Kemi

Kemi is a small town located at the Bothnian Bay in Lapland, Finland, close to the border to Sweden. The town is home to less than 22.000 inhabitants, but nonetheless it houses a few things worth seeing, most notably the annually built Snow Castle of Kemi.

The Snow Castle of Kemi has been built since 1996 and it is advertised as being the...

Kemi is a small town located at the Bothnian Bay in Lapland, Finland, close to the border to Sweden. The town is home to less than 22.000 inhabitants, but nonetheless it houses a few things worth seeing, most notably the annually built Snow Castle of Kemi.

The Snow Castle of Kemi has been built since 1996 and it is advertised as being the biggest snow castle in the world. The design varies from year to year, but every year it provides activities for both young and old. The following attractions can be found in the Snow Castle of Kemi regardless of the design: an adventure land for children, ice sculptures, a Snow Restaurant, a Snow Chapple, a Snow Hotel, a theatre and ice art exhibitions.

Another main attraction of Kemi is the Sampo Ice Breaker, which during the summer season stays in port housing a restaurant for tourist. In winter, however you can take a touristic cruise around the Bothnian Bay and grownups can go down from the icebreaker and float in the sea with a rescue suit.

Further sights include the Gemstone Gallery housing The Crown of Finland and replicas of other notable jewelleries such as the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain; the City Hall simultaneously functioning as a water tower, which houses a child-friendly café at the top from where you can have a panorama view of the town and the surrounding landscapes and the sea; the Kemi church and the Kemi harbour with its historic buildings and food stalls / cafes.

Most walkways in the town centre are in good condition and easily walkable with a stroller. There are plenty of parks with playgrounds, and if you find yourself in Kemi during a nice summer’s day head to Mansikannokka beach for some relaxation. In winter you can find ice rinks for skating or tracks for cross-country skiing which you can oftentimes use free of charge, providing you bring your own equipment.

Unless you are planning on taking a Lapponia Safari day tour (includes, for example, a husky and/or snowmobile ride) everything in the town can be seen in one day. If you visit Kemi in winter keep in mind that temperatures can sink well below -20C, so pack plenty of warm clothes.

Kemi can be reach by airplane from Helsinki or by train from the north or south of the country.