3 Best Sights in Lapland, Finland

One of the best ways to tune into the Finnish far-north culture is to visit Arktikum, housed in a long, glass-roofed, north-facing building above the banks of the Ounasjoki River. Arktikum combines a science center and museum, introducing and explaining the nature, culture, and history of the region, in permanent and changing exhibitions. The Arktikum Beach Park has a pleasant garden, and in winter it’s one of the best spots in town to view the northern lights.

The museum of the culture of the Sami people is close to the westernmost corner of Inarijärvi Lake in the village of Inari and houses an absorbing exhibition describing every aspect of Sami history and life (Siida is a traditional reindeer herding site and community). It also gives fascinating explanations of the natural environment and harsh arctic climate in which these people, predominantly reindeer herders, have traditionally forged a seminomadic livelihood. There’s an open-air museum behind the main building, comprising traditional Lapp dwellings and farm buildings. A souvenir shop sells Sami handicrafts, and café-restaurant Sarrit serves good lunches. Siida has been expanding, and some exhibits were still in the process of being transferred to a new annex in fall 2022 as renovations proceeded, but the museum has remained open throughout the expansion work.

The Gold Prospector Museum charts the history of gold mining in Finland since 1868, when one Johan Konrad Lihr discovered traces in the Ivalo River, sparking a mini gold rush to the far north. Sapphires and rubies have also been found in the region, and in February 2019 the first ever diamond was unearthed at Tankavaara. Visitors to the museum can prospect for their own golden souvenir, although finds are likely to be modest—the fun is in the prospecting. Buses on the main route from Rovaniemi to Ivalo stop close to the museum road, and hotels in Saariselkä, for example, will offer visiting packages that include pickups.