Posio: Ceramic Art, Culture and Nature

When travelling to Posio, it is worth keeping the town centre and the municipality as distinct points of reference. Pentik-mäki is in the centre, while several nature and route offerings are located within the municipality of Posio.

Pentik-mäki: Ceramics, Design and Collections

In the centre of Posio is the Pentik-mäki Culture Centre, a cultural and shopping destination right next to the Pentik ceramics factory. The Pentik-mäki Culture Centre covers a total of 2,500 square metres. The Anu Pentik Gallery focuses on ceramic art and Finnish design; its exhibitions change twice a year. One ceramic installation in the gallery is eight metres high and twenty metres wide. The Pentik Home Museum displays some of Pentik’s first ceramic and leather products.

The International Coffee Cup Museum is dedicated to coffee culture. Its collection includes 1,900 cups from more than 80 countries; the collection may change as future donations are received. Admission to the exhibitions and museums in the Culture Centre is free. If this matters for your plans, check the arrangements before your visit.

Pentik-mäki has an accessibility lift and accessible toilets. If you rely on specific facilities, confirm their availability in advance. Also in the centre of Posio, Miki Studio has operated as a combined shop, exhibition space and workplace since 2018. The studio promotes the opportunity to create a snowy owl during a trip to Posio and take it home as a souvenir. Confirm in advance whether this offering is available.

Trails and Activities in the Municipality of Posio

The municipality of Posio is in the southern part of the Lapland region and covers 3,544.67 square kilometres, of which 505.11 square kilometres are water. The municipality has numerous hiking trails and cross-country ski trails. The gravel route network also offers a variety of durations and tour formats: it covers more than 600 kilometres, with nine routes ranging from 30 to 100 kilometres each. There are also two bikepacking routes of about 300 kilometres each, for which three to five days of riding are recommended. The scope and route details may change; check them before planning your trip.

The Wilderness Farmer’s Path is an experiential trail with 35 themed information points along the main road in the municipality’s villages. The points can be explored using various forms of transport and are suitable for the whole family. Another way to experience the landscape is to explore Posio’s waterways, for example by boat or canoe. Marked boating routes are available on Lake Kitkajärvi and Lake Posiojärvi. From a boat near the Hirsiniemi peninsula on Lake Livojärvi, you can admire bays and esker formations.

For a canoe trip, the Unijoki is a distinct option: the river begins in southern Posio, near the smithy village of Sirniö, and is a tranquil route suitable for paddlers of all experience levels. The Hirsiniemi hiking trail can be travelled on foot or by mountain bike in summer. The routes by the water and the river thus differ both in their means of travel and in the character of the outing.

National Park Landscapes and Regional Culture

Riisitunturi National Park is in the municipality of Posio in southern Lapland. It was established in 1982 and covers 77 square kilometres. Fells and slope mires shape the landscape; in winter, snow-laden spruces are a striking sight. A 2022 Metsähallitus brochure lists more than 40 kilometres of marked hiking trails. Hiking, snowshoeing and skiing are permitted in the park. Cycling is permitted on the Riisitunturi Multipurpose Track during the snowy season, from February to April. Check current trail conditions before setting out. Korouoma Canyon, also in the municipality of Posio and in Itä-Lappi, is a year-round excursion destination.

Regional architecture and food culture are also part of Posio. At the southern end of Lake Posiojärvi, a log-built prayer room with a mansard roof was first completed in 1927. In 1952–1953, it was converted into Posio Church; at that time, the building was given weatherboard cladding and a gable roof. Posio flatbread has been baked in the area for centuries from barley flour and water. In summer, Säikkä hut café serves pancakes cooked over an open fire on the white shore of Lake Livojärvi.

Discover more destinations: Kilpisjärvi, Kaamanen, Utsjoki, Tervola, Sirkka, Peurasuvanto, Ivalo, Enontekiö

For the main travel overview: Lapland.