Discover the wild beauty, peaceful nature, and Arctic adventures of Ylläs beyond the snow. Whether you’re hiking under the Midnight Sun, relaxing lakeside after a sauna, sipping coffee in a cozy wilderness café, or watching the Northern Lights dance above an outdoor cinema, Ylläs promises unforgettable moments all year round.
Renowned for its fell landscapes and pristine natural beauty far above the Arctic Circle, Ylläs is one of Finland’s most beloved year-round holiday destinations.
1. Explore Yllästunturi: Gondola views, Ylläs Swing, and Finland’s highest-altitude restaurant
In summer and autumn, the scenic gondola lift—famous in winter for skiers—operates from around Midsummer to October, taking visitors to the top of Yllästunturi for breathtaking views. Here, the views are stunning, with the Ylläs Swing offering photographers and Instagrammers one of the most iconic shots in Finnish Lapland. Ylläs Bike Park’s splendid routes are also accessible from the top of the fell, and cyclists can bring their bikes to the top in a gondola.
Once you’ve taken in the views, warm up with a hearty lunch or treat yourself to a sweet indulgence. Restaurant Ylläskammi, the highest-altitude restaurant in Finland, offers delicious meals with spectacular views—locals swear by the fish soup, and the hot chocolate is a comforting favorite on chilly days.
The gondola lift ride takes about seven minutes and reaches an altitude of 719 meters, offering stunning views of the surrounding Lapland wilderness. Use of the gondola is included in all lift tickets, and takes visitors both up and down. It’s wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly, although it does not operate during thunderstorms.
2. Bike to Kukastunturi Fell to Admire the Midnight Sun
With 200 km of dedicated cycling trails, it’s no wonder Ylläs is a mountain biker’s dream. The trail network winds through the breathtaking Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, offering something for everyone – easy scenic paths, challenging forest trails, steep ascents, and challenging descents. Three of the seven fells – Kuer, Kukas, and Ylläs – are accessible by bike.
Among them, Kukastunturi is one of the most accessible—and most rewarding. The climb to the summit is about 3 km, winding gently through peaceful pine forests before rising above the treeline. From the top, the landscape opens up in every direction: to the north, the uninterrupted ridge of Pallastunturi; to the east, Lainiotunturi almost within reach; and to the south, Yllästunturi standing proud in all its natural glory.
Need a bike? The Ylläs area is home to several rental shops offering a wide range of options, including e-bikes, fat bikes, mountain bikes, and more, all set for your Arctic summer adventure.
3. Discover Finnish Cottage Culture: Sauna and a Dip in a Lake
There is nothing more quintessentially Finnish than spending time chilling out in a summer cottage, where relaxing in the sauna is always followed by a dip into a nearby lake, repeated as often as desired. There are two companies who provide visitors with the opportunity to experience Finnish cottage culture in Ylläs, Lapland Safaris and Ylläs Experiences.
For those who simply want to experience authentic Finnish sauna culture, Ylläs offers a couple of wonderful options. Rönölä, located on the peaceful shore of Lake Luosujärvi, provides both a traditional wood sauna and a smoke sauna for rent – perfect for anything from quiet moments to group gatherings. Guests who enjoy the gentle, relaxing heat of a private sauna session can enhance their visit with a range of optional activities, making for a truly memorable experience.
Close to the village of Äkäslompolo, on the shore of Lake Äkäslompolo, Ylläksen Yöpuu offers a traditional, wood-heated sauna for private rental, complete with a panoramic view of the surrounding fells. Guests are encouraged to take a refreshing dip in the lake between sauna sessions, making it an unforgettable and revitalizing experience for all.
4. Hike to a Wilderness Café – or Cook Over an Open Fire
A true Ylläs specialty, wilderness cafés are tucked along some of the region’s most scenic summer biking and hiking routes. For many visitors, wilderness cafés enhance their hiking or biking excursions, by providing a chance to relax, sip coffee from a curly birch kuksa, and savour a homemade treat by the fire in a rustic log cabin. Inside, the warm glow of candles creates a unique and intimate atmosphere that can’t be experienced anywhere else. These cafés also provide an opportunity to meet other outdoor enthusiasts who you might not otherwise encounter on the extensive trails. Some can even be reached by car, such as Aurinkotupa and Karilan Navettagalleria, the latter complete with friendly farm animals in the yard.
Other wilderness cafés are just a short hike or bike ride away. Velhon Kota, located about 3 km from Hotel Ylläskaltio, is a charming log café known for its homemade delicacies crafted in-house and sourced from a local bakery. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a sweet or savoury snack with a steaming cup of coffee after a walk through the woods.
Located between two fells at the eastern end of Lake Kesänjärvi, Kesängin Keidas is a favourite among locals and visitors alike—famous for its reindeer pancakes and also serving up delicious pastries, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. It’s also pet-friendly, so your furry hiking companion is welcome too.
Another delightful wilderness café, Latvamaja Café Latva, is located in Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, right where several trails intersect. It offers lunch, light bites, sweet and savoury treats, and hot and cold drinks in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Visitors can relax by the glow of a large fireplace and enjoy their favourite delicacies surrounded by nature.
Prefer to make your own lunch? The national park and surrounding area offer dozens of lean-tos and wilderness huts, many with ready-to-use firewood. Bring your own food and enjoy a traditional Finnish meal cooked over an open flame. Always remember to check fire warnings in advance.
5. Outdoor Films and the Start of Aurora Season: Ylläs in Late Summer and Autum
Thanks to its location on the southern edge of the aurora oval that surrounds the North Pole, Ylläs is perfect for viewing the Northern Lights, attracting visitors from around the world every year. The aurora season in Ylläs begins as early as late August, when the nights start to lengthen and darken. Early autumn, before the snow arrives, is an excellent time to experience the majesty of the Northern Lights, as this is the darkest time of the year. Since the lakes haven’t frozen yet, visitors also have the chance to capture the auroras reflected on the still waters. Statistically, Ylläs has visible auroras on two out of every three nights during the season!
In September, the slopes of Yllästunturi transform into a magical outdoor cinema for Kino Ylläs, a one-of-a-kind film festival featuring screenings of new and classic movies under the night sky. Held every weekend throughout the month, the event offers a truly unique experience—with a bit of luck, you might even enjoy a double feature: movies and the Northern Lights dancing overhead. “The Market and Forest Days” will also be held in Ylläs in September, featuring market vendors, a male choir and talks by Parks & Wildlife Finland experts on Lapland’s nature.
An annual highlight in Ylläs is the spectacular autumn colours, known in Finland as ‘ruska’, that sweep across the fells, forests, and fens of Lapland. Beginning a little before the autumnal equinox, when the days and nights are of almost equal length, the ruska period only lasts a few wonderfully hued weeks. The days are fresh and crisp, and ideal for being outdoors, exploring the colourful terrain—whether on a relaxing hike or a brisk bike ride.
During the autumn season, Ylläs is a photographer’s dream destination. From the return of proper sunsets and sunrises to the explosion of colours in the fields and forests—and especially the skies lit with Northern Lights—there are countless scenes to capture and memories to make.
Whether you’re chasing the Northern Lights, biking under the Midnight Sun, or simply sipping coffee by a wilderness fire, Ylläs offers unforgettable moments in every direction. Summer and autumn here are full of colour, calm, and adventure—just waiting to be explored.
Whether you’re chasing the Northern Lights, biking under the Midnight Sun, or simply sipping coffee by a wilderness fire, Ylläs offers unforgettable moments in every direction. Summer and autumn here are full of colour, calm, and adventure—just waiting to be explored.
