At the northern end of the Gulf of Bothnia lies Kemi, the city of the Snowman. Only 90 minutes south of the Arctic Circle, this town is the port to the last great wilderness of Europe. With award-winning accommodations, historic wooden buildings by the sunny seaside, regal attractions, and convenient travel connections–whether you’re coming by train, automobile or plane, Kemi is truly the pearl of the Finland’s northernmost region.
How to get here?
The Kemi-Tornio airport is connected to the rest of the world through the Helsinki and other Finnish airports. If you fly into either the Rovaniemi or Oulu international airports, buses, trains and taxis are more than happy to bring you; it’s only about 1.5 hours, no matter how you come.
Adventures by the frozen sea
The Kemi SnowCastle resort rises from the frosted seaside like a mirage made of diamonds. Situated only one kilometer from downtown Kemi, this white wonder offers tours through its icicle-gilded halls, whether it’s midwinter or midsummer.
Only a snowball’s throw from the SnowCastle main building, the award-winning, luxurious Seaside Glass Villas offer winter views of the Northern Lights over the frozen sea. Wrap yourself in a fleece and enjoy a cup of cocoa by the floor-to-ceiling windows. In the summer, the Midnight Sun coats each room with warm amber sunlight, easing the stress and tension out of you, one photon at a time.
Deeper onto the frozen sea, you’ll find yourself aboard the Icebreaker Sampo. This real icebreaker ship was used for 27 years before becoming an attraction for the town of Kemi. Stand on the stern as the Sampo shows you how an icebreaker traverses the winter sea. You can float in the icewater in a special suit or take a snowmobile safari away from the Sampo across the unbroken ice.
Splendid Old Inner Harbor
Come spring and summer, you should head to the Old Inner Harbor. There you’ll find a carefree and relaxing atmosphere and understand why locals call it their “living room.” This is the hidden gem of Kemi where beach restaurants offer mouthwatering meals and live music, and where you can also taste the famous pancake at the dog-friendly cafe Satamakaffila Nuotta.
From the Old Inner Harbor, you can also head straight to water activities; take a kayak excursion, a paddle-boarding, a boat trip on the coast of Kemi or even a sailing trip further in the archipelago to the exotic Bothnian Bay National Park. In Kemi, you can enjoy the water as you like it: with a sea breeze whipping you on a speedy boat trip, or take a dip into the brackish water from the Satamakonttori’s sauna.
Back again on a dry land and you could switch to a city bike and head to explore Kiikeli forest by the shore. Or you could wander along the stunning five-kilometre shoreline from Kiikeli to Peurasaari, stopping by the Old Inner Harbour for some refreshments, breathing in some fresh sea air at the Mansikkanokka beach or stopping by to discover the wonderful SnowCastle resort.
Local flavors
When visiting the SnowCastle area, it’s only right to eat like royalty. The Snowflake Restaurant (Fin: Seaview Restaurant Lumihuitale) offers local seasonal tastes. At the railway station, you can try delicious cakes and savory pies from the local favorite Café Hertta.
Traveling to Kemi
Being a port town, Kemi is easily reached by land or air. Kemi’s railway station is downtown, and taking the night train from Helsinki is the easiest way to reach Kemi.
You’ve heard the famous saying, “All roads lead to Kemi,” right? When driving here, you can take Highway E8 from the south or north. When coming via Rovaniemi, E75 is a straight shot, and those driving from Sweden can take E4. The pearl of the Bothnia is one of the most accessible towns by car in all of Lapland.
The Kemi-Tornio airport is connected to the rest of the world through the Helsinki and other Finnish airports. If you fly into either the Rovaniemi or Oulu international airports, buses, trains and taxis are more than happy to bring you; it’s only about 1.5 hours, no matter how you come.