Kemi (Finland)

Kemi (port locode FIKEM) is a Baltic port and town in Finland's Lapland region, with population around 20,000. Kemi is close to the Finland-Sweden border (approx 20 km / 12 mi to the southeast of Tornio Finland/cross-border twin city with Haparanda, Sweden). The closest large Finnish cities are Oulu (105 km / 65 mi to the south) and Rovaniemi (117 km / 73 mi to the northeast).

Port Kemi is on Bothnia Bay (at the Kemijoki River's mouth). The Port serves mainly cargo vessels, container ships, and oil tankers. It has 3 main terminals: Ajos (4 docks/11 berths, serves container ships, bulk carriers, RO-RO ships/car ferries, cruise ships), Veitsiluoto (7 berths) and Oil Terminal (connected with 4 pipelines). Cruise vessels dock at Port Ajos, which has a pier (length 239 m / 784 ft) that can accommodate small- to medium-sized ships.

As a cruise port, Kemi is visited by smaller-sized ships and superyachts.

The next table shows a 15-day itinerary (roundtrip from Germany) included in the 2022 schedule of the luxury travel brand Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (ship Hanseatic Spirit).

Early booking prices started from EUR 9650/USD 11150 per person with double occupancy.

Port Kemi is popular for being Baltic Sea's northernmost cruise port and Finnish Lapland's only cruise harbour, positioning itself as a flexible option for cruise lines developing Northern European and Arctic itineraries.

Located on the Ajos Island, ~15 minutes from downtown Kemi, the port provides relatively short transfer times and straightforward passenger logistics. Kemi's cruise traffic has increased in recent years, with growing interest from expedition, luxury and boutique cruise brands.

In 2026, the Port's cruise schedule listed 10 ship calls and ~7,000 passengers, compared to 2022's 4 calls (~2,000 passengers) and 2024's 7 calls (~4,800 passengers).

Port Kemi has 6 berths ranging from 160 m/525 ft (Berth 6) to 420 m/1378 ft (Berth 7). Water depths range from 9,1 m (Berths 4 and 5) to 13,5 m (Berth 7), allowing it to accommodate a broad range of vessels. Berth 7 offers LNG and biofuel bunkering capabilities. Currently, the Port doesn't have a dedicated cruise terminal.

Quay infrastructure is continuously developed to serve both cargo and cruise shipping.

The Kemi-Tornio Airport (approx 5 km / 3 mi north of downtown Kemi, and approx 18 km / 11 mi east of downtown Tornio) serves regular flights to Helsinki. Ferries link to Finland's ports Oulu, Rauma, Kotka, Aland/Mariehamn, as well as to Lubeck (Germany). Trains interlink Kemi with Helsinki.

In Kami is homeported Sampo (1960-built icebreaker) while Perameren Jahti (2007-built replica of a traditional wooden sailship from the 1800s) is permanently moored as a historical ship. Sampo is still in active service at Bothnia Gulf (during winter, also offering "icebreaker cruises"/max passenger capacity 150) while during summer is permanently docked and accessible to tourists.

Kemi is a relatively new settlement, being established as a port town in 1869 by Alexander II (1818-81, Russia's Emperor between 1855-81). The town's best-known tourist attraction is Kemin Lumilinna (SnowCastle of Kemi) - currently the world's biggest snow fort.

• Since 1996, the unique ice-construction is rebuilt each year, on an area ranging between 13,000-20,000 m2 (140,000-215,000 ft2). The SnowCastle's records through the years include max tower height 20 m (65 ft), max wall length 1 km (0,6 mi), and it has had up to 3 stories.
• The castle is constructed in various configurations, with 3 recurring elements: SnowRestaurant (featuring ice sculptures, ice tables and ice seats covered with reindeer fur), SnowChapel (max 100 seats, hosting weddings for both Finnish and foreign couples) and SnowHotel (has mainly double rooms, including a Honeymoon Suite).
• Kemi's SnowCastle also has an "ice-themed" kids park, theatre (hosting live performances), art exhibitions (with lights and sound effects).

Other popular attractions include the Kemi Kirkko (a 20th-century-built Lutheran church/Gothic Revival style) and Kemin Jalokivigalleria (Gemstone Gallery). At the Gemstone Gallery are also displayed a model of the Crown of Finland, as well as replicas of Great Britain's Imperial Crown, Russian Czar's scepter, Marie Antoinette's diamond necklace, and other jewelry.