A significant part of Finland's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle, and therefore the existence of a huge number of winter recreation centers in the republic looks quite logical. It is believed that ski poles are the first toys for little Finns, and Suomi residents begin to confidently hold on to the mountain slopes much earlier than on a horizontal surface. Not surprisingly, Finland's ski resorts are some of the best in Europe and their pistes are so popular.
Each region of the northern neighboring country has its own geographic and climatic characteristics, but rest in the resorts of any of them will certainly bring many pleasant minutes to fans of winter sports. Moreover, it is closer to travel to Finland from Russia, and the prices for all services are much more pleasant than in the Alps.
Lapland
The northernmost part of the country is part of the general cultural and geographical region of Lapland, which unites separate territories of Norway, Russia, Sweden and, in fact, Finland. Lapland is home to Santa Claus, the Arctic Circle and many ski resorts, where the ski season lasts from mid-autumn to the May holidays.
Saariselka
In the heart of Lapland, the Finnish ski resort of Saariselkä stretches among the hills and fells: eleven slopes ideal for beginners and intermediate athletes, and a flat track stretching for 230 km in the vicinity of the Kaunispaa and Iisakispaa mountains. Tourists are brought to the starting points by six lifts capable of carrying more than six thousand passengers every hour.
As elsewhere in the north, winter in Lapland is a rather dark time of the year, and the illuminated trails of Saariselkä are another important plus in favor of choosing this particular resort.
If you decide to go to the ski slopes of Lapland with your children, the Holiday Club Saariselka water park will help you to spend your holidays exciting and varied. Another interesting option for organizing leisure activities is an excursion to the village of gold diggers, where the exposition of the Museum of Prospectors and an exhibition telling about the extraction and use of precious metal are open.
Rovaniemi - Ounasvaara
The capital of Finnish Lapland lies right on the line of the Arctic Circle, and this is where Santa's residence is. But it is not only fairy tale characters that attract many tourists to Rovaniemi on Christmas Eve: the Ounasvaara ski resort, 10 km from the Lapland administrative center, offers excellent opportunities for families.
The resort has seven slopes with a total length of 5 km. They are designed for beginners and skiers with confidence on the slope.
At the Rovaniemi-Ounasvaara equipment rental centers, you can rent everything you need for skiing, and at the ski school you can learn the basics of popular winter sports.
The resort welcomes snowboarders, for whom there are two snowparks and a half-pipe, and freeriders who prefer virgin slopes.
The apres-ski program includes restaurant and bar options for recreation, as well as native Lappish entertainment: reindeer and dog sledding, fishing under the ice and horseback riding and sleigh rides.
The main feature of Rovaniemi is, of course, the opportunity to visit Santa Claus. The fairy wizard and his assistants work tirelessly in the residence located 8 km from the city.
In Santa Park, you will meet with its owner and tell him about your cherished desires, send postcards with a special stamp to your family and friends, learn how to bake gingerbread cookies and create Christmas tree decorations and officially cross the Arctic Circle, which will be evidenced by the certificate issued to you.
Hand - Kuusamo
Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Ruka Resort is ideal for winter sports for both beginners and professionals. Of the 24 km of its ski slopes, more than half are marked in blue, 6 km - in red, and three kilometers of the "black" distance is quite enough to get a particularly thrill.
The guests of the resort are lifted up the mountain by two dozen lifts connecting all the slopes of the Ruki into a single network. Hundreds of snow cannons insure the ski trail against possible weather vagaries, and most of the tracks in Ruka are illuminated at night, which significantly prolongs the active hours.
After the mountain, guests of one of the most famous winter resorts in Finland relax in restaurants and a disco, go shopping, relax in the spa and sauna.
A special feature of Ruki is the Battery Park snow park, which is considered one of the best in the country. With the help of springboards, boxes, rails and other figures and simulators equipped in it, snowboarders can significantly increase their own level of skiing and hone tricks of even the highest category of complexity.
Pyhya
Pyhä, on the contrary, is located fifty kilometers north of the Arctic Circle and the skiing season here lasts up to six months - from November to May. Of the 12 km of trails, half are intended for beginners, a third - for advanced athletes, and only very experienced alpine skiing can take another couple of kilometers. There are eight lifts in Pyhä, the height difference is not too great - 280 m, the length of the longest route reaches 1800 m.
The resort has excellent conditions for cross-country skiing: the length of the flat track is 75 km, of which 15 km are illuminated at night. Sports equipment can be rented from the resort's sports centers, and skill lessons are offered by local school instructors.
Tourists are especially delighted by the various possibilities of the apres-ski program in Pyhä: from exploring the authentic menu in numerous restaurants to entertainment in the water park organized on the territory of the Holiday Club Kuusamo - on a frosty winter day!
Luosto
Only 8 km of ski slopes in this Finnish resort is not a reason to consider it frivolous, because on the slopes of Luosto there are trails of all colors of the rainbow: from "green" to "black". The difference in altitude in Luosto is 230 m, which is not at all surprising for the regulars of the alpine slopes, but the flat track here stretches for 94 km. In combination with the cross-country skiing track of neighboring Pyhä, a single network of one and a half hundred kilometers is obtained.
You can get to the top of the hill in Luosto by any of the four lifts, the necessary equipment can be rented in the sports center, and fans of night skiing can count on the slopes illuminated in the dark.
Snowboarders love Luosto for a couple of excellent half-pipes, on which it is pleasant to warm up and demonstrate acrobatic sketches, and amateurs of entertainment “after the mountain” willingly “bite” on a variety of leisure options - from dancing and safari on snowmobiles to dog sledding and traditional gatherings in a Finnish bath.
Levy
The largest and year-round ski resort in Finland is located 180 km north of the Arctic Circle and is called Levi. The difference in altitude here reaches 325 m., The highest starting point is located at an altitude of 540 m., And to get to the mountain, you can use any of 25 lifting devices. Of the 44 km of Levi trails, about half are for self-confident athletes, half for beginners and those who are not yet relying on their strengths, and three kilometers are marked in black. Most of the slopes of the resort are illuminated at night, and the snow cover on them is supported by a system of artificial snowmaking.
If you love snowmobile safaris, the resort offers several hundred kilometers of trails for this type of recreation, if you prefer freeride skiing, count on the virgin slopes.
Levi is perfect for family vacations: children's slopes are equipped on its hills, a "sparrow" slide has been built, lifting devices for young tourists are working, and instructors of the local school are happy to teach kids the basics of popular winter sports.
A special feature of Levi is the Levi Husky Park, organized in the neighboring village of Kongas. Dozens of husky dogs live in the park, they are trained in sledding tricks, can walk in a harness and are happy to demonstrate their skills to guests. You can talk to the husky babies, and excursions to the park are always a delight for Levi's young guests.
Ylläs
Two villages - Jakaslompolo and Ylläs-järvi and several hills in the Kolari district in western Lapland were united into a ski resort in the middle of the last century. Over the years, Ylläs has become a popular holiday destination for both local residents and foreign tourists. Of its 43 tracks, three dozen are aimed at beginners and lovers of calm skiing, eight are suitable for self-confident skiers, and the remaining four will satisfy even discerning extreme lovers. Some of the slopes of the resort are certified for the World Cup stages.
Ylläs guests are brought to the starting points (maximum height - 719 m) 29 lifts, skis and snowboards are rented out at the equipment rental point.
For adherents of cross-country skiing, there are flat trails with a total length of more than 300 km, of which the length of illuminated ones is 38 km. There are forest trails, a snow cannon system and off-piste slopes.
The entertainment program is suitable for active tourists: the most popular are ice fishing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing on untouched virgin lands.
Olos - Pallas - Muonio
The Muonio resort in the Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park has two ski areas united into a single system. The difference in altitude in Olos is 210 m, a dozen of its tracks are served by four lifts, there is a half-pipe for snowboarding. Of the 9 slopes of the Pallas system, the longest is 2400 m, a pair of modern lifting mechanisms brings tourists to the starting points, and one of the tracks is illuminated at night.
Muonio has 250 km of flat trails set against the backdrop of picturesque landscapes, and the resort offers wild slopes that are untouched virgin snow for the freeride enthusiasts.
After the slopes, guests of Muonio prefer to spend time walking in the national park - on snowmobiles, snowshoes or dog sleds, enjoying a hot sauna and tasting Scandinavian dishes in the resort's restaurants.
Salla
The slopes of the Salla winter recreation center are located in the vast eastern part of Lapland, which is dearly loved by the Finns for its various opportunities for family recreation. Of the 15 ski slopes in Salla, a third is for beginners, while the rest are marked in red and black: preferred by experienced skiers and professional athletes.
The difference in altitude in the resort is 230 m, the start sites can be reached by six different lifts, and a couple of their own slopes are equipped for the youngest guests of Salla.
If you decide to ski on the plain, there are 160 km of trails at your disposal, which runs through very picturesque places. For snowboarders, the resort has prepared special activities: a snow park with figures and rails for practicing tricks and a slope for mogul training.
Some of the slopes are illuminated at night, some slopes are suitable for virgin skiing, and the snow cannons guarantee quality cover throughout the season.
Apres-ski is a program consisting of typical Scandinavian winter activities - sauna, acquaintance with local cuisine, snowmobile and reindeer sled safaris and ice fishing.
Ylitornio
The Arctic Circle passes near the village of Ylitornio, and its slopes are ready to host alpine skiing fans in early November. The sports season ends in the last week of April, but in addition to skiers, winter ice fishing and snowmobile and dog sledding safaris come to Ylitornio.
Of the seven slopes in the resort, the longest is one and a half kilometer, the vertical drop is 230 m, and not too difficult "blue" and "red" slopes are ideal for beginners and intermediate athletes. The cross-country trail in Ylitornio is 118 km long, a quarter of it is illuminated in the evenings, so lovers of traditional skiing on the plain in the resort meet.
Ylitornio belongs to the list of quiet family ski resorts in Finland, but a couple of restaurants and bars are quite capable of brightening up the leisure time of holiday lovers in the company of like-minded people.
| Resort | Length | Heights | Lifts | Green slopes | Blue trails | Red slopes | Black trails | Ski pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saariselka | 6, 7 km | 258-438 m | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
37€ day |
| Rovaniemi - Ounasvaara | 6 km | 60-140 m | 3 | - | 5 | 4 | - |
30-32€ day |
| Hand - Kuusamo | 24 km | 201-492 m | 15 | - | 16 | 13 | 6 |
30-35€ day |
| Pyhya | 12 km | 280-500 m | 9 | - | 8 | 4 | 2 |
35-38€ day |
| Luosto | 8 kilometers | 235-485 m | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
31-33€ day |
| Levy | 43 km | 216-541 m | 26 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
32-35€ day |
| Ylläs | 53 km | 256-719 m | 29 | 6 | 27 | 24 | 6 |
38€ day |
| Olos - Pallas - Muonio | 15 km | 467-807 m | 7 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
30-33€ day |
| Salla | 10 km | 195-425 m | 6 | - | 8 | 5 | 3 |
33€ day |
| Ylitornio | 2 km | 127-242 m | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - |
10€ day |
North Karelia
The easternmost region of Finland, bordering Russia and located at the base of the Karelian Peninsula. There are no too high hills in this part of the country, but the ski resort in the Koli National Park is still very popular with both local residents and foreign tourists.
If
The territory of the Koli National Park is considered one of the most beautiful places in the country and skiing in the Ukko-Koli and Loma-Koli resorts located in the reserve can be successfully combined with snowshoeing along the picturesque hills.
The ski slopes of the resorts are accessible with a single ski pass, five out of ten are illuminated at night, and seven lifts are capable of serving 3600 guests every hour. The length of the longest trails in the Koli Park is 1050 and 1500 m, but the flat trail is much more impressive: 60 km of cross-country skiing fans are waiting for them, laid among the picturesque natural beauties.
The local school instructors give lessons to beginner skiers and snowboarders, and the "boarders" are offered their own track and half-pipe to hone their tricks.
The apres-ski program includes a lot of outdoor activities - from rides on snowmobiles to winter fishing, as well as traditional Finnish leisure options - saunas and water parks organized by high-class hotels.
| Resort | Length | Heights | Lifts | Green slopes | Blue trails | Red slopes | Black trails | Ski pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| If | 10 km | 117-347 m | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
30-35€ day |
Northern Finland
Large in area, but sparsely populated region of the country, Northern Finland is located south of Lapland and abounds in ski resorts and winter recreation centers. The season on the local slopes starts at the end of November and lasts until mid-spring.
Paljakka
Fans of Finnish resorts love Paljakka for the particularly clean snow, for which, in their opinion, this region of Finland is famous. Most of the 16 km of Paljakki trails are marked in red, the black and blue distances are 3 and 2 km, respectively.
There are eight lifts in the resort, the height difference is about 200 m, and the highest starting point lies at 384 m. Of the dozen of the resort's slopes, nine are illuminated in the evenings, which is very useful, given the short length of daylight hours in these latitudes. Cross-country skiers can also enjoy their favorite sport without a hitch: Paljakka has over 80 km of flat trails.
The equipment rental center allows you to rent any equipment for all winter sports, including sledges for young tourists. The Borders rejoice at the opportunity to frolic in the snow park and race on any of the three snowboard tracks.
Spas, massages, saunas and discos in the resort are available in sufficient numbers for Paljakka guests to relax "after the mountain".
A special feature of Paljakki is fishing on Lake Rybnoye, located in the vicinity of the resort. Its waters are rich in freshwater trout, and ice fishing fans can purchase a fishing permit at the resort's information center.
Ukkohalla
A single system of ski slopes with Paljakka forms a resort, often called Finnish Switzerland. Ukkohalla has 14 tracks marked in blue, red and black and stretching for more than three dozen kilometers. The vertical drop is 170 m, lighting works at six distances, and there are seven lifting systems in Ukkohalla.
The slopes here provide excellent conditions for snowboarding, tobogganing and freeriding.
The apres-ski program is traditional in Finland, and the ski resort offers spa, sauna and massage services, snowmobiling, snowshoeing in scenic surroundings, and restaurants and bars.
Vuokatti
Connoisseurs and experts believe that Vuokatti is the best in Finland, and as arguments in favor they put forward the presence of first-class pistes and excellent stable snow, which falls at the end of December and persists until the end of March.
The highest point of the beginning of skiing lies in Vuokatti at an elevation of 430 m., The height difference is 260 m., 9 ski lifts are delivered to the starting points, and the tracks are marked in blue, red and black. High-quality skiing is ensured by a system of snow cannons, lighting of the tracks in the dark and the availability of slopes certified by the International Ski Federation.
The after-ski program includes snowmobiles, dog sleds, snowmobile safaris, an ice skating rink, horseback riding and traditional gatherings in restaurants with special winter menus and a wine list.
It is especially worth noting that the resort is friendly to snowboarders: in Vuokatti, a tunnel, 80 m long, has been built, which operates 12 months a year and is a half-pipe certified according to international standards.
Isosyuete and Pikkusyuete
Resorts with cute names - Isossuete and Pikkusuete - share a common piste system and are known for their excellent snow cover, which sets in with the coming of winter. In Pikkusuet ski center, the slopes are simpler and more suitable for beginners and young skiers. In Isosyuet, you can find more difficult slopes, and fans of extreme skiing often hang out there.
The altitude difference in the resort is about 200 m., The highest starting point is at around 432 m., There are eleven lifts, and the length of the longest descent is almost one and a half kilometers.
For boarders there are snow parks, a pair of half-pipes and one quarter, and for adherents of calm skiing - 120 km of flat trails.
Among the entertainment, it is worth noting the opportunity to go on a sleigh pulled by a reindeer, ice fishing and relaxation in the wellness center, which offers a course of massage, spa treatments and a relaxing stay in the sauna.
| Resort | Length | Heights | Lifts | Green slopes | Blue trails | Red slopes | Black trails | Ski pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paljakka | 15 km | 194-384 m | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
32-35€ day |
| Ukkohalla | 14 km | 170-340 m | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
30€ day |
| Vuokatti | 10 km | 170-431 m | 7 | - | 8 | 5 | 1 |
35€ day |
| You suck | 20 km | 240-432 m | 11 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
30-32€ day |
Central Finland
In the very center of the country, reliable snow cover is usually established in the first decade of December, and by Christmas it becomes quite crowded in local resorts. The skiing and snowboarding season lasts until the end of April, and among the reasons for the special popularity of local resorts can be noted the relative proximity to large cities, from where it is easy to reach the slopes of Central Finland.
Jyväskylä
In the town of Jyväskylä and its environs, stable snow cover is established at the end of December, and until the end of April, skiing, sledging and snowboarding can be enjoyed on the slopes of the winter sports centers. In the center of Laayavuori there are 12 trails, a pair of half pipes for snowboarders and more than 690 km of flat trails.
Riihivuori has challenging trails for professional skiers and a ski school for beginners, a dedicated children's lift and a half-pipe illuminated in the evenings, making this sports center ideal for families.
Despite the small elevation difference (120 m.) And not too long slopes (500-800 m.), Some of Jyväskylä's tracks are FIS certified.
There are shopping centers in the city, where you can buy sportswear and equipment at a bargain during the Christmas sales season.
Maarinvaara
A very young and not yet too popular resort, Maarinvaara is suitable for families and for athletes who are taking their first steps in alpine skiing. Its only track stretches a little more than a thousand meters, any of the four lifts will help to get to the start, and experienced instructors will hedge the beginner and pick up the right equipment for him at the sports equipment rental point.
On the slope of Maarinvaara, there is a snow park and a half-pipe for snowboarding, there are backcountry routes and opportunities for descending on virgin lands.
The resort is quiet and family-run, but it is quite possible to sit in the bar and restaurant with a warm and friendly company.
Himos - Yamsya
The young, but already very popular ski resort Himos has twice been awarded the title of the best winter holiday destination in Finland in recent years. It offers its visitors 15 alpine skiing trails, stretching for two tens of kilometers and illuminated at night.
The slopes in Himos are marked with all colors - from “green” for beginners to “black” for extreme sports, and for young athletes, the resort has special children's tracks. 15 lifts bring guests to the starting points, the height difference reaches 150 m, and the quality of the snow cover is monitored by cannons, which guarantee snow on the slopes of Himos.
Snowboarders prefer Himos due to its steep track with obstacles and bends, a pair of half pipes and a mogul slope that can even host competitions of international importance. The equipment rental points offer the necessary sports equipment for rent, the instructors of the ski school practice their skills and abilities with everyone.
And as entertainment, guests of the resort often choose excursions to neighboring Jyväskylä with a water park, shopping centers, Christmas sales and dozens of authentic Scandinavian restaurants.
Kuopio
The winter recreation center near the town of Kuopio welcomes its first guests at the end of November, but a stable snow cover on its tracks sets in the second decade of December. The difference in altitude at the resort is 100 m, the starting point is at around 150 m, the length of the slopes is 400 and 800 m.
The ski slopes are more for beginners and professionals in Kuopio will get bored, but family vacations in the resort can be perfectly organized. There is a school on the slope, where they teach not only to ski down the mountain, but also to jump from a springboard.
There are tens of kilometers of trails for snowmobiling, snowmobiling and reindeer sledding in the area, and the quality of each of the 400 km of flat trails is rated very high.
After skiing, guests of Kuopio relax in the sauna, spa center, bars and restaurants.
| Resort | Length | Heights | Lifts | Green slopes | Blue trails | Red slopes | Black trails | Ski pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jyväskylä | 10 km | 50-170 m | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
30€ day |
| Maarinvaara | 3 km | 167-307 m | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
21€ day |
| Himos - Yamsya | 12.5 km | 29-180 m | 15 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
30-32€ day |
| Kuopio | 0.6 miles | 57-150 m | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - |
22€ day |
Southern Finland
In the southern part of the country, there are not so many ski resorts as near the Arctic Circle: winters in this region are milder, the hills are not so high, and therefore winter recreation centers are more focused on other entertainments.
Tahko
Perhaps the only resort in the southern part of the republic, the tracks of which are suitable for holding competitions in snowboarding and alpine skiing among the Scandinavian countries, and, therefore, are also suitable for recreation of tourists confidently standing on the slope of the mountain. The difference in altitude in Tahko is just over 200 m, two dozen slopes can be reached by any of the 14 ski lifts, some of the slopes are illuminated at night, and ski classes are open for beginners.
Snowboarders come to Tahko to try out its half-pipe and super-pipe and practice all kinds of tricks on the trampolines in the snow park, and fans of the nightlife choose the resort's disco and restaurants, offering dishes not only Finnish cuisine, but also culinary masterpieces from many European countries …
Kalpalinna
Finnish skier Eino Kalpala, who participated in the 1952 Olympics, did not rank too high, but eventually organized a small winter resort on his own estate.
In Kalpalinna, where it is pleasant to relax with the whole family, several small trails await guests, which can be reached with the help of a dozen lifts. One of the distances has a fairly serious incline and is FIS certified.
Cross-country skiing in Kalpalinna can be practiced on a 50 km trail, and snowboarding is pleasant on the half pipe and the trail with jumps.
Skis and other necessary things are offered at the resort for rent, ski lessons are given by qualified instructors, and it is best to spend an evening in a restaurant with real Scandinavian cuisine.
Savonlinna
The Savonlinna ski resort in southeastern Finland meets the active winter season in mid-December, when reliable snow cover is established on its slopes and slopes.
Alpine skiing is not the only type of entertainment in the resort: the maximum height difference on the slopes of Savonlinna is only 85 m, and the length of the longest of the six slopes is 630 m. But the resort is ideal for family tourists with children. Its slopes are designed mostly for beginners, and the opportunities for active entertainment are varied and interesting for both children and adults.
In Savonlinna, you can ride snowmobiles and reindeer sleds, fish under the ice of a frozen lake, relax in the spa and splash in the warm pool, go horseback riding and snowshoeing, run downhill skiing and celebrate Christmas in full accordance with old Finnish traditions …
| Resort | Length | Heights | Lifts | Green slopes | Blue trails | Red slopes | Black trails | Ski pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahko | 20 km | 96-313 m | 12 | - | 15 | 23 | 8 |
33-35€ day |
| Kalpalinna | 100-130 m | 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
26€ day |
|
| Savonlinna | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
27€ day |
