World’s Largest Snow Castle in Kemi, Finland

While on our ultimate Lapland vacation, we HAD to visit the world’s largest snow fort, the Snow Castle in Kemi (LumiLinna in Finnish). Located right along the Bothnian Bay, this fairytale like castle and snow hotel is built every single winter. The Snow Castle in Kemi is open from late January to March and then it melts back into the sea.

Each year there is a different theme. This year (2018), the theme was Animal Wonderland. The theme was chosen to display the different animals and landscapes from all over the world.

The snow restaurant inside is the biggest in the world and seats up to 200 people. This is where you can buy some hot chocolate to warm up. However, we were so cold that we couldn’t even stop to enjoy some!

There’s a chapel that couples can get married in (and actually DO!).

IF you don’t mind sleeping overnight in a room completely made of snow with temperatures around 23 degrees Fahrenheit, then here’s a place to stay. Guests keep warm on a frozen bed with a lambskin cover and sleeping bag.

The slide starts at the top of the castle. Just grab a snow tube, carefully make your way up the ice and snow covered entrance, and hold on tight! I felt like I was going so fast that I was going to put a hole through the wall! I turned a couple times on the way down, but it was so fun!

Remember, dress warm! It is SUPER cold in there. (I’m not sure why?!)