Levi is Finland’s biggest ski resort: a rounded fell rising above the village of Sirkka in Kittilä, in western Lapland, more than 170 km north of the Arctic Circle. Its slopes, most of them floodlit, open as early as October, and the resort hosts the first slalom races of the Alpine Ski World Cup every November. Around it are hundreds of kilometres of cross-country trails, husky and reindeer farms, snowmobile routes, and dark skies for the Northern Lights. In summer and autumn Levi turns into a hiking and biking base, close to the fells of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, with the midnight sun in June and the bright ruska colours in September. Kittilä airport is a short transfer away. Give it four to seven days in winter, or three or four days for hiking.
Right now in Levi (Levi village)
- Wed 3–8°C 38–46°F Mostly clear
- Thu 1–6°C 34–42°F Clear
- Fri -3–3°C 27–37°F Clear
Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Rates: ECB
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Levi at a glance
- Best for: downhill and cross-country skiing, families, husky and reindeer safaris, Northern Lights, and fell hiking in summer and ruska.
- How long: a long weekend for a taste of Lapland; 5–7 days for a ski holiday with safaris; 3–4 days for summer or autumn hiking.
- Best time: February to April for the best snow and light; December for Christmas and polar night; late August to early April for auroras; early to mid September for ruska.
- Getting in: fly to Kittilä airport (KTT), about 15–20 minutes by transfer bus or taxi, or take the night train to Kolari or Rovaniemi and a connecting bus.
- Getting around: the village is compact and walkable; a ski bus links the slope areas in season, and safari companies collect you from your accommodation.
- Budget: as of October 2026, a one-day adult lift pass costs €60; cabins shared by a group and self-catering keep costs down, while Christmas and the February–March school holidays are the most expensive weeks.
Levi, area by area
Levi is part of Kittilä municipality, which, according to Statistics Finland, had just 6,797 inhabitants in August 2026, although tens of thousands of visitors stay here at peak times. The resort spreads around the fell in a few distinct areas.
Levi village and the Front Slopes
The village centre at the foot of the fell has hotels, apartments, restaurants, shops, the Levi Spa and the Zero Point base with ticket sales, rentals and ski school. The Front Slopes and the gondola rise straight from the village. Best for: staying without a car, après-ski and families.
South Point and the South Slopes
The sunnier southern side of the fell, with its own base, gentle family slopes and many log cabins and chalets. Best for: quieter stays, beginners and self-catering groups.
The fell top and the north side
Levi’s summit, at roughly 530 m, has wide views over the forests and lakes towards the Pallas and Ylläs fells, a few hotels and restaurants, and glass-roofed aurora cabins. The steeper slopes on the north and west sides are where the World Cup slalom is raced. Best for: views, Northern Lights and stronger skiers.
Top things to do in Levi
Prices and dates below were checked on Levi’s official websites in October 2026. Check snow and lift status on Levi’s “Ski Resort Today” page before you go.
Downhill skiing and snowboarding
According to Levi, the ski resort has 44 slopes and 26 lifts, most of them floodlit for skiing after dark, with terrain from long, gentle family runs to steeper pitches and terrain parks. Ski school runs at Zero Point, the Front Slopes, South Point and the South Slopes, with group and private lessons in English. The runs are short by Alpine standards, but the snow is reliable, the slopes are rarely crowded outside peak weeks, and skiing under the floodlights in the blue polar twilight is unforgettable.
Season 2026/27. Levi opened the alpine and cross-country season on 2 October 2026, on snow stored from the previous winter, with a few slopes and a cross-country loop. More slopes open as natural snow arrives in November and December. Levi describes its season as running from October through to May, with the core season, when everything is open, from December to March.
Lift pass prices 2026/27
As of October 2026, Levi’s official ticket shop lists these winter 2026/27 lift pass prices: one day €60 for adults (12–64) and €37 for children (6–11) and seniors (65+); two days €114 and €71; six days €269 and €159. Children under 6 wearing a helmet ski free with an adult who has a valid pass. Buy online in advance through the Levi webshop and load the pass onto your keycard.
| Levi lift pass, winter 2026/27 | Adult (12–64) | Child (6–11) and senior (65+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €60 | €37 |
| 2 days | €114 | €71 |
| 6 days | €269 | €159 |
Cross-country skiing
For many Finns, skiing means cross-country (hiihto). Levi has a large network of groomed trails for classic and skating technique, through forest and over the fells, many of them lit, with wilderness cafés and huts along the way. It is easy to rent gear and take a beginner’s lesson, and the trails start a short walk from the village. In April, the Ylläs–Levi long-distance ski event follows the trails between the two resorts.
Northern Lights and the polar night
Visit Finland gives the aurora season as late August to early April, and northern Lapland has some of the best odds in the country: according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, as quoted by Visit Finland, auroras appear on up to three clear nights in four in the far north. Walk a few minutes out of the village lights, or join a snowshoe, snowmobile or reindeer-sleigh aurora tour. Around the winter solstice, roughly mid- to late December, the sun does not rise at all at Levi, but there is still a soft blue twilight around midday; Levi notes that daylight returns quickly from late January.
Safaris: huskies, reindeer and snowmobiles
Husky farms around Levi run everything from short rides to multi-day trips where you drive your own team and sleep in wilderness cabins. Reindeer farms offer sleigh rides and an introduction to herding, and snowmobile safaris follow marked routes across frozen lakes and through the forest (you need a driving licence to drive). Most safaris include thermal overalls, boots and mittens, and pick-up from your accommodation.
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
Levi traditionally opens the slalom season of the Alpine Ski World Cup. In 2026 the women’s and men’s slalom races are on 14–15 November 2026, under the floodlights. Accommodation fills up that weekend, so book early or avoid it if you want quiet slopes.
Viewpoints
- Levi Fell (Levitunturi)
Churches and cathedrals
- Kittilä Church
Protected areas
- Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Peaks and mountains
- Pallastunturi (Pallas Fells)
- Ylläs
Summer, ruska and Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
When the snow melts in May, Levi becomes a quiet base for the outdoors. Levi says the midnight sun shines from the end of May into July; summer brings fell hikes, mountain biking, canoe trips on the Ounasjoki river, golf between the fell and the river, and berry picking from late July. Mosquitoes are at their worst in July, so bring repellent. In early to mid September, the fells blaze red and gold in the ruska season, the best time of year for hiking, often with the first Northern Lights at night.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, about an hour’s drive north-west of Levi, protects a chain of bare, rounded fells running some 100 km from Ylläs to Hetta. Covering roughly 1,020 km², it is Finland’s third-largest national park and one of its most visited. The classic hike is the Hetta–Pallas trail, about 55 km over the fells from Hetta in Enontekiö to Pallastunturi, usually done in three or four days with open wilderness huts along the way. Shorter day hikes start from the Pallastunturi visitor centre and from Äkäslompolo and the Kellokas visitor centre at Ylläs. In winter, the same area has some of Finland’s best cross-country skiing. Under Finland’s everyman’s rights, hiking is free, but in the national park campfires are allowed only at marked fire sites and never during a forest fire warning. See our hiking guide.
Activities and best months
- CyclingIn summer you can ride the forest trails around Levi fell, take a trail from Levi to Ylläs, or ride Levi Bike Park's enduro and downhill trails for all skill levels (15 routes, including the 4 km Sunny South flow trail opened in 2024); in winter, fatbikes with extra-wide tyres go off-road on snow. Several bike rentals are open all year. · source
- HikingJunJulAugSepLevi fell (531 m) has easy hiking paths with panoramic views over forests and lakes, including the Levi Peak trail and short walks around the summit; summer temperatures range from about 10 to 25 °C, and the midnight sun allows hiking at night. · source
- WaterJunJulAugIn summer, kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding are offered on Lake Immeljärvi and the Ounasjoki river near Levi. · source
Day trips from Levi
- Ylläs and Äkäslompolo: Finland’s other big fell resort, about an hour’s drive south-west, with longer runs, two ski areas and the Kellokas visitor centre for Pallas-Yllästunturi.
- Pallastunturi: the heart of the national park, with day hikes, a visitor centre and a historic fell hotel.
- Kittilä village: about 15 km south, with a wooden church and local shops.
- Rovaniemi: about two and a half hours south by road, for Santa Claus Village and the Arktikum; see the Rovaniemi guide.
- Sweden and Norway: the Swedish border at Muonio–Kolari is about an hour away; continue into Swedish Lapland, or drive north via Kilpisjärvi to Tromsø on a long summer road trip.
Nearby destinations
- Rovaniemi149 km
Getting to Levi and getting around
By air. Kittilä Airport (KTT) is about 15 km south of Levi. Finnair flies from Helsinki all year (about an hour and a half), and in winter many direct and charter flights arrive from around Europe. Airport buses timed to the flights and taxis take about 15–20 minutes to the village.
By night train. VR’s night trains run from Helsinki to Kolari, the nearest station, and to Rovaniemi, and from Tampere to Kolari. As of October 2026, private two-person cabins start from €49 for the whole cabin and car spots from €39, and VR advertises connecting buses from the train to the Lapland ski resorts. Kolari is roughly an hour by road from Levi.
By car. Levi is roughly 170 km north of Rovaniemi on main roads. Hire cars in Lapland come with studded winter tyres, but expect snow, ice, darkness and reindeer on the road.
Getting around. The village is compact, and in the ski season a ski bus links the village with the different slope areas. Safari and aurora companies include pick-ups. Many visitors never need a car.
When to go and how long to stay
Levi has a cold subarctic climate, with snow on the ground from about October or November to May. The table uses the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s official 1991–2020 normals for Kittilä Pokka, the nearest station in the WMO collection, about 50 km north-east of Levi in the same municipality. Treat the figures as a guide to Levi rather than exact local values.
| Season | Average daily high | Average nightly low | Rain/snow per month | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | −9 to −7 °C | −18 to −15 °C | 31–39 mm | Polar night in late December, deep cold, floodlit skiing, Christmas and New Year crowds |
| Spring (Mar–May) | −3 °C rising to 9 °C | −14 to −1 °C | 29–40 mm | The best ski months: deep snow, long sunny days; snowmelt in May |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 16–19 °C | 6–8 °C | 61–83 mm | Midnight sun into July, hiking and biking, mosquitoes in July |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | 10 °C falling to −4 °C | 2 °C falling to −11 °C | 42–55 mm | Ruska and first auroras in September; first snow and season opening in October |
The area gets about 560 mm of rain and snow a year, with at least 1 mm on about 111 days, so winters are relatively dry and often clear. January is the coldest month, with average lows of −18 °C at Pokka, and cold snaps below −30 °C happen most winters. March and early April combine good snow, long days and decent aurora chances, and are many regulars’ favourite time.
Levi in 5 days in winter
Day 1: arrive at Kittilä, collect lift passes and rental gear, and take an evening walk out of the lights to look for auroras. Days 2–3: downhill skiing, with a cross-country lesson one afternoon. Day 4: a half-day husky safari and a reindeer farm visit, then a sauna. Day 5: a snowmobile safari or ice fishing on a frozen lake, and a last night under the sky in a glass cabin.
Levi in 4 days for ruska or summer hiking
Day 1: hike up Levi fell for the view. Day 2: drive to Pallastunturi for a day hike on the bare fells. Day 3: canoe on the Ounasjoki or bike the forest trails. Day 4: Ylläs and Äkäslompolo. With more time, walk the Hetta–Pallas trail over three or four days.
Weather month by month
Averages from FMI normals 1991–2020, Kittilä Pokka · Last reviewed 4 Oct 2026
Where to stay in Levi
- Village centre: hotels and apartments next to the Front Slopes, Zero Point and restaurants; best without a car.
- Log cabins and chalets: around the fell, especially on the south side, often with a private sauna; good value for groups and families.
- Fell top and glass cabins: glass-roofed suites and igloos with views of the sky, for Northern Lights from bed.
Book early for Christmas, New Year, the World Cup weekend and the February–March ski holidays. Summer and autumn prices are much lower.
Practical tips for Levi
- Buy lift passes online: load them onto your keycard before you arrive and skip the ticket queue.
- Plan for the dark: in December, daylight is a few hours of twilight; the slopes are floodlit, so you can still ski in the afternoon.
- Protect your face and fingers: wind on the lifts makes −20 °C feel much colder; wear a neck gaiter and mittens, and check each other for white patches of frostbite.
- Buying alcohol: supermarkets sell drinks up to 8%; stronger drinks only in the Alko shop, so stock up for your cabin before Sunday.
- Respect the reindeer: they roam freely and often stand on roads; slow down and don’t feed them.
What to pack for Levi
For winter: thermal base layers, a fleece or down mid-layer, a ski jacket and trousers, a helmet (rentable), goggles, a neck gaiter or balaclava, warm mittens, wool socks, insulated winter boots for the village, and hand warmers. For summer and ruska: layers, a waterproof rain jacket, sturdy hiking shoes or boots, insect repellent and a head net, and an eye mask for the midnight sun. Add a type C/F travel adapter.
What to pack
- Day packs and anti-theft bagsA 20–30 litre pack carries layers, water, a head torch and snacks on full-day levada walks.
- Fleeces and warm layersSummits like Pico do Areeiro averaged about 11 °C over 2024, so a fleece is needed even in summer.
- HeadlampsLevada routes such as PR1 and PR9 pass through long, dark, wet tunnels.
- Hiking shoes and bootsMadeira's levadas and the Azores' crater rims are wet, rocky and slippery, so grippy shoes matter more than anywhere else in Portugal.
- Rain jacketsA packable shell covers showers and wind on coastal routes outside summer.
- Trekking polesLong stone staircases and steep descents on Madeira's peaks and the Azores' crater rims are easier on the knees with poles.
- Water bottles and hydration packsRiding in the Algarve and Alentejo heat needs more water than you expect.
Levi travel FAQ
How much is a Levi lift pass in 2026/27?
As of October 2026, Levi’s ticket shop lists one day at €60 for adults and €37 for children (6–11) and seniors, two days at €114 and €71, and six days at €269 and €159. Under-6s with a helmet ski free with a paying adult.
When does the ski season start and end in Levi?
The 2026/27 season opened on 2 October 2026 on stored snow. Levi says the season runs from October to May, with everything open from about December to March.
How do I get from Kittilä Airport to Levi?
The airport is about 15 km from Levi. Airport buses meet the flights, and taxis take about 15–20 minutes.
Can I get to Levi by train?
Not directly. Take VR’s night train to Kolari or Rovaniemi and continue by connecting bus. As of October 2026, private night-train cabins start from €49.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Levi?
Yes, from late August to early April on clear, dark nights. Northern Lapland has some of Finland’s best odds; walk out of the village lights or join a tour.
When is the World Cup in Levi in 2026?
The women’s and men’s slalom races are on 14–15 November 2026.
Is Levi good for beginners?
Yes. Levi has many wide, gentle slopes and dedicated beginner areas with group and private lessons, and cross-country skiing is easy to learn on the groomed trails.
How cold is Levi in winter?
At the nearest official station, average highs from December to February are about −9 to −7 °C and January lows about −18 °C (FMI 1991–2020 normals); cold snaps below −30 °C happen most winters.
What is there to do in Levi in summer?
Fell hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, golf and berry picking under the midnight sun, which shines from the end of May into July, and day trips to Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. September’s ruska colours are the highlight.
Sources
- © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL · fetched 4 Oct 2026
- Wikidata · CC0 · fetched 4 Oct 2026
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Lift pass prices 2026/27: Levi’s official ticket shop (levi.skiperformance.com); season opening, slopes and lifts, season length, the World Cup dates and the midnight sun: levi.fi and skiresort.levi.fi; population: Statistics Finland; night trains: VR; Northern Lights: Visit Finland (quoting the Finnish Meteorological Institute); everyman’s rights and campfire rules: Visit Finland; climate: FMI’s 1991–2020 normals for Kittilä Pokka (WMO collection). The Pallas-Yllästunturi area and the Hetta–Pallas trail length come from secondary sources because the Metsähallitus park pages could not be read, and the polar night dates, airport and road distances are general knowledge; all are flagged for checking. Prices, timetables and rules change, so check the official links before you go.
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