Short answer
Ylläs in Kolari is a fell with two villages, Ylläsjärvi in the south and Äkäslompolo in the north, and each has its own children's area and its own ski school. Children under six ski free with an adult, and the youngest can start with a first lesson even before they turn four. Here you'll find Finland's longest slopes and one of the country's biggest networks of cross-country trails.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Finland, Lapland
- Ski area
- Kolari municipality
- Pistes
- 53 km
- Lifts
- 26
- Season
- From 21 November 2026 (target), season opening 4–6 December
- Nearest airports
- Kittilä (approx. 30 min)
- Train
- VR night train Helsinki–Kolari, then a 30–60 min bus
Family rating
4,5 / 5
- Beginner slopes A children's area on each side of the fell, with a covered magic carpet, rope tow, carousel, sledging and tubing.
- Long runs for bigger children Finland's longest slopes at over three kilometres, and eight runs longer than two kilometres.
- Cross-country skiing Around 300 kilometres of trails, over 30 kilometres of them floodlit, and pulks to hire for the youngest.
- Travel time from Sweden A change in Helsinki, the night train to Kolari or a long drive through the Torne Valley.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Ylläsjärvi or Äkäslompolo?
| What | Ylläsjärvi (south side) | Äkäslompolo (north side) |
|---|---|---|
| Children's area | Ylläs KIDS with a covered magic carpet, practice slope, sledging and tubing hill and a lean-to shelter with a barbecue | Ylläs KIDS with a magic carpet, rope tow, carousel, soft figures, sledging hill and warming hut |
| Indoors for the children | The Peikonpesä playroom (no childcare) | The children's hut by the front slopes and a playroom at restaurant Y1 |
| Snow park | Mini Park by the Perhe lift | Junior Park |
| Ski school | Ski School South – Ekarinne for children under four, Lumiwerneri 5–7 years, Ministarter | Ski School North – First Slope for children under four, Miniwerneri 3–4 years, TaitoWerneri 8–12 years |
| Slopes | The gondola and Finland's longest runs at over three kilometres | The front slopes down towards the village |
| The village | Smaller and quieter | Bigger, with shops and restaurants |
A KIDS area pass is only valid on the side of the fell where it was bought. A regular lift pass covers both, and the ski bus runs between the villages.
Ylläs isn't a village but a fell. Yllästunturi, 719 metres high, is the highest fell in Finland with ski lifts, and it is in Kolari municipality in Finnish Lapland. There are two villages, one on each side of the fell: Ylläsjärvi in the south and Äkäslompolo in the north, about 15 kilometres apart. Each has its own children's area, its own ski school and its own lifts up the same fell. Ylläs is celebrating its 70th anniversary this season, and the aim is for the slopes to open on 21 November 2026.
The two sides of the fell
Ylläsjärvi is the smaller village. From here the gondola goes all the way to the top, and this is where the long runs are. Äkäslompolo is the larger village, by the lake of the same name, with restaurants and a grocery shop (K-Market Jounin kauppa). The ski bus runs between the two sides, and children under six travel free.
Choose your village based on the children. With a four-year-old who wants to go tubing and a ten-year-old who wants long runs, Ylläsjärvi is best. First time on skis? How to plan the week is in first ski trip with kids. With small children who are starting out on the carousel and rope tow, and parents who want shops and restaurants within walking distance, Äkäslompolo is a better fit. You can ski on both sides with the same lift pass.
The children's areas – Ylläs KIDS on both sides
Ylläs KIDS in Ylläsjärvi has a new covered magic carpet up to an easy practice slope, a sledging hill and a tubing hill. Tubes and sledges are available on site. Next to it there is a lean-to shelter where you can grill sausages and warm up while the children ski. Indoors there is the Peikonpesä playroom, where the children can play and have a snack, but it is not childcare. By the Perhe lift is Mini Park, with small jumps.
Ylläs KIDS in Äkäslompolo has a magic carpet, a rope tow and a carousel where the very youngest learn to glide and stand properly. There are soft figures to ski around, a sledging hill and a warm hut for your packed lunch. By the front slopes there is a children's hut for rest and nappy changes, and restaurant Y1 has a playroom and a children's menu. For older children there is Junior Park.
The children's areas are open every day when the lifts are running. They are included with a lift pass, but if you buy a separate KIDS area pass, be aware that it is only valid on the side of the fell where it was bought.
Lift passes and ski school
Children under six ski free with an adult, and they must wear a helmet. Children aged six to eleven ski on a child pass. Lift passes for six to ten days come with a family discount. Current prices are shown when you book.
Ylläs has two ski schools, Ski School South in Ylläsjärvi and Ski School North in Äkäslompolo. Book in the village where you're staying, as the lessons differ:
- A first lesson for children under four is available on both sides, as Ekarinne in the south and First Slope in the north.
- Miniwerneri for three- and four-year-olds is held in Äkäslompolo.
- Lumiwerneri for five- to seven-year-olds is held in Ylläsjärvi.
- TaitoWerneri for eight- to twelve-year-olds is held in Äkäslompolo.
- Ministarter is a two-day course for children who are on skis for the first time, and there is also a family lesson.
Helmets are compulsory in all lessons, and the children need a lift pass during the lesson if they have turned six.
Finland's longest slopes
Ylläs has 62 runs and 53 kilometres of piste, with a vertical drop of up to 464 metres. The longest runs are over three kilometres, the longest in Finland, and they are on the Ylläsjärvi side. Eight runs are longer than two kilometres, and almost half are longer than one kilometre. For children who have just learned to turn, that means long, gentle runs without having to queue for the lift all the time. Take the gondola up, take it easy on the way down and expect each run to take a while. Above the tree line it can be windy and bitterly cold, so bring a balaclava and extra mittens. One of the gondola cabins is a sauna.
The cross-country trails
Ylläs has one of Finland's biggest networks of cross-country trails. Around 300 kilometres are groomed, and over 30 kilometres are floodlit. The trails open in stages: the first loop is groomed as early as October, in midwinter about half the network is open, and from mid-February everything is groomed. The trails are maintained until 1 May.
For families there is a dedicated children's area at Aurinkotupa, where the children can practise at their own pace close to a large car park. The Kotamaja and Aurinkotupa cafés are out on the trails. If the children are too small to ski themselves, you can hire a pulk in the village and pull them along behind you. Put a reindeer skin in the bottom and the child in a sleeping bag. There are also trails where dogs are allowed.
Pack a flask and a packed lunch for the trail cafés – there are more ideas in food on the ski holiday. Ylläs charges a trail fee per day, week or season, and everyone who skis on the trails is expected to pay it. In April, the 70-kilometre Ylläs–Levi ski race runs from Ylläsjärvi to Levi.
How to get to Ylläs
- By air: fly to Kittilä with a change in Helsinki. From there it is about half an hour by car. The airport bus runs between the airport and Ylläs, and tickets for the following month are released on the 20th of each month.
- Night train: VR runs night trains from Helsinki to Kolari, daily until 20 April – from there it is a short bus ride to the fell. From the station it is 35 kilometres to Ylläs, and the bus takes 30–60 minutes.
- By car: cross the border at Haparanda–Tornio and head north on highway 21 (E8) through the Torne Valley to Kolari. From there, follow road 940 towards Äkäslompolo.
Finland is an hour ahead of Sweden, so change your clocks before the first ski school morning.
Ylläs or its neighbours?
Ylläs suits families who want quieter villages, long runs and lots of cross-country skiing. Levi in neighbouring Kittilä municipality is bigger and busier, with a Christmas market, visits to Santa and the airport close by. If you'd rather stay in Sweden, there is Riksgränsen, with skiing right into June, and Hemavan and Tärnaby, where the plane lands almost by the lift. A quieter Swedish alternative in Lapland is Kittelfjäll. If you're going during the 2027 sportlov (Swedish winter sports break), the days are long and the trails are groomed. Base layers, extra mittens and face protection – the full list is in the ski trip packing list.
Before Ylläs with children
Frequently asked questions
Should we stay in Ylläsjärvi or Äkäslompolo?
Ylläsjärvi in the south has the gondola, the longest runs and the children's area with tubing. Äkäslompolo in the north is the larger village, with shops and restaurants and a carousel and rope tow in the children's area. With small children both work, and the ski bus runs between them.
Do children ski free in Ylläs?
Children under six ride the lifts and the ski bus free when they ski with an adult, and they must wear a helmet. Children aged six to eleven need a child pass.
From what age can children go to ski school in Ylläs?
Both ski schools have a first lesson for children under four. In Äkäslompolo there is the Miniwerneri group lesson for three- and four-year-olds, and in Ylläsjärvi Lumiwerneri for children aged five to seven. Helmets are compulsory in all lessons.
How long are the slopes in Ylläs?
The longest runs are over three kilometres and the longest in Finland. They are on the Ylläsjärvi side. Eight runs are over two kilometres, and the vertical drop is up to 464 metres.
How many kilometres of cross-country trails are there in Ylläs?
Around 300 kilometres of groomed trails, and more than that with the connecting routes. Over 30 kilometres are floodlit. In midwinter about half is open, and from mid-February the whole network is groomed.
How do you get to Ylläs?
Fly to Kittilä via Helsinki and take the airport bus, about half an hour by car. Or take VR's night train from Helsinki to Kolari, where the bus to Ylläs takes 30–60 minutes. The road route goes via the border crossing at Haparanda and then up the Torne Valley.
