Levitunturi Fell & World Cup Slopes
Major 531-metre arctic fell hosting the annual FIS Alpine Ski World Cup opening slalom
Ski immaculate floodlit slopes or ride the express gondola to the summit restaurant.
Levi
Levi & Kittilä, Finland
Ideal: 3–5 daysBest: Nov–Apr for snow & aurora, Jun–Aug for midnight sunPrice: Very expensive
In 60 seconds
Levi & Kittilä in 60 seconds
Situated 170 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Fell Lapland, Levi is Finland's largest and most dynamic winter sports and northern lights destination. Crowning the 531-metre Levitunturi fell with forty-three diverse ski slopes and extensive cross-country tracks, the surrounding Kittilä wilderness also shelters the mystical studio-manor of iconic Arctic painter Reidar Särestöniemi.
Art
Best for
- Winter
- Nature
- Aurora
- Sauna
Known for
- Levi Ski Resort
- Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
- Särestöniemi Museum
- Snowmobile and husky safaris
- Luvattumaa Ice Hotel
Skip if
You are looking for warm summer beach weather or dislike freezing arctic winter temperatures.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Levi & Kittilä fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Särestöniemi Museum (Kaukonen)
Monumental timber studio and log gallery of Reidar Särestöniemi (1925–1981), Finland's foremost Arctic Expressionist painter
Marvel at gigantic, luminous oil paintings of arctic lynx, rams and autumn tundra.
Kaukonen
Samiland Exhibition
UNESCO-partnered open-air exhibition detailing the rich indigenous culture, mythology and reindeer herding of the Sámi people
Learn about the eight Sámi seasons and traditional siida pastoral communities.
Levi Summit
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Special occasion
Worth planning the evening around.
Restaurant Saamen Kammi
Very expensiveAtmospheric half-underground turf-roofed peat lodge (kammi) centered around a glowing open fire
Feast on a traditional Lappish banquet of slow-roasted reindeer, smoked salmon and cloudberry cream while listening to joik chants.
Levi
King Crab House
Very expensivePremier seafood restaurant in Levi village serving live Arctic red king crab caught in the Barents Sea
Savour sweet king crab legs with garlic butter alongside fresh arctic char.
Keskusta
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Ravintola Ämmilä
ExpensiveHomestyle Finnish brasserie serving comforting traditional Lappish recipes in rustic wooden surroundings
Taste classic sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.
Keskusta
Cafe Bar Tonttula (Elves Village)
ModerateCharming fairytale gingerbread and log cafe in Köngäs serving warm spiced berry juices and fresh cinnamon pulla
Sit beside open stone fireplaces in an enchanted riverside setting.
Köngäs
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Kätkätunturi Wilderness Trail
Quiet sister fell west of Levi offering pristine snowshoeing and summer tundra hiking away from ski lifts
Ascend through silent snow-draped pine woods to windswept tundra ridges.
Kätkätunturi
Luvattumaa Ice Castle & River Spa
Hand-carved ice gallery and snow castle on the Ounasjoki river featuring ice sculptures, an ice chapel and riverside smoke saunas
Warm up in an authentic outdoor hot tub under the dancing northern lights.
Luvattumaa
Samiland Aurora Deck
Elevated outdoor viewing terrace situated high on the fell slopes with minimal artificial light pollution
Watch vibrant green and violet auroral ribbons sweep across the arctic night sky.
Levi Summit
After dark
Bars & nightlife
Vinkkari (After Ski)
ModerateLegendary slope-side after-ski bar where skiers and snowboarders gather for lively music, cold beers and dancing
Join the vibrant alpine après-ski celebration at the foot of the front slope.
Front Slopes
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Levi Centre & Front Slopes
Compact pedestrian-friendly village core with hotels, gear rental hubs, spas and dining
Walk everywhere without needing a car or ski shuttle.
Keskusta
South Point & Tieva
Peaceful southern slope area surrounded by deep spruce woods and gentle family pistes
Enjoy direct access to cross-country ski tracks and silent snow trails.
South Point
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Glass Igloos & Aurora Cabins (Utsuvaara)
Luxury glass-roofed domes perched high on the fell ridge designed for viewing the northern lights from bed
Unrivaled luxury and romantic arctic night sky panoramas.
Levi Village Chalets
Cozy wooden log cabins and modern alpine apartments located within walking distance of the ski lifts
Convenient and flexible for families and active sports enthusiasts.
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting There
- Kittilä Airport (KTT) is just 15 minutes by airport shuttle bus from Levi village.
- Winter Clothing
- Extreme cold down to -30°C is common in January; thermal wool underlayers and insulated arctic outerwear are mandatory.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1964
The first ski lift opens on Levitunturi fell, initiating its modern transformation into an international resort.
- 2004
Levi hosts its first FIS Alpine Ski World Cup race, becoming a fixture on the international winter circuit.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Ylläs & Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Finland's most visited national park boasting the cleanest measured air in the world and grand fell chains
Trek across ancient treeless fell plateaus with horizon-spanning arctic views.
45 min southwest
Jerisjärvi Arctic Sauna World
Four themed saunas situated right on the edge of frozen Lake Jerisjärvi for ice dipping
Experience extreme contrast by plunging into a hole cut into lake ice after a scorching sauna.
35 min west