Things to do in Ylläs

Ylläs is Finland's largest ski area by number of runs, spread across the slopes of seven fells inside Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, roughly 170 km (2 h 15) from Rovaniemi. It splits between two villages, Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi, rather than forming one centre, so book accommodation with a village name attached.

Alpine skiing covers around 63 pistes, but the bigger draw is cross-country: over 330 km of tracked trails, among the most extensive networks in the country. The altitude and low light pollution make it a strong aurora-watching base from late August to early April, with guided chases typically running 100 to 200 EUR per person for a 4 to 6 hour evening out.

Summer shifts to hiking the fells and the national park's marked routes.