In December 2025, we visited Kemi, Finland, together with our family and friends.
Our main plan was to experience something that Kemi is especially known for – snow, ice, and winter attractions.
We visited the SnowCastle area, where we explored SnowExperience365 and the Gemstone Exhibition.
1. SnowExperience365 at the Kemi SnowCastle Area
When people hear about the SnowCastle of Kemi, they may imagine the huge seasonal snow castle that Kemi became famous for in earlier years.
Today, the SnowCastle area has changed.
Inside the main building is SnowExperience, a year-round indoor snow and ice attraction where visitors can experience real snow, ice sculptures, an ice slide, ice tables, and other frozen structures throughout the year.
This was the part that we visited in December 2025.
As soon as we entered, there were different structures made from snow and ice around us.
There were beautiful ice displays, stairs, tables, chairs, and sculptures.
Even the furniture was made from ice.
Of course, one of our favorite parts was the ice slide.
Children enjoyed it, but honestly, the adults did too.
There is something funny about being an adult and suddenly becoming excited about sliding down a piece of ice.
It was cold inside, but that was part of the experience.
The current SnowExperience is maintained at around -5°C, so visitors can experience winter conditions even during warmer months.
For us, though, it was already December, so stepping into another freezing place somehow felt completely appropriate.
Paying With ePassi
I honestly cannot remember exactly how much our entrance tickets cost during our December 2025 visit.
What I do remember is that we did not have to pay for them directly from our own pockets.
We used our ePassi benefit balance, which was provided by our employer as part of our employee benefits.
That made the visit even better.
At the time of writing, the combined Gemstone Exhibition and SnowExperience ticket is currently listed from €25, although prices can always change. The Gemstone Exhibition alone is currently listed at €15 for adults and €9 for children.
Always check the latest prices before visiting.
2. The Gemstone Exhibition
After our icy experience, we also visited the Gemstone Exhibition, located on the third floor of the SnowCastle365 main building.
The atmosphere here was completely different.
Instead of snow and ice, we were surrounded by sparkling stones, jewelry, and beautifully displayed pieces.
There were gemstones from Finland and different parts of the world.
The current exhibition contains a carefully selected part of the collection from Kemi’s former Gemstone Gallery, which was once known for having one of Europe’s largest stone collections.
We spent time simply looking through the displays.
Some of the gemstones were colorful.
Some were huge.
Some looked so perfect that it was difficult to believe that such beautiful things could naturally come from the earth.
We were all fascinated by them.
But there was one display that immediately caught my attention.
The Crown
And yes, of course it was the crown.
The exhibition has a replica of the Imperial State Crown associated with Queen Elizabeth II.
It is not the original British Crown Jewel, but the replica is still very impressive to see up close. The collection also includes a replica of Marie Antoinette’s necklace.
The crown was displayed safely inside a glass case.
So naturally, I could only look at it.
But in my imagination?
I was already wearing it.
Sometimes museums require a little imagination.
The crown was beautifully detailed, sparkling under the lights, and definitely one of the pieces that stayed in my memory after the visit.
From Ice to Gemstones
I actually liked how different the two exhibitions were.
One moment, we were surrounded by snow and ice.
A few minutes later, we were looking at gemstones and royal jewelry.
Both attractions were located in the same SnowCastle area, which made them easy to experience during one visit.
It was also suitable for us as a family.
The children could enjoy the more playful SnowExperience, especially the ice slide, while the adults could take their time looking through the gemstone displays.
3. Icebreaker Sampo and Arktis – Something for Next Time
Another experience that caught our attention in Kemi was the icebreaker cruise.
Kemi currently offers cruises aboard two vessels – Icebreaker Sampo and Icebreaker Arktis.
The cruises travel onto the frozen Bothnian Bay and can include experiences such as walking on the sea ice and floating in the icy water while wearing a special flotation suit.
Now that would definitely be an experience.
Unfortunately, we did not get to try it during this trip.
When we visited in December 2025, the ice conditions were not yet suitable for the kind of icebreaking experience we wanted.
That makes sense because conditions on the sea can vary from year to year.
Ice floating and walking on the frozen sea are also dependent on weather, wind, ice conditions, and safety decisions made on the day.
For the 2026-2027 winter season, Arktis is currently scheduled from December 1 to March 31, while Sampo is scheduled from December 18 to April 3.
So December cruises are possible.
However, if our main goal next time is to see plenty of sea ice, I think I would personally choose a deeper winter month such as January or February.
Another Reason to Return to Kemi
Although we did not experience the icebreaker cruise, I don’t think that made our trip incomplete.
Instead, it simply gave us another reason to return.
We enjoyed SnowExperience365.
We admired the Gemstone Exhibition.
Our little one had fun.
We spent time with family and friends.
And now we still have something waiting for us in Kemi.
Maybe next time we will finally board Sampo or Arktis and experience what it feels like to travel through the frozen sea.
That would definitely be a story worth writing about.
More From Our Journey to Finland
Our trips around Finland have become another part of our bigger journey of building our life here.
If you would like to read how that journey began, you can also visit:
Moving to Finland: Why It Wasn’t Part of Our Original Plan
How We Actually Got to Finland: Our Recruitment and Residence Permit Journey
From Dubai to Finland: Our Adventure in Migration
Every trip has slowly helped us discover more of the country we now call home.
Important Note: This post is based on our personal visit in December 2025. The SnowCastle area, exhibitions, ticket prices, icebreaker schedules, cruise prices, opening hours, and available activities may change. Icebreaker activities such as walking on the frozen sea and ice floating also depend on weather, sea-ice, and safety conditions. Always check the official websites before planning your visit.
“The best trips are often the ones that leave us with another reason to come back.”
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
- Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
Our visit to Kemi reminded us that we do not have to experience everything in one trip. We enjoyed what was available, made memories together, and left one more adventure waiting for another winter.
Sources & Useful Links
◆ The Icebreaking Company – SnowExperience
https://www.icebreaking.com/snowexperience-in-kemi/
◆ The Icebreaking Company – Gemstone Exhibition
https://www.icebreaking.com/gemstone-exhibition/
◆ Visit Kemi – SnowCastle Area
https://visitkemi.fi/en/kohde/snowcastle-area/
◆ Icebreaker Sampo
https://www.icebreaking.com/icebreaker-sampo-cruise/
◆ Icebreaker Arktis
https://www.icebreaking.com/icebreaker-arktis-cruise/
Oh, my gosh, that is so beautiful! It’s like visiting a frozen fairy wonderland! I would love to see it in person.
I might go to a wedding in Denmark this summer and your posts inspired me to check out adding finland!
Oh wow, this is the coolest castle. I’d love to check it out. You can get some beautiful holiday photos there.
The ice slide sounds like so much fun, and I can see why the adults enjoyed it too! I had to laugh at you imagining yourself wearing the crown because I would have done the same thing. What a lovely outing with your family and friends!