Tornio

Being established in 1621 Tornio is definitely the oldest city in Lapland. Today the city has approximately 22 000 inhabitants. Tornio forms a unique economical zone together with Swedish town Haparanda; the border between the countries is hardly visible.
The city has a large steel factory and a famous brewery (Lapin Kulta), which was closed in August 2010. Outokumpu steel company is biggest employer in Tornio area.
While Tornio may be a good place to view the Northern Lights, many things are closed during the winter – without necessarily being advertised as such.

• TornioHaparanda Tourist Information Office

  phone: +358 50-590-0562
  address: Green Line, Pakkahuoneenkatu 1

By car

Most people arrive with their own car to Tornio either from Haparanda, Sweden (along the E4 road), or from the Finnish side from Kemi, Rovaniemi or Kilpisjärvi (Enontekiö) along E8.

By train

In season VR has a night train from Helsinki to Kolari, which stops at Tornio. The station is named Tornio-Itäinen (Tornio East).
More trains stop at Kemi, 30 km away. From there you'll have to continue by bus.

By bus

From Finland, you can check the website of the central organization for intercity buses, Matkahuolto, for information about timetables and fares.
From Sweden, check Länstrafik Norrbotten and Resrobot. A direct expressbus connection from Stockholm to Tornio is offered by Tapanis buss.

By plane

There is an airport in Kemi, 20 km away.

The city is small; you can get everywhere by walking. It is also easy to visit Haparanda in Sweden by foot (the border is barely noticeable).

• Church of TornioOne of the most beautiful wooden churches still in use in Finland. The church was designed and completed by Matti Härmä in 1689, making the building over 300 years old.

• Church of AlatornioClassic church designed by Jacob Rijfin and completed in 1797. The church is part of the Struve Geodetic Arc protected as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Orthodox Church of TornioAn orthodox church completed in 1884 and dedicated to apostles Peter and Paul. Open during the summer.

• Kukkola RapidsIn the Torniojoki river, some 10 km north of the town.

• Arboretum ParkAn excellent teaching and observation area. No entrance fee.

• Historical Museum of Tornio River Valley

  address: Torikatu 4
  A visit to the museum gives a good overall impression of the history of the entire Western part of Lapland.

Handicraft

• Smeds Gold & Silver Gallery

  address: Kemintie 6
  Silversmith Jorma Smeds forges traditional Lap Silver using hammer and an anvil.

• Jaur Showroom

  address: Teollisuuskatu 8
  A design gallery which presents the internationally renowned artefacts of Eero Hyrkäs.

• Aine Art Museum

  address: Torikatu 2
  The art collection presented in the museum is from the Aine Visual Arts Foundation collection.

• Postelli Paula Salminen

  address: Niemeläntie 2
  Workshop is located by the sea in Laivaniemi 10 km from Tornio.

• Alkunkarinlahti Nature TrailsA bird reservation site with three observation towers, covered trails and a campfire site. A must-see for a bird-watcher!

• Bothnian Bay National ParkA group of islands lying far apart from each other; a characteristic view for Perämeri National Park! Many different bird species are nesting in the park and seals can be seen in the waters. A great experience for anyone enjoying swimming and sunshine! Only reachable by boat or, parts of it in winter, over the ice. A few tour companies offer cruises, paddling or skiing tours etc.

• Arctic Iceroad Production

  phone: +358 40 555 8529
  address: Hallituskatu 9
  A wide range of programme services. For example guided tours with an authorised guide, guided fishing and hunting tours, extreme and survival adventures, rally and off-road safaris. Also equipment rental, bicycles, skies, ice skates and canoes.

• Green Zone GolfA unique golf course in the golfing world. The border is crossed four times during the game and you have the possibility to make a hole in one across the border on the sixth hole. The time difference between Finland and Sweden is one hour so it takes an hour to hit the green! In the middle of the summer the sun shines 24 hours a day so you can play even during the night.

• Hovilompolo

  phone: +358 40 531 9353
  address: Husantie 4
  Situated 23 km north of Tornio. A traditional country manor with a large courtyard, terrace, a smoke sauna and a Lappish tent. A rental cottage for sunny summer days!

• Nordic Safaris

  phone: +358 40 755 1858
  address: Koskitie 130, Kukkola
  River and white-water rafting safaris with rubber and rowboats in the summer. During winter time snowmobile safaris to Sampo Ice breaker and Snow Castle.

• Traffic park for children

  phone: +358 40 776 5852
  address: Juhannussaari
  Summer fun for children. The park is situated in Tornio, close to the water tower.

• Kotieläinpiha TaraDomestic animal farm in Arpela, 20 km from Tornio. Riding tours and camps. Open all year round.

The hot summer days can also be spent swimming in the cool Tornio river, lake Karsikkojärvi or in the beautiful island of Seskarö.

Events

• Twin City FestivalsNorthern town atmosphere and top artists mainly from Finland and Sweden.

• Kalott Jazz & BluesA yearly jazz and blues festival.

• RajasoittoFolk music, folk dance and accordion festival.

• Peräpohjola Historical MarketA market event that takes us to the 1800s.

• White fish festival and KukkolafästitOld traditions and culture are cherished on in the Kukkola villages on both sides of the river.

• Midnight Sun Golf MarathonFour days and three nights of golfing; an exciting competition between teams.

• National Sauna DayEnjoy sauna, music and good company at Kukkolankoski.

• Art BazaarAn art event that was first organised in 1991 at Aine Art Museum. Artists from both Finland and Sweden.

• New Year CelebrationsThe new year is celebrated on the border with double fireworks! As Finland and Sweden are in different time zones you can celebrate the arrival of the new year in Tornio, then cross the river and celebrate it again one hour later in Haparanda.

• Rajalla - På GränsenNext to the Swedish border, the name of Tornio's largest mall translates in both languages to "on the border".

Budget

• Kisälli

  phone: +358 10 343 4491
  address: Urheilukatu 6
  Catering student training establishment. À la carte, café and bakery.

• Subway

  phone: +358 50 582 3331
  address: Rajalla - På Gränsen Shopping Centre, Länsiranta 10
  French bread and salads.

• Cafe PicnicLunch delicacies: French bread, salads, pasta, soup.

• Tasty Fast Food

  phone: +358 16 480 150
  address: Laivurinkatu 5
  Chinese, Italian and Thai food and pizza.

• Grillikioski Kukkolankoski Catering

  phone: +358 40 730 1524
  address: Koskitie 4, Kukkola
  Delicacies from Peräpohjola: salmon soup, smoked fish, reindeer, grilled white fish.

• Meerin Grilli

  phone: +358 16 480 430
  address: Länsiranta
  Delicious grilled food.

• Turkinpippuri

  phone: +358 16 611 116
  address: Laivurinkatu 10
  Kebab and pizza

Mid-range

• Golden Flower

  phone: +358 16 481 384
  address: Eliaksenkatu 8
  The first Chinese restaurant in Tornio. Chinese food and pizza.

• Umpitunneli

  phone: +358 16 430 360
  address: Hallituskatu 15
  A bar and steak restaurant with outdoor and indoor seating. The decor is Mexico-themed, but the menu is not. If you're hungry, order the XXL-burger! They have live music performances on weekends.

• Saigon

  phone: +358 16 430 565
  address: Kauppakatu 13
  A Vietnamese restaurant.

• Tornio Kerhoravintola

  phone: +358 16 482 201
  address: Puutarhakatu 9

Splurge

Coffee houses

• Arnolds Bakery & Coffee Shop

  phone: +358 45 230 7222
  address: Rajalla – På Gränsen shopping mall, Länsiranta 10
  Doughnuts, bagels, smoothies and other delicacies.

• Café Aine

  phone: +358 50 597 1189
  address: Torikatu 2
  The coffee shop is situated in Aine Art Museum.

• Karkiainen

  phone: +358 16 480 669
  address: Länsiranta 9
  Coffee house and restaurant. Lunch 11-15. Bakery products for sweet teeth.

• Lappelill Viihdekahvila

  phone: +358 40 184 0104
  address: Länsiranta 9
  A cosy cafeteria near the shopping centre.

• Myllynpirtti

  phone: +358 16 472 044
  address: Koskitie, Kukkola
  Coffee house and restaurant.

• Pitoporras

  phone: +358 16 430 321
  address: Hallituskatu 14

• Robert’s Coffee & SpiceIce

  phone: +358 400 114 790
  address: Rajalla – På Gränsen shopping centre, Länsiranta 10

Bars, Pubs and Night Clubs

• Blues Station

  phone: +358 40 171 5198
  address: Länsiranta 9

• Pikku Berliini

  address: Hallituskatu 11
  A German-style pub.

Budget

• Summer hotel Lappia

  phone: +358 10 192 049
  address: Urheilukatu 6
  Situated in Tornio centre. In June-July the students apartments are rented for travellers. The rooms have a toilet, shower and cooking facilities.

• Camping Tornio

  phone: +358 16 445 945
  Open 3.5-30.9 (closed in Midsummer 25.-26.6.) 15 cottages, 60 camping places with electricity for caravans and campers. A beautiful beach and riverside sauna. Rental boats.

Mid-range

• Peräpohjolan Opisto

  phone: +358 40 536 4423
  address: Kivirannantie 13-15
  Situated 2,5 km north of Tornio. 30 rooms with a toilet and shower. Cooking facilities and washing machine.

• E-City Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +358 16 480 897
  address: Saarenpäänkatu 39
  Situated in Tornio centre, by the beautiful Tornio river.

Splurge

• Tornion Kaupunginhotelli

  phone: +358 16 433 11
  address: Itäranta 4
  Situated in Tornio centre by the river. 98 rooms with shower and toilet, telephone, tv and wireless Internet connection. 5 different restaurants and a sauna compartment.

• The Swedish town of Haparanda is situated at the other side of the border.
• In the other direction the city of Kemi is less than half an hour away by bus or car.
• To the north is Tromsø, Norway via Kilpisjärvi along the Tornio River, or Nordkapp, Norway via Rovaniemi and Ivalo on another route.