Kemijärvi
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Kemijärvi

Kemijärvi

Small Finnish Lapland town on Lake Kemijärvi, at the northern end of regular passenger rail.

Kemijärvi is a small town in Finnish Lapland, set on the shores of a beautifully typical Finnish lake. The town centre is compact — a scattering of restaurants and pubs, a good selection of supermarkets, and not much else. That is the point: you come here for the lake, the forest, and the silence.

The surrounding area is dotted with summer cottages, many on the shores of Lake Kemijärvi. In winter the landscape transforms into a snow-covered wilderness, and this is reindeer herding country — hundreds of them roam freely, so watch out on the roads.

Kemijärvi railway station is the northernmost regular passenger station on the Finnish rail network, at the end of the overnight sleeper line from Helsinki. From here, Pyhä-Luosto National Park is a 50-kilometre drive south through the forest, and Luosto ski resort and amethyst mine is about 70 kilometres away.

Guide

Getting There

Kemijärvi is at the end of the railway line from Helsinki. The overnight sleeper train takes around ten hours and arrives in the morning — one of the most civilised ways to travel into Lapland. Rovaniemi, the regional capital, is about two hours south by train or bus and has the area's main airport with connections to Helsinki. From Rovaniemi, regular bus services continue north to Kemijärvi.

By car, Kemijärvi is around 860 kilometres from Helsinki — roughly a nine-hour drive on the E75 through the heart of Finland.

Guide

Things to Do

Kemijärvi is a small Lapland town and most of what you come for is outside: the lake, the forests, and the quiet. That said, there are a handful of genuine sights worth your time.

Guide

When to Go

Kemijärvi has two distinct seasons worth coming for. Summer (June to August) brings the midnight sun — from late May to mid-July the sun doesn't set at all. The lake is warm enough for swimming, the hiking is excellent, and the forests are thick with blueberries and cloudberries. Mosquitoes are fierce in July but manageable with repellent.

Winter (December to March) is the other main season: snow from November, a frozen lake by December, and the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights, which are visible on clear nights from September through March. Temperatures drop to -20°C and below, so dress in proper layers. The town goes quiet and beautiful in a stripped-back way.

September brings spectacular autumn foliage — the Lapland ruska — when the birch trees turn gold and the fell vegetation goes crimson. It's a brief but extraordinary display and one of the best times to hike in the national park.