Rovaniemi to Levi: Bus, Car Rental or Private Transfer, With Travel Times and Costs

Rovaniemi to Levi is about 170 km (105 miles) north-west by road, and for most travelers the scheduled bus is the simplest way to make the trip: Eskelinen’s coaches leave Rovaniemi bus station and reach Levi in about two hours, skis included at no extra charge. A rental car takes a similar time and adds freedom for side trips; a private transfer is door to door and priced per vehicle.

In short:

• No train runs between Rovaniemi and Levi; Levi’s nearest railway station is Kolari.
• The Levi buses start in Rovaniemi town, not at the airport; the Airport Express bus covers the 10 km (6 miles) in between.
• Twelve rental companies have desks in Rovaniemi Airport’s arrivals hall, including Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.
• Levi is a ski resort in the municipality of Kittilä, and road 79 from Rovaniemi runs right past it.
• Flying straight into Kittilä Airport puts you 15 km (9 miles) from Levi.

Facts checked on 1 November 2026 against the bus operators’, airports’ and Levi’s official pages.

How do you get from Rovaniemi to Levi by bus?

Eskelinen (J.M. Eskelisen Lapin Linjat) runs scheduled coaches from Rovaniemi to Levi all year, and its own figure for the trip is “about two hours, depending on the route and the stops”. The shuttles depart from Rovaniemi bus station at Lapinkävijäntie 2. Eskelinen times its Lapland services for connections from trains and flights, so check in the timetable search whether your departure also calls at Rovaniemi railway station.

Eskelinen’s Rovaniemi–Kittilä buses either run via Levi or stop in the center of Levi, and the timetable search shows the stop for each departure. Pick a departure that lists Levi itself, since a ticket to Kittilä may leave you short of the slopes.

• Tickets: online through Matkahuolto, the Finnish bus booking system, with real-time prices and seat availability; or on board with cash or card if seats remain.
• Luggage: large bags and, in the winter season, skis travel free in the luggage hold.
• On board: most buses have free Wi-Fi and charging sockets; pets ride at the back on most services.
• Official website: Eskelinen Rovaniemi–Levi bus

OnniBus has also sold Rovaniemi–Levi seats in winter as part of its Helsinki–Rovaniemi network. Its winter timetable changes each season, so check OnniBus for your exact date before you count on it.

How do you get from Rovaniemi Airport to the Levi bus?

Rovaniemi Airport is about 10 km from the city center, and the Levi buses leave from town, not from the terminal. The Airport Express runs between the airport, Santa Claus Village, the city center and the railway station; one way costs €8 per adult and €4 per child aged 4–12, and tickets are sold online or by card on the bus (no cash).

Taxis are available outside the terminal and can be pre-booked. Leave a buffer between your landing time and the Levi departure, because a missed connection means waiting for the next coach. Timetables are on the Airport Express site.

Driving from Rovaniemi to Levi: what to know

Road 79 runs from Rovaniemi to Muonio and passes directly by the Levi ski resort, with no major climbs on the way. The drive takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours in good conditions, by our estimate; snow, darkness and slower traffic in December and January add time.

• Car rental at the airport: addCar, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Finn-Rent, Green Motion, Hertz, National, Scandia Rent and Sixt have desks in the arrivals hall, right after baggage claim. Some open only for prior reservations, so book ahead and confirm the desk hours on Finavia’s Rovaniemi car rental page.
• Winter roads: Finland requires winter tires in winter conditions, and reindeer walk on Lapland’s main roads, so slow down as soon as you see one.
• Parking back at the airport: the car park is right in front of the terminal, with heated spaces and EV charging, paid by app or card machine.

A car pays off when you want to combine Levi with stops along road 79 or with day trips toward Ylläs in Kolari. A car is less useful for a stay spent mainly on the slopes in the resort itself.

Is a private transfer from Rovaniemi to Levi worth it?

A private transfer or taxi from Rovaniemi to Levi is the door-to-door option: the driver meets you at the airport or your hotel, and the trip takes about as long as driving yourself. Prices are per vehicle and set by each company, so a transfer makes most sense for a family or group splitting the fare, or for a late arrival after the last bus.

Levi lists Levi-Kittilä taxi (+358 200 99800) among its taxi services, and private minibuses and larger transfer coaches can be booked in the resort. Ask for a fixed quote that covers luggage and ski bags before you confirm.

Which option should you pick?

• Solo travelers and couples: the Eskelinen bus, with free ski carriage, keeps the cost to one seat each.
• Families with lots of gear: a rental car or a pre-booked transfer skips the airport-to-bus-station change.
• Visitors to the Levi World Cup slalom races in November: match your bus or car pick-up to the race days before you book a room.
• Anyone splitting a trip between Rovaniemi and Levi: fly into Rovaniemi and out of Kittilä, or the reverse, to cover the road once.

FAQ

How far is it from Levi to Santa Claus Village?

Santa Claus Village sits on the Arctic Circle about 8 km north of Rovaniemi city center, so from Levi plan on the full Rovaniemi drive, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, plus a short hop out of town. From November to March the Santa’s & Airport Express bus links the village with Rovaniemi’s center and airport; local bus 8 runs there all year.

Where do you fly into to get to Levi, Finland?

Kittilä Airport is the closest, 15 km from Levi center, with daily Finnair flights from Helsinki and scheduled flights from European cities in season. The Tunturilinjat airport bus meets scheduled flights and costs €15 per adult and €7.50 per child to the standard Levi stops; details are on the Tunturilinjat airport bus page.

Can you take the train from Rovaniemi to Levi?

No rail line reaches Levi. Seasonal night trains from Helsinki run to Kolari, about 80 km (49 miles) from Levi, where a Tunturilinjat connecting bus meets each arriving train. Kolari is on a different branch from Rovaniemi, so from Rovaniemi itself the bus is the public-transport option.

If you are still planning the wider trip, our guide to the Helsinki to Rovaniemi night train covers the overnight arrival, our Rovaniemi to Saariselkä travel guide covers the road north-east, and the month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Lapland helps you pick your dates.