//
Municipality in Lapland, Finland
Photo: MKFI, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Salla is a municipality in south-east Finnish Lapland. It has a ski resort, Salla National Park, the northern part of the Oulanka National Park and most of the Tuntsa Wilderness Area. The very popular Karhunkierros hiking trail has its northern end in the southern part of the municipality, while the UKK Trail leads through it.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Sallan sota- ja jälleenrakennusajan museo
Museum telling about life in Salla in the 20th century, World War II in Salla, and the reconstruction and resettlement after the war as the Old Salla population got new homes in the rest of the municipality. Café, shop with local products and souvenirs. Guided tours in English available for 1–25 persons, contact the museum for details.
Memorial site at the place where the Finland-Soviet battlefront was in the final day of the Winter War.
Former guard posts, old airstrips and other military remnants. Several locations around the municipality. Ask your host if they know the nearest ones.
Some remnants of the 1200 km long Salpalinja fortification complex from the World War II era.
Church built in 1950, inspired by the Finnish medieval grey stone churches. The church was financed by donations from congregations in Denmark, which were grateful not to have lost their own churches in the war. Service every Sunday at 11:00. You may ask for a tour of the church from the war museum.
This small village was saved from destruction during the Lapland War, but is probably more famous for its rye bread. Dog fair in July. Occasionally artists playing at the Village House.
National park visitor centre. Exhibition, hiking advice, events. Accessible by wheelchair. Dogs (except dog guides) must wait outside. Some services, like souvenir shop and café at the adjacent/co-located Salla Reindeer Park.
Onkamon näköalapaikka
A scenic spot on top of a hill some 70 m from the road. View over the lake Onkamo to Russia and the fells of Old Salla. Table and benches.
A group of giant's kettles (glacial potholes) on Kalliovaara hill. A pothole called Juomapata is the biggest one in Finland and one of the largest in the world. The 6.8-km nature trail has steep, rough and possibly slippery sections; it is not suitable for the mobility impaired. Using wellies or hiking shoes is heavily recommended. There are two shelters by the trail, one across the bridge, one by the Impivaara hill.
Tuntsan Pirunkirkko
Interesting geological formation near Tuntsa, about 600 m from the road by the UKK hiking trail. The stones are strongly magnetic! The trail from the road goes along duckboards and is considered demanding.
Mires, small lakes, ridges, gorges and fells. Views to Russia. A new national park inaugurated on 1 January 2022. Some trails and facilities are still under construction as of autumn 2022. Hiking trails in the 3–5 km and 10–25 km ranges, and a section of 75 km of the UKK trail. Also mountain biking, snow shoeing and skiing routes (two of which can be skied with a dog). A few of the trails are suitable for novices, but most require some fitness, good footwear and the skill to use map and compass. Temperatures can be extreme in winter.
Sallan Poropuisto
Reindeer themed activity park. Art gallery. Information about local nature. Reindeer and husky safaris, reindeer feeding, snowshoe tours, skiing in the forest (also for beginners), nature photography, midnight tours, northern lights tours, canoeing, survival.
Beautiful area with easy terrain. Some experience is still needed as the area is remote and you are on your own, unless you hire a guide.
Not the biggest ski resort in Finnish Lapland, though it was the country's first dedicated venue for downhill skiing, opened in 1937, and it's the main draw for winter visitors. They have 7 lifts, 15 slopes, 11 of which are illuminated, and the longest run is 1,300 m. Equipment rental and service is available.
The 518 m high Karhutunturi fell is a very prominent peak and a popular hiking destination because of its magnificent views. A 5 km long trail to the top, lapp-pole tent on the way. Staying overnight in the tent is possible. The area has no public transportation. The UKK trail visits the fell some 2 km away.
All kind of programme, including music and dance performances.
Sallan rykimäviikko ja Ei tapahdu mitään -viikko
The Reindeer Heat Week follows the annual start of the reindeer mating season. Various activities from guided nature tours to music performances. The Nothing Happens Week is to festive the fact that there is absolutely nothing to do in Salla in late autumn.
Lunch. Pizzas, salads, reindeer dishes.
Chinese food.
Pizzas, burgers, salads, local delicacies.
Restaurant specialized on Lapland delicacies and many ingredients come from producers in Salla. Awarded with Chaîne des Rôtisseurs shield.
Pub.
À la carte restaurant at the spa hotel.
A bar and restaurant in a real snow castle. Indoor temperature around . For obvious reasons open during the wintertime only.
Restaurant.
Pub in the middle of nowhere, open at weekends.
Holiday Club Salla
Spa hotel and holiday apartments. Restaurant.
Small hotel in the centre of the main village. Restaurant.
B&B accommodation at a former village school. Sauna. Pub at weekends.
Naruskan retkeilymaja
Hostel and camping site in the wilderness. Fishing and hiking possibilities. Meals by request. Fishing permits and kayaks for rent. Taxi and car transfer services.
Tuntsan tunturilomat
A very remote holiday village deep in the wilderness. Accommodation in small apartments or in a large wilderness cabin without electricity. Pub.
66 cottages at the Sallatunturi resort
Tunturimökit
Booking office for 40 private owned cottages at Sallatunturi resort.
5 holiday apartments close to the ski resort
Two 4 person cottages in the wilderness by the river Naruskajoki. Electricity and running water. Indoor toilets.
Cabins and caravan area. Sauna. Restaurant. Open in the winter season.
Alcoholic beverages.
Shoes and clothes. Mail service.
Handmade local souvenirs and gifts.
Clothes, adornments etc. for women.
Tuntsa factory shop: clothes, tarp tents etc.
Grocery store.
Grocery store, gasoline. Pharmacy.
By bus
There are daily coaches from Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi and Kuusamo. A coach ride from Kemijärvi takes an hour, from Rovaniemi 2–3 hours and all the way from Helsinki 17–22 hours.
By train
There are rail services from the southern Finland to Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi. The journey from Helsinki (14 hr to the latter), Tampere or Turku is quite comfortable in a sleeper.
By plane
The nearest airports are in Kuusamo and Rovaniemi. A flight from Helsinki takes about 1½ hr, the bus connection 2 respectively 3 hr.
By car
If you drive yourself, reserve at least all the day for the 900 km journey from the south and check road and weather conditions.
In Salla centre distances are short and easily walkable, but to reach the rest of the municipality, driving is the easiest way. Already to the ski resort at Sallatunturi, the distance is 7 km. Public transport is sparse.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Kuusamo · Regional · KAO
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Salla and Finland.
Nature & adventureWhere to see the northern lights in 2026 and 2027 during Solar Cycle 25, comparing weather in Tromsø, Abisko, Fairbanks and Iceland.
7 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in December across sun, snow and culture, comparing Lapland, Chiang Mai, Vienna, Costa Rica and Cape Town.
7 min read
InspirationTen places with real character and room to breathe, from Ohrid's lakeside churches to Argentina's high-altitude vineyards.
7 min read
ItinerariesThe UKK trail is a legendary long-distance hiking route through much of Finland, all the way from Koli National Park in North Karelia to Urho Kekkonen National Park in Finnish Lapland, passing through several nature…
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.