Enontekiö · the arm of Finland
Kilpisjärvi
The only true alpine village in Finland.
- Airport
- Kittilä (KTT) or Rovaniemi (RVN), then bus
- From Rovaniemi
- 435 km by road
- Position
- 69°03′ N
- Village height
- about 500 m
- Saana fell
- 1,029 m
- Residents
- about 100
The place
What Kilpisjärvi is actually like
Kilpisjärvi is a small village at the very edge of north-western Finland, near the borders of Norway and Sweden. It is the only true alpine village in Finland, completely surrounded by high mountains and crystal-clear lakes. The village is about 500 metres above sea level. Kilpisjärvi is roughly 435 kilometres from Rovaniemi, and only about 100 people live there.
Completely surrounded by high mountains and crystal-clear lakes.
The village is at the foot of Saana Mountain. Saana is 1,029 metres above sea level and is widely known as the most iconic mountain in Finland because of its shape. From the Malla car park near the village, hikers can take the marked trail to the top of Saana, 4.2 kilometres each way with more than 150 stone steps, to enjoy the incredible views; the trail is open in the snow-free season only. Or plan a longer trek of a week or more to Halti, which holds the highest point in Finland, 1,324 metres, on its slope (the summit itself is across the border in Norway).
Kilpisjärvi offers outdoor experiences all year round. During the dark winter months the landscape becomes a snowy wonderland, where visitors can go snowmobiling, enjoy cross-country skiing and watch the green northern lights. In summer it is a wonderful place to hike through the nature reserves and enjoy the silence of the Arctic wild.
What you do
What to do in Kilpisjärvi
Fell skiing and the northern lights are the reason to make the long trip. Guides and gear are few, so book ahead.
Where to sleep
54 places, in four kinds
Every place to stay in Kilpisjärvi and around, ranked so a strong score from hundreds of guests beats a perfect one from a single review. There are not many: book early.
Hotels & lodges
7 places · from €129 a night
Reception, breakfast, a restaurant that stays open in the dark. Resorts, lodges and guest houses too.
Pictured: Cahkal Hotel · 9.5
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Apartments
13 places · from €140 a night
Your own kitchen and washing machine, in the village or close to the slopes.
Pictured: Aurora Apartment Kilpisjärvi · 9.6
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Cabins & holiday homes
31 places · from €135 a night
Log walls, a stove, a sauna. Villas and chalets count here too. The Lapland stay.
Pictured: Korppi Mökki · 9.6
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Budget & unusual
3 places · from €91 a night
Hostels, campsites, holiday parks, homestays. Fewer of them, cheaper, and often the better story.
Pictured: Naali Mökki · 9.1
See allGetting here
Getting to Kilpisjärvi
Fly
Fly to Kittilä or Rovaniemi and take the bus from there. The nearest big airport is Tromsø in Norway, under three hours by road.
Search flights
By bus
One bus a day runs from Rovaniemi railway station through Kittilä to Kilpisjärvi, about six hours, and on to Tromsø in summer and winter. From Oulu, change in Rovaniemi.
Times and tickets
By train
The nearest stations are Kolari and Rovaniemi; from there the trip continues by bus or car.
Times and tickets
Driving yourself
Winter tyres are the law from November, and we would not recommend driving unless you have driven on ice before.
Rent a car
Taxi from Rovaniemi · our own car
From Rovaniemi airport
to Kilpisjärvi, door to door
Landing in Rovaniemi? We drive the 435 km to Kilpisjärvi for you. Type your arrival and your address here: the fare shows straight away, and you book it in the same box.
- We watch the flight
- Give us the number and a late plane costs you nothing.
- Straight to the door
- Your cabin or hotel in Kilpisjärvi, not a bus stop.
- Up to eight people and the bags
- Six with a suitcase each. Child seats and skis if you say so in the booking.
When to come
When to go to Kilpisjärvi
The snow comes early and stays late up here, and the summer is short and bright.
Winter
December to March
Several weeks of polar night around midwinter, then long blue twilight and very dark skies for the aurora.
Spring
April to May
The best time on the fells: long days, deep snow and ski touring well into spring.
Summer
June to August
About two months of midnight sun, and the hiking season on Saana and the trail to the Three-Country Cairn.
Autumn
September to November
Ruska comes early, in late August and September, and the aurora returns with the first dark nights.
The sky tonight
Northern lights, honestly
Activity peaks near Kp 5.7 around 00:00, broken cloud around 55%.
Kp now
1.67
live, every minute
Peak tonight
5.7
around 00:00
Cloud
55%
while dark
Dark
21:00–04:00
in Kilpisjärvi tonight
Sun 20:08 Finnish time. Every number is read from NOAA and MET Norway and refreshes on its own.
Where to eat
Seven places to eat in Kilpisjärvi
Our picks. A name opens the restaurant's own site, where the hours and menus live.
Aika Restaurant by CahkalAt Cahkal HotelRevontulentie 4, 99490 KilpisjärviWebsite
Restaurant TundreaAt Tundrea Holiday ResortKäsivarrentie 14188, 99490 KilpisjärviWebsite
Restaurant KilpisKilpisjärviKäsivarrentie 14205, 99490 KilpisjärviWebsite
Restaurant SaanaAt Kilpisjärven RetkeilykeskusKäsivarrentie 14663, 99490 KilpisjärviWebsite
Restaurant RakkaAt Santa’s Hotel RakkaUrpiaisentie 4, 99490 KilpisjärviWebsite
Restaurant LapintyttöAt Guesthouse HaltinmaaNaalikuja 1, 99490 KilpisjärviWebsite
Lapland Hotels Kilpis RestaurantAt Lapland Hotels Kilpis, spring and summer onlyKäsivarrentie 14206, 99490 KilpisjärviWebsitePlaces to visit
Places to visit in and around Kilpisjärvi
Four places, from the fell above the village to the cairn where three countries meet.
Saana FellFellSaana is the most famous mountain in the area and easy to hike. You can go to the top to see incredible views of three countries.
The Three-Country CairnBorderA famous place in a lake where the borders of Finland, Sweden and Norway meet.
Halti FellFellHalti is far out in the wilderness, a trek of a week or more from the village. The highest point in Finland, 1,324 metres, is on its slope; the summit itself is in Norway.
Malla Strict Nature ReserveNatureMalla Strict Nature Reserve is an amazing place with rare alpine plants, mountain trails and beautiful scenery.Before you come
The things nobody tells you
The first two are worth sorting out before you fly. The rest you only need to know.
Travel insuranceBook before you flyValid worldwide, for citizens of any country, at any age from 0 to 100.Check your cover
Phone and dataBook before you flyEU and EEA phones roam free here. From further away, or on a plan without EU roaming, an eSIM usually costs less.Get an eSIM
Warm clothesSafari companies lend thermal overalls, boots and mittens for the trip itself. For the rest of the day, bring wool for next to the skin and a windproof layer on top.
What the cold meansMinus 20 degrees is normal from January to March. From the middle of January to the middle of February some winters go to minus 30. Wool next to the skin, then a warm layer, then a windproof one, and the cold is beaten. With the proper clothes, enjoy the beauty of the winter.
MoneyYou do not need to bring cash. Cards are accepted everywhere, including the taxi, the restaurants and the market stalls.
EmergencyCall 112 from any phone. You can speak English.
TippingTipping is welcome but not required. It is always encouraging to give something extra when the service was good, the taxi included.
Reindeer on the roadEvery reindeer here is domesticated and belongs to someone. In many cases they will not move for a car. If you meet them on the road, sound the horn to move them off, or drive slowly past. If you hit one, call 112 for help.
Questions
What people ask about Kilpisjärvi
01
How do I get to Kilpisjärvi without a car?
You can get to Kilpisjärvi by bus. One bus a day runs from Rovaniemi railway station through Kittilä to Kilpisjärvi and takes about six hours; from Oulu you change in Rovaniemi. You can fly to Kittilä Airport (KTT) or Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) and take the bus from there.
02
What is the closest airport to Kilpisjärvi?
The closest airport in Finland is Enontekiö Airport (ENF), but it only handles limited seasonal flights. For regular international travel, visitors can fly into Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) or Kittilä Airport (KTT) and then take the bus to Kilpisjärvi.
03
Can you walk to the Three-Country Cairn in the winter?
Yes, but the route is different. In summer, visitors take a boat (the M/S Malla or M/S Maria) across the lake to Koltalahti and walk an easy three-kilometre trail to the border cairn. In winter the boat does not run, because the lake freezes completely. Instead, you can reach the Three-Country Cairn on cross-country skis or snowshoes, about 10 kilometres each way; the ski track is opened in late winter. Snowmobiles are not allowed in the Malla nature reserve.
04
Are there many mosquitoes in Kilpisjärvi during the summer?
Yes, mosquitoes arrive in summer, as in most other parts of Lapland, especially in July. Since Kilpisjärvi is at a high altitude (about 500 metres above sea level) and has cooler mountain winds, it often has fewer mosquitoes than southern Lapland. Still, it is always a good idea to bring bug spray or cream and a windproof jacket when you visit Kilpisjärvi.
05
Does Kilpisjärvi have a pharmacy or a hospital?
There is no full health centre or pharmacy in this remote village, but it is not without care. A small health point has a nurse on Tuesdays and a doctor about once a month, by appointment, and a pharmacy service point inside the Neste station at Kilpishalli receives ordered medicines on weekdays. The nearest health centres and full pharmacies are in the towns of Hetta (about 174 kilometres from Kilpisjärvi) and Muonio (about 196 kilometres).
06
Is it safe to drive from Rovaniemi to Kilpisjärvi in the winter?
Yes, if you have experience of driving in snowy or icy conditions, you can drive. However, we do not recommend driving if you have little or no winter experience, because the road can be very challenging.
07
Can I cross the border from Kilpisjärvi into Norway and Sweden freely?
Yes. Finland, Norway and Sweden are all part of the Nordic Passport Union, so there is no passport control. The road from Kilpisjärvi leads into Norway; at the border there is a joint Finnish and Norwegian customs station, open around the clock, because Norway is outside the EU customs union, so do not carry goods that need declaring. There is no road into Sweden from Kilpisjärvi: you reach Sweden on foot along the Malla trail or by the summer boat to Koltalahti.
08
When does Lake Kilpisjärvi freeze and melt?
The water typically starts to freeze in November. Because of the cool mountain climate, the lake stays frozen much longer than the rest of Finland, and it does not melt completely until June.
Guest scores come from the booking sites the places are listed on. Aurora and weather come from NOAA and MET Norway and refresh on their own. The airport taxi is our own car at the meter tariff.