Finland snow forecast

Skiing in Finland

Finland's ski areas are low, rounded fells (tunturi) far to the north, so the appeal is long, cold seasons and well-groomed snow rather than big vertical. The area covers two clusters a few hundred kilometres apart. In western Lapland, Levi rises from about 200 m to 531 m, with around 40 km of runs and a mix of easy and intermediate pistes, and is about 15 km from Kittilä airport. Ylläs, also reached from Kittilä airport, is the largest resort in the country, with the biggest vertical and the longest runs, up to about 3 km.

Further south east, Ruka in Kuusamo tops out at 492 m and is about 25 km from Kuusamo airport. It has around 20 km of pistes, most of them floodlit, and is one of the first places in Europe to open each year, usually in October on snow stored through the summer. Salla, near the eastern border, is smaller and quieter, with about 15 slopes, blue runs on the eastern side of the fell and a sheltered family area at the base.

The season runs from October or November to around May. In the depths of winter Levi and Ylläs have polar night, with only a few hours of twilight around midday, so floodlit runs matter most in December and early January. Temperatures can be very low in mid-winter, while March and April bring long days and the most comfortable conditions. All four resorts suit beginners and intermediates; experts will find the fells short.