Kittilä

Kittilä is a municipality in Finnish Lapland. The best known destinations here are the Levi ski resort at Sirkka, Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in the west (Ylläsjärvi, Jerisjärvi/Rauhala) and Lemmenjoki National Park in the north. The snow village in Lainio has got a lot of attention lately.

The airport serves many destinations also outside Kittilä.

The municipality is monolingually Finnish. English is widely understood.

The main tourist information is in Levi:

• Kittilä Tourist Information, Myllyjoentie 2, FI-99130 Levi (in Sirkka, +358 16 639 3300. Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00. Kittilä Tourist Information is operated by Visit Levi.

Kittilä covers a vast area consisting mostly of taiga forest and bogs, with only 6400 permanent residents. River Ounasjoki runs through the municipality almost directly from north to south. Some remote villages got a road connection only after the WWII. The fell massifs, especially Pallastunturi and Levi, got some fame for their sights already in the 18th century but the remoteness was a major issue until the main village got a suitable road and a coach connection from Rovaniemi in 1923. Already in the 1930s a small hotel was built at Pallastunturi, but the visitors had to hike or travel in a reindeer sleigh(!) to get there until the road to the fell was accomplished in 1956. The 55 km long trekking route between Pallastunturi and Hetta in Enontekiö was opened in 1934 and is the oldest marked hiking trail in Finland.

In the WWII aftermath, known as the Lapland War, almost all buildings in the area were destroyed by retreating German troops, including the hotel at Pallastunturi and even some of the roadless villages.

Today Kittilä is a vivid and economically stable community and one of the very few municipalities in Lapland having positive net migration. The Levi skiing resort. is one of the most popular winter sports centres in Finland with almost complete set of services and top level nightlife for after ski.

For nature enthusiasts, parts of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park., Lemmenjoki National Park. and Pulju Wilderness Area. extend to Kittilä but the landscape is more or less backcountry elsewhere as well.

Suurikuusikko mine., located about 40 km from the main village as the crow flies, is the largest gold mine in Europe and an employer for over 1000 people. This ore rich municipality is struggling between interests of international mining companies and increasing request for unspoiled nature.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Finland, −51.5°C, was measured in the Pokka village. in January 28th 1999.

Kittilä Tourist Information, Myllyjoentie 2, FI-99130 Levi (in Sirkka, +358 16 639 3300. Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00. Kittilä Tourist Information is operated by Visit Levi.

Today Kittilä is a vivid and economically stable community and one of the very few municipalities in Lapland having positive net migration. The Levi skiing resort. is one of the most popular winter sports centres in Finland with almost complete set of services and top level nightlife for after ski.

For nature enthusiasts, parts of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park., Lemmenjoki National Park. and Pulju Wilderness Area. extend to Kittilä but the landscape is more or less backcountry elsewhere as well.

For nature enthusiasts, parts of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park., Lemmenjoki National Park. and Pulju Wilderness Area. extend to Kittilä but the landscape is more or less backcountry elsewhere as well.

For nature enthusiasts, parts of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park., Lemmenjoki National Park. and Pulju Wilderness Area. extend to Kittilä but the landscape is more or less backcountry elsewhere as well.

Suurikuusikko mine., located about 40 km from the main village as the crow flies, is the largest gold mine in Europe and an employer for over 1000 people. This ore rich municipality is struggling between interests of international mining companies and increasing request for unspoiled nature.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Finland, −51.5°C, was measured in the Pokka village. in January 28th 1999.

• The midnight sun is visible from late-May to mid-July for about 45 days on the latitude of Levi. The polar night starts early December and lasts about one month. During the winter, the northern lights are a common sight.
• Kittilä wooden church, Valtatie 93 (in the centre. The wooden church in Kittilä was designed by Carl Ludwig Engel and built 1829–1831. The church was saved in Lapland War.

• Home of Kalervo Palsa, Kivitie 14 B (in the centre. Jun–Aug Tu–Sa 12:00–18:00. Home and atelier of the visual artist Kalervo Palsa (1947–1987). €5/2.50 (cash only).
• Kittilä museum of local history and culture, Pakattiojantie 1 (Pakatti, some 4 km from the centre, +358 40 568 1356. summertime Tue-Sat 11:00-17:00. A local history museum in old buildings moved here and placed in a traditional manner. Main building from the 1860s.

Home of Kalervo Palsa, Kivitie 14 B (in the centre. Jun–Aug Tu–Sa 12:00–18:00. Home and atelier of the visual artist Kalervo Palsa (1947–1987). €5/2.50 (cash only).

Kittilä museum of local history and culture, Pakattiojantie 1 (Pakatti, some 4 km from the centre, +358 40 568 1356. summertime Tue-Sat 11:00-17:00. A local history museum in old buildings moved here and placed in a traditional manner. Main building from the 1860s.

• Taatsi sieidi. This sacred place for the Sami people is considered as one of the most powerful sieidi places in Lapland. The surrounding forests are protected and the place itself is a nationally significant cultural environment. There is a short trail from the gravel road. The road is not maintained in winter. There is an open wilderness hut, campfire site and dry toilet about 1 km away from the sieidi.
• Kaukonen village. A very picturesque village on both banks of river Ounasjoki by the road between Rovaniemi and Kittilä. Included to the list of nationally significant built cultural environments and most buildings were saved in Lapland War. Silence Festival in June. Free.
• Särestöniemi museum, Särestöntie 880 (in Kaukonen village, 25 km from the centre, +358 16 654-480. Tu–Su 12–18. Estate of the artist Reidar Särestöniemi (1925–1981), one of the most important visual artists in Lapland, known for strong Lapland-inspired oil paintings. The museum includes the old buildings, and gallery and cafeteria by artist couple Reima and Raili Pietilä. Also changing exhibitions with other artists and chamber music concerts. €12/10.
• Gallery Raekallio, +358 40 484 0122. daily 10–18. Atelier and gallery of famous painter Reijo Raekallio (1950-). Weekly changing exhibition.
• Lainio Snow village, Lainiontie 566 (Lainio, see below.
• Pulju village. Pulju is a true wilderness village. During the Lapland War it was so deep in the forest that even German soldiers didn't wander that far and therefore the village was completely saved from destruction. When president Kekkonen visited the village in 1959 he had to walk almost 30 km to get there. The road was opened in 1962. Until then the locals used reindeer to carry goods from other villages.
• Kelontekemä village. Another backcountry village which was roadless and remote enough to be completely saved from destruction during the Lapland War. Village and music festival in July.
• Ruoppaköngäs rapids, Muoniontie 2177 (22 km from Levi. Small rapids about 200 meters from the road. No maintained trail in winter. free.
• Linkupalo volcanic park, Aakenuksentie (40 km from Levi. A 1.5 km long nature trail showing geological formations formed by volcanic activity some 2 billion years ago. free.

Taatsi sieidi. This sacred place for the Sami people is considered as one of the most powerful sieidi places in Lapland. The surrounding forests are protected and the place itself is a nationally significant cultural environment. There is a short trail from the gravel road. The road is not maintained in winter. There is an open wilderness hut, campfire site and dry toilet about 1 km away from the sieidi.

Kaukonen village. A very picturesque village on both banks of river Ounasjoki by the road between Rovaniemi and Kittilä. Included to the list of nationally significant built cultural environments and most buildings were saved in Lapland War. Silence Festival in June. Free.

Särestöniemi museum, Särestöntie 880 (in Kaukonen village, 25 km from the centre, +358 16 654-480. Tu–Su 12–18. Estate of the artist Reidar Särestöniemi (1925–1981), one of the most important visual artists in Lapland, known for strong Lapland-inspired oil paintings. The museum includes the old buildings, and gallery and cafeteria by artist couple Reima and Raili Pietilä. Also changing exhibitions with other artists and chamber music concerts. €12/10.

Gallery Raekallio, +358 40 484 0122. daily 10–18. Atelier and gallery of famous painter Reijo Raekallio (1950-). Weekly changing exhibition.

Lainio Snow village, Lainiontie 566 (Lainio, see below.

Pulju village. Pulju is a true wilderness village. During the Lapland War it was so deep in the forest that even German soldiers didn't wander that far and therefore the village was completely saved from destruction. When president Kekkonen visited the village in 1959 he had to walk almost 30 km to get there. The road was opened in 1962. Until then the locals used reindeer to carry goods from other villages.

Kelontekemä village. Another backcountry village which was roadless and remote enough to be completely saved from destruction during the Lapland War. Village and music festival in July.

Ruoppaköngäs rapids, Muoniontie 2177 (22 km from Levi. Small rapids about 200 meters from the road. No maintained trail in winter. free.

Linkupalo volcanic park, Aakenuksentie (40 km from Levi. A 1.5 km long nature trail showing geological formations formed by volcanic activity some 2 billion years ago. free.

The [[midnight sun]] is visible from late-May to mid-July for about 45 days on the latitude of Levi. The [[polar night]] starts early December and lasts about one month. During the winter, the [[midnight sun|northern lights]] are a common sight.

Kittilä wooden church, Valtatie 93 (in the centre. The wooden church in Kittilä was designed by Carl Ludwig Engel and built 1829–1831. The church was saved in Lapland War.

Most people come to Kittilä for downhill skiing in the winter. They head for the nearby ski centres Levi and Ylläs.

There are also a host of other outdoor activities offered by tour providers, see below, sorted by village.

You can also go hiking or cross-country skiing on your own in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The nearest trailheads are around Aakennustunturi, both trails and skiing tracks.

• Totovaara: 16 km by road 80 towards Kolari; also Aakenustunturi nature trail. (15 km) and Joutsenpolku (7 km) nature trail
• Äijänkuusikko (10 km farther; skiing tracks, on the other side of Aakennustunturi.
• Trail via Niritsa: 20 km from Kittilä, turn right to road 9403; also Aakennustunturi nature trail (starting 4 km from the road). The skiing tracks start at Levi 20 km away.
• Kalliokoski: 25 km from Kittilä, drive 5 km further along road 9403. The trail and the skiing tracks start at Levi 20 km away.

For activities in or near the villages Sirkka and Köngäs (about 10km north of Sirkka/Levi), see Levi.

In or near the village Rauhala at lake Jerisjärvi, near Pallas-Yllästunturi fell chain and national park.

• Fell Trek, Muoniontie 3124, 99135 Rauhala, +358 40 509-8210. In the village of Rauhala next to Lake Jerisjärvi and Pallas-Yllästunturi fell chain. Cross-country ski tours, snow shoe tours and other winter activities; hiking, biking, canoeing tours and programmes, multi-activity programmes. Guided tours for a day or even a week. Accommodation in rooms for 1–2 persons and cottages, also independently of activities.
• Pallashusky, 99135 Rauhala, +358 40 551-3153. several days' husky programmes in the beautiful surroundings of Pallas-Ylläs National Park.

Fell Trek, Muoniontie 3124, 99135 Rauhala, +358 40 509-8210. In the village of Rauhala next to Lake Jerisjärvi and Pallas-Yllästunturi fell chain. Cross-country ski tours, snow shoe tours and other winter activities; hiking, biking, canoeing tours and programmes, multi-activity programmes. Guided tours for a day or even a week. Accommodation in rooms for 1–2 persons and cottages, also independently of activities.

Pallashusky, 99135 Rauhala, +358 40 551-3153. several days' husky programmes in the beautiful surroundings of Pallas-Ylläs National Park.

Totovaara: 16 km by road 80 towards Kolari; also Aakenustunturi nature trail. (15 km) and Joutsenpolku (7 km) nature trail

Try the Lappish speciality Poronkäristys (reindeer meat).