Family Trip to Levi Resort, Finland
Levi is a popular ski resort close to the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. It's famous for its ski slopes and also has plenty of other activities such as snowmobiling, husky and reindeer safaris.
In winter, ski enthusiasts flock here to enjoy the fresh air and snow-covered landscape. With over 60 km of pistes and slopes, there's no shortage of things to do. But there is much more to Levi than just skiing!
There are plenty of other things for families with children to do during their stay at this lovely holiday resort. Consider 10 ideas for winter opportunities in Levi below.
1. Levi is a great place for exploring Finnish Lapland with family, including borders with Norway
Levi is a great place to explore Finnish Lapland with family, including borders with Norway.
There are many reasons why you should book a trip to Levi Ski Resort in Finland. The most obvious is that it's the closest major ski resort to the Arctic Circle, which means you'll be able to enjoy some of the best snow conditions and longest hours of sunshine in Europe right there on your doorstep: all without breaking the bank!
Not only this, but if you're traveling with children then they will love exploring their own secret snow-garden away from all those big kids who think they know everything!
2. Families with children can find lots of activities in Levi throughout the year, especially in winter
A family-friendly resort, Levi offers plenty of activities throughout the year. In winter, you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Levi Ski Resort, which has 43 km of slopes. There's also skating on Lake Saimaa or cross-country skiing through the nearby forests.
If you have teenagers who like to be active in their free time, there are several sports that they can enjoy: ice hockey at Levi Ice Stadium (only open during winter) and various other sports facilities like tennis courts and swimming pools (including an indoor Olympic swimming pool). If your teenager enjoys skateboarding or rollerblading then there is a skate park nearby.
If seniors would rather socialise than play sport then there is still plenty for them to do in Levi; from guided tours around town led by locals to pottery workshops where they can make some souvenirs for themselves.
For families who want something less physical but still fun, you can head to one of the many museums, such as the Wildlife Museum or the Natural History Museum, which showcase the wild animals found in Finland's national parks: it's worth checking it out before you leave, because these museums are unique in their own way.
3. Set off on a stunningly beautiful forest trail on a husky sled!
You can visit one of three husky kennels located 20-25 minutes from the center of Levi. All kennels are home to specially trained huskies of the Arctic-Alaskan breed. Each kennel has more than 50 dogs, including several Siberian Huskies and puppies.
You'll be able to drive your own dog sledding team on a scenic drive through the forest and over beautiful open hilly terrain. After the ride, you'll be welcomed into the owner's tepee, where you can warm up by the open fire, sip a hot drink and biscuits, and chat with the kennel master.
Be sure to take advantage of this unique family program in Levi organized by Scandinavian Travel Group!
4. Santa! Around Christmas time, Santa Claus lives in nearby Levi, and he loves kids
Santa Claus is one of the most famous people in Finland. He is a real person, not a myth!
Rovaniemi is the official home of Santa Claus in Finland. Santa lives in the Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi and he is friendly towards children, so don’t be afraid to ask him for something if you see him around Christmas time!
The real Saint Nick lives there on an island with his wife, Annikki Koivu, and their eight reindeer. Visit Santa Claus villages in Rovaniemi where you can find Santa, his elves, reindeer, Christmas shops, and Lappish restaurants.
They also have a winter cabin in Levi where they spend their time when not delivering presents to children all over the world.
If you stay at Levi Resort during Christmas time, you can visit Santa Claus's cabin in Levi without queues (like at Santa Village), which is preferable for young children. For this, take advantage of an exclusive program from Scandinavian Travel Group for families with young children.
5. Levi resort is great for families with young children to visit Santa in his secret cabin
Levi is great for families with children who want to experience winter fun outside their homes. If you're looking for a quieter place to stay with young children without the crowds, the ski resort of Levi is perfect!
Here you can visit the local Santa Claus in his secret Christmas home. An exclusive program from Scandinavian Travel Group will delight young guests and give them the best Christmas experience in Lapland.
Father Christmas has a secret hideaway 15 minutes away from Levi. It's a cosy old Christmas house on the banks of the Lapland River, where Santa relaxes with his main reindeer, Rudolf.
There are no queues there because Santa is visited by groups of guests on a pre-scheduled schedule. Scandinavian Travel Group organizes a transfer and tour to Santa Claus' Christmas home, accompanied by an elf.
On arrival, Santa will greet you with his reindeer Rudolf and his helper Elf. Santa invites all guests into his Christmas home, sits around the crackling fireplace, and listens to his Christmas story. Guests will be served gingerbread biscuits and the traditional Finnish Christmas drink mulled wine ('glöggi' non-alcoholic for children and alcoholic for adults). Younger guests get a chance to talk to Santa in private, sit on his lap and get a surprise present from him.
Have you decided to visit Santa's Christmas house for the whole family? Then book your tour in advance, right now!
6. Winter time is a great time to explore nature around Levi
The northern lights are best seen during the winter months, so this is a great time of year to visit. The aurora borealis is a natural phenomenon that occurs as charged particles from the solar wind interact with Earth's magnetic field. They appear as brightly colored bands in the sky and are sometimes visible for several hours at night.
To see them, you'll need to go somewhere very dark (such as outside) and look up towards the North Star which is bright and easy to spot in the night sky.
Join us for the world's most spectacular nature show! Watch the Northern Lights dance across our dark, cold, clear skies. Travel to Finland and experience the real Lapland thanks to Polarman's Camp program.
You're invited to a night with adventure, bonfire, warm drinks and much more. Grab this opportunity to see the Northern Lights in Lapland, hosted by an expert photographer. Follow the northern lights with a guide and capture your very own photos and videos. Book now while the offer lasts.
If you don't see any Northern Lights during your stay then don't worry! There are plenty of other things that Levi has to offer such as husky rides and reindeer sleigh rides (so cute!). You can also go snowmobiling or ice skating on frozen lakes nearby, both options will give you an experience like no other!
7. Take a winter road trip to Levi through Lapland
Levi is a good place to start a road trip. The town of Levi is located in central Finland, near the Norway border. There are lots of things to do in Levi and you can stop at many places along your way.
One option is the Father Christmas village we wrote about above, also known as Corvatunturi. This village is home to Santa Claus (Joulupukki), who lives here with his wife Mrs. Claus (Mamma Joulupukki). You can visit them at their cottage or take photos with them outside their home during open hours when they're not busy preparing for Christmas Eve festivities later that evening…
8. Levi is the closest major ski resort to the Arctic Circle
Levi is the closest major ski resort to the Arctic Circle. It offers wonderful opportunities for winter sports in a beautiful, family-friendly environment with plenty of activities for everyone.
In 2018, Levi hosted the World Cup Nordic Combined event, where athletes from all over Europe competed in both ski jumping and cross-country skiing. The event was broadcast on national television by Yleisradio (YLE), Finland's equivalent of the BBC or NPR in other countries.
If activities are more your thing, check out some of the most popular skiing hills in Finland: Levi (3 km), Korpiselkä (6 km) and Muonio Ski Center (10 km). If the weather isn’t cooperating with your plan to go skiing one day, don't worry! You can still enjoy the beautiful scenery at Snow Village by taking a winter boat trip down Lake Saariselkä on a glass-covered boat!
9. There are many types of accommodation in Levi for families
If you are looking for a family holiday that offers an active and relaxing experience, then Levi is the perfect destination. There are many types of accommodation in Levi for families, including hotels, cottages, cabins and apartments. Most of the accommodation is located in Levi village but there are some apartments and cottages found nearby in Ylläs village too.
10. Levi has something for everyone, whether you love outdoor sports or relaxing in nature
Levi has something for everyone, whether you love outdoor sports or relaxing in nature. Visit Levi Igloo Park to Build Your Own Snow Igloo and make a new friend while you’re there! Make sure to stop by Santa’s secret cabin at the Christmas Market and let him know what you wish for this year.
Ideas and family activities in Levi and Rovaniemi are offered by local company Scandinavian Travel Group. Find out more about family program offers:
Snowmobile Safari
Husky Kennel & Safari
Reindeer Safari
Snow Village Lapland
Santa Claus in a Secret Hideaway
Santa’s Cabin in Levi
Build Your Own Snow Igloo in Levi Igloo Park
11. Levi is a great place to visit in winter, but it's also a great place to live
The town has everything you need: restaurants, shopping centres, hotels and much more for a pleasant pastime. If you love the outdoors or just want to relax and unwind from your everyday life, you can do that too! There are plenty of places nearby where you can go camping or even go skiing (just be sure to check the opening times before you go there).t place to visit during the winter, but it’s also a great place to live.
Whether you’re looking for a family holiday or a winter adventure with friends, Levi is a great place to visit. So pack your bags and go on an unforgettable adventure! You can explore the local nature, take part in winter sports and enjoy Christmas time with Santa Claus. For more information on how to get there and what to do once there, check out our blog post: Northern Lights Village Levi, Lapland with Scandinavian Travel Group.
This article contains photos used with permission from@ScandinavianTravelGroup.
