Some igloo villages sprawl. Levin Iglut does the opposite. This family-owned hotel sits on the slope of Utsuvaara fell, a short drive from Finland's liveliest ski resort but far enough away that the night sky stays properly dark. There are only a handful of glass igloos, lined up to face a wide valley of snowy forest and the lights of Levi's ski runs in the distance. The whole place feels more like a boutique hotel than an attraction.
That intimacy is exactly why it works so well for a honeymoon. The best rooms here, the Suite Igloos, come with their own outdoor hot tub on a private terrace. That means you can sink into steaming water with a glass of bubbly and watch for the aurora without a single other person in sight. Then dinner waits in a glass-domed restaurant with some of the most thoughtful cooking in Lapland. If your idea of an Arctic honeymoon is cozy, private and a little bit glamorous, this hilltop is worth a very close look.
Highlights at a glance
- Suite Igloos with private terraces and outdoor hot tubs
- Heated, frost-free glass roofs and adjustable beds
- Glass-domed restaurant serving changing Nordic set menus
- Quiet, dark hilltop setting with valley and ski-slope views
- Real-time northern lights alerts by app
- Just 20 minutes from Kittilä Airport
A Hilltop Above Levi
Levi is one of Finland's biggest ski resorts, with lifts, slopes, restaurants and shops clustered around a compact village. Levin Iglut deliberately keeps its distance, perched on the neighboring Utsuvaara fell roughly six miles away. From the igloos you look across a valley to the illuminated ski runs, but the hilltop itself is quiet and comparatively free of light pollution, which is exactly what you want when you are waiting for the aurora.
The position gives you the best of both worlds. You can spend the day skiing, shopping or booking a husky ride in Levi, then retreat to near-silence at night. Kittilä Airport is only about 20 minutes away, so you can land in the early afternoon and be soaking under the stars by evening. Free parking makes a rental car an easy option for exploring.
The Igloos, From Cozy to Suite
Every igloo has a glass roof that is electrically heated to stay clear of frost and snow, plus an adjustable bed so you can lie back and gaze straight up. Each has a private bathroom and a small kitchenette for tea, coffee and snacks.
- Superior Igloos are the entry point, compact and comfortable with a double bed.
- Prime Superior Igloos are a little more polished, with floor-to-ceiling glass and thoughtful extras such as bathrobes and a coffee maker.
- Suite Igloos are the honeymoon pick. There are only about three of them, each larger, with a king-size bed, a lounge with its own glass ceiling, a roomier bathroom and a private terrace with an outdoor hot tub. A welcome glass of champagne sets the tone.
For a group celebration, the Northern Lights house has two suites, a private sauna and its own hot tub.
Dinner Under Glass at Utsu
The hotel restaurant, Utsu, is a highlight in its own right. Downstairs has a classic Lappish lodge feel, with a crackling fireplace and warm wood. Upstairs, a glass-domed dining room turns dinner into a sky-watching event. The mood is closer to fine dining.
Dinner is a changing set menu of three or five courses built around Nordic and Lappish ingredients: think reindeer, Arctic fish, wild mushrooms and forest berries, presented with real care. Lunch is a shorter set menu. A generous breakfast buffet is included with your room and has a reputation as one of the best in the region.
Because the restaurant is small and set menus need planning, reservations for lunch and dinner are required. Book your dinners when you confirm your stay so you are not left scrambling during peak season.
Why guests fall for it
Days in the Snow
Levi is an excellent base for Arctic adventure and the hotel can help arrange most of it. Winter favorites include reindeer and husky safaris through the forest, snowmobile rides across frozen lakes, snowshoe walks, ice karting and, for skiers, the full Levi slope network just across the valley. Cross-country trails wind through the surrounding fells.
Evening is when the hilltop comes into its own. Some couples join a guided aurora safari to chase clear skies, but many prefer to stay put: the igloos face open sky and the hotel uses a camera on the main building to send real-time northern lights alerts by app, so you can relax in the hot tub or by the restaurant fire until the sky starts to glow.
Outside the snow months, activities shift to hiking, horseback riding, golf and river rafting in the long northern daylight.
Why Couples Rave About It
Guests consistently describe Levin Iglut as warm and personal. The family-run feel comes up again and again. Staff are praised for being attentive and helpful, from booking activities to making sure no one misses a good aurora display.
The Suite Igloos inspire the most enthusiasm. Watching the northern lights from a private outdoor hot tub is the moment many couples single out as the high point of their entire Lapland trip. Reviewers also love that the igloos feel more spacious than many glass-roofed rooms elsewhere and that the heated glass stays clear.
The food is the other big theme. The breakfast spread and the multi-course dinners in the glass-domed dining room earn genuinely glowing comments, with several travelers calling it the best meal of their time in Lapland. Combine that with the dark, quiet hilltop and it is easy to see why people return.
Good to Know
The igloos operate through the aurora season, roughly late August to late April. December brings the deepest darkness and the festive season; February and March add more daylight for activities and usually reliable snow.
With so few Suite Igloos, they book up far in advance for winter, so reserve as early as you can. Restaurant reservations are required and dinner is not included in the standard room rate, so budget for it.
The igloo bathrooms have compact water heaters; plan for shorter showers or space them out. A rental car is handy for reaching Levi village, though the hotel can arrange taxis and private transfers from Kittilä Airport.
As with any aurora trip, nothing is guaranteed. Stay three nights or more to give the clouds time to clear.
Insider tips
- Book a Suite Igloo as soon as your dates are set; there are only about three and they are the most romantic rooms on the hill.
- Reserve your dinners at Utsu when you book the room and ask for a table in the upstairs glass dome.
- Rent a car at Kittilä Airport so you can easily reach Levi's slopes, restaurants and safari outfitters.
- Download the hotel's aurora alert app before arrival so you are notified the moment the sky lights up.
