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Voykit pocket guide · Finland
Inari
Anár
Stay 2–3 nights: one day for Siida and the village, one for Lake Inari or a trail. Come Dec–Mar for auroras, Jun–Jul for midnight sun.
Inari is a village of about 1,000 people on Lake Inari, 300 km north of the Arctic Circle and the cultural centre of Finnish Sámi life. It has Finland's national Sámi museum, the Sámi parliament and a lake of 3,300 islands. Most visitors come for two nights between Ivalo and the Norwegian border, or as a base for aurora and midnight-sun trips.
- Country
- Finland
- Local name
- Anár
- Best months
- Dec–Mar (auroras, snow), Jun–Jul (midnight sun)
- Avoid
- Nov (dark, little snow), Apr–May (thaw, slush)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU roaming applies.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected; round up for great service.; Café and bar: Nothing.; Taxi: Nothing expected.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent.
- Toilets
- Free in libraries, malls and many stations; some charge €1 by card.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or café lunch | €5–15 |
| Grocery basics for a day | €15–25 |
| Restaurant main course | €18–30 |
| Taxi, village to Ivalo airport | €80–100 (check) |
| Guided aurora or lake trip | €80–150 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €15–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IVL · Ivalo Airport
- About 40 km (25 mi) south; bus or taxi to Inari, roughly 40–50 minAbout 25 mi (40 km) south; bus or taxi to Inari, roughly 40–50 min
Typical fares
- Bus Ivalo airport → Inari
- about €10–15, about 45 min (check)
- Taxi Ivalo airport → Inari
- €80–100 (check)
- Siida museum entry
- €10 adult, Museum Card valid (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is small enough to walk. Buses on the E75 connect Inari with Ivalo and Rovaniemi, and with Utsjoki and Norway. For trails, the lake and outlying cabins you need a car, taxi or a tour. Taxis are bookable by app or phone.
See and do
Known for
- Siida, the national Sámi museum
- Lake Inari and its islands
- Sámi parliament and cultural centre
- Northern lights and midnight sun
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ivalo | Bus or car on the E75, about 40 km (25 mi) southBus or car on the E75, about 25 mi (40 km) south | About 45 min |
| Saariselkä | Bus or car south on the E75, about 70 km (43 mi)Bus or car south on the E75, about 43 mi (70 km) | About 1 h |
| Lemmenjoki National Park | Car to the park entrance, about 45 km (28 mi) south-westCar to the park entrance, about 28 mi (45 km) south-west | About 1 h |
| Utsjoki | Bus north on the E75, about 150 km (93 mi)Bus north on the E75, about 93 mi (150 km) | About 2 h |
| Sevettijärvi | Car or bus east, about 90 km (56 mi)Car or bus east, about 56 mi (90 km) | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Inari village centre
- Walk to Siida, shops, the Juutua bridge and the lake shore; the only place with services.
- Lake shore and Juutua river
- Hotels and cabins with water views, 5–15 min walk from the centre.
- Outlying cabins (Menesjärvi, Angelintie)
- 10–30 km (6.2–19 mi) out; you need a car and food supplies.6.2–19 mi (10–30 km) out; you need a car and food supplies.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Heihay |
| Thank you | Kiitoskee-tos |
| Yes / No | Kyllä / Eikul-la / ay |
| How much is it? | Paljonko se maksaa?pal-yon-ko se mak-saa |
| Do you speak English? | Puhutteko englantia?poo-hut-te-ko eng-lan-tia |
| Where is the toilet? | Missä on vessa?mis-sa on ves-sa |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake, eye contact, short and direct; avoid: Hugs and long small talk with strangers
- Silence: Let pauses be pauses; avoid: Filling every quiet moment
- Sauna: Shower first, ask before throwing water on the stones; avoid: Swimsuits in nude-only saunas, or nudity in mixed ones marked otherwise
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or pastries; avoid: Keeping shoes on indoors
- Personal space: Keep a metre's distance in queues; avoid: Sitting next to a stranger when other seats are free
- Promises: Mean what you say; Finns will; avoid: Polite 'let's meet sometime' you do not intend
Scams and watch-outs
- Distances are long: Ivalo is 40 km, Rovaniemi about 290 km, and the nearest hospital is in Ivalo.
- Mosquitoes are heavy near the lake in June and July; bring repellent.
- In winter, dark comes early and temperatures can drop below −30 °C: rent proper clothing.
- Do not enter the Russian border zone; the Raja-Jooseppi crossing is south of Ivalo.
- Buy Sámi handicrafts only with the Sámi duodji certificate if authenticity matters.
Inari is a small, low-crime village; the real risks are cold, distance and dark roads. Tell someone your route before a trail or lake trip, carry a charged phone and check the forecast.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Inari yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Siida, the national Sámi museum
- Lake Inari and its islands
- Sámi parliament and cultural centre
- Northern lights and midnight sun
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Inari municipality: www.inari.fi/
- Siida — Sámi Museum and Nature Centre: www.siida.fi/contents
- Sajos — Sámi Cultural Centre: www.sajos.fi/home/
- Metsähallitus — Inari trails and national parks: www.nationalparks.fi/en/inari/trails
- Wikivoyage: Inari, revision 5259572 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5259572
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
InariAnár
Tähän osoitteeseen, kiitos
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance112
No embassies in Inari; most are in Helsinki. Consular help for Nordic and many EU citizens is available locally through police and emergency services.
Sámi place names differ by language: Anár (North Sámi), Aanaar (Inari Sámi), Aanar (Skolt Sámi), Enare (Swedish).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/inari). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.