Villas in Lapland

For villas in Lapland, Levi and Ylläs suit skiers, Saariselkä and Inari suit aurora hunters, and Rovaniemi suits Christmas trips. Most properties are log cabins and chalets with their own sauna rather than villas in the Mediterranean sense. Winter brings snow, deep cold and very short days; summer brings the midnight sun and mosquitoes. Expect a flight change in Helsinki outside the winter season.

Where

Villas: 1,076
From, per week: £328
Cheapest month: October
Nearest airports: Kittilä for Levi and Ylläs, Rovaniemi for Pyhä, Luosto and Salla, and Ivalo for Saariselkä and Inari. Year-round, fly via Helsinki: London to Helsinki takes about three hours, then just over an hour north. In winter there are also direct flights from several UK airports.

Where to stay in Lapland

Ylläs (Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi)

Ylläs has the largest share of our Lapland cabins. Äkäslompolo, on the north side of the fell, is a proper village by a lake; Ylläsjärvi is on the south side. Ski runs cover both faces, and long cross-country trails lead into the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. Kittilä airport is roughly 45 minutes to an hour away by car or transfer.

Best for: Cross-country skiers, families and anyone who wants a quieter ski village

Not for you if: You want nightlife or everything on foot: the two villages sit on opposite sides of the fell and cabins are spread out.

Saariselkä, Ivalo and Inari (north)

Inari municipality takes in the resort of Saariselkä, on the edge of the Urho Kekkonen National Park, as well as Ivalo and Inari village on the shore of the vast Lake Inari. The Siida museum at Inari covers Sámi life and nature. Being far north, skies here have a good chance of aurora on clear nights. Ivalo airport is about 30 minutes from Saariselkä.

Best for: Northern lights, Sámi culture and wilderness walking

Not for you if: Darkness gets you down: around midwinter the sun barely rises here for several weeks.

Levi and Kittilä

Levi is a compact resort village at the foot of its ski fell, with lifts, restaurants and shops within walking distance of many cabins. Snowmobile, husky and reindeer trips leave from the village. Kittilä, the small town to the south, has the airport, around 15 to 20 minutes from Levi, which makes transfers short. Ylläs is under an hour away.

Best for: Skiers and groups who want restaurants, shops and lifts close by

Not for you if: You want solitude: Levi is one of Finland's busiest ski resorts and peaks at Christmas and in spring.

Pyhä and Luosto (Pelkosenniemi and Sodankylä)

Pyhä, in Pelkosenniemi, and Luosto, near Sodankylä, are two smaller ski resorts linked by the Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Gorges, old forest and boardwalk trails run between the fells, and the Lampivaara amethyst mine near Luosto takes visitors. Sodankylä is known for its Midnight Sun Film Festival each June. Both resorts are quieter and less built-up than Levi.

Best for: Families who want small ski fells and national park walking

Not for you if: You need a short transfer: Rovaniemi airport is around an hour and a half to two hours away.

Rovaniemi and Ounasvaara

Rovaniemi sits on the Arctic Circle and is Lapland's main town, with Santa Claus Village just north of the airport and the Arktikum museum in the centre. Ounasvaara, a small ski hill on the edge of town, has trails and a few cabins. The airport is about 10 to 15 minutes from the centre, and Ranua's wildlife park is around an hour south.

Best for: Families on a Christmas trip and anyone who wants a short transfer

Not for you if: Northern lights are your main reason to go: town lights and a more southerly position cut your chances.

Salla and Posio (east)

Salla is a small ski fell near the Russian border, which is closed, with Salla National Park alongside. Posio, to the south, is the base for Riisitunturi National Park, known for spruce trees heavy with snow in late winter. Rovaniemi airport is around one and a half to two hours away; Kuusamo is an alternative for Salla.

Best for: Walkers and families who want quiet fells and snow-loaded forests

Not for you if: You want lots of restaurants and organised activities on the doorstep.

Enontekiö and Raattama (far north-west)

Enontekiö, centred on the village of Hetta, is fell country close to the Swedish and Norwegian borders, and the start of the long Hetta to Pallas trail. Raattama is a small village on the Ounasjoki river to the south. Late winter and early spring, with long days and deep snow, suit skiing here. Kittilä airport is around an hour and a half from Raattama and over two hours from Hetta.

Best for: Experienced hikers, cross-country skiers and anyone after real remoteness

Not for you if: You want easy access: this is a long drive from the main airports and services are limited.

When to go to Lapland

Snow usually covers the ground from November to April or May. December and January are dark, with only a few hours of twilight in the far north, and Christmas is the busiest and most expensive time. February and March bring deep cold early on, then longer days, good snow and northern lights. Aurora season runs from late August to early April. In June and July the sun stays up around the clock, and mosquitoes are heavy from late June into July. September brings autumn colour, known as ruska, and fewer bugs.