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Planning a Trip to Ruka
Ruka is a region in eastern Lapland that is home to some of Finland’s most stunning national parks & one of Lapland’s best ski resorts. Ruka is the perfect Lapland destination if you’re looking for winter hiking and like to explore on your own without many guided tour options. It’s also a cute ski town that I found to be less expensive than Levi if you’re choosing between the two.
This guide has everything you need for planning your Ruka, Lapland adventure!
In This Guide:
- Where to Stay in Ruka
- Best Things to do in Ruka
- Best Restaurants in Ruka
- Getting to Ruka
- Getting Around Ruka
- How Long to Spend in Ruka
- Ruka Itinerary
- Is Ruka Worth It?
- Lapland Finland Travel Map
Also check out myfull Lapland Winter Travel Guide covering all areas of Lapland & my recommedations, there are so many different areas of Lapland to explore! Levi is probably my top overall recommendation if you’re choosing just one, but ideally your Lapland trip takes you to a few of the 4 major areas of Lapland!
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Where to Stay in Ruka
Hotel Scandic Rukahovi
3.5 Star- Ski In & Out Ruka
In terms of location in Ruka you really can’t beat Scandic Rukahovi. You’re right on the mountain and in the small town, so everything is walkable in less than 3 minutes. The hotel itself is massive, and the room I had seemed to be in the older part of the hotel. It was fine, but nothing special and was due for some refreshing I think. This was the cheapest accommodation I stayed in anywhere in Finland at $500 for 3 nights.
For skiing + parking this was super convenient. You park right in the main village (less than 5 minutes from your hotel) so you can easily take your car during the day to explore (a must for the national parks!)
Ski-Inn AurinkoRinne
Upscale Aparthotel – Ski In & Out 6 min drive from Ruka Town
For a remote, upcsale ski in and out. I loved Ski-Inn AurinkoRinne. It’s not in main Ruka town, but it’s right at the base of a t-bar (ugh) that will bring you to the main base lodge where you can get the chairlift or gondola! The property is stunning and right on a small lake. This area has a grocery store and a few restaurants, plus parking & it’s easy to get to Ruka base if you want to explore that area. Highly recommend this stay!
Best Things to do in Ruka
Visit Oulanka National Park
Oulanka is one of two stunning national parks near Ruka. Oulanka is big, but the main attraction is Myllykoski Rapids, which can be reached in about 10-15 minutes walking. The path is pretty well trodden in the winter, so it was more walking than hiking! I parked for free at Basecamp Oulanka (put this in Google Maps vs Oulanka National Park) & took the path (they’re right at the parking lot) to Myllykoski. It was super easy! The rapids are an old mill with a picturesque wooden suspension bridge over the river that offers the best views for photos!
Visit Riisitunturi National Park
Riisitunturi National Park is Ruka’s other highlight for nature lovers. I absolutely adored this park. The walking trails were well worn and the snow covered trees truly felt like something out of a Dr. Seuss book they were so dramatic and cool, You can walk a short way in or take a longer hike, the views are good either way.
I recommend heading to “Riisitunturi Starting Point” on Google Maps, it’s a big parking lot that’s right at the end of some of the most scenic trails. Also, there’s the cutest little cafe at the entrance to the park, Riisitunturin tupa. It’s the perfect spot to grab a coffee and cinnamon roll after a chilly hike!
Ski & Apres
If you ski or snowboard, I recommend hitting the slopes at Ruka! Lift tickets in Finland are so affordable compared to the US, like 58 euro for a day pass for adults! I’ve been paying over $200 in the US tihs year. The mountain is small, and good for families, beginners, or those just looking to take in the scenery!
Some of the highlights of Ruka are you can ski down all four sides of the mountains, so there’s a base on each side! Trail map here! Highlights include
- Front slopes (Ruka West) – the main slopes heading right into Ruka Village. From here you’ll find some of the steepest trails. You can access these via the Village Express Chairlift. The gondola also leaves from the village and takes you up to the top and down to the opposite side of the mountain, Ruka Valley
- Hotel Scanic Rukahovi is right here in Ruka Village if you opt to stay.
- Back Slopes (Ruka East) – Ruka Valley sits opposite Ruka Village and is the family area of the moutain. You’ll find lots of shorter, kid friendly trails and a large base on this side of the mountain.
- Masto & Vuosseili – accessible from the summit, these two sections of Ruka east serve Ruka’s best moderate terrain
- Pessari – Ruka’s most remote and scenic area of the mountain. There’s a cool during the day apres spot here Café Monomesta (t-bar only from here)
One thing to know about skiing in Switzerland is there are so many t-bars! I hated this on a snowboard. Some parts of the mountain only have t-bars and you have to ride a t-bar all the way up the moutain, which was challenging and exhausting on a snowboard. Check the trail map in advance if you want to avoid t-bars!
Apres
The best apres will be back in Ruka VIllage. The village is small, but has several spots that were fairly rowdy after the lifts closed!
- Bar IHKU Ruka
- Restaurant Piste
- Zone Bistro
Chase the Northern Lights
Ruka is remote and dark enough that you really can see the Northern Lights from anywhere if they’re out, but heading out towards the National Parks offers prime remote, dark locations for viewing!
Tips for Chasing the Northern Lights
To see the Northern Lights you need two things 1. active solar activity & 2. a clear sky. There are 2 apps that were super helpful for Northern Lights Chasing:
- Hello Aurora – this will give you a % chance of seeing the aurora, cloud covet details, aurora strength (you want low clouds, high strength!) plus more technical details. BUT the best part is others nearby can share photos of the aurora with their general location on a map! You may be able to drive only a few miles and see the lights!
- Aurora – this app is similar it will give you a chance of seeing the lights by time frame (I found this app easier to understand than Hello Aurora) but recommend having both for the others sharing photos in the Hello Aurora app!
Best Restaurants in Ruka
Ruka is small, but there were quite a few restaurants I enjoyed in Ruka Village and the surrounding area!
- Restaurant Stefan’s Steakhouse
- Restaurant Vespino
- Pizzeria Ruka
- Restaurant Hanki Baari
- Classic Pizza Restaurant
- Restaurant RUOK Burger
See my full blog post on best restaurants in Ruka here for more info!
Getting to Ruka
You’ll likely fly to Ruka, although it is possible to drive from Rovaniemi if you’re starting there. It’s about 2 and a half hours, but I’d plan for longer in winter
Kuusamo Airport (KAO) is 25 minutes from Ruka and the most convenient option for exploring Ruka & its neayb national parks. I rented a car in Levi and was able to return it in Ruka, allowing me to explore multiple areas of Lapland!
Getting Around Ruka
My general recommendation in Lapland is a car gives you the most flexibility to explore, and in Ruka it’s particularly necessary. While areas like Rovaniemi and Levi you can get by with guided tours, Ruka is less touristy and you’ll need your own car to visit the national parks and the areas highlights!
How Long to Spend in Ruka
1-3 Days
Ruka is pretty small, and the national parks are the highlight! If you’re short on time and not skiiing you can see both parks and explore Ruka Village in one busy day. If you want longer hikes and to ski, 3 days is likely better!
Ruka Itinerary
- Day 1:
- Morning: Visit Riisitunturi National Park
- Afernoon: Visit Oulanka National Park
- Dinner: Explore Ruka Village and grab dinner
- Day 2:
- Ski Ruka!
- Afternoon: Apres in Ruka Village
Is Ruka Worth It?
Ruka is worth it for the National Parks alone! For a ski town I generally preferred Levi, although I liked skiing at both mountains, they were very similar. I probably liked Levi better if I had to choose, but I’m glad I spent time in Ruka to visit the parks!
Lapland Finland Travel Map
Planning a Lapland Winter Adventure?
Check out all of my Lapland Finland guides anhd recommendations below
- Lapland Winter Itinerary
- Guide to Skiing in Finnish Lapland
- Ultimate Lapland Travel Guide
- Rovaniemi Travel Guide – Lapland’s capitol & Santa’s home – not my favorite, but worth a stop for the highlights!
- Levi Travel Guide – Lapland’s cutest ski town + ultimate homebase for arctic excursions
- Saariselkä Travel Guide – quiet, remote boutique stays + Northern Lights haven in Lapland’s most remote area
