The thermal glass igloo was literally invented here. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, deep in Finnish Lapland at 68° north, built the first one in 1973 — and it remains the definitive version: a heated glass dome that stays clear and frost-free even in deep cold, so you can watch the sky from a warm bed.
Why it made our list
It’s the original, and its latitude is the point: at 68°N, well inside the aurora borealis zone, this is one of the more statistically reliable places on earth to catch the Northern Lights — visible, the resort says, for around eight months of the year. Each igloo has a thermal glass roof and an in-room alarm that wakes you when the lights appear. There’s also the world’s largest smoke sauna on site.
What guests say
Kakslauttanen is a genuine bucket-list institution, and reviews reflect both the magic and the price:
- Watching the aurora borealis from bed is the universal highlight — the reason people come.
- Guests love the whole Lapland package: huskies, reindeer, snow activities on the doorstep.
- The honest, recurring caution is value: it’s expensive and very popular, and some guests feel the rooms are simpler than the price implies. Book well ahead, and set expectations on luxury.
The consensus: come for the once-in-a-lifetime aurora borealis experience and the setting — not for five-star hotel polish.
Good to know
- Price: from around €424/night (roughly US$460); peak-season glass igloos run far higher.
- Season: igloos open roughly 22 August to late April.
- Getting there: near Saariselkä; transfers from Ivalo Airport.
- Suits: aurora borealis hopefuls, first-time Lapland visitors, bucket-list travellers.
Details verified against the resort’s booking page at time of writing. Prices are indicative and change — confirm current rates and availability before booking.