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Ylläs

Ylläs

Ylläs, a winter wonderland in Finnish Lapland, is famous for its seven fells, pure air, and charming Lappish villages. With ski resorts, snow trails, and access to the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, it’s a perfect mix of nature, adventure, and relaxation.

Ylläs is a year-round destination, but it truly comes to life during the winter months when the landscape is covered in snow, creating a magical setting. Known for having eight distinct seasons, Ylläs offers plenty to discover with its seven towering fells and breathtaking wilderness. Ylläs consists of two authentic Lappish villages: Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi, both offering visitors a warm, traditional experience while being surrounded by Lapland’s unique nature.

Ylläs is easily accessible, with nearby Kittilä Airport offering direct flights from Helsinki and other European cities during the winter. From here, it’s a short drive to your accommodations in Ylläs, where cozy cabins, luxury hotels, and unique stays like aurora igloos await. With over 20,000 beds available, you’ll find the perfect place to stay, whether you’re traveling with family, friends, or on a solo adventure.

Ylläs on Map

Accommodation

Ylläs offers a wide variety of accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets. From charming log cabins with private saunas to luxury hotels located in the heart of the village, Ylläs provides options for every type of traveler. Whether you’re seeking the rustic experience of staying in a traditional cabin or prefer the convenience of a hotel, Ylläs’s accommodations are designed to keep you comfortable and close to nature.

Activities

Ylläs is a winter sports paradise. The Ylläs Ski Resort is one of the best ski resort in Lapland and boasts over 60 slopes for downhill skiing and 330 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails, making it ideal for all levels of skiers. For those who want more adventure, Ylläs offers guided snowmobile safaris, snowshoeing, and husky sledding tours that take you through the pristine wilderness.

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is a must-visit during winter, where you can explore snow-covered fells, frozen lakes, and the silence of untouched nature. Ylläs is also one of the best places to witness the Northern Lights, which dance in the sky from September to early April.

Planning Your Visit to Ylläs

Ylläs is a fell destination in Finnish Lapland, located in the municipality of Kolari in the northwestern part of the region, around 160 kilometres north of Rovaniemi. It centres on Ylläs fell, the highest in Finnish Lapland, and is divided between two villages: Äkäslompolo to the northwest and Ylläsjärvi to the southeast.
The two villages sit on opposite sides of Ylläs fell and have slightly different characters. Äkäslompolo is the larger and livelier of the two, with a wider range of restaurants, shops, and services, and sits beside a lake of the same name. Ylläsjärvi is quieter and more spread out, suited to those looking for a more relaxed base. Both villages have direct access to the ski slopes and trail network, so the choice comes down largely to atmosphere and accommodation preference.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park stretches across a chain of fells running north from Ylläs toward Pallas, covering around 1,020 square kilometres of protected landscape. It is one of the most visited national parks in Finland and one of the oldest, established in 1938. In winter, the park offers an extensive snowshoeing and cross-country skiing network across open fell terrain and boreal forest, with the Hetta-Pallas trail being one of the most well-known long-distance winter routes in Lapland.
It is one of the best destinations in Finnish Lapland for it. Ylläs has around 330 kilometres of maintained cross-country trails, more than most other Lapland resorts, covering a range of terrain from gentle forest loops to longer fell routes that extend into the national park. The network suits all levels, from casual skiers to those looking for multi-day routes through the landscape.
Yes. Ylläs's position in northwestern Lapland and the low light pollution of the surrounding national park make it a good destination for Northern Lights viewing. The season runs from September through early April, with the darkest weeks of midwinter offering the longest nightly windows. The open fell landscape around both villages provides unobstructed views of the sky.
The closest airport is Kittilä, around 50 kilometres to the north, with direct flights from Helsinki and several European cities during the winter season. From the airport, the drive to Ylläs takes around 45 minutes. Transfers can be arranged in advance. Ylläs can also be reached by overnight train from Helsinki to Kolari, with the station situated around 25 kilometres from the resort.