Salla – in the middle of nowhere, as the name suggests, is famous for its wilderness and vast array of outdoor activities. Sometimes the rain can make indoor activities more favourable… but fear not! Salla is home to many exciting indoor activities, allowing you to step out of your cabin straight into adventure…whatever the weather!
Here are some ideas to ensure your rainy days are just as exciting as the rest of your holiday!
Museums
Due to Salla’s location, this region is rich in natural, social and wartime history. Did you know that one of the world’s oldest ski was found here in Salla, dating all the way back to the stone age!
For history lovers, the Salla Museum of War and Reconstruction is a must-see attraction! Take a trip through time, starting in the 1900’s, discover the story of Kuolajärvi (Old-Salla), take a deep dive into the war years, including the relocation of Salla village to its current location and find out what life was like for someone in Salla during the 1960’s. The museum also has a lovely gift shop and coffee shop, filled with locally sourced items and sweet treats!
If you would prefer to take a walk on the wild side, the Salla Nature Exhibition is the perfect place to begin your rainy-day adventure! You can explore the Salla region and Salla National Park, discovering the local forest environment, animals up close and the unique geological history, all from the dry comfort of the exhibit.
There is also a cafe and a gift shop adjoining the nature exhibition, and like most places throughout Salla, offers plenty of locally made products, including traditional reindeer products made by local reindeer herders. The local staff, friendly and full of knowledge, will be more than happy to share some local hiking and biking tips for the drier days of your holiday.
Did you know that Salla is home to 2 national parks! Almost half of Oulanka National Park is located in Salla municipality. Despite both Salla and Oulanka National Park being close together, both parks host different and unique geological and natural characteristics. Just like the Salla Nature Center, the Oulanka Nature Center has an interesting exhibition, gift shop and Café. If you have a car, why not discover both national parks and regions in the same day! If you are enticed by the canyon formations of Oulanka National Park and would like to discover the park in person on your drier days, the friendly staff will be happy to help you make the best of your adventure.
Food
One of the best ways to understand the local culture here in Salla is to try the local delicacies! What better way to spend a rainy day than by taking a culinary journey through Lapland in one of Salla’s atmospheric restaurants.
Restaurant Kiela, named after a part of the reindeer herder’s lasso, offers a wide range of Lappish delicacies. Their chefs interpret traditional, locally sourced ingredients including reindeer, bear, false morel mushrooms and cloudberries, with a modern twist to showcase the best that Salla has to offer. The bear meat burger and the false morel soup have been fan favourites for many years now. The spacious restaurant is decorated with traditional reindeer herding pieces such as a traditional reindeer sleigh.
If you would prefer something slightly more casual but without a compromise on locality, the Kelo Restaurant (Keloravintola), named after the types of logs it was built with, offers a variety of more casual dishes such as pizzas and burgers, made with local ingredients including reindeer, pike, moose and traditional reindeer blood pancakes. If you fancy something sweeter, the Kelo Restaurant has a great selection of cakes and snacks. Take a seat on their covered terrace or inside by the windows overlooking the surrounding ski resort and just watch the world go by!
Akkavaara, located in the centre of Salla, is a local favourite. Offering a wide variety of pizzas, with prices as friendly as their fantastic staff makes it a great place to stop whilst on a shopping trip or as a part of a fun afternoon at the local bowling alley. Akkavaara has also been awarded the Gluten Free Label, awarded for their tasty gluten free dough!
The Napapiiri Cafe, located 50km south of Salla in the village of Hautajärvi is a light and spacious cafe, offering a variety of sweet treats and soup lunches, made from local ingredients such as the locally caught, home-smoked fish. Located on the Arctic Circle, the Napapiiri Cafe hosts the iconic Arctic Circle Sign in its front yard. Crossing the Arctic Circle and taking this must take photo opportunity, combined with the interesting nature exhibition located in the same building and the tasty lunch menu makes it the perfect road trip inspiration. If you don’t have your own car, don’t worry! You can rent a car from Salla Ski Resort.
All restaurants have a tasty range of dishes for all dietary restrictions including many Vegan and Vegetarian dishes, please let the restaurant know and they will be more than happy to accommodate.
Shopping and Entertainment
The centre of Salla has plenty to offer in terms of shopping and entertainment. Go on a shopping spree in the middle of nowhere, by exploring the locally owned stores. Discover the latest Lapland fashion trends in the Simpsetti clothing store, gain inspiration for your next project in Rautatori or explore local products such as the Kursulainen bread and reindeer meat in S-Market Erätuli and K-Market Puolukka. The local entrepreneurs of Salla pride themselves on offering great quality at affordable prices! Kirpputori Välikäsi, a flea market located under the Akkavaara restaurant is the perfect place to find a bargain and help recycle something pre-loved. The flea market also offers a range of locally made handicrafts.
If you’re looking for the ultimate practical souvenir from Salla, look no further than the Tuntsa Store located on the outskirts of the Salla village centre. The Tuntsa store sells a variety outdoor clothing, made in Salla and can stand even the toughest elements. These clothes have been made in the Arctic, built to survive the Arctic. The Tuntsa brand includes the famous and extremely versatile Tuntsa anorak, that you can see many of the locals wearing. The Tuntsa branded clothes have been worn and loved by the Salla locals for almost 40 years!
The Salla bowling alley, also located in the centre of Salla is a favourite with the local families. With 4 lanes, all the equipment you need and the option of putting up the barriers (ensuring a score every time), makes this a fun activity for the whole family. Even the smallest family members can be the next Salla champion! With a small snack bar, table and a family friendly atmosphere, the bowling alley allows the whole family to be involved! Why not combine an afternoon bowling with a small shopping spree, finishing up with pizza at Akkavaara?
If you’re looking for something less organised, maybe somewhere to chill out, the Papana Pubi, located in Sallatunturin Tuvat is home to a family friendly, spacious sports themed pub, where you can spend hours playing their wide range of board games, challenging friends and family to a game of billiards, or admiring their many signed ice hockey jerseys and sticks, including world-famous stars such as Jari Kurri and Wayne Gretzky. Papana Pubi has a wide selection of snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including Lappish beers, local soft drinks, and a selection of luxury coffees.
The Salla Library is so much more than a library, it is more like Salla’s living room! You can rent so much more from the library than just books. You can rent, for example: gym equipment, sewing machines, I-pads, board games, movies and much more! If you want to spend your rainy day catching up with events from your local area, you can also take advantage of the library e-press service to view your home area’s newspapers. The library acts as a shared living room for both locals and tourists, including many comfy places to sit, a massage chair and games such as table football and pool. Come and read a book or chat to some of the friendly local people!
Health and wellness
For the more athletic, the Salla Sports Centre, located in Sallatunturi offers endless possibilities to burn off your saved up energy. At the Sports Centre, you can visit the gym, play badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball and much more. There is a wide variety of equipment to rent such as trampolines, punching bags and once you’re finished with your workout, enjoy the spacious sauna and cool down with something refreshing from the cafe.
Located just a stone throw away from the Salla Sport Centre is the Holiday Club Spa. The 16m fitness pool, a fun pool with waterfalls and a whirlpool spa, allows adults to relax while the little ones can enjoy the waterfalls! The unique aspect of this spa is their gigantic panoramic windows, providing great views of the Sallatunturi area and the wildlife, including the reindeer who often like to visit near the windows. Its not every day you get to watch the reindeer up close, from the comfort of a hot tub!
Embrace the Rain!
Despite the rumours, people are not made of sugar. You can still go and enjoy the middle of nowhere, a little bit of rain never hurt anyone!
There are plenty of covered fireplaces and lean-tos located all around Salla and the Sallatunturi Area. Go for a hike, feel the rain on your skin, enjoy the smell of the forest and relax. Take some snacks with you and warm up in a covered fireplace, dry your clothes and head out for more adventure.
The Salla With Every Sense project has created a series of sensory points, helping you to feel the forest through all of your senses. Try the Arctic Foot Bath and whilst enjoying your natural pedicure, listen to the rain hit the leaves.
Here are just some of the huts or lean-tos that are located close to the tourist areas or near a carpark:
