Welcome to a winter wonderland.
Northern lights, reindeer, huskies and those famous outdoor saunas – there’s much more to Finland than just skiing.
Where skiing perfectly groomed pistes is just one way to enjoy the frozen north.
Finland offers more than just skiing, it's an Arctic experience, complete with Northern Lights and outdoor saunas. It often begins astride a skidoo, jetting across the snowy plains before stopping for a bowl of warming salmon soup in a remote log cabin in the forest. Take an ice driving course with a rally driving legend – Finland is full of them – or learn the art of dog mushing. For little ones, there’s also reindeer safaris and Lapland’s most reclusive resident. The skiing is perfect for beginners and intermediates, small, cruisy and nothing on the scale – or steepness – of the Alps.
KEY INFORMATION
Good to Know
Currency
Euro
Language
Finnish
Travel Time (APPROX)
3 hours 45 mins
Gatwick
Timezone
GMT+3
The best bits of skiing in Finland
Best family resorts in Finland
For families with young children, Lapland offers the chance to visit its most famous resident. Santa’s official home may be in Rovaniemi, (about two hours from most resorts) – but he finds the time to visit all the villages, together with his reindeers and elves. Ruka has the largest of the Finland’s beginner areas, boasting a kids’ ski and play area, an Angry Birds activity park and off the slopes, a bowling alley.
Best beginner resorts in Finland
All of Finland’s resorts are suitable for beginners, being home to much smaller ski areas than in the Alps. There’s less vertical drop and it’s not as steep either. Think wide open slopes above the tree-line before they drop through pine forests. In Ruka and Salla it’s possible to get about just sticking to blues. Levi’s 44km ski area is also ideal for beginners with wide and quiet slopes.
Best high altitude / snow-sure resorts in Finland
If you’re looking for altitude, Finland probably isn’t the place to come. The highest resort is 780m but what it lacks in altitude it more than makes up for with latitude and most resorts are situated within the Arctic Circle. In short: you’re so far north here, you don’t need to worry about the snow. Finland has a long season, running from November to April.
Food and Drink in Finland
As you can imagine for a country this far north, its cuisine is designed to beat the cold. Think fresh, smoked and pickled fish, creamy salmon and potato soups and if you can pronounce it, poronkäristys. It’s a stew of sautéed reindeer served with mash, pickles and lingonberry jam. Finland is also famous for its rye breads and berries – which not only go in their sweet pastries but liqueurs too.
Best resorts for après in Finland
Après is done slightly differently in Finland. It usually begins with a sauna, which has an almost mythical place in the hearts of everyday Finns. It can also involve rounds of vodka (if it’s a private sauna) and a mandatory plunge into the freezing waters of a freshwater lake or dive into snow. After that, you’re ready for anything. You’ll find the liveliest bars in Levi and Ruka, elsewhere it tends to be quieter and more restaurant focused.
Best resorts for off-piste skiing in Finland
For the best freeride and off piste terrain your best bet is Yllas, one of Finland’s highest resorts and home to an off-piste area to the side of the groomed slopes. Skiers and snowboarders can also enjoy the powder on several unmanaged areas across the resort after a recent snowfall. There’s also some exciting off piste between the trees in Ruka.
Best resorts for ski weekends and short breaks in Finland
Getting to Finland’s Arctic north involves a three hour flight to Helsinki and then taking a connecting one hour 20 minute flight to either Kuusamo or Kittilä. But from there it’s just a 20 minute drive to Ruka and Levi respectively. So it’s very doable in a weekend or short break if you can be flexible.
Best time to ski in Finland
Snow arrives early in the north and it’s not uncommon for resorts to start opening as early as October in a good year. But the best time to ski is from December through to the end of February, making it a great half term option. Be aware that this is when the region is at its coldest – thermals and warm layers a must.
Our favourite ski resorts in Finland
Here are just some of our top ski resorts. To find the perfect one for you, speak to one of our specialists.
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