Kemi SnowCastle and Icebreaker Sampo
A snow castle rebuilt each winter on the Gulf of Bothnia, paired with an icebreaker cruise that lets you float in a survival suit in the frozen sea.
Updated 4 August 2026
Each winter Kemi builds a new SnowCastle of snow and ice on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia, complete with a snow hotel, ice restaurant and chapel. Nearby, the retired icebreaker Sampo takes passengers on a cruise that crunches through the frozen sea and lets them float, in a watertight survival suit, in a hole in the pack ice.
What you'll find
- The SnowCastle - the snow-and-ice castle, hotel, restaurant and chapel, new each year.
- The Sampo icebreaker - a cruise crushing through the frozen Gulf of Bothnia.
- Floating in the ice - the survival-suit swim in the broken pack ice.
- Ice art - carved ice sculptures and rooms.
When to go
The deep winter from January to April, when the sea freezes and the SnowCastle stands; both melt and stop by spring. Book the icebreaker well ahead, as it is popular and limited.
Things to know
Both are winter-only, and the icebreaker cruise is expensive and books out, so plan ahead. The SnowCastle is smaller than the hype for some, though the ice hotel and floating swim are memorable. Dress for serious Arctic cold.
Nearby
Kemi town and the Gemstone Gallery are close; the Rovaniemi Santa country lies inland.
What to pack for Kemi SnowCastle and Icebreaker Sampo
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Warm base layers - Merino or synthetic against the skin - never cotton, which chills when damp. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- An insulated + windproof jacket - A down or synthetic layer under a hard shell handles most cold. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
