Levi, Lapland

Levi is Finland's largest ski resort, built around the Levi fell in the village of Sirkka, in the Kittilä municipality of western Finnish Lapland, well north of the Arctic Circle. It combines downhill and cross-country skiing with a lively resort village, and the wider landscape of river valleys, frozen lakes and open fells makes it a base for Arctic activities and the Northern Lights. It suits travellers who want a ski or winter-activity holiday with plenty going on.

Further down the page, our destination guide answers the most common questions about visiting Levi.

What is Levi known for?

Levi is Finland's leading ski resort and one of its largest, with more than 40 downhill slopes and around 25 lifts spread across the fell, many of them floodlit for the dark Arctic days. It regularly hosts an Alpine Ski World Cup event and has been voted Finland's best ski resort many times. Beyond the slopes, it is known for its resort village: some 40 restaurants and one of Lapland's busier après-ski and nightlife scenes, along with a central spa and wellbeing centre. It is a more developed, higher-energy resort than quieter fells like Pyhä.

When is the best time to visit Levi?

The ski season is long, running from around mid-November to early May thanks to the northern latitude and snowmaking. Deep winter brings the fullest range of slopes, the Northern Lights season and the widest choice of husky, reindeer and snowmobile activities, though it also brings short daylight and temperatures that can fall very low. Late winter and spring offer longer days with snow still on the ground. Summer and autumn are quiet and green, suited to hiking and biking on the fell. For the aurora specifically, see our guide to the best time for Northern Lights in Finland.

How do you get to Levi?

The nearest airport is Kittilä, about 15 minutes away, with direct seasonal flights from Helsinki and some European cities in winter. Many travellers also arrive via Rovaniemi, around two and a half hours by road, or by overnight train from Helsinki to Kolari, the nearest railway station, with a bus connection on to Levi. The resort village itself is compact and walkable, with a ski-bus linking the accommodation and slopes.

What is there to do around Levi?

Skiing is the centrepiece in winter, but the resort is built for far more than the slopes. Snowmobile safaris, reindeer sleigh rides and husky sledding all run from Levi, along with snowshoeing and cross-country trails, and the dark fell gives good chances of the Northern Lights on clear nights. Glass-roofed accommodation is a draw in its own right, letting you watch the sky from bed: read more about staying in the glass igloos in Levi.

In the warmer months the fell opens up for hiking and mountain biking.

For more on the country, browse our Finland travel articles.