Kolari · Finnish Lapland
Ylläs
The longest ski runs in Finland.
- Airport
- Kittilä (KTT), 35 to 50 km
- From Helsinki
- about 1 h 30 by air
- Position
- 67°36′ N
- From Rovaniemi
- 170 km by road
- Ski slopes
- 62, with 26 lifts
- Cross-country trails
- about 300 km
The place
What Ylläs is actually like
Ylläs is a magnificent destination in Western Lapland. It is the largest downhill resort in Finland by ski terrain. It has 62 ski slopes and 26 ski lifts, and holds the record for the longest ski runs in the country. It is also famous for its huge network of about 300 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, more than 30 kilometres of them lit for evening skiing. Ylläs has a unique 2-kilometre gondola lift, and one of the cabins has a built-in electric sauna, which makes it the only sauna gondola in the world.
The only sauna gondola in the world.
The ski resort connects two separate villages, Äkäslompolo on the north side and Ylläsjärvi on the south side, and a beautiful road links them together. The resort sits right on the edge of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, which is famous for having the cleanest and crispest air in the world. Unlike Rovaniemi, the villages of Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi escaped destruction during the Second World War, thanks to their remote location and a good deal of luck. Today travellers can enjoy the true spirit of Lapland in these villages.
Ylläs is not just about skiing. In the winter months the whole landscape becomes a snowy wonderland, and you can take a husky sled ride, visit and feed reindeer at a local farm, watch the northern lights or go snowmobiling in the woods. In summer you can experience the midnight sun, go mountain biking, canoe down the clean river and hike to the top of the ancient fells. And in every season you can end your day with a traditional Finnish sauna. Whenever you decide to visit, an amazing Arctic adventure is always waiting for you.
What you do
What to do in Ylläs
Ylläs is a cross-country skier's place as much as a downhill one. Book safaris early for December and February.
Where to sleep
619 places, in four kinds
Every place to stay in Äkäslompolo, Ylläsjärvi and around, ranked so a strong score from hundreds of guests beats a perfect one from a single review.
Hotels & lodges
19 places · from €100 a night
Reception, breakfast, a restaurant that stays open in the dark. Resorts, lodges and guest houses too.
Pictured: Riekko Lodge · 9.7
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Apartments
212 places · from €104 a night
Your own kitchen and washing machine, in the village or close to the slopes.
Pictured: Ylläs Chalet 8208 · 9.6
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Cabins & holiday homes
386 places · from €118 a night
Log walls, a stove, a sauna. Villas and chalets count here too. The Lapland stay.
Pictured: LOIMU · 9.7
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Glass igloos & aurora cabins
4 places · from €605 a night
A glass roof over the bed. Most are booked out for December and February months ahead.
Pictured: Arctic Skylight Lodge · 9.1
See allGetting here
Four ways to Ylläs
Fly to Kittilä
Kittilä airport is 35 km from Ylläsjärvi and 50 km from Äkäslompolo, with flights from Helsinki and direct winter flights from Europe. The airport bus goes to both villages.
Search flights
By train
Kolari station is about 38 km away, and overnight trains from Helsinki run there all year, nightly in winter.
Times and tickets
By bus
The airport bus runs to both villages from Kittilä airport. From Rovaniemi there is no direct coach: it is a car or our taxi.
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 Ylläs, door to door
Landing in Rovaniemi? We drive the 170 km to Ylläs 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 Ylläs, 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 Ylläs
Snow from November, fell skiing at its best in spring, and an empty national park in summer.
Winter
December to March
Short days in December, deep snow by February. Every safari runs and the aurora season is at its best.
Spring
April to May
The best months on the fell: long days, deep snow and the lifts often running into May.
Summer
June to August
Midnight sun and the national park trails, with hardly anyone on them.
Autumn
September to November
Ruska turns the fell slopes red and yellow in September; the first snow and the aurora follow.
The sky tonight
Northern lights, honestly
Activity peaks near Kp 5.3 around 03:00, clearest 02:00–04:00 (12% cloud).
Kp now
0.67
live, every minute
Peak tonight
5.3
around 03:00
Cloud
53%
while dark
Dark
20:00–04:00
in Ylläs tonight
Sun 12:17 Finnish time. Every number is read from NOAA and MET Norway and refreshes on its own.
Where to eat
Seven places to eat in Ylläs
Our picks. A name opens the restaurant's own site, where the hours and menus live.
Jänkä Resort RestaurantÄkäslompoloKonijänkäntie 1, 95970 ÄkäslompoloWebsite
Ravintola RouheÄkäslompoloLompolontie 3, 95970 ÄkäslompoloWebsite
Well Kitchen & Northern CaféÄkäslompoloTunturintie 22, 95970 ÄkäslompoloWebsite
Ravintola PoroÄkäslompoloReittitie 2, 95970 ÄkäslompoloWebsite
Ravintola Otso YlläsjärviYlläsjärviIso-Ylläksentie 1, 95980 YlläsjärviWebsite
Rohki BistroÄkäslompoloTunturintie 16 A4, 95970 ÄkäslompoloWebsite
Restaurant YlläskammiTop of Ylläs fellVaeltajantie 2, 95980 YlläsjärviWebsitePlaces to visit
Places to visit in and around Ylläs
Six places, from the national park at the edge of the village to a hotel built of snow and a lake the Sámi held sacred.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National ParkNaturePallas-Yllästunturi National Park has the cleanest air in the world and is perfect for hiking, skiing and enjoying quiet forests.
The summit of Ylläs fellViewYou can take the gondola lift from the resort to the top of the mountain and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Lapland.
Lake ÄkäslompoloLakeLake Äkäslompolo is a peaceful lake right next to the village. In summer you can swim in it, and in winter you can walk, ride a husky sled or go snowmobiling on its thick ice.
Kellokas Visitor CentreVisitor centreThe Kellokas Visitor Centre is in Äkäslompolo village. Entrance is completely free, and you can see wonderful exhibitions about local nature and culture.
Lainio Snow VillageDay tripA hotel built from snow and ice every winter. Inside you can see ice sculptures, an ice bar and an ice restaurant.
Pakasaivo, the Hell of LaplandSacred placeIt is an ancient and sacred place where the Sámi people once made offerings to their gods.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 Ylläs
01
Which village is better to stay in: Äkäslompolo or Ylläsjärvi?
The better village depends on what you want from your holiday. Äkäslompolo (the north side) has a traditional, cosy atmosphere with more local shops, cafés and direct access to the cross-country ski trails. Ylläsjärvi (the south side) is more like a modern ski resort. It gives you access to the biggest downhill slopes, the famous gondola lift and large hotels.
02
What is the closest airport to Ylläs, and how do I get to the resort?
The closest airport is Kittilä Airport (KTT), 35 kilometres from Ylläsjärvi and 50 kilometres from Äkäslompolo. You can take the airport bus, which goes to both villages. You can also take a taxi from the airport to the resort or to whichever village you are staying in.
03
Can you take a train directly from Helsinki to Ylläs?
No, there is no direct train connection to Ylläs. The nearest train station is in Kolari, about 38 kilometres from the resort. You can come to Kolari by train, and from Kolari to the resort by bus or by taxi.
04
Is it possible to visit Ylläs without renting a car?
Yes, you can spend your holiday in Ylläs without renting a car. Both villages are walkable, with hotels, restaurants and shops close by. There is also a ski bus, running all day from November to early May, which connects the hotels, the downhill ski lifts, the cross-country trails and the local supermarkets.
05
Can the Ylläs gondola lift close due to bad weather?
Yes, the gondola lift can be paused temporarily for safety reasons: in winter because of extremely strong winds or intense sub-zero temperatures, and in summer if there is an active thunderstorm in the area.
06
How do you book the famous Ylläs sauna gondola?
You cannot ride the Ylläs sauna gondola like a normal ski lift. It is booked separately, in advance. You can book for a group of up to 12 people, and the cabin fits up to 4 people at a time. Total sauna time is 2 hours. You can book the Ylläs sauna gondola here.
07
Do you need a driving licence to go on a snowmobile safari in Ylläs?
Yes, you need a valid driving licence to drive a snowmobile in Finland. If you do not have one, you can still join the safari as a passenger, sitting on the back of the snowmobile or in a sled pulled by the guide.
08
Where is the Ylläs visitor centre Kellokas, and is it free?
The Kellokas Visitor Centre is in Äkäslompolo village. Entrance is completely free, and a visit is highly recommended. Here you can see wonderful exhibitions about local nature and culture and the surrounding Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.
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.