Frequently asked questions

The concept of the SnowCastle of Kemi has changed over the years introducing various services in the area from snow & ice experiences to restaurant and accommodation services. The SnowCastle of Kemi area is open all year round. The traditional castle built from snow has been replaced by year-round services, the SnowExperience365 exhibition room and the SnowCastle Winter Park. SnowCastle Winter Park is open in winter season from January to the beginning of April.

In the SnowCastle of Kemi, you can also find comfortable meeting facilities and sauna facilities for companies and groups.

Do you build the SnowHotel?

No we do not have the SnowHotel at the moment. We habve the all-year-round accommodation in the Seaside Glass Villas.

Is there an Icerestaurant?

There are ice tables and ice bar in the SnowExperience365. You can take your drinks from our cafe to the Ice bar. For groups there are welcome drinks available in the ice bar, tasting menu where the amuse bouche is served by the ice tables. These are with pre-booking.

Kemi is located in Finnish Sea Lapland, which has good transport connections all year round. You can get to Kemi by plane, train and bus.

• Flight connections: Finnair organizes flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Kemi-Tornio Airport. Kemi-Tornio Airport is 8 km from the SnowCastle of Kemi. From the airport you can take a taxi to the SnowCastle of Kemi.
• Train connections: You can travel to Kemi by train from southern Finland and from Rovaniemi in the northern direction. Tickets can be purchased from the online store of VR. Kemi railway station is located 1.5 km from the SnowCastle of Kemi.
• Bus connections: It is easy to travel to Kemi by bus from all over Finland. Read more on the website of Matkahuolto. Kemi bus station is located 1.5 km from the SnowCastle of Kemi.

The SnowCastle of Kemi offers versatile services all year round.

• Year-round services: Seaside Glass Villas, SnowExperience365, Lumihiutale restaurant, meeting facilities and sauna facilities.
• Seasonal services: Icebreaker Sampo Cruises, SnowCastle Winter Park, SnowCastle Camping.

The premises of the main building are wheelchair accessible. The rooms on the upper floor can be accessed by a spacious elevator.

Yes, the SnowCastle of Kemi parking lot has four public charging points for electric cars. The charging points are part of the Powered by Virta network of charging points.

SnowExperience365 is an indoor exhibition room made of snow and ice that is open all year round. The facility is located in the main building of the SnowCastle of Kemi area at Lumilinnankatu 15, 94100 Kemi.

SnowExperience365 is open all year round. Check out the opening hours of the SnowExperience365 exhibition room.

It is always around -5 degrees Celsius in the SnowExperience365 space.

The entrance ticket is valid on the day it is purchased.

Yes, Seaside Glass Villa accommodation and Icebreaker Sampo cruise include entrance to SnowExperience365 exhibition room.

The Icebreaker Sampo Cruise includes 3.5 hour cruise, a welcome drink, guided tour on board, ice floating experience and a diploma. The cruise also includes entry to the SnowExperience365 exhibition room and SnowCastle Winter Park (20.1.-6.4.). If you buy lunch as an additional service, it will be served before or after the cruise in the Lumihiutale restaurant at the SnowCastle of Kemi.

Check in is good to do as soon as you arrive at the SnowCastle of Kemi. You can check arrival times and schedules on the website of Icebreaker Sampo.

Buses leave from the SnowCastle of Kemi about half an hour before the cruise. You can check the schedules on the website of Icebreaker Sampo.

The trip from the SnowCastle of Kemi to the harbor takes about 15 minutes by bus.

On the Icebreaker Sampo, we go ice floating in small groups. On check in, you will receive a wristband with a color code. On the vessel you will find a schedule where you can see when is your turn to ice floating. Our guides will help you if needed.

Icebreaker Sampo is located in Veitsiluoto harbour, which is a private closed area. You cannot get to the area with your own car. All customers, groups included, need to make the check-in for the Icebreaker Sampo cruise in SnowCastle area before arriving to the port.

Yes, people of all ages are welcome to cruise.

There is no age limit for the ice floating. The customer must be over 140 cm tall to get to the ice floating.

We do not recommend taking luggage with you on the Icebreaker Sampo cruise. You should leave your suitcase at a hotel, for example. We cannot promise that there is space in the shuttle bus for the luggage, but if there is, you can leave your luggage in the SnowCastle area during your cruise.

We highly recommend that you to dress in layered thermal underwear and warm, windproof outdoor clothing. A warm hat, woollen socks, good mittens and a fleece- or woollen middle layer are all part of proper winter clothing. This way your journey will be pleasant and enjoyable! Inside of the Icebreaker it is warm, but with appropriate clothing you will also be able to go outside on the deck to experience the arctic scenery.

Check out the opening hours of reception.

Check in at 16:00 and check out at 11:00. If you are arriving after the reception’s closing time, please contact us beforehand by calling +358 40 831 8273.

If you are arriving after the reception’s closing time, please contact us beforehand by calling +358 40 831 8273.

Yes, breakfast is available in the Lumihiutale restaurant. Lumihiutale restaurant is located in the main building of the SnowCastle of Kemi area.

Yes, in Lapland it is possible to see the northern lights from the end of September until the beginning of April. When the evening gets dark, you can see a wonderful starry sky through the glass roof and even the northern lights, depending on the season.

It is possible to add two extra beds in the Villa Loft and one in the Seafront and Superior Villas. An extra bed is best for juniors.

Pets are also welcome to stay for a small additional fee. We have reserved a couple of rooms as animal rooms. We need information about the pet in advance.

Seaside Glass Villas do not have a drying cabinets for clothes. The spacious bathroom has room to dry clothes and shoes.

Loft Villas have their own sauna. Seafront and Superior villas do not have their own sauna. The main building’s sauna facilities and jacuzzi can be booked for an additional fee.