Posio

Posio is a municipality in Finnish Lapland. Posio is renowned for its large water areas and as home of Pentik Oy interior design company.

Landscape in Posio.

Get in

By plane

The closest airport to Posio is Kuusamo Airport, 63km east of Posio. The airport has direct connections to Helsinki International Airport by Finnair. From Kuusamo there are daily bus connections to Posio. Rovaniemi Airport is 133 km west from Posio, and has direct connections to Helsinki International airport operated by Norwegian, Finnair and SAS. From Rovaniemi there are daily bus connections to Posio.

By bus

Posio has bus connections to Kuusamo, Rovaniemi, and Oulu, which have further connections to Helsinki. The bus connection to Posio from Kuusamo is 45 minutes, from Rovaniemi 2 hours, and from Oulu 4 hours.

By train

Nearest train station is in Rovaniemi, which has good connections to the south. From the train station you need to take a bus to Posio.

By car

Posio town centre is located on the crossroad of Road 863 (Taivalkoskentie), Road 947 (Maaninkavaarantie) and Road 81 (Kuusamontie).

Get around

The easiest way to get around in Posio is by car. The sights are scattered around the municipality and the distances are long. In Posio town centre the main attractions are within a walking distance. Hiking is the best way to reach the natural attractions.

See

Pentik design

Pentik Mäki Culture Centre is a renowned cultural and shopping tourism site in Posio centre besides the world’s northern most ceramics factory. You can explore collections of ceramics and design as well as do shopping for interior design products in Pentik’s factory outlet.

Pentik Mäki comprises the factory shop, cafeteria, Rural Memories Exhibition, Old Ceramics Exhibition, the International Coffee Cup Museum, Pentik Home Museum, and Anu Pentik Gallery. Admission to exhibitions and museums is free of charge.

Pentik Mäki has grown up beside the world’s northernmost ceramics factory. The internationally renowned company was founded in 1971 by Anu Pentik and Topi Pentikäinen. In addition to Finland, the company has shops in Sweden and Norway.

• Pentik Mäki Culture Centre, Maaninkavaarantie 3, ☎ [phone]. M–F 10:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–16:00; gallery daily 10:00–16:00. Free, guiding €38+. (updated Oct 2017)

Do

Hiking in Korouoma Nature Reserve or Riisitunturi National Park are popular year-around activities. Posio has good possibilities for fishing and ice-fishing and the licences are fairly easy to get. In wintertime Posio has over 75 km of ski tracks. Weather permitting, the skiing seasons starts in November and lasts until the end of April. There is a maintained ski track also in Riisitunturi National Park which leads to the top of the fell.

Riisitunturi National Park

Footpath in winter in Riisitunturi National Park.

Riisitunturi National Park is located northeast of Posio town centre. The National Park and its surroundings form a wilderness region characterised by slope mires, hillside spruce copses and southern fell nature. Special features of the area are the slope mires. In the wintertime, the spruce dominated forests are shrouded in a thick covering of snow and ice, and hardened crown snow. The region also has an abundance of smaller lakes. Maaselkä is the watershed between the east and west, and it runs through the park.

The park is almost entirely at a height of over 300 metres above sea level. The two summits of the Riisitunturi Fell itself rise to a height in excess of 450 metres. Popular places to visit include the Riisitunturi Fell summits with the wilderness cabin between the summits, and the landscape sites along the excursion trails. Riisitunturi National Park was chosen as Finland's Trekking Destination of the Year in 2010.

Korouoma Nature Reserve

Frozen waterfall at Korouoma.

Korouoma is a rugged canyon hundreds of millions of years old, occurring in the bedrock fracture zone. The canyon was given its current form by the impacts of the Ice Age. The deepest point of the canyon is the central section at 100–130 metres deep. The canyon and its high cliffs form an impressive landscape to enjoy throughout the year. The Korouoma region has a diverse range of different nature types with ridge terrain and small groves. Korouoma is a fairly popular hiking area, with 5 km and 8 km day hiking trails from Saukkovaara and Koivuköngäs and a 30 km trail through all the area, with an open wilderness hut. In the wintertime Korouoma becomes a popular destination for ice climbers, and it is stated to be the best climbing destination in Finland.

Lake Livojärvi

Livojärvi is one of the most popular summer destinations in Posio, and is often stated as Lapland's Riviera. The lake is characterized by very clear water and large sandy beaches.

Sirniö Smith Village

The village of Sirniö in South Posio is well known for its smithery traditions. The smithery culture dates back to the village's origins in the 17th century, when the rural location forced the villagers materially independent. The international blacksmith event has been organised in Sirniö every June since 1998. In addition, the village provides experience services with blacksmith themes for tourists.

Eat and drink

• Korpihilla Café and Delicacy Shop (Holtinojantie 5, 97985 Tolva, Posio), ☎ [phone]. Korpihilla is located in the village of Tolva near the Riisintunturi National Park. Korpihilla offers home made delicacies made from local, natural ingredients. Their signature drink "Kuohuva Kuusenkerkkäjuoma" has won many awards. 
• Lomakeskus Himmerki (Himmerki 8, 97900 Posio), ☎ [phone]. Ala carte restaurant with beautiful view to lake Kitka. 
• Hotel Posio (Posiontie 28, 97900 Posio), ☎ [phone]. À la carte restaurant with local delicacies. Also lunch and pizzas. Bar and nightclub open on weekends. Terrace in summertime. 
• Restaurant Peikonpesä (Kauppakuja 2, 97900 Posio), ☎ [phone]. Restaurant pub with pizzas, kebab, sandwiches and à la carte, open daily till midnight (kitchen closes earlier). 

Sleep

Cottage accommodation is the most popular way to accommodate in Posio. There are over 2500 holiday cabins in the Posio area. See also Hotel Posio above.

• Villi Pohjola Reservations Centre (Local script), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Villi Pohjola rents over 60 holiday cabins in the Posio area, ranging from wilderness huts to modern holiday cabins 
• Holiday village Himmerki (Local script), Himmerki 8, 97900 Posio, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A holiday village with various types of cabin accommodation from low-key to modern villas. Located by lake Kitka. Own restaurant and good outdoor activity possibilities. 

Go next

Ruka ski resort in Kuusamo is only an hour ride away from Posio. Ruka is one of the biggest ski resorts in Finland.