to reduce viewing from inside the glass. Multiple guests report the aurora is better watched from outside. The fell landscape of Luosto offers good open sky views outdoors.
Exceptional location for a Lapland nature holiday. Pyha-Luosto National Park starts directly behind the hotel. Ski slopes 2 minutes on foot. Amethyst Mine 3 km. Luosto is a small, quiet resort without the tourist crowds of Rovaniemi - it feels genuinely remote while having all services within walking distance.
Private sauna in every single room is exceptional - most igloo resorts only put saunas in premium categories. Glass igloos add bathrobes, slippers, minibar and air-conditioning. Superior hotel rooms include a real log fireplace. The boutique scale means staff attention to detail is noticeably higher than at large resorts.
One of the best restaurant experiences among Finnish igloo hotels. Chef prepares 3-course dinners nightly on an open lava stone grill with local ingredients. Atmosphere is warm and cozy with a fireplace bar. Breakfast buffet is consistently praised. Restaurant may have reduced hours in low season - worth checking.
Luosto has good family appeal: ski slopes nearby, national park trails, snowmobile and reindeer activities available locally. The hotel itself is relaxed and welcoming. Downside: glass igloos are small for more than 2 people, and children 4 and above are charged adult rates. Log Villa Borealis is the best family option.
Consistently one of the most popular honeymoon destinations among Finnish igloo hotels. Intimate boutique scale, fireplace rooms, glass igloos with bathrobes, excellent restaurant with open kitchen, quiet fell village. Couples rate the location 9.0 on Booking.com. The combination of private sauna, log fire and Northern Lights alarm is hard to beat for a romantic winter break.
Only 10 igloos and 30 rooms total - a genuinely small property. Luosto resort is quiet and non-commercial. No large tour groups passing through. The Log Villa Borealis offers complete private villa accommodation for groups. Even in peak season the hotel retains a calm, personal atmosphere.
Glass igloos from €285 to €950/night with breakfast included. Premium pricing is justified by the boutique scale, exceptional restaurant quality and private sauna in every unit. The main cost consideration is transport - at 111 km from Rovaniemi, getting here requires either a rental car or the SkiBus.
07 Good to Know
Check-in / Check-out
Check-in: from 16:00
Check-out: by 11:00
Open Season
Year-round. Ski season November to April. Aurora season August to April
Getting There
111 km from Rovaniemi Airport (RVN), approx. 1 h 30 min. Kittila Airport (KTT) 125 km, approx. 1 h 40 min
Transfer: Pyha-Luosto SkiBus runs daily from Rovaniemi Airport and Railway Station to the hotel. Bus waits up to 1 hour for delayed flights. Private transfers available from all airports
Practical Info
Glass igloos are Lappish hut style with glass roof and walls - not dome-shaped like at some other resorts. Aurora alarm available via mobile app and Nokia phone provided by hotel. Igloos have some light pollution from hotel surroundings - aurora is often better viewed outdoors than through igloo glass. Restaurant may have limited hours in low season - check before arrival. Children aged 4 and above charged as adults. Pets allowed on request.
08 Location
Santa's Hotel Aurora & Igloos is located in the heart of Luosto holiday resort in Finland, 111 km north of Rovaniemi. Address: Luppokeino 1 99555, 99555 Luosto.
Pyhä-Luosto National Park begins directly behind the hotel. Luosto ski slopes are 2 minutes on foot. The Lampivaara Amethyst Mine - the largest in Europe and the only one open for public gem-hunting - is 3 km away. The Pyhä-Luosto SkiBus connects the hotel to Rovaniemi Airport daily.
09 Nearby Attractions
10 FAQ
Can you see the Northern Lights from the glass igloos?
The igloos have a heated glass roof and glass walls designed for sky viewing, and the hotel provides an aurora alarm via mobile app and a Nokia phone. However, several guests note that hotel lighting around the igloo area creates enough ambient glow to reduce viewing from inside - stepping outside gives a better aurora experience. The fell landscape of Luosto offers good open sky views in all directions.
What are the glass igloos like at Santa's Hotel Aurora?
Unlike dome-shaped igloos found in Rovaniemi, these are Lappish hut style - rectangular cabins with fully heated glass roofs and glass walls. Each igloo has a private bathroom, air-conditioning, minibar, flat-screen TV, bathrobes and slippers. The heated glass prevents frost and snow accumulation year-round. The main hotel building with reception, restaurant and bar is just a short walk away.
How do I get from Rovaniemi to Luosto?
The Pyha-Luosto SkiBus runs daily from Rovaniemi Airport and Rovaniemi Railway Station directly to the hotel. The bus waits up to one hour for delayed flights. Journey time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Kittila Airport is 125 km away (1 h 40 min). Private transfers are available from all airports. The hotel also has free parking with heated car plugs for those driving.
Is the restaurant good?
The restaurant is one of the main reasons to stay here and consistently receives the strongest praise of any feature. The chef prepares 3-course dinners nightly on an open lava stone grill using local Lappish ingredients. The dining room has panoramic windows and a fireplace bar. Breakfast is a generous buffet included in all rates. Note that restaurant hours may be reduced in low season.
What activities are available in Luosto?
Luosto offers a full range of Lapland activities: downhill and cross-country skiing (slopes 2 minutes from the hotel), snowmobile safaris, reindeer farm visits, husky tours, ice fishing, snowshoe hiking in Pyha-Luosto National Park, and the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine - the largest in Europe and the only one open to the public for gem hunting. The hotel reception organises transfers and bookings.
Is Santa's Hotel Aurora good for couples?
Yes - it is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations among Finnish igloo hotels. Couples rate the location 9.0 on Booking.com. The combination of intimate boutique scale (only 10 igloos), exceptional restaurant, private sauna, optional fireplace rooms and quiet Luosto resort makes it ideal for a romantic break. The Log Villa Borealis is available for a completely private villa experience.