Alma data: Demand for Lapland holiday homes has multiplied

Lapland’s holiday home market has grown strongly over the past ten years: rental demand has multiplied and sale prices have risen significantly. This development opens up new opportunities for investors.

Booking volumes at Levi, Ruka and Ylläs have tripled to quadrupled since 2016, according to data from Nettimökki, part of Alma Media.

In Ruka, around 7,000 bookings were made in 2025, the highest of the three destinations. Ruka also offers the most affordable price level.

Levi, meanwhile, has the highest value per individual booking. The average booking cost 1353 € in 2025, up from 857 € in 2017 – an increase of 58 percent. The average length of stay has remained largely unchanged over the period, meaning that the increase in booking value primarily reflects higher prices.

In all three destinations, the share of bookings in the most affordable price category has declined, with demand shifting toward premium accommodation. In Levi, the share of bookings in the premium category has increased from 7 percent to 19 percent.

“Lapland’s appeal shows not only in rising booking volumes but also in travelers’ willingness to spend more on accommodation. There is clearly greater demand than before for premium properties”, says Maarit Tarkiainen, Director at Alma Comparison Services.

Holidays are being booked months in advance

Across the three destinations, bookings are now made on average three to four weeks earlier than in 2017.

In Levi, bookings are made on average 107 days before the stay, up from 80 days in 2017. In Ylläs, the advance booking period has increased from 96 to 104 days, while in Ruka it has grown from 63 to 81 days.

Levi and Ylläs are popular destinations for week-long holidays, while the average stay in Ruka is around 5.5 nights. Ruka draws the most off-season, shorter trips among these destinations, such as summer weekend getaways.

Holiday home values on the rise

The boom in Lapland’s holiday-home market is also evident in the sales market. According to data from Etuovi.com, the median price per square meter in Levi rose from 2 421 € to 4 694 € between 2016 and 2025 – almost doubling. Over the same period, the median sale price increased from 155 000 € to 329 000 €.

Prices have risen steadily in Ylläs, and in 2025 the median price per square meter exceeded that of Ruka for the first time. In Ruka, the median price per square meter has increased by 17 percent. The difference between the destinations in terms of median sale prices has remained relatively moderate. In 2025, the median sale price was approximately 188 000 € in Ruka and 243 000 € in Ylläs.

Levi is by far the largest market in terms of the number of properties. Between 2022 and 2024, the number of properties increased from 382 to 592.

Opportunities for investors

Several shifts in the holiday home market stand out as interesting for investors. Property values have risen strongly, and growth in international travel is bringing in customers willing to spend more than before on high-quality accommodation.

“For an investor, it is an appealing equation that a property can be put to profitable rental use while still allowing the owner to enjoy Lapland personally. That makes a holiday home in Finnish Lapland a versatile investment”, Tarkiainen adds.

Alma Media has invested in Hilla Villas, a rental service for premium holiday homes in Lapland, to complement Nettimökki’s offering. Nettimökki serves the broad holiday home rental market, while Hilla Villas focuses on premium accommodation. Alma Media owns 10 percent of Hilla Villas.

Further information:

Maarit Tarkiainen, Vice President, Comparison Services, Alma Marketplaces
tel. +358 50 341 5830, maarit.tarkiainen@almamedia.fi

Tuomo Räsänen, Vice President, Real Estate, Alma Marketplaces
tel. +358 40 718 2840, tuomo.rasanen@almamedia.fi

Nettimökki is one of Finland’s largest cottage and holiday home rental services. It connects travelers seeking holiday accommodation with individuals and companies renting out their properties. The service lists thousands of cottages and other holiday properties for rent across Finland.

Etuovi is Finland’s most popular and comprehensive property marketplace, providing reliable data on housing market statistics and trends.

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