Levi
Swap the Alps entirely: above the Arctic Circle, skiing becomes optional garnish to huskies, reindeer sleighs, snowmobile safaris and the serious business of aurora hunting.
- Best forFamilies · Couples · Adventure seekers
- In June16°C · 11 rainy days
- Ideal stay4–5 nights
- Approx. flying time~10h 30m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageFinnish and Swedish
- Local time14:122h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+358
Why go
A fell rising to 531 metres above a small resort village, well inside the Arctic Circle. This is Finland's largest ski area, though winter here is less about vertical than about everything else: husky teams, reindeer farms, snowmobiles and the long business of watching the sky. December brings polar night, with a few hours of blue twilight; by March the light has returned and the snow is deep.
Kittilä airport is fifteen minutes away with seasonal direct flights, and the season runs from November to early May. Aurora chances improve away from village lights, so book at least one night out in the forest or in a glass-roofed cabin. Costs are high, particularly for guided activities, though clothing is usually included with them. Summer is a different place entirely, with midnight sun, biking and mosquitoes.
- Ideal stay
- 4–5 nights
- The vibe
- Frozen, dark, quietly magical
From our guides
Levi's glass-roofed cabins let you watch the sky from bed. Days are short and blue-lit, saunas are non-negotiable and the silence of a snow-loaded forest is its own kind of luxury. Pack every layer you own.
Featured in Ten cosy winter resorts for people who don't really ski
Things to do
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Husky safaris
A team of dogs and a sled, usually with a stop at a wilderness hut for coffee. The quiet once the dogs settle is the surprise.
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Reindeer sleigh rides
Slower and more ceremonial than the huskies, run by herders who will explain how the herds and the year actually work.
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Aurora hunting
Clear, cold nights between late August and early April give the best odds. Getting away from resort lighting matters more than anything else.
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Levi ski area
Around forty pistes and a long season, floodlit into the evening, with plenty of gentle terrain for learners.
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Sauna and ice swimming
The Finnish sequence of hot sauna, cold water and repeat is not optional here, and most accommodation has one.
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Snowmobile safaris
Guided routes cross frozen lakes and thread through forest. A full driving licence is needed to ride one yourself.
Getting there
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Fly to
Kittilä (KTT)
Nearest airport to Levi, about 9km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Levi
Kittilä (KTT) is only about fifteen minutes by road from Levi, with shared shuttle buses meeting the winter flights. Direct charter and scheduled flights run from several European cities in season.
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On the ground
Getting around
The village clusters around the slopes and is walkable, though it is cold enough that ski buses and taxis get used. Huskies, reindeer farms and aurora tours are reached by operator minibus.
Public transport: Ski buses circle the resort in winter and coaches run to Rovaniemi and Kittilä village, which is enough for most stays.
Flights
Los Angeles Levi, Finnish Lapland
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about -10°C in January to 16°C in July. Driest in March and April and November; wettest in July, with rain on about 14 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
June16° · rain 11 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Self-catering log cabins and apartments dominate, alongside a few large hotels, aurora cabins with glass roofs and wilderness lodges. Almost every property has its own sauna.
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Best base overall
Levi village centre
Everything clusters around the gondola: the ski school, restaurants, husky and snowmobile desks and the widest choice of rooms. It is the only part of Levi with any evening life.
Find stays in Levi village centre -
Best for couples
Immeljarvi and Utsuvaara
The lakeside and hillside cabins just outside the centre, including glass-roofed rooms built for watching the aurora from bed. You need the ski bus or a car for dinner.
Find stays in Immeljarvi and Utsuvaara -
Best value
Kittila
The town by the airport, fifteen minutes away, with ordinary hotels and apartments at much lower rates. There is no resort atmosphere and nothing to walk to in the dark.
Find stays in Kittila -
Quietest
Kongas
A small riverside village north of the resort with cottages, a husky farm and genuine silence. Everything requires driving, and winter roads here are snow-covered by default.
Find stays in Kongas
Worth knowing before you book: Christmas and New Year sell out a year ahead at the year's highest rates, often with week-long minimum stays. Book huskies, reindeer and snowmobiles at the same time as the room.
Search everything else in Levi by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Pack this
- Thermal base layers, wool socks and a hat. Outer snowsuits and boots usually come with the activities, so do not buy them.
- Book ahead
- Husky, reindeer and aurora trips sell out weeks in advance in December and at February half-term.
- Timing
- Polar night runs from roughly mid-December to early January. February and March give longer days and more reliable snow.
- Costs
- Lapland is expensive. Self-catering, and buying alcohol before arriving, both make a noticeable difference.
- Cold
- Temperatures of minus 25°C are normal. Cover all skin, keep phone batteries warm and take the indoor breaks seriously.
Nearby destinations
Husky sledding
Finnish Lapland · 147km away →
The Icehotel
Jukkasjärvi, Sweden · 179km away →
Orcas in Arctic Norway
Tromsø and Skjervøy · 313km away →
Northern lights from Tromsø
Norway · 316km away →
Tallinn
Estonia · 928km away →
The Atlantic Ocean Road
Norway · 951km away →Elsewhere in Finland
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Levi?
Daytime highs run from about -10°C in January to 16°C in July. Driest in March and April and November; wettest in July, with rain on about 14 days.
How long should I spend in Levi?
Our suggestion: 4–5 nights.
How do I get to Levi?
Kittilä (KTT) is only about fifteen minutes by road from Levi, with shared shuttle buses meeting the winter flights. Direct charter and scheduled flights run from several European cities in season.
Do I need a car in Levi?
No. Ski buses circle the resort in winter and coaches run to Rovaniemi and Kittilä village, which is enough for most stays.
What currency and language are used in Levi?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Finnish and Swedish. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Levi best for?
Best for families, couples and adventure seekers. In a phrase: frozen, dark, quietly magical.