Syöte, Finland – Lapland Landscapes without the Crowds

Located right at the border of Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland, Syöte awaits travelers with snow-laden spruce trees, rugged hills with glacier-smoothed tops, and winter adventures. Consisting of the larger Iso-Syöte and smaller Pikku-Syöte, Syöte is surrounded by Syöte National Park. It is the place to visit if you want to escape the crowds while enjoying nature and silence.

 As Finland’s southernmost fell area, Syöte has the stunning landscapes of Lapland, but without mass tourism. Relatively few international travelers venture to the area. Meanwhile, Finns love the ski resort for its family-friendliness and the laid-back atmosphere that cannot be found at better-known ski resorts like Levi, Ylläs, or Ruka.

A journey to Syöte is an Arctic wilderness escape during which you can ski, see the northern lights, enjoy husky sled rides, and more. It is a place where local companies strive to offer visitors a genuine and sustainable experience. Thanks to this, it is the ideal destination for travelers seeking an authentic adventure that brings them closer to nature.

I visited Syöte during a press trip organized by Visit Oulu and Oulu 2026. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

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How to get to Syöte

Travel by plane: While you can also travel to Syöte by flying to Rovaniemi and Kuusamo, the city of Oulu is the ideal gateway to Syöte. There are 6 to 9 daily Finnair flights from Helsinki as well as seasonal flights to other European destinations.

Travel by train: Oulu is also the closest train station to Syöte and you can catch a train there from nearly everywhere within Finland. There are several daily direct trains from Helsinki as well as an overnight train.

Getting from Oulu to Syöte

Once in Oulu, you can either drive to Syöte with a rental car, get there by regular bus or private transfer.

Rental Car: Pick up your rental car at Oulu Airport and the drive along highway 20 to Pudasjärvi before following the road towards Kuusamo. Depending on the weather conditions, the 145 km drive will take 1.5 to 2 hours. There are seven rental car companies at Oulu Airport – compare the prices here.

Private Transfer: If you are traveling with a group, a charter bus might be the best option for you. During our time in the area, we had a charter mini bus from Saaga Travel and the service and mini bus were great.

Bus: To get to Syöte by bus, you first have to take a bus to Pudasjärvi (13:00 – 14:15), before catching another bus from there to Syöte (departure: 15:00). This bus stops at or near several hotels including Hotel Pikku-Syöte. The return trip starts early in the morning (7:45) and also includes switch to a different bus in Pudasjärvi (9:15). You would arrive back in Oulu at 10:30. Please note that the busses do not run every day, so you have to check the bus schedule.

Ski Bus: If you only want to ski in Syöte, you also take the Ski Bus. Organized by Saaga Travel, the bus operates on Saturdays during the ski season. A roundtrip costs 29€ and you can choose between a transfer to Pikku-Syöte and Iso-Syöte.

Getting around in Syöte: Once in Syöte, you can get around by taking the 4 bus lines in Iso-Syöte, catching a taxi or on skis.

Given that you will likely travel to Syöte via Oulu, I recommend adding one or two days in the city to your itinerary. Oulu is one of the two European Capitals of Culture 2026 and offers a vast range of intriguing winter activities that differ from the things you can do in Syöte.

Things to Do in Syöte in Winter

Thanks to its laid back atmosphere and range of winter activities, Syöte certainly manages to hold its own among winter destinations in Finland. Thanks to its beautiful nature and the things to do in Syöte, it is the perfect destinations for travelers looking to escape the crowds, enjoy the serenity of nature, and embark on all kinds of winter adventures. The following activities are not to be missed when you visit Syöte in winter:

1. Dog Sledding

While dog sledding in Finland only has a 90-year long history and is not rooted in Sámi traditions, it is one of the most magical things to do when visiting Finland in winter. However, it is crucial to choose operators that are ethical and care about animal welfare, while also being conscious to not interfere with businesses like reindeer herding.

Syötteen Eräpalvelut is a husky safari operator that perfectly embraces these ideals and received the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) label in 2023. Owner Jonna Määttä and her husband decided to buy the place in 2010 after Jonna had spent all summer learning the ropes and seeing if she could do it. Five years prior to that she had written down her dream of “wanting to live in a remote spot and working with people and animals”, and she has certainly accomplished that goal.

While listening to her talk about her 96 Siberian huskies and one sole Labrador, it is obvious how much she loves and knows all the dogs. She happily told us all about how the dogs are fed, trained and how the retired dogs spent their days. All of these things are indicators of how ethical a kennel is, and Syötteen Eräpalvelut sure is one of the best. The veterinary office even asked her to take in sled dogs that had previously been mistreated.

It is possible to just visit the husky farm so you can get to know the dogs, but you can also book three different husky safaris. Hereby, the 6 km and 12 km long routes take you through the forests followed by pastries back at the farm. Meanwhile, the 20 to 30 km long option has you venture into Syöte National Park and includes a picnic. You are taught how to steer the sled before you venture into the forest.

2. Downhill & Cross-Country Skiing

Syöte is best known as a ski resort, so of course downhill skiing is one of the most popular things to do in Syöte. A fact that should not surprise, as there are actually two ski resorts on opposite mountains. Due to this proximity, you can easily ski in both resorts during your time in Syöte.

Iso-Syöte Ski Resort was awarded the title of ‘Best Ski Resort in Finland’ at the World Ski Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022. As such, you are in for some of the best skiing in the country. 

With its 17 slopes and 3 snow parks, Iso-Syöte Ski Resort has slopes of varying difficulty levels, and therefore offers a fun time to skiers and snowboarders regardless of experience level.

The front slope offers training areas and blue slopes, while the middle and back slopes guarantee more experienced winter sports lovers plenty of good rides. Meanwhile, the off-piste areas and the 2 km long Iso-Syöte SnowPark freestyle park are perfect for thrill-seeking skiers and snowboarders. 

During the ski season from November to April, the slopes of Iso-Syöte are open from 10 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, and until 7 PM on Saturdays.

Pikku-Syöte Ski Resort is more compact and only has 9 slopes. With its gentle front slopes, it is a great ski resort for families and newer skiers. However, it also offers good skiing and snowboarding for experienced winter sports enthusiasts on the western slopes. From Sunday to Thursday, the slopes of Pikku-Syöte are open from 10 AM to 5 PM, while Friday and Saturday have extended opening hours until 9 PM and 7 PM respectively. 

If you are new to skiing or want to brush up on your skills, you can book ski lessons through Hotel Pikku-Syöte.

While I originally considered renting some skis so I could hit the slopes of Pikku-Syöte for a few hours, I ultimately decided against it due to the snow storm. It has been a hot minute since I last skied, so skiing would not have been the most prudent choice for me.

Finland is a cross-country skiing haven, so of course you can also go cross-country skiing in Syöte. There are 120 km of cross-country skiing trails in the area and you can easily rent cross-country skis at the two ski resorts.

3. Snowshoe through the Snowy Forest

While snowshoeing is admittedly not as thrilling as skiing, it is one of the best things to do in Syöte in winter. After all, snowshoeing is the ideal way to explore the serene winter landscapes of Syöte at a relaxed pace. As you walk past the snow-covered trees all you hear is the sound of the snow crunching with every step you take. I consider it the ultimate immersion in nature.

4. Reindeer Sleigh Ride

The Sámi, the only recognized Indigenous group in the European Union, have been reindeer herding for millennia, and nowadays, reindeer are a core part of Northern Finland’s identity. Therefore, getting to see reindeer and maybe even going on a reindeer sleigh ride is a real highlight that is based on the long-standing tradition of using reindeer sleds for transportation.

While the reindeer roam freely in the summer months, every single reindeer is owned by someone, and in the winter months, they are kept in fenced in areas to protect them from predators and starvation. This makes winter the only time during which travelers can properly interact with the animals.

To see reindeer when visiting Syöte in winter, you should visit Pytky Ranch at Lake Naamankajärvi. The ranch is located only 5.9 km from Iso-Syöte and 7.5 km from Pikku-Syöte, and offers an awe-inspiring experience that includes a reindeer sleigh ride.

The 700 m long reindeer sleigh ride over a frozen lake and through a small forest is a real highlight of any trip to Syöte. During the ride it feels like time stands still, while simultaneously passing too fast as you do not want the magical experience to end. It is an experience that sparks a childlike joy regardless of age.

I highly recommend buying a donut at Pytky Café before you leave. The donuts known as “munkki’s” are widely known in the area and are the perfect sugary treat for cold winter days.

5. See the Northern Lights

Many travelers dream of getting to see the northern lights, and thanks to its location right at the edge of Lapland, Syöte is a prime destination for seeing them. Of course, there is no guarantee and you need a night sky devoid of clouds, but as is the case in Oulu, you can expect to see the aurora during 25% of all nights between September and March.

The Syöte area and especially Pikku-Syöte have very little light pollution, so you do not even have to head to an area with less light to see them. As such, you get the most out of shorter aurora displays.

To ensure you catch the northern lights when they are visible over Syöte, I recommend using an Aurora alert app like ‘AuroraAlerts’. Turn on the notifications and keep an eye on the KP values (geomagnetic activity) for the night. If said value is between 3 and 5, it is worth staying up and keeping an eye on the Bz value (solar wind direction). Once it drops below -5 on nights with the right KP value, you have a very good chance of seeing nature’s most beautiful light show. Keep looking at the northern sky and hopefully you get to see them while in Syöte.

During my visit the sky was concealed by a thick cloud layer, so I was not fortunate enough to see the northern lights over Syöte. However, I did not mind too much, I was lucky enough to see them four nights in a row the prior week.

6. Taste the Flavors of the North

Eating Arctic food is a highlight of every trip to Northern Finland, so of course, it is an experience that should not be missed while in Syöte. Made with local ingredients like mushrooms and berries grown during Finland’s short but intense summer, freshly caught fish, and reindeer, the meals reveal stories about the area you are exploring.

Restaurant Kotva inside Pikku-Syöte Hotel is part of the Oulu 2026 Arctic Food Lab program, which makes it the ideal place to taste the flavors of the North. The menu changes based on seasonal availability, but there are always vegetarian options. I loved the sea buckthorn sorbet with vanilla white chocolate cream and licorice I ate at the restaurant, and highly recommend ordering the dessert when you eat at the restaurant.

Plan your Trip to Syöte

How many days to spend in Syöte?

If you want to make the most of your time in Syöte, you will want to spend at least two to three days there. This way, you will have time to do a vast range activities and can spend an entire day skiing while also having plenty of time to take in the scenic views.

I only had 1.5 days in Syöte and would have loved to spend more time in the area.

Is Syöte worth visiting?

If you want to experience the beautiful winter landscapes of Finland, want to avoid the crowds, and dream of a vacation full of skiing, reindeer sleigh rides and dog sledding, then Syöte is the perfect destination for you.

It certainly is not the most commonly known place in Finland, and thanks to this very fact, it is the perfect place to go if you want to enjoy nature and silence while doing all kinds of bucket list winter activities.

All in all, Syöte is well worth a visit and is the ideal place to visit after spending a few days exploring Oulu in winter.