Kemijärvi · SCANDINAVIA
Boutique hotel in Kemijärvi
A freshly renovated boutique hotel in the centre of a working Lapland town, rather than in a resort — darker skies, closer to the fells.
Why I send people here
I send people to Kemijärvi when they want the quieter, lower-cost version of Lapland without giving anything up: it’s an hour from Rovaniemi, the night train from Helsinki drops you there in the morning, and the huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are all around you, with Pyhä-Luosto and Salla within reach. It’s small, dark and beautiful — the kind of place where you step outside the hotel to check the sky, which is exactly what you want in aurora season.
Rahul Khanna, Mykish Travels
- Darker skies for the aurora. Away from the city lights, and small enough that you step outside the hotel to check the sky.
- The fells and the nature are on the doorstep — the Suomu fell area 30 km out, Pyhä-Luosto National Park 60 km, and Salla within reach.
- Quieter and lower-cost than Rovaniemi, without giving anything up. A real Lapland town rather than a resort.
- The night train from Helsinki drops you here in the morning, and the station is 500 m from the door.
- The full winter set is here — huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and nature hikes. We arrange them for you.
What it is
This is a hotel rather than apartments, and it sits in the centre of a working Lapland town. The building has been freshly renovated in a modern Nordic style that keeps its own history visible; it used to be a school, and the photographs in the corridors are of the place it was.
Three room types, a shared sauna, a restaurant and bar in the building next door serving local Lapland cooking, shared kitchens with coffee makers, luggage storage and free parking.
Where you’ll stay
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Standard room
22 m² · sleeps 2 · one double or two singles
WiFi, a TV, a kettle, blackout curtains, heating, a private bathroom and access to the shared sauna.
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Superior room
30 m² · sleeps 2 · one king bed · balcony
Adds a minibar and a balcony with views over Kemijärvi to the standard amenities.
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Family room
38 m² · sleeps 4 · one double and two singles
The only room here that takes more than two, with a crib available and floor space for children.
What’s here
- Reception desk
- Restaurant and bar in the adjacent building, serving local Lapland cooking
- Shared kitchens with coffee makers
- Shared sauna, 16:00–22:00
- Free parking in front of the hotel
- Luggage storage
- Free WiFi and heating throughout
What’s included
- Breakfast — in the winter season, not in summer
- Sauna access with every room
- Free parking
- Free WiFi
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before check-in
Check-in and keys
Reception on site. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before check-in; no-shows are charged in full.
House rules: no smoking, quiet hours after 22:00, and pets are allowed in designated rooms.
Getting here
- Getting herePrivate transfer from Rovaniemi arranged by Mykish, or by train.
Seasons
⭐ Winter is what this place is for. Breakfast is included through the winter season, and the huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and nature hikes all run from here.
In summer breakfast is not included, and the restaurant and bar open by reservation rather than to walk-ins — the shared kitchens are there for the difference.
Where it is, and getting around
- Kemijärvi town centreOn the doorstep
- Railway station500 m
- From HelsinkiDirect night train, arriving in the morning
- Supermarket200 m
- Kemijärvi church300 m
- Suomu fell area30 km
- Pyhä-Luosto National Park60 km
We publish the area rather than the address, and place you ourselves — so the map above is the neighbourhood, not a pin.
Who it suits
Budget-conscious families and couples who want a real Lapland town. A town centre on the doorstep, a family room that takes four with a crib, and the whole winter programme arranged from here.
Aurora hunters who want dark skies. Away from the city lights, in a town small enough to step outside and look up.
Anyone coming by train. The direct night train from Helsinki arrives in the morning and the station is 500 m away.
Questions we get asked
Is this a hotel or an apartment?
A hotel, with a reception, three room types, a shared sauna and a restaurant and bar in the building next door.
Why stay here rather than in Rovaniemi?
Darker skies away from the city, which is what you want when you are looking for the northern lights; closer to nature and the fells; and a quieter, lower-cost base for the same winter. Pyhä-Luosto and Salla are both within reach.
What rooms are there?
Three. A 22 m² standard for two, a 30 m² superior for two with a king bed, a minibar and a balcony over the water, and a 38 m² family room taking four with a crib available.
How do we get there?
We arrange a private transfer from Rovaniemi, or you can come by train — there is a direct night train from Helsinki that arrives in the morning, and the station is 500 m from the hotel.
Is breakfast included?
In the winter season, yes. It is not included in summer, and in summer the restaurant and bar open by reservation rather than to walk-ins. There are shared kitchens with coffee makers either way.
Is there a sauna?
Yes, a shared hotel sauna available from 16:00 to 22:00, with access included for every room. It is not en-suite.
Can we see the northern lights?
The skies here are darker than in the city, and it is a small town where you can step outside the hotel to check. That is a real advantage over a lit resort. Nobody can guarantee the aurora, and we never will.
What is there to do in winter?
Huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and nature hikes are all around the town, with the Suomu fell area 30 km away and Pyhä-Luosto National Park 60 km. The hotel does not run them; we arrange them for you.
Is there parking?
Yes, free parking in front of the hotel.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before check-in. No-shows are charged in full.
Are pets allowed?
Yes, in designated rooms. Tell us when you enquire and we will confirm one.
One honest line: the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and can’t be guaranteed — they depend on solar activity and cloud cover on the night. What we can promise is the planning: the right place, the right nights, and a stay built to give you the best possible chance.
Your consultant
Talk to Rahul about Boutique hotel in Kemijärvi
Your enquiry is handled end to end by a Mykish consultant with our 24-hour response promise, and we place you ourselves rather than sending you to a booking screen.