Europe’s Longest Sledding Hill: Saariselkä, Finland

I thought I knew sledding. I grew up bombing down neighborhood hills on plastic bags, crashing into snowbanks, and laughing until my face froze. But nothing, nothing prepared me for the sheer, ridiculous joy of the longest sledding hill in Europe. And the craziest part? It turns out to be in the very village I now call home. Saariselkä in Northern Finland.

1.2 kilometers of pure, icy chaos, winding down the fell with enough twists and turns to make you question your life choices. It starts at the top of Kaunispää Fell, where you get an incredible panoramic view of the snowy wilderness.

You can get your sled from the Saariselkä Ski & Sports Resort. Then you have two options. Either take the ski lift that will make you feel like a VIP or like in my case, you can walk up for 30 minutes.

The first part is smooth, a gentle introduction, almost lulling you into a false sense of security. But then? You have 2 choices. The easy one (for kids) or the chaos. I’ll let you guess which one I took. The sled picks up speed, corners come out of nowhere, and before you know it, you’re screaming, laughing, and trying not to wipe out into a snowdrift. Spoiler alert: you will. It’s all part of the fun.

Pro Tips for Maximum Sledding Success:

• Wear ski goggles – Don’t be like me. I regret my choice

• Brake wisely – unless you want to become a human snowball.

• Go (don’t) at night – It’s forbidden because there might be snowcats passing. But sledding under the Northern Lights? Unreal.

The Verdict? 10/10.

By the time I reached the bottom, I was covered in snow, my face hurt from smiling, and I immediately wanted to do it again. Saariselkä’s sledding hill isn’t just a ride it’s an adventure, a test of your courage, and a guaranteed way to feel like a kid again.

So if you find yourself in Lapland, skip the reindeer sleigh and go sledding like a lunatic instead. You won’t regret it.