Ylläs Gondola Lower Station in Kolari — Live Webcam

Ylläs — the jewel of Finnish Lapland

In the very heart of Finnish Lapland, beyond the Arctic Circle, lies one of the most impressive ski resorts in Scandinavia. Ylläs is a place where Arctic nature meets modern tourist infrastructure, and the ski season lasts longer than anywhere else in Finland. The village of Äkäslompolo, where the lower gondola station is located, is the main tourist hub of the resort — this is where all the key infrastructure is concentrated, from hotels to equipment rental outlets.

Ylläs is situated 150 km north of the Arctic Circle, in the municipality of Kolari, near the border with Sweden. It is the largest ski resort in Finland with a vertical drop of 463 meters. The resort has repeatedly been recognized as the best in the country — back in 2002 it was officially awarded the status of the best ski resort in Finland, and in 2020 it received the prestigious Scandinavian Outdoor Award as the best travel destination.

Unique sauna gondola: sweating at altitude

The main attraction of Ylläs, which draws even those who have nothing to do with alpine skiing, is the world's only mobile sauna built into a ski lift gondola. Picture this: you're sitting in a warm wooden cabin, snow-covered fells and coniferous forests of Lapland drifting past the window, with steam and the aroma of a genuine Finnish sauna all around. The sauna gondola accommodates up to four people and operates in 20-minute sessions. The cabin is fully lined with wood inside, creating an authentic atmosphere.

The lower station of this gondola is exactly what the online camera shows. From here, the cabins ascend the slope, and this is where the journey to one of the most unusual saunas on the planet begins. A gondola ride costs around €30, and according to tourist reviews, the money is worth it just for the views from the window alone.

Ski resort: slopes and lifts

Ylläs is not just a sauna gondola — it is a full-fledged world-class ski resort. The resort boasts 250 km of groomed ski runs and 18 lifts of various types. The longest run, Jättipitkä, stretches for 3 km, offering skiers and snowboarders a long and varied descent.

Ylläs slopes are suitable for all skill levels — from beginners to experts. The 463-meter vertical drop ensures interesting descents, and the snowmaking system guarantees reliable snow cover even during low-snowfall periods. 38 km of runs are illuminated, allowing skiing in the dark — and at these latitudes, darkness lasts for most of the day in winter.

How to get to Ylläs from Kolari

Ylläs is located in the municipality of Kolari, and the nearest railway station is Kolari itself. The distance from the station to the resort is 35 km. The bus transfer takes about 45 minutes and is timed to train schedules, which is convenient for rail travelers.

The train from Helsinki to Kolari takes about 11 hours — it's an overnight route that saves time and gets you there by morning. From there, you can reach the resort by bus, rental car, or taxi. The road from Kolari to Ylläs passes through typical Lapland landscapes — endless snowy fields, dark strips of coniferous forest, and occasional villages.

Things to do at the foot of the mountain

The lower gondola station in Äkäslompolo is not just a starting point for skiers — it is also a hub for Arctic recreation enthusiasts. At the foot of Ylläs, snowmobile rides to the mountain top, dog sledding and reindeer sledding, ice fishing, and day trips to neighboring resorts — Olos, Pallastunturi, and Levi — are all available.

The lower station area features multi-story hotel and apartment buildings, cafés, and equipped rest areas. The parking zone accommodates cars of tourists arriving by private vehicle. Paved and gravel pathways connect various infrastructure elements, and a wooden fence along pedestrian areas gives the resort a cozy, traditionally Lapland appearance.

What the camera shows

The online camera broadcasts a live view of the lower gondola station at Ylläs in real time. In the frame — the covered gondola entrance with a protective canopy, the lift support mast with cables, and the parking area with cars. Multi-story hotel and apartment buildings, paved and gravel pathways, and a wooden fence are visible on the station grounds. In the background — coniferous forest and residential complexes of the resort. The landscape is open, with grassy vegetation and a forest massif in the distance. This webcam allows you to assess the situation at the resort, check the lift queues, and simply enjoy the atmosphere of Finnish Lapland without leaving home.