Early Skiing in Europe Starts in Finland – Ruka and Levi Open in October

The ski season in Finland begins early – already in October, when Ruka and Levi open their slopes for winter. With the help of snow farming and advanced snowmaking systems, Finnish ski resorts welcome skiers weeks before most European destinations.

The long and reliable ski season at Finnish resorts like Levi and Ruka attracts national teams from around the world already in October.

Early skiing in Europe starts in Finland. Every October, the resorts of Ruka and Levi open their slopes for the new winter season – long before most Alpine destinations turn white. Thanks to snow farming and modern snowmaking systems, Finland offers reliable snow and smooth runs already from October 3, 2025.

Finland Leads Europe’s Ski Season

While much of Europe still waits for snow in November and December, Finnish skiers are already making their first turns under the autumn colors. Early openings have become a true Finnish tradition, made possible by stored snow from the previous spring and the country’s cold, dry climate.

Ruka is located in Kuusamo, in northern Finland, and Levi lies farther north in Finnish Lapland, above the Arctic Circle. Both are easy to reach with direct flights to Kuusamo (for Ruka) and Kittilä (for Levi), or via Rovaniemi with smooth connections from Helsinki by plane or train.

Could there be a more beautiful sight than glowing slopes surrounded by fall foliage? Ruka’s Saarua area is ready for the season to begin.

Opening Weekend Highlights at Ruka and Levi

On Friday, October 3 2025, the season officially begins at both resorts, with excitement and atmosphere to match. For many Finnish skiers, those first turns of the season are the highlight of the year.

At Ruka, the legendary Arctic Weekend festival marks the start of the season. The event gathers skiers, snowboarders, and outdoor lovers from across Finland – and beyond – for ski films, guest athletes, workshops, live music, and, of course, plenty of on-snow action. The lifts at Saarua – SaaruaExpress, Saarua III, and the Village-2-Valley gondola – start turning first.

At Levi, huge snow piles stored through the summer guarantee long runs on the Front Slopes. The opening weekend also features gear demos and test days, where visitors can try the latest skis and snowboards of the season. On Saturday night, the Après-Ski Opener gets the party started, while cross-country skiers will also celebrate the beginning of their season on the same weekend.

In Levi, both alpine and cross-country skiing start on October 3, 2025. Stored snow guarantees smooth tracks and perfect early-season conditions.

Home to the World’s Northernmost World Cups

Early skiing isn’t just for recreational skiers – it also draws international training teams from across Europe and beyond. Each autumn, Levi and Ruka host elite athletes and youth squads in alpine, freestyle, and snowboard disciplines.

The autumn training camps culminate in two major World Cup events:

Early Skiing and a Long, Snow-Sure Season Ahead

Finland’s long ski season is one of the country’s biggest advantages. When slopes open in October and often stay open until Easter – or even May, Finnish ski resorts enjoy one of the longest snow seasons in Europe.

For passionate skiers, that means more than 200 potential ski days per year. There’s something magical about carving the first turns of the winter while the rest of Europe still waits for snow. And when spring finally arrives, the same slopes offer sunshine skiing well into May – a full circle of joy on snow.