Retro Town
The truly unique town of Sodankylä is a refreshing flash from the past. With its old signs and retro-style buildings, the town center offers a great location for small town stories set in the past decades. Most of the buildings in and around the area are from the 70s and 80s, and they include premises such as cafés and pubs, little shops and apartment buildings.
And if you’re looking to combine small-town charm with versatile nature, you’re in luck. The rivers Jeesiöjoki and Kittinen flow right by the town, and the Pyhä-Luosto National Park is just around the corner.
Sodankylä is also home of the world-famous Midnight Sun Film Festival, which gets a special flair from the retro atmosphere of the town center each summer.
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Accommodation
There are a couple of hotels in the town center of Sodankylä, as well as a handful of holiday apartments available for rent. In addition, the Luosto travel area, only a 30-minute drive away, offers various accommodation options from hotels to cozy cottages. For a couple of examples, see the accommodation selection of our film friendly partners, Lapland Hotels and Santa’s Hotels, which includes hotel rooms, luxury villas and glass igloos.
Restaurants & Catering
In the town center, you can find a handful of à la carte restaurants and lunch cafés, as well as a couple of fast food eateries for those craving some pizza or a burger. In the village of Luosto, the forementioned hotels are happy to serve productions with expertise and care.
Other Services
Some additional local services that may be useful when filming in the retro town of Sodankylä include:
- Construction services
- Helicopter and flight services
- Guide services
- Transportation services
But this is just to name a few. For more information on the services available in the area, visit the Sodankylä travel site.
Lapland is the most connected wilderness in the Arctic. Thanks to its five airports, vast and well-maintained road network and efficient public transportation, getting around is effortless throughout the year.
By Plane
The nearest international airports are in Kittilä (1 h 15 min by car), Rovaniemi (1 h 30 min), and Ivalo in Inari (1 h 45 min). The Sodankylä Airfield is located only 3 kilometers from the town center, and it is available for general aviation flights.
By Train
The nearest railway stations are in Kemijärvi (1 h 15 min) and Rovaniemi (1 h 30 min). For timetables and tickets for trains, visit VR.
By Bus
You can travel to Sodankylä by bus. For example, there are direct bus lines to the town from the Kemijärvi and Rovaniemi railway stations. For timetables and tickets for buses, visit Matkahuolto.
By Car
As all of Lapland, Sodankylä is easy to reach by car. If you opt for a rental car, the film-friendly services of ScanCar are available across the region.
Crew & Filming Equipment
Production service companies that operate across Lapland:
Angel Films offers equipment rentals for productions in Lapland. The company also owns sound stages in Helsinki.
Permits
Permits for filming in the town center of Sodankylä are granted by the municipality. However, there is a chance you might not need to worry about permits at all. You have the right to film in public, as long as you don’t significantly disrupt business or traffic. You can freely film the streets, roads, and buildings, but you will need permission if you want to shoot, for example, inside private businesses, restaurants and the like. But if you’re unsure of your rights and responsibilities, it’s always best to ask.
Film Lapland does not issue permits, but we’re more than happy to help you determine whether you need one and with the permit process, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
