You can easily get to Sodankylä by public transport or in your own car. The nearest airports are Kittilä, Rovaniemi and Ivalo. From them you can continue to Sodankylä by bus.
Rest on the way – come to Sodankylä by public transport
Car train
The car train allows you to reach the north easily: you can sleep through the night, but when you arrive you still have the freedom that comes with your own car. You can take the car train to either Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi, each of which is only about a 1.5-hour drive to Sodankylä. See the schedule at VR.fi.
Train
You can take the train to Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi and then catch a bus to either Sodankylä or Pyhä-Luosto. Check out VR.fi ja Matkahuolto.fi.
Bus
You can arrive in Sodankylä by bus from anywhere in Finland. The Sodankylä bus station is in the centre of the town. See the bus schedule at Matkahuolto.fi.
Airplane
Scheduled and charter flights are arranged to Kittilä, Ivalo and Rovaniemi and then continue to Sodankylä by bus from the airport. Check out bus connections at Matkahuolto.fi.
You can easily reach Sodankylä also by plane, either by your own plane or through Heliflite Oy More information about Sodankylä airport here.
Your own car or bicycle gives you freedom
The E75, more commonly known as Route 4, runs from the south through Rovaniemi straight to Sodankylä, from where it continues from the south of the municipality all the way into Inari. You can also arrive in Sodankylä by car from Kittilä, Kemijärvi, Savukoski, Pelkosenniemi, Saariselkä and Ivalo.
You can find charging points for electric cars in the centre of Sodankylä at K-Supermarket Pohjantähti (Haastajantie 1) and at service stations Neste Mokko (Lompolontie 2) and Seo (Rovaniementie 3). There is also a charging point in the well-being centre Sopukka (address Karistamontie 4). In North Sodankylä you will find a charging point in Vuotso, at Vuotso Maja (address: Ivalontie 8775). Other points can be conveniently found here.
You can rent a car in Sodankylä from Seo Sodankylä service station.
Long-distance cyclists often cycle through the municipality of Sodankylä from end to end on their way to Utsjoki and the North Cape. The route that goes through here to the northernmost tip of Europe is the shortest.
Driving in Lapland
Prepare for winter
In Lapland the winter starts earlier and finishes later than in the south. Even good driving conditions can change suddenly. In addition, far from all roads in Lapland are salted. Before you leave think about whether you might need winter tyres.
Prepare for the cold
Keep extra warm clothes in your car in winter in case your car breaks down and you need to wait for help. A portable charger or booster is a good piece of spare equipment to have when driving in the cold Lapland winter. In sub-zero temperatures, use the first gear instead of the handbrake, as the handbrake may freeze.
Do not stop in the road
Never stop anywhere where your car could cause a danger to other road users, including for photographs. The roads of Lapland are used by a lot of heavy vehicles with long braking distances. Even if there are reindeer by the roadside or the Northern Lights appear in the sky, only ever park your car in a safe place. If you don’t see a risk-free place to park, don’t stop.
Stay alert
Beware of reindeer! Drive in moderation and be attentive in traffic. In addition to reindeer, a lot of moose also travel on the roads in Lapland, and they can appear in front of your car very quickly. A moose is many times heavier and taller than a reindeer. Moose mostly move about in the morning and evening twilight.
