Siida - Sámi Museum and Nature Center

To be honest I was unfortunately totally disappointed. It was supposed to be a highlight on my birthday as I truly loved the Artikum in Rovaniemi so had high expectations here. I read that it was named the best museum in Europe 2024 (or something like that). There are free lockers, big free parking, toilets and a very nice canteen-like restaurant serving deliscious coffee and AMAZING fresh traditional doughnuts with licorice. The museum itself was very small, with only 4 indoor rooms. One was just with illustrations, using couple of larger screens. The main area was full of illustrations, some videos, old days items and filled birds. Comparing it to the Helsinki museum or even Rovaniemi one - it was definitely NOT worth it's ticket price. €18 per adult, €14 students/over 65. I appreciate there was an outside area but considering we visited when outdoor temperatures were -28°C we weren't able to see it as it was simply too cold for such a long walk. I would suggest changing the price of tickets for just indoors, etc. Artikum was full of detailed information about snow, Finland, Northern lights, presentation, large exhibitions. I would definitely not recommend..

The Siida Sámi Museum is a beautifully done museum and a must-visit while in Lapland. The exhibits are clear, engaging, and give a really meaningful look into Sámi culture, history, and daily life. We especially enjoyed learning about reindeer herding, traditional clothing, and the strong connection to nature. Overall, it’s an informative and memorable stop that adds so much context to the region.

This museum was simply amazing. It has an outside area too next to the lake. They have local music, jewelry, clothes, etc. I could have spent many hours here.

Such a beautiful museum about Saami culture, nature and traditions I learned so much about Lappland and really enjoyed the mixture of nature information regarding the national parks and the flow of the seasons as well as the directly connected Saami culture

We had a truly wonderful time visiting the Sámi Museum Siida — it is one of the most interesting, if not the most interesting, museums we have ever visited. The entire experience felt thoughtful, immersive, and beautifully designed. The museum has both indoor and outdoor sections, each offering a different perspective on Sámi culture and Arctic life. The indoor exhibitions are extremely well curated, with artifacts and displays arranged in a clear and engaging way. Each piece is accompanied by explanations on touchscreens available in different languages (including several versions of the Sami language!), making it very convenient and accessible even without a tour guide. The outdoor open-air section captures Sámi heritage and traditions so vividly. The detailed explanations help you understand how different structures — such as traditional houses, sauna, storage buildings, and traps — were used in daily life. Walking among these spaces really brings the history and lifestyle of the Sámi people to life. The museum also offers excellent practical amenities, including plenty of lockers and clean bathrooms. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the cafeteria, which offers a daily-changing buffet featuring local ingredients and flavors. They also serve specialty coffees and pastries if you prefer something lighter. Finally, the gift shop was beautifully arranged, with a wide selection of unique local handicrafts, books, and souvenirs — perfect for bringing a piece of the experience home. If you are visiting the region, we highly recommend making time for this museum. It is an inspiring and eye-opening experience that deepens your appreciation for Sámi culture and the Arctic environment.

I visited the museum during a motorbiketrip through Lapland in June. Perfect: big lockers for all my motorbike gear and my helmet to store during my visit. The outdoor area is quite big, with a lot of sites from hunter cabins to different traps for animals and even a collection of boats and sleds. Inside you'll find an immersive experience and digital displays allow you to read more information in different languages. I spent several hours there, reading everything and soaking all the information in. The visuals, sounds, recordings and videos are a great mix, I felt like I was in another world. After my visit I was able to buy some nice postcards and stamps, borrow a pen and write postcards in a very cosy section next to the entrance. I highly recommend this museum. It is not the same as the Ajtte in Jokkmokk; but I consider these two museums a great combination to learn about sami heritage and culture.

The museum impressed me with its thoughtful design and diverse exhibits, offering something for everyone—archaeology, Lapland’s natural beauty, Sami culture, and their modern traditions. The outdoor section stood out, allowing visitors to step inside buildings and gain a deeper appreciation of Sami life. At least two hours are ideal to explore without rushing. The staff were welcoming and helpful, enhancing the experience. The museum’s interactive displays, multilingual translations, and well-maintained facilities, including lockers and restrooms, added convenience throughout.

It's a nice place to get to know more about Finland itself and about the Sami culture. They also have a very nice outdoor museum.

Really interesting museum to learn about the area! From art, to archeological finds, to historic housing there was a wide array to take in! Plus some beautiful photographs of northern lights as well. If you want to learn something new this is a great place to visit! They also have free parking, a gift shop, and a restaurant (which also has vegetarian options available according to the menu)! I spent about an hour exploring and learning!

This Saami museum is a must, has a lot on the entire region from ancient to modern. Information from the ice age to current, history of the indigneous population spread across 4 countries and persecuted for being different. There's an outdoor walking path where you can see buildings and walk into them. They have a great gift shop of crafts made by local Saami people, jewelry, teas, clothing, music, cards. Large parking lot.

Bures boahtin! This means "Welcome!" in Sámi language. And indeed, this museum of Sámi history and culture is so inviting and educating that I did not want to leave at all! All staff members are so friendly and the lady at the tourist information counter provided me with everything to make my stay in Inari an unforgettable one. Siida is not only a Sámi museum, but also a nature centre. Thus, you will get lots of information about Lappish plants and animals when visiting the permanent exhibit. Since the Sámi, the northernmost European natives, have a close relationship with nature, both parts of Siida go hand in hand providing a comprehensive overview of their way of living as well as of the eight seasons they distinguish. There is also a very interesting open-air museum during summertime with Sámi log buildings, movable lodges and sod huts along the path. The two temporary exhibitions were rewarding, too. I could even listen to Sámi music from traditional songs to hip-hop! Get the combined ticket at Siida including the boat trip on Lake Inari to Ukkokivi, the famous sacred island of the Sámi, to grasp a sense of these tribes´ spiritual relationship with nature. Boats leave daily at 1 and 5 pm and tickets are 22 € (boat trip only) or 29 € (entrance to Siida included).

There are various museums around Finland and Norway documenting their native Sami culture, but this one and the Arktikum in Rovaniemi are the best. It was opened in 2000 and has a very modern approach. There's a large outdoor exhibition which comprises a wide variety of Sami huts, ranging from very primitive early designs to early 20th century three-bedroom wooden houses, as well as builds of animal traps and food stores, many of which you can walk into as well as around. Upstairs besides the cafe (ordinary) there are several large museum spaces illustrating Sami history. What this museum does well, that others don't, is put the Sami in context with what was happening in the rest of the world and other similar cultures at the same time. There's a temporary exhibition space on the ground floor and a very well-stocked shop, containing a variety of serious books on the subject matter in various languages, as well as naturally the novelty toys and logo-embossed pens for the kids. Definitely worth a visit if you're passing.