Finnish Lapland in Winter: 10 Places Worth the Drive

Finnish Lapland is not one destination. It is a large, varied region with different characters, different landscapes and different reasons to visit. Some places are worth the drive for their skiing. Some for their wilderness. Some for their cultural context. Some simply because they are far enough from everything else to feel genuinely remote.

This is not a ranking. It is a list of ten places that are worth the effort — and honest about who each one suits.

Note: this article is about places worth driving to and exploring. For choosing a single holiday base, see Where to Stay in Lapland: Choose the Right Base for Your Trip.

1. Rovaniemi

Why go: The most accessible gateway to Finnish Lapland. Broad services, an airport, a wide range of guided winter activities and the Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle.

Who it's for: First-time Lapland visitors, families, short-break travellers who want organised activities and easy logistics.

Suggested stay: 2–4 nights.

Car usefulness: Not essential for a central stay with transfers. Useful for exploring the wider Rovaniemi area, reaching quieter surroundings or continuing north.

Character: City services alongside Lapland atmosphere. Busy at peak times, especially December.

Winter-driving note: Rovaniemi Airport is about 10 km from the city. Main roads are well maintained. Parking in the city centre is straightforward.

Don't choose it if: You want a quiet wilderness experience or are visiting in peak season on a tight budget.

2. Levi

Why go: Finland's most developed ski resort. Strong downhill skiing, a lively centre, a wide range of guided activities and good infrastructure.

Who it's for: Skiers, snowboarders, social groups, travellers who want a resort atmosphere with restaurants and nightlife.

Suggested stay: 3–5 nights.

Car usefulness: Not essential for a central stay. Useful for accommodation outside the resort centre or for exploring beyond Levi.

Character: Lively, well-organised, resort-focused. The busiest of the Lapland resort areas.

Winter-driving note: Kittilä Airport is about 15 km from Levi. Airport buses connect the two. Roads around the resort are well maintained.

Don't choose it if: You want quiet evenings, a wilderness feel or a slower pace.

3. Ylläs

Why go: Finland's highest fell, extensive cross-country trails, downhill skiing and a quieter atmosphere than Levi. The area is spread across several villages with different characters.

Who it's for: Skiers who prefer a quieter resort, cross-country enthusiasts, cabin-holiday travellers, those who want more space and less resort noise.

Suggested stay: 3–5 nights.

Car usefulness: Especially useful. The area is spread out across villages — Äkäslompolo, Ylläsjärvi and others — and a car makes it much easier to explore.

Character: Quieter and more spread out than Levi. Äkäslompolo is the quietest village in the area in my experience; Ylläsjärvi is also quiet. The resort area is more active.

Winter-driving note: Kittilä Airport is about 35 km from Ylläsjärvi. Some cabin access roads can be steep or narrow — ask about the specific road before arriving.

Don't choose it if: You want a lively resort centre or prefer not to drive.

4. Saariselkä

Why go: A compact northern resort with a strong wilderness feel. Easy access to Urho Kekkonen National Park, winter trails and guided activities. The Inari area is nearby.

Who it's for: Travellers who want a quieter northern base, access to wilderness, and a compact village where most services are walkable.

Suggested stay: 3–5 nights.

Car usefulness: Good within the village. Very useful for exploring the wider Inari and northern Lapland area.

Character: Small-scale, wilderness-focused, quieter than Levi or Rovaniemi.

Winter-driving note: Ivalo Airport is about 25 km from Saariselkä. Roads are maintained but the area is remote — check conditions before longer drives.

Don't choose it if: You want a lively resort atmosphere or a wide choice of restaurants.

5. Inari

Why go: A small village on the shore of Lake Inari, one of Finland's largest lakes. The SIIDA museum covers Sámi culture and the natural history of northern Lapland. The landscape around Inari is genuinely remote and beautiful in winter.

Who it's for: Travellers interested in cultural context, remote landscapes and a quieter northern experience. Not a ski resort.

Suggested stay: 2–3 nights, often combined with Saariselkä.

Car usefulness: Essential. Inari is not easily reached without a car, and the surrounding area requires one to explore.

Character: Small, quiet, culturally significant. The lake is vast and the winter landscape is striking.

Winter-driving note: Roads to Inari are maintained but remote. The drive from Ivalo is about 40 km. Check conditions before travelling.

Don't choose it if: You want resort facilities, skiing or a lively social atmosphere.

6. Pyhä-Luosto

Why go: A smaller resort area with fell landscapes, downhill skiing and a quieter atmosphere. Pyhä and Luosto are two separate fells connected by a trail. The area has a good cross-country trail network and a more relaxed pace than the larger resorts.

Who it's for: Travellers who want a smaller resort experience, fell scenery and a quieter alternative to Levi or Ylläs.

Suggested stay: 3–4 nights.

Car usefulness: Useful. The area is not as spread out as Ylläs, but a car makes it easier to explore both fells and the surrounding area.

Character: Quieter and smaller-scale than the main resorts. Good for a relaxed fell holiday.

Winter-driving note: The nearest airport is Rovaniemi, about 130 km away. The drive is straightforward on maintained roads.

Don't choose it if: You want a large resort with extensive nightlife or a wide range of guided activities.

7. Kuusamo and Oulanka National Park

Why go: Oulanka National Park is one of Finland's most visited national parks, with dramatic gorges, frozen rivers and winter trails. Kuusamo is the gateway town with an airport. Ruka ski resort is nearby.

Who it's for: Active travellers, hikers, skiers, nature photographers and those who want national-park scenery alongside resort facilities.

Suggested stay: 3–5 nights.

Car usefulness: Very useful. The national park and surrounding area require a car to explore properly.

Character: A mix of resort facilities at Ruka and genuine wilderness in Oulanka. The gorge landscapes are distinctive and different from the fell scenery farther north.

Winter-driving note: Kuusamo Airport serves the area directly. Roads are maintained but the national park trails require appropriate footwear and preparation.

Don't choose it if: You want the classic Lapland fell landscape or are visiting specifically for the far north.

8. Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

Why go: One of Finland's largest national parks, stretching between the Pallas and Ylläs fells. Excellent cross-country skiing, open fell scenery and a genuine wilderness character. The Pallastunturi area has a fell hotel and a trail network.

Who it's for: Cross-country skiers, fell walkers, nature enthusiasts and travellers who want open landscape and quiet.

Suggested stay: 2–4 nights.

Car usefulness: Essential for reaching the park and moving between areas.

Character: Open, quiet, genuinely wild. Not a resort — a national park with limited facilities.

Winter-driving note: The park is accessed from Muonio or Hetta. Roads are maintained but the area is remote. Check conditions before longer drives.

Don't choose it if: You want resort facilities, downhill skiing or a lively social atmosphere.

9. Muonio and Äkäslompolo

Why go: Muonio is a small town on the Swedish border with a quieter character than the main resorts. Äkäslompolo, the quietest of the Ylläs villages, is nearby. The area has good cross-country trails and a genuine local feel.

Who it's for: Travellers who want a quieter Lapland experience, cross-country skiing and a local rather than resort atmosphere.

Suggested stay: 2–3 nights, often combined with Ylläs.

Car usefulness: Essential. The area is not easily reached without a car.

Character: Quiet, local, less tourist-focused than the main resorts.

Winter-driving note: The drive from Kittilä Airport is about 60–70 km. Roads are maintained.

Don't choose it if: You want resort facilities or a wide range of guided activities.

10. Kilpisjärvi

Why go: Finland's most north-westerly point, where Finland, Sweden and Norway meet. The landscape is open fell country with a genuinely remote character. The area is known for Northern Lights viewing due to its darkness and open skies.

Who it's for: Travellers who want to reach the far corner of Finland, experience open fell landscape and have a genuinely remote northern experience.

Suggested stay: 2–3 nights.

Car usefulness: Essential. Kilpisjärvi is not reachable without a car or a long bus journey.

Character: Remote, open, quiet. Very limited services — one hotel and a few facilities. Not a resort.

Winter-driving note: The drive from Rovaniemi is roughly 340 km. Roads are maintained but the area is genuinely remote. Check conditions carefully before travelling and carry emergency equipment.

Don't choose it if: You want resort facilities, a wide range of activities or easy logistics.

Planning Your Lapland Road Trip

A car gives you access to most of these places. Without one, you are limited to destinations with airport transfers and organised activities.

Once you have chosen your destination, it is worth comparing flights before booking onward transport — the right airport depends on where in Lapland you are heading.

Check flights to Finnish Lapland{:target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener"}

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Compare rental cars in Finland on DiscoverCars — check winter-equipment terms and pickup location before booking.

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For cabin stays across these areas, Lomarengas is the main Finnish platform.

Browse Finnish cabins on Lomarengas — use the search to filter by area and dates.

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For winter driving preparation before a Lapland road trip, see Driving in Finland in Winter: 7 Mistakes Tourists Should Avoid.

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Related reading: Where to Stay in Lapland: Choose the Right Base · Renting a Car in Lapland: Which Airport? · Northern Lights in Finland · Winter Road Trip in Finland: What Can Go Wrong · Finnish cabin holidays