Ranua Wildlife Park Entrance Ticket

Ranua Wildlife Park and its polar bear

Founded more than 40 years ago in the small municipality of Ranua, south of Rovaniemi, the park was created to show the animals of the Arctic and the northern forest in surroundings as close as possible to their natural habitat. Its enclosures are large and wooded, many species are native to Finnish Lapland, and the park also takes part in conservation and breeding programmes for northern wildlife.

The star for most visitors is the polar bear, the only one in Finland, who lives in a spacious enclosure with rocks, water and plenty of room to roam. Watching it swim or pad across the snow is the highlight of a visit to Ranua Wildlife Park. Take your time here: the bear is often most active in the cooler hours, and patience is usually rewarded with great views and photos.

The 3 km forest route and the northern animals

The visit follows a clear walking route of about 3 km through the pine and spruce forest, with boardwalks and paths that lead from one enclosure to the next. Along the way you see brown bears, wolves, lynx and wolverines, the big predators of the northern forest, as well as arctic foxes, otters, moose, wild forest reindeer, musk oxen and a collection of owls and other birds.

Plan about 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the whole route at an easy pace, longer if you like to stop and watch the animals. Information boards explain each species and where it lives in the wild. There is also a small domestic animal area that young children love. Because the enclosures blend into the forest, the animals sometimes need a moment to find, which makes spotting them part of the fun.

Best time to visit Ranua Wildlife Park

The park is open every day of the year, and each season brings a different experience. In winter the forest is deep in snow, arctic foxes and hares wear their white coats and the polar bear is in its element, while the brown bears sleep through the coldest months, as they would in the wild. In spring young animals are born, and in summer long bright days and green forest make for a relaxed walk.

Autumn brings the colours of the Lapland ruska season and active animals preparing for winter. So what is the best time to visit Ranua Wildlife Park? For snow and arctic atmosphere, choose winter; for the full set of animals awake and active, late spring to autumn. Opening hours change with the season, so check them for your date before you travel.

How to get to Ranua and practical tips

Ranua lies about an hour's drive south of Rovaniemi, which makes the park an easy half-day or day trip from the Lapland capital by car or on an organised excursion. On arrival, go to the ticket sales at the entrance and show your voucher to receive your wristbands; then simply follow the route. Dress for the weather, because the visit is outdoors, and wear warm shoes in winter.

To protect the animals, the park asks visitors not to feed or touch them, not to make noise, and not to bring pets, bicycles, scooters or drones. The route is not suitable for wheelchair users. A visit to Ranua Wildlife Park combines well with a day in Rovaniemi, and with this ticket the entrance is already arranged before you arrive.