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Ruka Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • Northern lights
  • Short transfers
  • Winter wonderland activities

Great for

  • Families
  • Non-skiers
  • Cross-country
  • Late-season

Ski Holidays in Ruka

As well as a modern ski area catering for beginners, intermediates and freestylers, this fairytale Finnish resort has miles upon miles of cross-country trails and a whole host of activities like husky sledding and reindeer safaris. If this wasn’t enough, Santa lives down the road and the chance to see the mystical Northern Lights completes the package.

  • Flight Time
  • 3.5 hours
  • From London
  • Nearest Airports
  • Kittilä, Kuusamo
  • Rovaniemi
  • Time zone
  • GMT + 2 hour
  • Language
  • Finnish
  • Currency
  • Euros
  • Ski Season
  • Dec - April

Ruka Stats

Top Altitude
492m
Bottom Altitude
291m
Resort Altitude
291m
Total Piste
20km
Longest Run
1.3km
Slope Orientation
N S E W
Vertical Drop
201m
Skiable Vertical
201m
Night Skiing
Yes
Glacier Skiing
No

Nestled in the Finnish hills on the borders of Lapland, just south of the Arctic Circle, a visit here is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (and many return again and again).

Sometimes called the ‘gateway to Lapland’, the resort was founded in the winter of 1954 when the first slope opened. Since then it’s flourished there are now 35 groomed runs and over 500km of cross country trails.

Most packages have flights that go via Helsinki and land at Kuusamo Airport. From here it’s an easy 30-minute road transfer to the resort, which is small and family-oriented, with a friendly community feel to it. Centred on the traffic-free pedestrian village, it’s made up mainly of modern hotels, restaurants and shops, with a 320-space heated underground car park below.

To those used to skiing in France or Austria, Finland offers a completely new experience with much more of an untouched, wilderness feeling. Finnish resorts tend to be situated at lower altitudes – Ruka is 291 metres above sea level, with the high point being 492 metres. Don’t be fooled by the numbers, though – even at this altitude it is one of the most snow-sure resorts in the world. Thanks to its extreme position just below the Arctic Circle, the temperature this far North rarely climbs above 0°C all winter, preserving snow excellently through the season. The season is long, too - often running from October to May with certain slopes sometimes kept running artificially until June!

Whilst the downhill ski area may be smaller than some resorts, this is more than made up for by bucket loads of other activities on offer like husky sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, reindeer herding and truly world-class cross country skiing. If you’re lucky, you may even get to see the famous Northern Lights in all their glory.

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Ruka Transfer Times

Kuusamo30 mins

The nearest airport to Ruka is Kuusamo at 20 km or about 30 minutes by car

What's the ski area like in Ruka?

Finland is world-renowned for its cross-country skiing and there are a staggering 500km of trails in the area, over 50km of which are floodlit at night. 87% of the main slopes are floodlit too and all are open until 7 pm daily, so there’s no need to be up at the crack of dawn to make the most of your day on the fell.

Which other ski resorts are near to Ruka?

The nearest ski resorts to Ruka include Pyha.

Ski Area Facts

LocationKuusamo, Finland
Established1954
Downhill20km
Lift Pass204€ (adult 6 day)

Beginner Slopes

8.2km41%

Intermediate Skiing

8.6km43%

Advance & Expert Terrain

3.2km16%

Snowboarding Trails

20km100%

What is Ruka like for Beginner skiers?

Whilst larger resorts can be a bit overwhelming, the compact, unintimidating ski area here is just right for first timers. Many of the lifts are beginner-friendly t-bars and Ruka also boasts the largest and oldest ski school in Finland. 41% of the runs are suitable for beginners – including the longest at 1.3km (blue 27 on the piste map). We also like number 7, which is a confidence-boosting green that takes you back to the village.

What is Ruka like for Intermediate skiers?

Intermediates are just as well catered for with 43% of slopes classified red. Vuoselli has numerous long, cruising blues and reds all accessible from a high-speed covered chairlift and Masto’s reds have campfires at the bottom where you can warm up before the next challenge.

What is Ruka like for Advanced skiers?

Experts will want to head to the Kelo and Pessari areas, where there are challenging reds and blacks as well as loads of off-piste through the trees. The powder here is known for being exceptionally good thanks to the low temperatures and dry air, and the lack of crowds means fresh tracks can easily be made days after a snowfall. The black number 4 is a FIS standard slalom run where you can really test yourself on the way back to the village...

What is Ruka like for snowboarding?

Freestylers will feel right at home – the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships took place here in 2005. There are two snow parks with a range of kickers, tabletops, boxes and rails, a FIS standard superpipe, a boardercross course and a freestyle mogul run.

What is Ruka like for off-piste skiing?

Ruka has freeriding that is suitable for novices, with no real mountain, and almost zero risk of avalanches. Nice area to ride is the area around the side of the ski jump. You will find some stashes of powder and tree sections.

What is Ruka like for cross country skiing?

Cross country skiing is avaiable from October through to April. 435km of trails with ski trails cafes along the way.

Ruka Restaurants

Ruka’s well known in Finland for its vibrant and friendly après ski, with a number of bars, pubs and restaurants to suit all tastes. We love Ruka Peak (previously voted the best wild game restaurant in Finland) where you can sip on cocktails and sample refined dishes in a smart, cosy lounge with stunning arctic views. If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t miss the Riipinen Wild Game Restaurant where reindeer, elk, bear and arctic fish are nearly always on the menu. The aptly named Classic Pizza Ruka has a friendly, informal setting. The Kontioluola bar regularly hosts live bands, and club Tellu Night sees DJs playing into the early hours.

Where to eat in Ruka and on the mountain

Classic Pizza Ruka Perfect for lunch or dinner, Classic Pizza Ruka is a local favourite in Ruka village. Check it out if you value friendly service, good variety, value for money, a cosy atmosphere and, of course, great pizza!

Ruka Kuksa Kuksa rustles up some beautiful Lappish gourmet food, including authentic meals of reindeer, fish and hearty vegetables. We love the wonderfully cosy atmosphere too – complete with snug booths, antlers aplenty and pretty wooden beams.

Ruka Après Ski

Ruka village has a wide selection of bars and night clubs, where the age limit for these varies from 18 & 20, so please check before heading out! While it is a restaurant in the day, at night it turns into the most iconic and legendary karaoke starts every evening at 9 pm and many popular bands spin our guests around on the dance floor during seasonal times, several times per week. Restaurant Zone welcomes you to enjoy the cosy atmosphere during the day and the best place for a good party during the night!

Bars Late Night Clubs and Cafes in Ruka

Restaurant Piste This great ski-in ski-out restaurant and bar is situated in the heart of western Ruka. There’s a great choice of dishes, whether you’re here for lunch or dinner, including local specialities like game and fish. Piste is also one of the best places in town for an après-ski drink or late-night party, with DJs and live bands regularly blasting out tunes ‘til the small hours. Major sporting events are shown on the big screen.

Ruka Activites for Non-skiers

There is over 600km of snowmobile routes and ‘snowmobile safaris’ of varying lengths can take you deep into the forests. If you fancy a more traditional method of travel, two popular choices are reindeer and husky safaris. Starting from private farms, these excursions are also a great chance to learn a little about a historic way of life and try your hands at reindeer herding or husky harnessing. Other activities on offer include ice fishing, snowshoeing, ice kart racing, bowling and even an Angry Birds activity park!Of course, you can’t come all the way to Lapland without paying a visit to Saint Nick – especially if you have little ones in tow! Luckily, as he lives so close, there are plenty of opportunities to meet Santa. Take a guided tour into the forest to search for Santa’s cottage, where kids will be greeted with warm drinks and presents before hearing stories about the elves and Rudolf from Santa himself.Those looking to relax and unwind will find a number of saunas and a masseur in the village shopping centre. There’s also a recently opened day spa that can be reached on skis or by foot, offering a range of the usual treatments as well as traditional Lappish stone and berry options. A little further afield in Kuusamo town there’s even a tropical swimming pool complex!If you’re looking for exciting winter activities besides skiing, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Venture out after dark and you even stand a chance of glimpsing the incredible northern lights. This awesome natural event lights up the sky with luminous greens, blues and reds, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Arktikum Ruka is about a 2.5 hour drive from Rovaniemi, where you can visit the Arktikum. Visitors can swot up on their knowledge of climate change and arctic geology in the science centre, and browse the museum’s exhibits to learn about Lapland’s rich natural and cultural history.

Joulukka Joulukka has their base in the wilderness surrounding Rovaniemi – around 2 hours by road from Ruka. You’re picked up in Rovaniemi centre before being transported to Santa’s woodland hideout, where you can get stuck into a range of activities including meeting the man himself, passing Santa’s Helper training, and preparing festive dishes and decorations.

Santa Park The Santa Park can be reached in around 2 hours from Ruka. Here, you can meet Santa, attend Elf School and cook up some delicious gingerbread! There’s also a brilliant sleigh ride, giant snow globe and Angry Birds activity area – and the world’s only underground crossing of the Arctic Circle.

Metsäkyly Forest Retreat Visitors to Ruka can unwind in the sauna at Metsäkyly – around 2.5 hours from the resort and close to Lapland’s main town, Rovaniemi. You can unwind during a walk in the forest and select from a number of health programs which include sauna, beauty treatments, Jacuzzi and even a dip in the ice pool!

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

Shopping Centre Kumpare is located in the heart of RukaVillage. There you can find shops selling equipment, clothing, Finnish design and souvenirs. More shops can be found in the centre of Kuusamo town.

Head Ski Rent Head Ski Rent is a ski and snowboard hire shop situated in the centre of Ruka village. They provide hire of skis and equipment such as boots, helmets and poles, and snowboards/snowboard boots. Cross country equipment is also available. There is a well-stocked retail shop, too, where you can buy high quality Head equipment.

Ruka Package Ski Holidays

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Best Time to Visit Ruka

Ruka makes a great skiing destination all season long. Late season snow is historically very good, while sub-zero temperatures and snowmaking on every slope keep things going nicely well into May – sometimes even June!

This resort is less well-known than many other European resorts, such as those in the Alps, which means the slopes rarely get overly crowded even in peak weeks. Even if there are lots of visitors, the lifts are able to carry 25,400 skiers an hour to make light work of queues.

If you want the ultimate winter wonderland experience, Christmas is the time to come. The resort puts a great deal of effort into celebrating and the atmosphere is magical!

If you’re hoping to see the Northern Lights, these are most common from December to late February. Don’t let that put you off if you can only make it in March or April, though – they can appear at any time and this is one of the best places in the world to see them.

What's Ruka like at Christmas?

Christmas in Ruka should be everything you could want from a relaxed festive break – an unbeatable yuletide atmosphere, heaps of snow, gentle skiing, real reindeer and Santa himself!
Christmas Ski Holidays

What's Ruka like in the New Year?

Who needs fireworks when you stand a chance of glimpsing the spectacular Northern Lights at New Year in Ruka! The resort traditionally puts on a midnight firework display, too, and Christmas festivities should still be in full swing.
New Year Ski Holidays

What's Ruka like in Half-Term?

Quiet slopes and a whole host of children’s activities are the names of the game during February half term in Ruka.
Half Term Ski Holidays

What's Ruka like at Easter?

Long lazy days, an excellent late-season snow record and stunning views of the Finnish forests, lakes and fells. What more could you want from Easter in Ruka?

Ruka Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Ruka snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Ruka snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Ruka snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Current snow depth at top
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  • Current snow depth at base
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Ski Accommodation in Ruka

We have 912 ski holidays in Ruka. Search all Ruka ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:

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For families with children, Ruka is simply an amazing place to be. For starters, the village itself is completely traffic-free – a big plus for anyone with young, excitable kids! Kids under 6 traditionally ski for free (provided they wear helmets), and the compact nature of the resort and ski area makes it easy for parents to drop kids off at ski school and pick them up afterwards. After ski school, parents can take the little ones over to the dedicated children’s zone in the Vuosseli area, where there are 3 gentle magic carpet lifts, to practice what they’ve learnt. Kids can go sledging or tobogganing here, too. Vuosseli is also where you’ll find the Rosa & Rudolf activity park, offering the chance to ski alongside herds of reindeer and even through the middle of a mountainside house. Once they’ve picked up the basics, the gentle blue runs found all around the fell are the perfect stage for the kids to show off their new skills. For more adventurous children and teenagers, there are two terrain parks where they can practice the art of getting air!

One of the best things about coming to Finland with kids is the huge number of activities available off the slopes. Husky sledding and reindeer safaris are bound to be an instant hit, with many outings including the opportunity to meet the animals first and even help with herding and harnessing. There are also indoor activities available for little ones who want to escape the cold, including swimming, bowling and even an Angry Birds activity park! For children too young to ski with their parents, the Happy Family kindergarten and indoor activity centre will ensure they remain amused and well looked after during the day.

If you’re bringing the kids skiing, you’ll obviously want a resort that holds up during the school holiday periods. Luckily, whilst other more well-known resorts can get overcrowded, school holidays are arguably the best times to visit Ruka. The slopes tend to remain quiet and safe even during the busiest peak weeks and long lift queues are rare – especially during the week. Christmas and New Year are bound to be magical, with Christmas lights, firework displays and reindeer. Santa lives just down the road, too and it may even be possible to arrange a one-to-one meeting!

Ruka is ideal for a group ski holiday, with plenty to please beginners and intermediates alike, as well as an incredible range of activities for non-skiers. As far as downhill skiing goes, this resort is perfect for a mixed group of beginners and intermediates with its ski area made up mostly of cruisey reds and blues. The Vuosseli and Masto areas are particular highlights. Experts aren’t left out either, with a number of more challenging red and blacks as well as loads of freestyle options. The compact nature of the ski area is great for groups who want to split up and ski different runs for part of the day, then easily meet up for lunch or ski together in the afternoon.

There is a whole host of other activities for non-skiers or those who just fancy something different! Highlights include reindeer, husky and snowmobile safaris that can see you venturing deep into areas of pristine untouched wilderness, by day or night. Competitive types can pit themselves against one another in an adrenaline-fuelled ice karting race, whilst group members looking for something more chilled out can try their hands at ice fishing or snowshoeing, or even book in for a spa treatment. Of course, there’s usually at least one shopaholic in the group and they’ll be well catered for too – there’s a shopping centre that usually sells big name brands as well as local Finnish products!

Après ski isn’t as wild here as in some larger resorts, but there are still plenty of options. For a casual drink with chilled out music and amazing views, get yourself to the bar at Ruka Peak. Those who fancy something a bit wilder should head to Tellu Night, a club that regularly hosts live DJs until 4 am.

The majority of our accommodation in Ruka is in apartments – perfect for groups as this is one of the cheapest and most flexible ways of skiing. Working around fussy eaters isn’t a problem as you cater for yourselves. You also have the option of checking out local restaurants such as the Riipinen Wild Game Restaurant, where you might be lucky enough to sample elk or even bear! We also have some great hotels in the centre of Ruka – a super option for larger groups, especially if there are stragglers who may want to book at a later date.

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Ruka
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4
out of 5
The slopes are nice and wide. If you’re a beginner, the skiing is absolutely perfect in the fact that you’re not worrying that you’re going to be knocked over so your confidence can grow really quickly. I don’t know about other times of year but the slopes weren’t busy at all when we were there. They don’... + more
The Bradfords & the Rickards, Reading
4 out of 5
Ruka is a bit flat to be honest. There aren’t really any big mountains there. It’s good for beginners for this reason. There aren’t many testing runs. You would get a bit bored as an advanced skier, we ended up doing the same runs over and over. There are a few other bits and bobs to do like the Reindeer exp... + more
Richard Harrigan, Essex
4 out of 5
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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Ruka

Maximum and minimum adult Ruka lift pass prices ranged from €185 to €195 for 6 days access to the Ruka ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Ruka holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price €27 - €28 €42 - €44 €27 - €28
6 Day Price €116 - €123 €185 - €195 €116 - €123
Age Range 7 - 11 18 - 64 65+
Ruka Packages + Extras

Getting to Ruka

Most of our ski holidays to Ruka packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Ruka from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Ruka from the UK?

Flights from London take about 3.5 hours to Kittilä, Kuusamo, Rovaniemi. This table shows approximate transfer times to Ruka from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance Transfer Time
Kuusamo 20 km 30 minutes
Oulu 250 km 3 hours
Packages with Plane Train or Car

How long does it take to drive to Ruka from the UK?

Browse our self-drive ski holidays which include your car channel crossing, or go choose accom-only and book your car ferry or tunnel later.

Self-Drive Ski Holidays
↑ INCL CAR ↑↓ WITHOUT ↓
Accommodation-Only

How long is the transfer from nearest Finland / Lapland train station to Ruka?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Ruka transfers.

Station Distance Transfer Time
Kemijarvi 120 km 2 hours
Ski Train Holidays

Ruka Maps

Ruka piste map
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Regional map
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Town Map
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Going to Ruka under your own steam

For independant travel to Finland / Lapland, compare accommodation only with Ruka self-drive packages which include Eurotunnel or ferry.

Accomm-Only & Self-Drive

See driving directions to and from Ruka in Finland / Lapland.

Enter your start location and click "Get Directions" to view the route:

More Ruka Information

Ruka Tourist Office Ruka’s Tourist Office is your first port of call for the best advice regarding where to eat, drink, and visit during your stay in the resort. The friendly and helpful staff have tons of knowledge and experience of the local area and there’s a host of maps, brochures and contacts for you to pick up.

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Ruka Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Ruka ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!

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Similar Ski Resorts to Ruka in Finland / Lapland

Finland / Lapland Ski Holiday Resorts

Every Sno holiday packaged with flights is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. All our suppliers are ATOL bonded, so your money is safe. In addition to this, payments for your holiday are held in trust, by NatWest bank and the Travel Trust, who insure every booking against supplier failure.

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