This small Finnish town is known for its Arctic wildlife park, home to polar bears and wolverines. Local cloudberries and Arctic food culture bring visitors in summer.
Ranua, a small town in Finnish Lapland, sits just south of the Arctic Circle. You can watch polar bears swim at the world's northernmost zoo, sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, or pick cloudberries in the vast forests. The town and its 569 lakes experience eight distinct seasons, from the bright summer midnight sun to snow-covered winter landscapes.
Meeting Arctic Animals at Ranua Wildlife Park
The Ranua Wildlife Park houses over 50 species of Arctic animals in spacious enclosures. You'll see polar bears swimming and playing, wolverines moving through their snowy territory, and Finnish forest animals like lynx, wolves, and moose. The park participates in European conservation programs and helps rehabilitate injured wild animals before releasing them back into nature. The walking paths through the park stay open year-round, with special evening tours available during winter.
Eight Seasons of Finnish Lapland
The year in Ranua cycles through eight distinct periods. During summer, the sun doesn't set, letting you swim in lakes and hike through forests at any hour. In autumn, the trees turn yellow, orange, and red. Winter brings deep snow perfect for outdoor activities, while spring gradually melts the ice on lakes and warms the ground for new plants to grow.
Winter Adventures in the Arctic
From December through March, you can try various ways to explore the snowy landscape. Learn to drive a dog sled team through forests, take a reindeer-pulled sleigh ride, or guide snowmobiles across frozen lakes. You can also explore the winter forest on snowshoes while local guides explain the surrounding plants and wildlife.
Northern Lights and Glass Igloos
The Arctic Fox Igloos on Lake Ranuanjärvi's shore let you watch the aurora from your bed through heated glass ceilings that stay clear of frost and snow. Each igloo includes a private sauna and kitchenette. The location, far from city lights, makes aurora viewing possible on clear nights from September to March. Local guides also lead evening aurora tours to optimal viewing locations in the wilderness.
Lakes and Summer Activities
Ranua's 569 lakes provide many summer activities. Lake Ranuanjärvi and Lake Simojärvi have sandy beaches with clean water for swimming. You can fish for salmon in the lakes, which maintain healthy wild populations. During summer, when the sun stays up all night, many locals go boating and swimming at midnight.
Local Nature and Berries
The forests and marshlands around Ranua are prime spots for cloudberries, golden-colored berries high in vitamin content. Each summer, the town hosts the Cloudberry Exchange where global prices for these berries are set. You can walk on marked hiking trails through pine forests and across wooden boardwalks over marshlands. In late July and early August, local guides lead tours to the best berry picking spots.
