Korundi occupies a long red-brick building that was put up in the 1930s as a depot for the post buses that linked the villages of Lapland. It is one of the handful of buildings in central Rovaniemi that survived the fires of 1944, which alone makes it worth a look.
Converted and extended, it reopened in 2011 as the House of Culture, shared by the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra — the northernmost professional orchestra in the European Union.
What to see and do: Korundi House of Culture
Rovaniemi Art Museum
The museum’s collection is built around the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation’s holdings of Finnish contemporary art, shown in changing exhibitions in the former garage halls. The emphasis is on northern and Arctic themes, and the scale is manageable: an hour is enough.
A concert by the Lapland Chamber Orchestra
The concert hall, built into the courtyard, has excellent acoustics. If the orchestra is playing while you are in town, tickets are usually easy to come by and inexpensive by international standards.
The building itself
Notice how the old brick depot and the new hall have been joined, with rusted steel and raw concrete set against the pre-war walls. The lobby café is a pleasant place to warm up.
How to get to Korundi House of Culture
- Korundi is at Lapinkävijäntie 4, five to ten minutes’ walk from Lordi’s Square, between the centre and the railway station.
- It is about 15 minutes on foot from Arktikum and Pilke; the three share a combined Culture Pass.
Insider tips
- The museum is usually closed on Mondays. Check hours and current exhibitions before you go.
- With the Culture Pass you can spread the three museums over several days — useful for filling the gaps between safaris.
- Admission is sometimes free at set times; ask at the desk.
Best tours & tickets for Korundi House of Culture
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Korundi House of Culture:
Entry ticket from €22 Rovaniemi: Arktikum Science Centre and Museum Entry Ticket
Entry to Rovaniemi’s best museum, which explains the Arctic — its climate, wildlife and peoples — alongside the story of Lapland and of the town’s destruction and rebuilding. It is the ideal first stop, and the obvious plan for a very cold or stormy day.
- Arctic science and the history of Lapland
- Northern lights theatre
- Walkable from the city centre
Guided walk from €49 Rovaniemi: Guided Tour of Santa Claus Village
An inexpensive guided walk on site, for travellers who make their own way to the village. A local guide explains how Rovaniemi became Santa’s hometown, points out the quieter corners and helps you plan the rest of your visit.
- The stories behind the village
- Tips on queues and what is worth paying for
- Low price
Sauna experience from €80 Rovaniemi: Traditional Sauna and Ice Swimming Experience
The most Finnish thing you can do. You heat up in a traditional sauna, then — if you dare — lower yourself into the water through a hole in the ice, and repeat. Hosts explain the etiquette. Nobody is obliged to swim, and most people who do are glad they did.
- Traditional Finnish sauna
- Optional dip in a hole in the ice
- Rated 4.9
