Posio: Experience Ceramic Culture and Nature

Posio brings together ceramic culture and Finnish design at Pentik-mäki with nature and water experiences across the municipality. In the centre, the cultural and shopping destination Pentik-mäki sits next to a ceramics factory. Activities also range from marked boating routes to long gravel and bikepacking routes.

Posio at a glance

• Pentik-mäki is a cultural tourist destination right next to the Pentik ceramics factory.
• The Pentik-mäki Cultural Centre covers a total of 2,500 square metres.
• The Anu Pentik Gallery is dedicated to ceramic art and Finnish design; its exhibitions change twice a year.
• The International Coffee Cup Museum has a collection of 1,900 cups from more than 80 countries.
• 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.

Pentik-mäki: ceramics, design, and collections

The Pentik-mäki Cultural Centre is a cultural and shopping destination in the centre of Posio, next to a ceramics factory. At the Anu Pentik Gallery, you can discover ceramic art and Finnish design. Its exhibitions change twice a year. Beside it stands a ceramic installation that is eight metres high and twenty metres wide: a striking contrast between a large-scale work and the changing exhibitions.

The Pentik Home Museum displays some of Pentik’s first ceramic and leather products. The International Coffee Cup Museum centres on coffee culture; its collection includes 1,900 cups from more than 80 countries. Different ways of exploring design and everyday culture sit side by side in the same cultural centre. Admission to the exhibitions and museums in the Cultural Centre is free.

Pentik-mäki has a platform lift for people with disabilities and accessible toilets. If you rely on specific accessibility features, it is a good idea to confirm the details that matter to you before your trip.

Creative experiences in the centre of Posio

Since 2018, Miki Studio has operated a combined shop, exhibition space, and workspace in the centre of Posio. It adds another way to discover creatively made works alongside the ceramics and design venues. Miki Studio also promotes the opportunity to make a snow owl during a trip to Posio and take it home as a souvenir. If you would like to include this in your travel plans, the availability of a specific workshop should be confirmed in advance.

Nature across the municipality: fells, mires, and hiking trails

Beyond the town centre, the municipality of Posio also offers plenty of reasons to spend time in nature. Its options include numerous hiking trails and ski tracks. Riisitunturi National Park is in Posio, in southern Lapland. Established in 1982, it covers 77 square kilometres. Fells and slope mires shape its landscape; in winter, its snow-laden spruces are a distinctive sight.

A 2022 Metsähallitus brochure lists more than 40 kilometres of marked hiking trails in the Riisitunturi National Park area. Hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing are permitted in the park. Cycling on the Riisitunturi Multipurpose Track is permitted during the snowy season from February to April. Current trail conditions matter when planning a specific trip; the brochure provides an overview dated to 2022, not a guarantee of present-day conditions.

Another summer option is the Hirsiniemi hiking trail, which you can cover on foot or by mountain bike. The Wilderness Farmer’s Path, on the other hand, offers a themed route through several villages in the municipality: 35 information points lie along the main road. You can explore them using different modes of transport; the trail is suitable for the whole family. The two options therefore differ in season and in how you want to get around.

Gravel cycling, disc golf, and trips with different focuses

For cycling trips of different lengths, Posio’s gravel network offers more than 600 kilometres: nine gravel routes of 30 to 100 kilometres each and two bikepacking routes of about 300 kilometres each. The bikepacking routes are designed for three to five days of cycling. These figures show the difference between individual routes and a multi-day trip. As the size and layout of the network may change, use the current route information when planning your trip.

Disc golf is another activity in the municipality: Posio has two courses. The course in Kirintövaara is at the foot of the Kirikeskus ski slopes and has nine holes on a wooded hillside. Korouoma Canyon Valley, in the municipality of Posio and in Itä-Lappi, is also described as a year-round excursion destination. The options range from a single activity to nature outings that can be appealing in different seasons.

Lakes, boating routes, and regional cuisine

You can explore Posio’s waters by boat or canoe, for example. There are marked boating routes on Lake Kitkajärvi and Lake Posiojärvi. On Lake Livojärvi, you can view bays and esker formations near the Hirsiniemi peninsula from a boat. The municipality of Posio is also known for the kilometres of sandy beaches along Lake Livojärvi.

In summer, the Säikkä cabin café serves pancakes baked over an open fire on Lake Livojärvi’s white sandy beach. A seasonal café visit can be combined with a day by the water. Posio flatbread is also part of the region’s food culture: it has been baked there for centuries using barley flour and water.

Choose accommodation to match your travel focus

When searching for hotels and other accommodation in Posio, you can start by deciding what your trip will focus on. If culture and design are your priority, Pentik-mäki and Miki Studio are the main points of interest. For hiking, water, or cycling activities, plan around the specific destinations across the municipality. This way, you can choose accommodation based on the experiences that will shape your holiday, rather than on a blanket assumption about the best location for every trip.

Discover more destinations: Sodankylä, Luosto, Kittilä, Äkäslompolo, Kolari, Pelkosenniemi, Salla, Tervola.

Frequently asked questions about Posio

What can you expect at the Anu Pentik Gallery?

The Gallery is dedicated to ceramic art and Finnish design. Its exhibitions change twice a year; an eight-metre-high and twenty-metre-wide ceramic installation is also on display there.

Which outdoor activity is specifically suitable for families?

The Wilderness Farmer’s Path is suitable for the whole family. Its 35 themed information points are along the main road in villages in the municipality of Posio and can be explored using different modes of transport.

Where are there marked boating routes?

There are marked boating routes on Lake Kitkajärvi and Lake Posiojärvi. On Lake Livojärvi, bays and esker formations near Hirsiniemi can be viewed from a boat.

When is cycling permitted on the Riisitunturi Multipurpose Track?

Cycling is permitted during the snowy season from February to April. Current trail conditions are also important when planning a specific trip.

Is the Säikkä café open all year round?

The Säikkä cabin café is described as a seasonal summer offering. It serves pancakes baked over an open fire on Lake Livojärvi’s white sandy beach.

Go to the main travel overview: Lapland.