I have no real reason why I headed up to Muonio last autumn, to be honest. My partner had told me about a cool place called Polaris Villas that he saw on Instagram, and without even really looking to see where the property was, I booked a stay there.
The pictures of Polaris Villas were so pretty that I didn’t care where it was located (I’m glad it was actually in Finland, after all!).
After booking, I started putting the pieces together and realized it was in Muonio, a couple of hours northwest of Rovaniemi. It was an area of Lapland I hadn’t explored and I was excited to do so, even if it was kind of on a whim!
I planned a few other spots to hit up on the way back (including a stay in Levi), packed up the car I had, and headed to Muonio, on the border of Swedish Lapland and an ideal base for Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.
In this post, I will chat about my experience staying at Polaris Villas, whether or not I think the trip to Muonio was worth it, and how to get there if you are planning a trip to the area, too!
Before diving further into this post, I will say that I loved staying at Polaris Villas in Muonio. I had been going back and forth testing out a bunch of northern lights igloo hotels throughout Lapland and this was SUCH a treat compared to those style of hotels (which can get old after a while).
The experience was super luxurious and one I do recommend to all, budget permitting! Please do note that Polaris Villas can also be classified as a northern lights hotel (it is pretty remote and there is little light pollution).
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. Thanks!
In this post...
About Polaris Villas in Muonio, Finland (& My Stay)
Polaris Villas is a newer property located in Muonio, Finland, a place that is situated on the border of Sweden and is halfway between the Arctic Circle and the Arctic Ocean.
It is also a great base for those visiting Pallas-Ylläs National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in Finnish Lapland.
There are currently 4 villas available, and they are named after four of the biggest stars: Sirius, Capella, Regulus, and Vega.
Each villa has a fireplace, large 5×5 meter windows (that face the lake), a living room with high ceilings, a well-equipped kitchen (and a Moccamaster for coffee), two bedrooms (one on the ground floor and one on the loft overlooking the rest of the villa), two bathrooms (one has a beautiful tub), a terrace with a jacuzzi, and your own sauna that is near the jacuzzi and detached from the house.
There is also a charging port for electric cars.
For breakfast, I was delivered a box that had proper Nordic-style ingredients, including juice and eggs.
There was so much food that I was able to take some on the road with me, which was nice since there were not many grocery stores nearby until I got back down to Levi (I was on the outskirts of Muonio and not in town).
The northern lights were a bit shy during my stay (or I should say that the clouds were a bit more eager to meet me), but I did see them for a bit while there!
When they came out, I drove nearby to the national park to see if I had a better view there against the lake. It was short-lived, but I can imagine that when the northern lights are out, Polaris Villas will be even dreamier and a bucket-list place to stay!
Truthfully, everything felt so high-class and luxurious in the apartment. I loved every single thing about it!
How much is a stay at Polaris Villas?
To be honest, it depends on the time of year you go there. I rarely stay in properties around Lapland in winter because they are so much more expensive! So, I do my staycations and travels in the off-season (like this time, when I went in autumn).
Most of the time, Polaris Villas requires a 2-night minimum stay.
I, however, was able to book for just one night, which must have been a one-off situation. In summer, autumn, and spring, prices start at around 380 euros a night (about $415).
In winter, prices start at around 500 euros a night (about $550). Please consider that this is for one night, so if there is a two-night minimum stay, you pay double that number.
How to Get to Polaris Villas
Getting to the Polaris Villas was super easy with my rental car (I had rented for a few weeks in Rovaniemi since I didn’t have my own car yet). It was about a 2.5-hour drive up north from Rovaniemi and merely a 40-minute drive from Kittila. Kittila Airport is the closest airport to Muonio if you are flying in.
You can also get to Muonio via bus on a daily connection from Rovaniemi (via Kittila).
CHECK RATES HERE: Polaris Villas in Muonio
If you are driving a car to Muonio from Rovaniemi (or Kittila), you will need to get on the 79 North and eventually take a right on Route 957 in Sarkijarvi.
Keep following that north until you reach Jerisjarventie (9572), and the property is just a minute further on the right-hand side of the road. It is super easy to find! It is near Arctic Sauna World if you are looking for signs to point you in the right direction.
What to Do Nearby
Go Hiking in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is teeming with hiking trails, and it is a great place to enjoy regardless of what time of year you’re visiting. I was there in autumn so everything was still accessible.
The nearest mountains for hiking are Sarkitunturi (15 minutes by car) and Keimiotunturi (4 minutes by car).
Go to Levi
Not too far from Polaris Villas is the ski resort town of Levi. While you will find other ski resorts closer (Olos and Pallas), Levi has a lot to do, and it was nice to enjoy a lunch of Mexican food and a tasty coffee while there.
Have Lunch at the Tunturiporo Cafe
One of my favorite stops was the Tunturiporo Cafe, super close to the Polaris Villas! This cafe specializes in reindeer (poro = reindeer in Finnish) and they have lunch specials and a lot of goods you can take away with you. I grabbed some reindeer sandwich toppings and bread for dinner that night at Polaris, as I was not interested in leaving again.
When I visited Tunturiporo, the staff was super nice and I had a bowl of tasty reindeer soup. They are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and you can find them at Pallaksentie 601.
After my stay at Polaris Villas, I think it is worth booking on your trip to Muonio (and Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park) if your budget permits. The space fits quite a few guests and it is modern and luxurious, all while situated in a gorgeous Finnish forest right near the lake.
I visited in October and it was slightly past peak fall in Lapland but I can only imagine how gorgeous the villas are when sitting in a fresh layer of deep snow! Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!
Note: This was not a sponsored visit and I paid for a stay at Polaris Villas out of my own pocket. While I loved this stay so much, I would not recommend doing this if you’re a solo traveler, as it is a bit pricy for one!
I do this because I want to have places all around Finland to recommend to readers and I prefer to test them by myself before writing about them on the blog, of course.
More Northern Finland Travel Guides
- Rovaniemi in winter
- Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in Rovaniemi
- Ruka Peak Boutique Hotel in Ruka
- Northern Lights Village in Saariselka
- Aurora Village in Ivalo
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now lives in Finnish Lapland after previous stints in Norway, Germany, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ (2020) and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.