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Municipality in Lapland, Finland
Photo: Heikki Immonen, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Muonio is a municipality in Finnish Lapland. Most visitors head to the main destinations: Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park or the ski resorts. There are also businesses helping in canoeing, fishing and other activities.
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A wooden church built in 1817, which survived the Lapland War. The service is held every Sunday at 11:00.
Local history museum in 19th century buildings, which were brought here from other villages around. Open only during the summer.
Keimiönniemen kalakentät
Lake Jerisjärvi is famous for its fish, and Keimiöniemi has served as a fishermen's base at least since the 1500s. The oldest existing huts were built in the 1700s and they are still private property. The site is on the list of nationally significant built cultural environments.
The northernmost agricultural village in the Tornionjoki-Muonionjoki river valley. Luckily the village stayed almost untouched in the Lapland War and is therefore a rare example of pre-war village architecture in Finnish Lapland. On the list of nationally significant built cultural environments.
The Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is the most visited national park in Finland. During the peak season there are daily bus connections from Muonio and Kolari villages to the Hotel Pallas and the visitor centre. Check Matkahuolto for details.
The highest peak of the Pallastunturi fell massif rises up to 807 m a.s.l. The Olympic Torch for the 1952 Summer Olympics was lighted here. There is a hiking trail from Hotel Pallas and the Pallastunturi visitor centre.
Considered one of the most scenic places in Finland. There is a parking lot by the road and a hiking trail to the top. Climbing the fell takes about an hour and you probably want to stay up there more than just one hour. At the top there is a maintained campfire site and a number of small ponds suitable for swimming.
Also known as Hell of Lapland. In the Sami mythology saivo is a lake that acts as a portal to another world and is therefore a holy place. Scientifically Pakasaivo is a meromictic lake; under the relatively thin surface layer the water becomes acidic and lacks oxygen. The exact depth of the lake is unknown but it is at least 60 meters deep. The nearly circular northern end is actually a huge giant's kettle. There is a parking lot with campfire site a few hundred metres from the lake, but the nearest bus stop is 13 km away. The road to the lake is not maintained in winter.
Kirkkopahta is a big stone in the forest. Acted as a sieidi it is a holy place for the Sami people. The Valkeajoki hut was used by timbers and is renovated into a museum. The hut has free entry and there is no staff present. Making a fire to the stove is forbidden. By the way, the spring behind the hut is radioactive.
Another holy saivo lake. From the road 9403 (Aakenuksentie) there is a 3-km circular trail to the site. If you use your imagination a bit you can see a human face in the huge Seitapahta stone. By the lake there is a shelter and a campfire site.
An old mill by the rapids. The mill was used by locals until 1960s. The café is open during the summer season. A 3.5-km trail takes you to a human-faced sieidi stone by the lake. If you are heading to the trail, using wellies might be a good idea.
The ski resort is adjacent to services for visitors to the national park.
A fast-food restaurant with SEO filling station.
Swiss café with souvenir shop.
The oldest fell resort in Finland and perhaps one of the most peculiar ones as the hotel is located at the treeline! The original building was destroyed completely by Germans during the Lapland War but the resort was rebuilt after the war. Restaurant. Downhill skiing pistes, off-piste skiing, entrance to the national park.
Skiing resort which is closed during the summer. Three restaurants. Gym.
Cabin village and caravan park at a 19th-century reindeer farm. Aurora domes. Husky, reindeer and horse activities. Restaurant.
Aurora domes. Various saunas. Restaurant. Pub.
Hotel. Camping. Restaurant. Pub.
Apartments, huts (summer only, 2–6 persons) and caravan places.
Camping and caravan by Muonionjoki.
A motel accommodation in connection with SEO's maintenance services.
Groceries. Mail service.
Groceries. Gasoline.
Alcoholic beverages.
By plane
The nearest airports are in Kittilä to the southeast, Hetta to the northeast, and in Pajala southwest across the border to Sweden.
By train
The nearest railway stations are in Kolari and Rovaniemi.
By bus
There are a few daily coach connections from Rovaniemi, Oulu and Kemi. The ticket costs €50–70/adult from Oulu and around €45/adult from Rovaniemi. The trip takes about 3½ hours from Rovaniemi.
By car
If driving from Germany or Central Europe in general, the shortest alternative is to drive through Sweden along road E4 all the way to Luleå and then through Pajala to the Finnish border and on to…
The main roads are highway 21 (E8; Torniontie south of the centre, Kilpisjärventie north of it) and road 79 (Rovaniementie).
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Kittilä · International · KTT
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