The nearest airport is Ivalo (IVL), about 25 km north of Saariselkä. Finnair operates daily flights from Helsinki year-round, with extra capacity and direct charters from London, Paris, and other European hubs during the winter season. Several hotels run free shuttle buses from the airport.
By bus, regular services on the Helsinki–Rovaniemi–Ivalo–Karasjok route stop in Saariselkä; the journey from Rovaniemi takes about 4 hours. The night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi continues the trip on the same day by bus.
By car, the village sits directly on Route E75, Finland's main north–south artery. From Rovaniemi the drive takes about 3.5 hours; from Helsinki it is a long full day or, more sensibly, two.