If glass domes are the classic image of Lapland, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is its design magazine cover. Created by the Helsinki architecture firm Studio Puisto, the hotel is a scattering of timber-shingled cabins lifted on stilts along a wooded slope just outside Rovaniemi. From the outside they look like birdhouses for giants; inside, each suite is a calm, pale-wood room centered on a single huge window that frames the pines, the snow and, on a lucky night, the northern lights.
For couples, it is a different kind of Arctic romance. Instead of a camp-like igloo, you get a proper suite with a fireplace, fur throws and enough space to linger over breakfast. The higher categories add a private sauna with forest views. Rovaniemi's airport is about five minutes away, so you can step off a flight from Helsinki and be lighting the fire in your room within the hour, then spend your days on husky trails and your evenings over a Nordic tasting menu at Rakas.
Highlights at a glance
- Studio Puisto architecture with suites raised among the pines
- Floor-to-ceiling windows framing forest and aurora from bed
- Private saunas in Glasshouse and ArcticScene suites
- Five-course Nordic tasting menu at Rakas
- About five minutes from Rovaniemi Airport
- Next door to Santa Claus Village and Rovaniemi's safaris
On the Edge of Rovaniemi
The hotel sits on a hillside right on the Arctic Circle, in the same corner of Rovaniemi as Santa Claus Village and SantaPark. That makes it the most convenient design stay in Lapland: the airport is only about a five-minute drive and the city center about ten to fifteen minutes. Rovaniemi's huge menu of guided safaris is within easy reach.
Yet the setting feels far wilder than the map suggests. The suites are threaded through spruce and pine forest, connected by walkways. The trees muffle any sense of the nearby town. In winter the branches are heavy with snow and the silence is profound; in summer the midnight sun pours through the windows long after you would expect it to set.
Rovaniemi is also the capital of Finnish Lapland, so museums such as Arktikum, which explains the science of the aurora and Arctic life, make a fine bad-weather outing.
Suites That Face the Forest
Every suite is built around one idea: a floor-to-ceiling window looking out into the trees, with the bed facing it so you can watch for the aurora without lifting your head. Interiors mix blond timber, crisp white linens, soft furs and Finnish designer furniture, with a fireplace to keep things glowing.
- TreeHouse Suites are the signature rooms, compact and snug, with a living area and kitchenette.
- Arctic Glasshouse Suites add a private sauna, fireplace and deck, a big step up for a honeymoon.
- ArcticScene Executive Suites are the most lavish, with a private wellness area that includes a scenic sauna and a bathtub positioned for forest views.
If you can stretch the budget, a suite with your own sauna transforms the experience. Steaming together, then cooling off on the deck in the snow, is about as Finnish as romance gets.
Nordic Dining at Rakas
Rakas, the hotel's restaurant, means "darling" or "beloved" in Finnish, which feels appropriate for a honeymoon dinner. The dining room in the main building is warmed by a central fireplace and lit by pinecone-shaped lamps. The cooking is contemporary Nordic built on Lappish ingredients: reindeer, Arctic fish, wild mushrooms and berries, much of it sourced from local producers.
The five-course tasting menu is the way to go on a special night. The restaurant also offers chef's dinners for two. A Sunday brunch is popular for a slow morning. Breakfast is typically included in room rates.
After dinner, the lounge bar is the place to curl up with a glass of wine or a Finnish craft beer under fur throws by the fire. The hotel can also arrange private outdoor dinners for an extra touch of drama.
Why guests fall for it
Saunas, Ice Swims and Arctic Adventures
The sauna is the center of Finnish wellness. Beyond the private saunas in the larger suites, the hotel offers a forest sauna experience and a Jacuzzi, with a frozen-lake ice swim nearby for anyone ready to test their nerve. Higher-category suites come with spa treats for the wellness area.
Rovaniemi is the activity capital of Lapland and the hotel can book almost anything. Popular options include:
- Husky sledding through snowy forest
- A visit to a reindeer farm and a sleigh ride
- Snowmobile safaris and evening aurora hunts
- Ice fishing on a frozen lake
- Ranua Wildlife Park and the Pilke science center
In summer, think hiking, river paddling and long, golden evenings under the midnight sun.
What Guests Love
Design lovers fall hard for this place. Reviewers repeatedly praise the architecture and the interiors, describing the suites as cozy, stylish and quietly upscale. The giant window is a recurring favorite: guests talk about waking to snow-covered trees and about the thrill of spotting the aurora without leaving the bed.
Couples often highlight the private saunas and fireplaces as what made their stay feel special and romantic. The tasting menu at Rakas earns warm praise for creative, beautifully presented Nordic cooking. Guests call the fireside lounge the best place to end the evening.
The location is another frequent compliment. Being so close to the airport and to Rovaniemi's activities means less time in transit and extra time with huskies, reindeer and each other, while the forest setting still feels peaceful and remote.
Good to Know
Not every suite has a private sauna. If one matters to you, book a Glasshouse or ArcticScene suite and confirm when you reserve.
The hotel is close to Rovaniemi, so the sky is not as dark as at remote wilderness lodges. Your view will still catch strong displays, but an evening aurora tour that heads away from the city greatly improves your odds. Aurora season runs roughly from late August to early April.
Rates usually include breakfast and a welcome drink, while dinner, activities and transfers are extra. The airport is so close that a taxi or the hotel's private transfer is quick and easy. There is free parking and Wi-Fi, but no swimming pool.
Midwinter temperatures can drop well below 0°F. Safari operators usually lend thermal overalls and boots, but pack warm base layers, hats and gloves for both of you.
The hotel welcomes families too, so if you want maximum calm, request a suite away from the main building.
Insider tips
- Upgrade to an Arctic Glasshouse or ArcticScene suite for a private sauna; it makes the stay feel like a true honeymoon.
- Book the Rakas tasting menu or a chef's dinner for two for your first night, before aurora tours fill your evenings.
- Add at least one guided aurora hunt that drives away from Rovaniemi's light for the best viewing odds.
- Ask for a suite on the quieter edge of the property, away from the main building and arrival road.
