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Ski Holidays in Saariselka
As well as being a popular place for panning, Saariselkä is a goldmine of winter wonderland activities. With a stunning national park on your doorstep, you can explore the snowy surroundings on foot, skis, snowmobile or even reindeer before coming home to your cosy cabin or hotel.
- 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
Saariselka Stats
Europe’s northernmost ski resort, Saariselkä is 250km up from the Arctic Circle, not far from the Russian border. One of the main resorts in Lapland – the legendary home of Father Christmas – it has snow-sure skiing, a Christmas-card-esque village and heaps of festive activities all in one place.
The village itself is surrounded by forest and full of winter wonderland charm, with its own little chapel, some shops and restaurants and accommodation ranging from spa hotels to traditional log cabins. Everything is pretty close-knit and it’s usually only ever a short walk from A to B.
Surrounded by wilderness, this is one of those places where you feel like you’re a world away from the rest of civilisation and can get really close up and personal with nature. Right next door, the stunning Urho Kekkonen National Park is one of Finland’s largest protected areas.
There’s lots to do here, from experiencing natural beauty at Kakslauttanen’s Igloo village or spending some time indoors at the - less traditional but kids love it - Angry Birds activity park. Famous for its gold rushes (you can try your own luck at gold-digging here) it also has a thriving Sami community and the Sami Museum is well worth a visit.
If you’re lucky you’ll catch… + more
Saariselka Transfer Times
The nearest airport to Saariselka is Ivalo at 30 km or about 25 minutes by car
What's the ski area like in Saariselka?
Which other ski resorts are near to Saariselka?
The nearest ski resorts to Saariselka include Levi, Luosto, Pyha, Yllas, Ruka.
Ski Area Facts
Beginner Slopes
Intermediate Skiing
Advance & Expert Terrain
Snowboarding Trails
What is Saariselka like for Beginner skiers?
What is Saariselka like for Intermediate skiers?
What is Saariselka like for Advanced skiers?
What is Saariselka like for snowboarding?
What is Saariselka like for off-piste skiing?
What is Saariselka like for cross country skiing?
Saariselka Restaurants
Reindeer dishes, the native Cloudberry and the River Tenojoki salmon are all must-try Finnish flavours here. Restaurant Petronella was made with high class dining in mind and the Café/Restaurant at the top to the Kaunispää chair is great for a panoramic view. If you prefer to cook for yourself, the Kuukeli supermarket has a good supply of the necessities and then some.
Where to eat in Saariselka and on the mountain
The Petronella Restaurant The Petronella Restaurant has a menu that is sure to give you a proper taste of Finland. The restaurant… + more
Laanilan Kievari It’s all about fresh ingredients and traditional tastes here. They get a lot of the components for their dishes by… + more
Siberia Restaurant Describing itself as refined and relaxed you’ll certainly have a pleasant pit stop at the café or leisurely… + more
Saariselka Après Ski
With only 15 slopes, this isn’t meant to be a resort where the sole focus is skiing and there are tonnes of other activities to fill up the week. When it comes to having a warming tipple or two, O’Poro Pub usually holds an after-party between 2 pm and 5 pm. They get local bands to play live music, and you’ll get to have a go at ski shoe dancing. They also have a restaurant with big windows to see the Northern Lights. You’ve got Brewery Pub and Kaunis Jorma Saariselka for a chilled beer and rock music (for karaoke on Sunday and Tuesday you might need another beer). Hotel Kieppi also has live music, and for a culture lesson, there’s a Sami evening once a week.
Bars Late Night Clubs and Cafes in Saariselka
Husky Bar and Ranch This is the perfect place for a cool beer after a day trekking, skiing or sledding. It has chilled-out, loose… + more
Saariselka Activites for Non-skiers
Snowmobiling, reindeer and husky safaris really are as fun as they look, and all are a great way to enjoy the surroundings. For something a bit different, try your hand at ice fishing or follow one of the more well-trodden snowshoe routes. Even better, 15 minutes away by road is Santa’s resort, Kakslauttanen for a once in a lifetime meeting with the man himself. From November to April you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. The Sami people believe it is the energies of ancestral souls causing the lights whereas a Finnish legend tells the story of a large Arctic fox running across the snow and creating the lights as sparks fly up from its tail thumping the ground. In the resort, you can wind-down at the spa, keep the kids occupied at the Angry Birds activity park or try something new at the curling centre.
Angry Birds Activity Park The Angry Birds Park offers a bunch of fun activities throughout the year and they are aimed at all ages.… + more
Husky and Co Sign up to a Husky safari and you might be able to be picked up directly from your accommodation to the Husky and Co… + more
Arktikum Arktikum is located in Rovaniemi – about 3 hours’ by road from Saariselkä. Visitors eager to discover Lapland’s past will… + more
Joulukka Following a pickup in Rovaniemi centre (around 3 hours’ drive from Saariselkä), Joulukka will transport you into the… + more
Tankavaara Gold Village The Tankavaara Gold Village makes a wonderfully unique activity when in Finland for your holiday. 30km south… + more
Santa Park Saariselka’s around 3 hours from Rovaniemi’s Santa Park. Other than meeting Santa himself, visitors can cook up a treat in… + more
Metsäkyly Forest Retreat 300km from Saariselka, and hidden in woodland beside the lake Sieri is the Metsäkyly sauna. There’s a range… + more
Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops
There are just half a dozen shops in the village selling basics, groceries (9am to 9pm), photographic services, souvenirs and skiwear, most are concentrated in the shopping Centre Siula. In addition there are another half dozen studios, shops and workshops selling unique local crafts and traditional jewellery, often made on the premises, incorporating local gold and other precious metals and stones, to either contemporary or traditional Sami designs. If you would like a reindeer skin souvenir you'll find them molre affordable here than at the airport.
Ultima Jewelry sells Lapponia Jewelry and other brands well known in Finland.
Inarin Hopea has original and traditional handicrafts which are made in their own workshop. This includes handmade jewellery of the type traditionally worn in Lapland, designed following old Lappish models from centuries ago, adapted to better suit modern times.
A log cabin built in 1952 on the top of Kaunispää fell is one of the oldest buildings in the resort, it is now used as a souvenir shop.
Hire Shop The Saariselka hire shop is where you will be able to hire all your slope equipment. You'll find all the necessities from… + more
Best Time to Visit Saariselka
What's Saariselka like at Christmas?
Christmas in Saariselkä will beat struggling through the last minute Christmas shopping mosh-pit back home. The easy skiing and activities like reindeer sleigh rides and meeting Santa will also beat any other Christmas present…What's Saariselka like in the New Year?
Common sightings of the Northern Lights are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reasons for spending the New Year at Saariselkä.What's Saariselka like in Half-Term?
February half-term in Saariselkä should have you wishing away the next 12 months until you can do it again. Take a step back from the furore of school or the office and embrace the Finnish fells.What's Saariselka like at Easter?
Instead of hunting for the last chocolate egg, start searching for your warmest pair of gloves for an Easter in Saariselkä. It’s the perfect way to take a story or two back to the classroom or office that will top all the others…Saariselka Snow Conditions
Snow Report, History & Forecast
View our detailed Saariselka snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Saariselka snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Saariselka snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.
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Ski Accommodation in Saariselka
We have 858 ski holidays in Saariselka. Search all Saariselka ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:
Ski Extras
How much is a ski pass in Saariselka
Maximum and minimum adult Saariselka lift pass prices ranged from €133 to €190 for 6 days access to the Saariselka ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Saariselka 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 | €19 - €27 | €29 - €42 | €19 - €27 |
| 6 Day Price | €80 - €114 | €133 - €190 | €80 - €114 |
| Age Range | 7 - 12 | 13 - 64 | 65+ |
Getting to Saariselka
Most of our ski holidays to Saariselka packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Saariselka from nearby airports
How long does it take to fly to Saariselka from the UK?
Flights from London take about 3.5 hours to Kittilä, Kuusamo, Rovaniemi. This table shows approximate transfer times to Saariselka from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.
| Airport | Distance | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ivalo | 30 km | 25 minutes |
| Kittila | 260 km | 3 hours |
How long does it take to drive to Saariselka 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.
How long is the transfer from nearest Finland / Lapland train station to Saariselka?
The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Saariselka transfers.
| Station | Distance | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rovaniemi | 260 km | 4 hours 20 minutes |
Saariselka Maps
Going to Saariselka under your own steam
For independant travel to Finland / Lapland, compare accommodation only with Saariselka self-drive packages which include Eurotunnel or ferry.
Accomm-Only & Self-DriveSee driving directions to and from Saariselka in Finland / Lapland.
Enter your start location and click "Get Directions" to view the route:
More Saariselka Information
Saariselka Tourist Office The tourist office at Saariselka is your best resource for finding out about the best places to visit during your stay. The helpful staff can provide you with advice and brochures regarding where to eat and drink, which excursions to check out and where you’ll find local services and facilities.
Saariselka Ski Holiday Resources
Need help choose your Saariselka ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!
Similar Ski Resorts to Saariselka in Finland / Lapland
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