Discover Haparanda in Sweden: border-town charm, cultural gems and scenic stops just a short drive from Finnish Lapland.
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Ever since I was a kid, it has been a tradition for us to road trip up north in Finland and pop over to Sweden to visit Haparanda. It is super easy to cross the border even just for a quick shopping trip, but there is also a bit more to see and do in this small town than you might expect.
Haparanda is a fascinating little border town, especially because it shares such a close partnership with its neighbor, Tornio, a city just across the river on the Finnish side. The two towns have even made their cooperation official with a symbolic pair of giant engagement rings right on the border. City partnership’s are not unusual, but what makes this special is that the two cities are actually in two different countries!
Most people from the Finnish side visit Haparanda by car, crossing the border immediately after the Torne River. It is about 740 kilometers from Helsinki and 620 kilometers from Tampere, making it a great little side trip if you are heading to Lapland or even onward to Norway.
Crossing the border here is usually completely seamless, you might not even realize you have passed into Sweden. Just remember, the time zone changes at the border, so the clock in Haparanda is one hour behind Finland.
Things to Do in Haparanda and top sights
See the Kihlat – sculpture
As you drive from Tornio into Haparanda, you will notice a large stainless steel sculpture right in the middle of the roundabout at the border. The artwork features two oversized engagement rings interlocked with each other.
Unveiled in 2009, the piece is called Kihlat, which translated to “The Engagement”, and symbolizes the unique relationship between Tornio and Haparanda as a twin city. It is a beautiful tribute to the close cooperation between these two towns, even though they sit in different countries.
Go on a Shopping Spree
Back when I was a kid, our trips to Haparanda were mostly about stocking up on butter. Yup, you read it right, butter. We would often come back with juices, sodas, sugar, flour and solid stash of candy too as everything was so much cheaper in Sweden at the time. These shopping runs were popular among Finns from the 1970s all the way into the mid 90s, and they were sometimes even organized by busload.
These days people head over to Haparanda from Finland for snus, beer and soft drinks, and of course, for a stop at IKEA. The most popular spot for snus and soda is Snusgrossen, and for alcohol Systembolaget. We usually skip all that but I do sometimes try out some soda or mineral water brands we don’t have in Finland.
Even if we don’t really need anything, it is still fun to browse the local grocery stores like Maxi ICA or Coop Extra. Good local souvenirs are cheese puffs (that are different from the ones in the U.S.), Bilar candy and Swedish-style sausage called Falukorv.
Also worth a stop are the candy stores there. Candy World and Gottebiten are sweet-tooth heaven! Candy World claims to be the biggest candy store in Europe, and judging by the variety, I believe it.
If hiking and outdoor adventures are your thing, you will want to make a stop at the Haglöfs Factory Outlet, Sporthuset and the Peak Performance Outlet. Great gear and solid deals! And if you are planning to hit the trails with little ones, check out our family hiking tips right here.
Snap a photo on the border; Rajalla – På Gränsen
Back in 2008, a shopping center called Rajalla – På Gränsen (which literally means “On the Border”) opened right on the Finland-Sweden border. It is home to around 40 speciality stores, restaurants and businesses, and has particularly strong lineup of clothing shops.
While the mall itself is technically located on the Finnish side, the back wall is just a few steps stroll from the actual border. Don’t miss the chance to snap a pic at the giant heart sculpture where you can have one foot in Finland and the other in Sweden!
Visit the Sweden’s “Ugliest Church”
Yes, you read that right, locals call Haparanda Church the ugliest church in all of Sweden. And while it may not win any beauty pageants, it is definitely worth a quick look just for its bold, unusual design. The church is a striking black building designed by architect Bengt Larsson and opened it doors in 1967.
It belongs to the Haparanda parish and the Diocese of Luleå. Inside, it’s surprisingly spacious and minimalistic with clean lines and high ceiling that soars up to 92 feet (28 meters). Ugly? Maybe. Unique? Absolutely!
Enjoy the nature at Kukkolaforsen
Just under 10 miles (15 km) from Haparanda lies one of the region’s hidden gems, Kukkolaforsen. It is a home to the longest free-flowing rapid in both Finland and all of Europe. It is especially famous for traditional fishing dipnetting, a method of scooping fish into a bag net with a 6-meter-long handle. This tradition dates all the way back to the 1500s.
Kukkolaforsen is easy to reach by car and makes a great few hour trip from Haparanda or you can make it longer stay there. The riverside village has a cozy hotel, restaurants, camping area, sauna world and a charming heritage village complete with museums.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities from white water adventures to scenic nature trails. And there is a Finnish Kukkola village on the opposite shore where you can literally wave across to the border to people.
Whether you are staying in Haparanda or continuing your journey somewhere, Kukkolaforsen is well worth the stop!
Find the Struve Geodetic Arc
Here is something a bit unexpected; a slice of UNESCO World Heritage tucked into the peaceful landscapes near Kukkolaforsen. The Struve Geodetic Arc is remarkable chain of survey triangulation points stretching all the way from the Arctic Ocean in Norway to the Black Sea in Ukraine.
Back in the 1800s, the Struve Geodetic Arc used to measure the exact size and shape of the Earth. Pretty cool, right? One these historical measuring points is located just about 4,4 miles (7 km) from the heritage village of Kukkolaforsen. You can find it in your GPS under Struve Geodetic Arc – Perävaara or simply following the brown signs on Road 99.
If you want to chase obscure UNESCO sites, the next Arc point in located at Alatornio Church in Finland.
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While many people head to Haparanda for shopping, we have learned it actually has a lot more to offer than just cheaper candy and Swedish groceries. From quirky attractions to scenic river views, it is well worth sticking around a bit longer.
If you are planning to spend the night on the Swedish site of the border, the most popular option is the charming and historic Haparanda Stadshotell, located right in the heart of town. For a peaceful stay surrounded by nature, Kukkolaforsen Turist & Konferens offers hight-quality condos just outside the city. And if you are road tripping with a camper, you can legally park overnight right in the IKEA parking lot!
We have also stayed the night on the other side of the border in Kemi. Their class villas and year-around SnowExperience were really nice.
A stop in Haparanda fits perfectly into a longer trip to Lapland, wether you headed to see Santa Claus in Rovaniemi, to SantaPark or driving all the way to the Arctic Ocean in Norway.
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