Kittilä · Finnish Lapland
Levi
Finland’s most visited ski resort.
- Airport
- Kittilä (KTT), 14 km
- From Helsinki
- about 1 h 30 by air
- Position
- 67°48′ N
- From Rovaniemi
- 170 km by road
- Ski season
- Oct to May
- Levi fell
- 531 m
The place
What Levi is actually like
Levi is Finland’s most visited ski resort and one of the most popular. Levi is the name of the 531-metre (1,742-foot) high mountain (Levitunturi) and the massive Levi Ski Resort built around it. Levi is situated inside and around the village of Sirkka, and Sirkka is a village located inside the Kittilä municipality. The entire area is marketed and universally referred to as Levi, and it is situated about 140 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
Finland's most visited ski resort, and you can walk from your bed to the lifts.
Levi has 44 ski slopes with a modern network of 26 ski lifts. The ski season in Levi is long: it starts in October and ends in May due to its northern location and advanced snow farming technology. Levi hosts a big international ski competition called the Alpine Ski World Cup. Levi has a fun tradition. The winners of this World Cup race not only get a trophy but also get a live reindeer. The skier names the reindeer, and the animal stays safe at a local farm in Lapland. Famous champions like Mikaela Shiffrin and Marcel Hirscher own a whole group of reindeer here. There are 230 kilometres of tracks for cross-country skiing and 886 kilometres of snowmobile trails in Levi.
About 12,000 reindeer live in Kittilä, outnumbering the local population of about 7,000. There is an airport 14 kilometres away from Levi, known as Kittilä Airport. Every year lots of tourists visit Levi to enjoy their stay in glass igloos and winter activities like husky sledding, skiing, snowmobiling and many more.
What you do
What to do in Levi
Ski days book themselves. Safaris do not: December and February fill up weeks ahead.
Where to sleep
974 places, in four kinds
Every place to stay in and around Levi, ranked so a strong score from hundreds of guests beats a perfect one from a single review.
Hotels & lodges
23 places · from €207 a night
Reception, breakfast, a restaurant that stays open in the dark. Resorts, lodges and guest houses too.
Pictured: Northern Lights Ranch · 9.4
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Apartments
555 places · from €156 a night
Your own kitchen and washing machine, in the village or close to the slopes.
Pictured: Levi City Suite - Central & Stylish with Free Ski Passes · 9.8
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Cabins & holiday homes
396 places · from €122 a night
Log walls, a stove, a sauna. Villas and chalets count here too. The Lapland stay.
Pictured: Levin Rankis · 9.7
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Glass igloos & aurora cabins
22 places · from €550 a night
A glass roof over the bed. Most are booked out for December and February months ahead.
Pictured: Levi Skyview Igloo · 10.0
See allGetting here
Three ways to Levi
Fly to Kittilä
Kittilä airport is 14 km from the village, with flights from Helsinki all year and direct winter flights from several European cities.
Search flights
By bus
Coaches run to Levi from Rovaniemi, and airport buses run from Kittilä.
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 Levi, door to door
Landing in Rovaniemi? We drive the 170 km to Levi 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 Levi, 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 Levi
The slopes open in late autumn and run into May, and the village stays open through the summer.
Winter
December to March
Short blue days in December, the deepest snow in February and March. Every safari runs and the aurora season is at its best.
Spring
April to May
Long bright days and good snow on the slopes, often into May. The easiest time to ski with children.
Summer
June to August
The sun does not set for weeks. Hiking and cycling trails take over from the pistes, and a gondola runs to the top.
Autumn
September to November
Ruska colours the fells in September, the first dark nights bring back the aurora, and the slopes open as the snow arrives.
The sky tonight
Northern lights, honestly
Activity peaks near Kp 5.7 around 00:00, clearest 03:00–04:00 (22% cloud).
Kp now
1.67
live, every minute
Peak tonight
5.7
around 00:00
Cloud
67%
while dark
Dark
20:00–04:00
in Levi tonight
Sun 19:09 Finnish time. Every number is read from NOAA and MET Norway and refreshes on its own.
Where to eat
Eight places to eat in Levi
Our picks. A name opens the restaurant's own site, where the hours and menus live.
Ravintola KekäleAt Levi Hotel SpaLevintie 1590, 99130 SirkkaWebsite
Ravintola UtsuAt Levin IglutHarjatie 2, 99130 LeviWebsite
Ravintola ÄmmiläAt Hullu PoroRakkavaarantie 3, 99130 LeviWebsite
Ravintola PihvipirttiSteakhouse, Hullu PoroHissitie 14, 99130 SirkkaWebsite
Ravintola Saamen KammiAt Hotel K5 LeviKätkänrannantie 2, LeviWebsite
NiliPoroLevi villageTorikuja 4, 99130 LeviWebsite
Salteriet LeviLevi villageTorikuja 5, 99130 SirkkaWebsite
Ravintola Myllyn ÄijäLevi villageMyllyjoentie 2, 99130 SirkkaWebsitePlaces to visit
Places to visit in and around Levi
Seven places, from the top of the fell to a hotel made of snow 40 minutes away.
Levi Ski ResortViewIt is one of the best attractions in Levi. You can take the Gondola 2000 lift and go up to the summit of the fell and see snow-covered trees and white heaven all around.
Santa’s CabinPhoto spotAn incredibly scenic wooden cabin which is situated on the side of Levi Fell. It is considered one of the most photographed spots in Levi.
Ounaskievari Reindeer FarmReindeerOunaskievari Reindeer Farm, on the bank of the Ounasjoki river, is a family-run reindeer farm located just outside the main village, in Köngäs.
Samiland ExhibitionMuseumIt is an indoor and outdoor museum on Levi Fell, next to Hotel Levi Panorama. It is part of the UNESCO Observatory Cultural Village programme.
Elves Village TonttulaFamilyElves Village is a fairytale-themed park located only 8 kilometres away from Levi, in the quiet village named Köngäs.
Särestöniemi MuseumArtSärestöniemi Museum is the historic home, studio, and gallery of Reidar Särestöniemi, one of Lapland’s most famous painters.
Lapland Hotels SnowVillageDay tripIt is a wonderful winter wonderland made entirely of snow and ice. It is located in Lainio, 40 minutes’ drive from Levi.Before you come
The things nobody tells you
The first three 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
Renting warm clothesKeskuskuja 6, 99130 SirkkaComplete sets: insulated outerwear, winter boots, mittens and the accessories, picked for real Lapland conditions. Rent them here instead of packing a parka you will wear four times.
See the sets
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 Levi
01
Where should I fly into to visit Levi?
The nearest airport is Kittilä Airport (KTT). It is only 14 kilometres away from Levi, which takes only 13 to 15 minutes by taxi or bus. You can also fly to Rovaniemi and then travel to Levi by bus, by taxi or in a rental car.
02
Is it possible to view the northern lights right from Levi?
Yes. Levi is one of the best places to view the northern lights because of its geographical position deep inside the Arctic auroral zone. The best time to experience the northern lights is between late August and mid-April. If you go to darker areas, like the edge of Lake Immeljärvi, you will be able to see the northern lights more clearly. You can check northern lights activity on our aurora forecast page.
03
Do travellers need to rent a vehicle in Levi?
In Levi everything is nearby. You can go to your accommodation, the supermarket, local restaurants and the ski slopes on foot. Also, a reliable ski shuttle bus is available during the day, and taxis are available all the time. We do not recommend driving a car in snowy or icy conditions if you do not have long experience of driving in them.
04
What months make up the ski season in Levi?
Levi has one of the most extended winter sports seasons in Europe. The season runs from October to May. Because of its northern location and advanced snow farming technology, the resort can achieve this much longevity.
05
What activities are available in Levi for non-skiers?
Levi is not only famous for skiing. It also offers various winter activities like husky sledding, reindeer sledding, snowmobiling through frozen forests, visiting traditional reindeer farms and ice karting. There are also indoor relaxation activities like spas with heated pools and traditional Finnish saunas.
06
Is Levi a good holiday destination for young families?
Levi is recognised as one of the best family holiday destinations in Finland. There is a dedicated outdoor snow playground, Leevilandia Family Park on the South Slopes, where there are gentle learner slopes, free sleds, campfire spots for roasting sausages and daily organised games, and a smaller Kids’ Land playground at the Front Slopes. The local ski academy also offers beginner lessons designed specifically for small children.
07
What is daylight like during the midwinter polar night (kaamos)?
The sun remains below the horizon from early December to early January, but this does not mean total darkness all day long. Around noon, the sky fills with a unique twilight, deep blue and pastel pink in colour, for a few hours.
08
Why is the area sometimes called Sirkka or Kittilä instead of Levi?
Levi is actually the name of the mountain and the ski resort infrastructure. It is situated inside and around the village of Sirkka, and Sirkka is a village located inside the municipality of Kittilä. Because of tourist branding, the whole area is globally known as Levi.
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.