Finnish Lapland offers some truly distinctive places to stay: glass igloos and huts, glass kotas, snow hotels, log cabins, wilderness lodges and historic farm stays. At Nivunki Village, we bring two of them together, with glass kotas on the site of a wilderness farm founded in the 1800s. Here is how each type compares, and how to choose the right one for your trip.
The right choice comes down to a few questions: how much of the sky you want to see, how far you want to be from resort light, how much privacy you want and what the stay includes. We cover each type in turn, compare them side by side and finish with a simple way to decide.
What unique types of accommodation are there in Lapland?
Unique accommodation in Lapland falls into six main types:
- Glass igloos and glass huts
- Glass kotas
- Snow hotels
- Log cabins
- Wilderness lodges
- Historic farm and village stays
Some put the sky first, others warmth, heritage or remoteness. Knowing the difference helps you match the stay to what you want from the trip.
Glass igloos and glass huts
A glass igloo or glass hut is a room with a glass roof or glass walls, designed so you can see the sky from inside. The idea is simple: if the Northern Lights appear, you can watch them from the warmth of your room.
Glass igloos come in many shapes, from domes to angular huts, and they vary in size, setting and facilities. What no glass room can do is guarantee a sighting. The aurora needs a clear, dark sky, so the location matters as much as the glass.
What is a glass kota?
A kota is a traditional cone-shaped hut of Lapland. A glass kota takes that traditional form and opens it to the sky with glass, so the shape of the room comes from the landscape and the view comes from above.
The glass kotas at Nivunki Village were designed specifically for the village, inspired by the traditional Sámi kota. Each one is 30 m², for one or two guests, which gives you a room to settle into rather than a capsule to sleep in. Inside, you have a king-size bed (twin beds on request), a bathroom with rain shower, bathrobes, a minibar, a Nespresso machine and tea kettle, free wi-fi and a TV.
If you have read about glass igloos and are wondering what a glass kota is, the short answer is this: the same sky, in a shape rooted in Lapland.
Snow hotels
A snow hotel is built from snow and ice each winter. Sleeping in a room made entirely of winter is unlike any other stay in Lapland. It suits travellers who want the most unusual cold-weather night possible, rather than a warm room with a view of the sky.
Log cabins and wilderness lodges
Log cabins have a long tradition in Finland. Many have their own sauna, and they make a comfortable, self-contained base for families and groups.
A wilderness lodge sits further from the resort centres, often surrounded by forest or water, with activities guided from the lodge. Neither type is built around the sky, so for the Northern Lights you would rely on guided aurora treks rather than the view from your bed.
Historic farm and village stays
Some of the most memorable stays in Lapland are in places with a real past. A historic farm or village stay means sleeping somewhere that has been part of the landscape for generations.
That is what Nivunki Village is. The Nivunkijärvi farm was founded in the 1800s as a traditional wilderness farm. In 1934, farmer Simon Nivunkijärvi signed a treaty with the local reindeer herders, agreeing to fence off his hay meadow and maintain the fence until 1943. Today, around 120 reindeer live in the reindeer fence. Staying here means waking up in a place with its own story, not a theme.
Comparing Lapland’s unique stays
| Type | What it is | Best for | Worth considering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass igloo or hut | A room with a glass roof or walls | Watching the sky from bed | Size, setting and facilities vary |
| Glass kota | A traditional kota shape opened to the sky with glass | Sky views in a form rooted in Lapland | Check the room size and what is included |
| Snow hotel | Rooms built from snow and ice each winter | A one-off, unusual night | Not built for warmth or sky views |
| Log cabin | A traditional Finnish timber cabin | Families, groups, self-catering | Solid roof; the aurora means going out |
| Wilderness lodge | A lodge away from resort centres | Remoteness and guided activities | Transfer times can be longer |
| Historic farm or village stay | A stay in a place with a real past | Culture and depth alongside landscape | Comfort levels vary; check what is included |
How to choose where to stay in Lapland
When deciding where to stay in Lapland, work through these questions:
- View of the sky: do you want to watch from inside, or go out on guided treks?
- Distance from resort light: the darker the surroundings, the better your aurora chances on a clear night
- Privacy and scale: large resorts offer more facilities, while remote places offer stillness
- Private bathroom: arrangements vary by type and property, so check before you book
- What is included: breakfast, winter clothing, snowshoes and sauna access change the value of a stay
- Adults-only or family: the format shapes the whole atmosphere
- Transfer time: how far the stay is from Kittilä Airport or your arrival point
At Nivunki Village, the answers are glass kotas with the sky above you and a lakeside setting away from resort light. We are adults-only, every kota has its own bathroom with rain shower, and breakfast, winter clothing, snowshoes and sauna are included. Kittilä Airport is a 50-minute drive away.
Is a glass room worth it for the Northern Lights?
For many travellers, yes, as long as the location is dark. When people search for where to stay in Lapland for Northern Lights, what they really need is a clear, dark sky above a room they can watch from.
A glass room lets you see the aurora the moment it appears, without getting dressed and going outside. What it cannot do is make the lights appear. According to Finavia, the Northern Lights can be seen in Lapland on about 200 nights a year, which is every second clear night, and cloud is the main reason people miss them. So “is a glass igloo in Finland worth it?” is really two questions: is the room well placed, and is the sky around it dark?
The best combination is a glass room in a dark location, plus guided aurora treks or snowmobile tours for nights when a guide can find clearer sky. At Nivunki Village, you have both.
Frequently asked questions
What is a glass kota?
A glass kota is a room shaped after the kota, the traditional cone-shaped hut of Lapland, opened to the sky with glass. At Nivunki Village, our glass kotas were designed specifically for the village, inspired by the traditional Sámi kota. Each one is 30 m² for one or two guests, with a king-size bed and its own bathroom with rain shower.
Is a glass igloo in Finland worth it?
Yes, if the location is dark and you stay long enough. A glass room lets you watch for the aurora from bed, but no room can make the lights appear. Choose a place away from resort lighting, stay several nights for more chances of clear skies, and combine your room with guided aurora excursions.
Where should I stay in Lapland to see the Northern Lights?
Somewhere dark, with an open view of the sky. Distance from resort lighting matters more than almost anything else. Nivunki Village sits beside a lake about 20 km from Muonio, north of the Arctic Circle and away from the light pollution of resort centres. Our glass kotas, aurora treks and snowmobile tours give you several ways to watch.
Do glass rooms in Lapland have private bathrooms?
It varies from property to property, so always check before booking. At Nivunki Village, every glass kota has its own bathroom with rain shower, along with bathrobes, a minibar, a Nespresso machine and tea kettle, free wi-fi and a TV.
What is the difference between a kota and an igloo?
An igloo is a dome-shaped snow shelter, while a kota is the traditional cone-shaped hut of Lapland. In travel language, “glass igloo” is often used loosely for any glass-roofed room. A glass kota keeps the kota shape and opens it to the sky, so it is a stay rooted in Lapland’s own building tradition.
Staying in a glass kota at Nivunki Village
Nivunki Village is an adults-only glass kota village beside a lake, about 20 km from Muonio, with the Northern Lights above and no light pollution around. The Nivunkijärvi farm was founded here in the 1800s, and around 120 reindeer still live in the reindeer fence. Our winter season runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 April 2027.
Each glass kota is 30 m² for one or two guests, with a king-size bed (twin beds on request), a bathroom with rain shower, bathrobes, a minibar, a Nespresso machine and tea kettle, free wi-fi and a TV. Check-in is at 15.00 and check-out at 11.00.
Breakfast, premium winter clothing, complimentary snowshoes and our public sauna with panoramic windows are included in every stay, and between rounds you can cool off in the lake. Husky, reindeer, snowmobile and aurora excursions are available to book through our winter activities.
Our team grew up in Lapland, and we host in the spirit of väärti, the old Lappish way of welcoming travellers as extended family. To find out what a glass kota is like inside or check winter dates, ask our team about availability at info@nivunkivillage.com or +358 10 739 3220.