Finnish Lapland is often imagined in winter, blanketed in snow and glowing beneath the Northern Lights. But in summer, it transforms into something truly extraordinary. It is a season of light, space and calm that offers a completely different kind of Arctic magic.
This is the Lapland that welcomed visitors arriving in Kemi in late June, as AIDAmar on June 23 and Oceania Insignia on June 24 brought travelers to the northern edge of the Baltic Sea.
Stepping ashore, guests didn’t find snow and darkness, but endless light.
In Kemi, everything is near
A small town like Kemi is ideal for cruise visitors. In a day you experience a lot. Here you may walk within 15 minutes from Cultural center to Snowcastle area or from Inner harbour to local shopping street Valtakatu. Visitors filled the center of Kemi and visited historical and art museums, church, local shops and cafes.
Kemi reveals its character in a city tour that introduces local history and arctic life through streets and stories, while the inner harbour – lively yet relaxed – offers a place to pause by the sea. Nearby, museums deepen the experience, opening windows into regional history and identity.
From Kemi, the journey opens in many directions
Some travelers head for day tours inland to Rovaniemi, crossing the Arctic Circle and standing at one of the world’s most iconic lines, where the idea of the Arctic becomes real. Others follow the Tornio River to Kukkolankoski, where rushing rapids and centuries-old fishing traditions meet. For some, rafting the river becomes a memorable way to feel the power and rhythm of northern nature.
In Tornio and Haparanda, the border between Finland and Sweden fades into everyday life. Visitors cross seamlessly from one country to another, discovering a shared culture shaped by history and proximity.
Cycling excursion participants from AIDAmar also set out to explore the surrounding area. The distance from the port to the city center is approximately 9 kilometers.
Nature is always near
Just beyond the town of Kemi, nature invites visitors even closer. In Kiikeli Near Forest, a peaceful green oasis near the sea, walking paths wind through fresh woodland where the rhythm of summer can be felt in its simplest form. Here, visitors may encounter one of the season’s most charming sights – grazing summer cows, calmly inhabiting the landscape as they have for generations. It is a small but memorable moment, one that captures the authenticity and gentle pace of life in Sea Lapland.
Everywhere, the presence of nature is constant. The air is clear, the forests alive, and the coastline open and quiet. There is space to breathe, to look and to experience something real and unhurried.
The fresh, green nature of the North is becoming increasingly appealing to summer travelers looking to escape the growing heat waves of Southern Europe.
Midnight sun magic
For many visitors, it comes as a great surprise that summer nights in Lapland are truly bright, that the Midnight Sun means that night never actually arrives. In contrast to the dark winter season, summer brings its own unique kind of magic. The Midnight Sun does more than light the landscape; it reshapes the experience of time, place and stillness.
As the cruise ships continue their journeys, what remains is a lasting impression: a bright Arctic coastline, the calm presence of nature and the feeling of having discovered something not yet widely known.
Kemi – the port of Lapland
As part of the Cruise Finland network and as the northernmost cruise port in the Baltic Sea region, Kemi continues to strengthen its position as a unique, year-round Arctic destination. With reliable port operations, easy access to nature and extraordinary arctic experiences, Kemi offers cruise guests an authentic taste of the Lapland they will remember long after their voyage ends.
Take a closer look at all our Cruise Finland destinations here and our ports here.