As the only municipality in Finland with a Saami majority, Utsjoki is a place where different cultures meet and the Northern Lights blaze across the skies.
Welcome to Utsjoki
Utsjoki – Where Arctic Nature Meets Sámi Culture
Utsjoki (Northern Sámi: Ohcejohka) is the northernmost municipality in Finland, nestled in the heart of Lapland. With just over 1,150 residents and a vast area of 5,370 km² Utsjoki offers space, serenity, and unspoiled wilderness like nowhere else. Nearly 80 % of the area is made up of protected nature reserves, making it a dream destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
Life here is shaped by the mighty Teno River (Deatnu), a legendary river that forms the natural border between Finland and Norway. Along its banks lie Utsjoki’s main villages: Utsjoki (Ohcejohka), Karigasniemi/Outakoski (Gáregasnjárga/Vuovdaguoika), and Nuorgam (Njuorggán)—Finland’s northernmost village.
Utsjoki is also unique in its culture. It’s the only municipality in Finland where the majority of the population speaks Sámi, the language of Europe’s only Indigenous people. This vibrant culture is visible in daily life, from traditional clothing and food to language and seasonal celebrations.
Bordering the Finnish municipality of Inari and the Norwegian municipalities of Karasjok, Tana, and Nesseby (Uuniemi), Utsjoki is a gateway to cross-border Sámi heritage and arctic exploration.
Ancient Roots and Living Traditions in Utsjoki
The banks of the Teno River and its tributaries have been home to people for thousands of years. In Utsjoki, you can discover several Stone Age dwelling sites—mysterious remnants of early human life in the far north. While little is known about these ancient inhabitants or their connection to today’s locals, they left behind traces in the form of stone tools, tool-making debris, and possibly even loanwords that found their way into the Sámi language.
For centuries, the Sámi were the only people living in this remote and beautiful region. Today, Utsjoki proudly remains the only municipality in Finland with a Sámi-speaking majority—about half of the population speaks Sámi as their mother tongue, preserving the area’s unique cultural identity.
Utsjoki became an independent municipality in 1876. Traditional livelihoods such as fishing, reindeer herding, cattle farming, hunting, and berry picking once sustained local life—and many of these traditions still thrive today. While modern services now provide most of the jobs, the deep connection to nature and the rhythm of the seasons remains a defining feature of life in Utsjoki.
Come and explore a place where ancient history, vibrant Sámi culture, and Arctic wilderness come together in harmony.
The closeness to Norway can be seen both in cross-border trade and in the landscape. The route to the Arctic Ocean, Nordkapp and the Varanger area runs through Utsjoki. Karigasniemi and Utsjoki are linked by one of the most beautiful scenic routes in Finland, the Tenontie road, which runs alongside the river Teno. The small Saami villages of Dalvadas and Nuvvus are also located along the road.
Utsjoki is located in the Inari-Saariselkä tourism region. In Inari and other villages in the area, the Sami culture is still very much in evidence in everyday life. Here is where you find the genuine Lapland. Saariselkä is the northernmost travel destination in the European Union and boasts a variety of services.We can recommend this beautiful car route to explore the best parts of the region, starting for example from the Ivalo airport.
Find out more about visiting Lapland.