Kolari

Arctic fells, husky trails and reindeer country in Finnish Lapland

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Kolari is a small municipality in Finnish Lapland built around the Ylläs fell, split between the villages of Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi and served by Finland’s northernmost railway station, with overnight trains running up from Helsinki. Winters bring snowshoeing, snowmobiling and northern lights over the fells; summers open up free hiking through Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and the old-growth pine of the Varkaankuru ravine. Reindeer herding is still a real local livelihood here, not just a photo opportunity. Our local picks run from fell-top snowshoe treks to the kota restaurants and pubs of Äkäslompolo – filter by category and budget below.

Kolari at a glance

Ideal stay: 3 to 5 days
Best time to visit: December to April for snow and northern lights, June to August for midnight-sun hiking
Highlights: Yllästunturi fell, the Varkaankuru ravine and Ylläs 1 Gondola
Where to stay: Äkäslompolo or Ylläsjärvi villages
Local picks: a growing set of hand-chosen tips
Getting around: overnight train to Kolari station, then the local ski bus between villages

Where to stay in Kolari

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Äkäslompolo SportShop

Äkäslompolo SportShop is a 600-square-metre independent outdoor shop that markets itself deliberately as personal and local rather than a chain, kitting out skiers and hikers with technical clothing and gear for the…

★ 4.4

Äkäslompolon Uimaranta (Äkäslompolo Beach)

Äkäslompolo’s public beach is a stretch of sand on the lake at the edge of the village, free to use and with no facilities laid on – no toilets, no changing rooms,…

ALAVA

ALAVA is a small boutique that opened in Äkäslompolo in 2019, curating Finnish fashion, design and lifestyle brands rather than the outdoor-gear or souvenir stock most other shops in the village carry.

★ 4.9

Arctic Skylight Lodge

Arctic Skylight Lodge is a smaller, design-led lodge in Äkäslompolo built around watching the northern lights from indoors – several rooms and the shared lounge face north with large windows for exactly…

★ 4.6

Bar Kaappi

Bar Kaappi sits at the base of the Ylläsjärvi ski resort, right where the gondola and lifts finish for the day, making it the natural après-ski stop on that side of Ylläs…

★ 4.5

Hotel Ylläshumina

Hotel Ylläshumina is a ski-in, ski-out hotel on the Äkäslompolo side of Ylläs, built right against the village’s own slopes rather than out on the main resort road. It has the feel…

★ 4.5

Hotel Ylläsrinne

Hotel Ylläsrinne is one of the longest-running hotels on the Ylläsjärvi side of the resort, built into the hillside with its own restaurant, bar and event space rather than just a place…

★ 4.2

Kengis Bruk (Köngäksen ruukki)

Kengis Bruk (Köngäksen ruukki in Finnish) is a 17th-century ironworks and mint on the Torne River, just across the Sweden-Finland border from Kolari. Founded in the 1640s, it forged iron and struck…

Kotaravintola Sarakka

Kotaravintola Sarakka serves dinner inside a traditional kota, the cone-shaped timber shelter Sámi reindeer herders have used for generations, with a fire at the centre and a menu of reindeer, fish and…

★ 5

Lapland Hotels Saaga

Lapland Hotels Saaga sits right at the foot of the slopes on the Ylläsjärvi side of the resort, close enough to the lifts that you can be on snow within minutes of…

★ 4.4

Mailan Putiikki

Mailan Putiikki has been Äkäslompolo’s go-to souvenir and handicraft shop since 1970, started by Maila Alatalo and still trading under the family name. It’s grown into the largest shop of its kind…

★ 4.2

Nilivaara’s Reindeer Separation Fence

Just outside Nilivaara village sits a traditional poroerotusaita, a reindeer separation fence built for the seasonal work of Kolari’s reindeer herders. Semi-domesticated reindeer are herded in from the surrounding forest a few…

Public House Selvä Pyy

Selvä Pyy is the social hub of Äkäslompolo in the evenings, a log-cabin pub pouring craft beers and cocktails alongside Finnish pub food. It’s the kind of place where ski instructors, seasonal…

★ 4.5

Ravintola Elsa

Ravintola Elsa sits out on Ylläksentie between Kolari and Ylläs, a small, independently run restaurant that has built a strong local reputation despite being off the main resort strip in Äkäslompolo or…

★ 5

Ravintola Rouhe

Ravintola Rouhe has been serving Äkäslompolo since 2013, building its menu mainly around Finnish and local ingredients rather than a standard resort menu, with modern international dishes worked in alongside.

★ 4.4

Restaurant Otso

Restaurant Otso takes its name from the old Finnish word for bear, and the menu matches the down-to-earth billing – burgers, pizza and fajitas sit alongside Lappish dishes like reindeer and salmon,…

★ 4.1

Restaurant Poro

Restaurant Poro sits at the foot of Ylläs fell in Äkäslompolo village, running a menu built firmly around reindeer and other genuine Lapland ingredients rather than a generic ski-resort spread.

★ 4.4

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Kolari travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Kolari?

Three to five days lets you split time between Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi, fit in a snowshoe or snowmobile tour, and still have a spare day for the weather to cooperate for the northern lights.

Where is the best area to stay in Kolari?

Äkäslompolo has the most restaurants, bars and shops within walking distance; Ylläsjärvi sits right at the ski lifts if skiing is the priority.

What are the best things to do in Kolari?

Browse the local picks above, from the free Varkaankuru ravine trail and Yllästunturi Visitor Centre to snowmobile and snowshoe tours and the region's kota restaurants.

What is the best time to visit Kolari?

December to April brings snow, skiing and the best northern lights chances; June to August brings the midnight sun and free hiking in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. Please check current conditions before planning a trip.