Porotila Toini Sanila

Top choice in Northern Lapland


Run by a reindeer-owning family who taught at the local school, Porotila Toini Sanila is a great place to learn about the Skolt way of life. A series of rooms across a few central buildings offer simple, attractive comfort with shared bathrooms. Self-contained cottages are also available.

The cafe does home baking and delicious reindeer and fish meals (three courses including soup and dessert €18 to €29); the sauna is always on. The guesthouse is 1km off the main road, halfway between Sevettijärvi and the Norwegian border; the bus will drop you at the turn-off.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Northern Lapland attractions

1. Kolttien Perinnetalo

8.62 MILES

Kolttien Perinnetalo is a delightful little museum with photos, crafts and memorabilia of the poignant Skolt history. The Skolt traditionally used a…

2. Gabba Reindeer & Husky Park

25.7 MILES

This may not be so much of a treat for the children if you've been driving in Eastern Finnmark and have stopped to relate to communing roadside reindeer…

3. Grenselandsmuseet

29.72 MILES

This well-presented frontier museum, 1km from Kirkenes centre, illustrates the geography and culture of the border region, with special displays on WWII…

4. Bear Sculptures

29.85 MILES

Outside the Russian consulate, there are two engaging little sculptures of a bear mounting – in every sense of the word, it would appear – a lamp-post.

6. Høyde 96

30 MILES

The Cold War lookout tower Høyde 96 offers a view eastward to the bleak Russian mining town of Nikel.