Live in Kautokeino

Kautokeino is Norway’s largest municipality in area, with almost 10 000 square kilometers of beautiful and varied nature. The municipality is located on the Finnmark Plateau, and borders Finland in the south and several other Norwegian municipalities in the north, east and west. Kautokeino has around 2900 inhabitants, of which 90 % are Sami-speaking. Kautokeino is an important center for Sami culture, language, education and business. 

Kautokeino has a lot to offer for both residents and visitors. The municipality has a rich cultural life, with among other things Juhls Silver Gallery, which is Northern Europe’s largest private art gallery, Kautokeino local museum, which shows local history and traditions, and Samiway, which offers cultural experiences and courses. Every year there are several festivals and events in Kautokeino, such as Sami Easter Festival, Kautokeino Film Festival, Riddu Riđđu Festival and Sami Grand Prix. 

Kautokeino is also a paradise for outdoor activities and nature-based tourism. The municipality has over 600 square kilometers of fishing waters, where you can fish for trout, char, whitefish and perch. There are also many opportunities for hunting, berry picking, hiking, cycling, skiing and dog sledding in the varied landscape. For those who want to stay overnight in Kautokeino, there are several options, from campsites and cabins to hotels with all facilities. Some of the most popular tourist destinations in Kautokeino are Visit Natives, which offers authentic Sami experiences such as reindeer herding, joik and duodji, Sokkiadventure, which organizes exciting snowmobile safaris, and Masi, which is an idyllic village between Kautokeino and Alta. 

Kautokeino also has a varied and robust business structure, with both public and private sector. The municipality has several schools and kindergartens, as well as Sami University College, which is a national institution for Sami education and research. The private sector in Kautokeino consists of among other things the reindeer husbandry industry, which is an important part of the Sami culture and identity, as well as handicraft-, service- and tourism industry. Kautokeino also has a well-developed infrastructure, with road-, air- and bus connections to other places in the region. 

In short, Kautokeino is a municipality with many qualities and opportunities for both residents and visitors. Kautokeino is a municipality that values its Sami heritage and promotes its Sami identity, while being open to diversity and development. Kautokeino is a municipality that offers nature experiences, cultural experiences and business opportunities in an exciting and dynamic environment. Kautokeino is a municipality where you can live well and enjoy.