Ranua, Lapland

Ranua is a small community in southern Finnish Lapland, about an hour south of Rovaniemi, best known as the home of Finland's only polar bears at the Ranua Wildlife Park. Quieter than Rovaniemi and set among forest, mires and cloudberry country, it suits families and travellers who want Arctic wildlife and winter activities at an unhurried pace. Further down the page, our destination guide answers the most common questions about visiting Ranua.

What is Ranua known for?

Ranua is known above all for its wildlife park, home to Finland's only polar bears along with around 50 other Arctic and northern species, including brown bears, wolverines, lynx, Arctic foxes and snowy owls. The animals are kept in large forest enclosures on a boardwalk loop through the trees, and the park is open every day of the year. Ranua is also known as Finland's "Cloudberry Village", for the mires and bogs that make this one of the country's richest areas for the prized Arctic berry.

Is Ranua worth visiting?

Yes, particularly for families and anyone interested in Arctic wildlife. The wildlife park is one of the world's most northerly and the only place in Finland to see polar bears, and its quieter setting makes for a more relaxed visit than the busier attractions around Rovaniemi. Paired with winter activities and the chance of the Northern Lights, it makes a rewarding short stay or day trip.

How do you get to Ranua?

Ranua is about 80 km south of Rovaniemi, roughly an hour by road, with a daily bus service between the two. The nearest airport and railway station are both in Rovaniemi, which has direct flights and an overnight train from Helsinki, so most travellers arrive via Rovaniemi and continue to Ranua by road or transfer.

What is there to do around Ranua?

The wildlife park is the main draw, but the surrounding wilderness is the other half of the experience. In winter, snowmobile safaris, husky and reindeer visits and snowshoe trails run through the forest, and the dark, low-light skies away from town give a good chance of the Northern Lights on clear nights. Accommodation ranges from cabins and villas to glass-roofed stays for watching the sky. Our Polar Bears and Glass Igloos in Ranua tour combines the wildlife park with a glass-roofed stay, and for the aurora specifically, see our guide to the best time for Northern Lights in Finland.

When is the best time to visit Ranua?

The wildlife park is open year round, and each season offers something different. Winter, from December to March, brings snow, husky and snowmobile activity and the aurora season, and the polar bears are at their most active in the cold. Summer has long daylight and the forest at its greenest, along with the cloudberry harvest in late summer. Autumn brings colour and fewer visitors.

For more on the country, browse our Finland travel articles.