Kuusamo

Kuusamo is a town and municipality in Northern Finland. The high season for tourism is the winter when people head to the ski resort Ruka. 20 km north of the town. However Oulanka National Park 20 km farther to the north is also fairly popular and can be visited around the year.

Kuusamo is a town and municipality in [[Northern Finland]]. The high season for tourism is the winter when people head to the ski resort Ruka. 20 km north of the town. However Oulanka National Park 20 km farther to the north is also fairly popular and can be visited around the year.

• Kuusamo Info, Torangintaival 2, +358 40 860 8365. 9-17 (Sa–Su winters closed). The official tourist info of Kuusamo.

Kuusamo Info, Torangintaival 2, +358 40 860 8365. 9-17 (Sa–Su winters closed). The official tourist info of Kuusamo.

• Tourist centre Karhuntassu, Torangintaival 2, +358 40-860-8365 (general tourist info), +358 20-639-6804 (Metsähallitus). Tourist information, the Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre, cafeteria and a Metsähallitus’ customer service point giving information and hiking advice regarding the nearby destinations and selling fishing and hunting permits.
• Kaamosgalleria, +358 400-623-264. Art exhibitions.
• Local history museum, Kitronintie 6, +358 40-860-8717. Old farmhouses.
• Oulanka National Park Visitor Centre, Liikasenvaarantie 132, 93999 Kuusamo (some 40 km north from Kuusamo centre, +358 20-564-6850. 10:00–18:00. Information on hiking, camping and on the national park in general. Also an exhibition. Several hiking trails, including an easy 1 km trail, start here. Entrance is free-of-charge.

Tourist centre Karhuntassu, Torangintaival 2, +358 40-860-8365 (general tourist info), +358 20-639-6804 (Metsähallitus). Tourist information, the Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre, cafeteria and a Metsähallitus’ customer service point giving information and hiking advice regarding the nearby destinations and selling fishing and hunting permits.

Kaamosgalleria, +358 400-623-264. Art exhibitions.

Local history museum, Kitronintie 6, +358 40-860-8717. Old farmhouses.

Oulanka National Park Visitor Centre, Liikasenvaarantie 132, 93999 Kuusamo (some 40 km north from Kuusamo centre, +358 20-564-6850. 10:00–18:00. Information on hiking, camping and on the national park in general. Also an exhibition. Several hiking trails, including an easy 1 km trail, start here. Entrance is free-of-charge.

• Nature photo festival. 2017: 7–10 September. Free.

Nature photo festival. 2017: 7–10 September. Free.

• Ruka, +358 8 860-0250. One of the biggest ski centres in Finland.
• Oulanka National Park. Many trails, ranging from easy 1–10 km ones (including ones accessible by wheelchair and pram) to the famous Karhunkierros trail. The summer trails are generally well marked with good infrastructure. Also canoeing routes. Borders Paanajärvi National Park in Russia (border passing for wildlife only). No entrance or hiking fees.
• Karhunkierros. The most popular hiking trail in Finland. The 80 km long trail leads through two beautiful national parks. There are also several shorter variations of the trail. The trail is easily accessible from Kuusamo airport with a bus that takes you to the beginning of the trail. Although the trail is quite easy, you should still be prepared with a decent map and enough food. Water is not a problem, as there are plenty of rivers that have clean and drinkable water. There are several open wilderness huts (autiotupa), where you can stay for free. The huts tend to get full during peak season (end of June to beginning of August), so you should consider bringing your own tent. It is possible to extend the hike all the way to Urho Kekkonen National Park by the UKK trail.
• Näränkä Natural Forest. Virtually pristine nature, unique even in the scale of Western Europe (according to Metsähallitus). By the Russian border, 30 km from Kuusamo centre. Forests, natural small waterways, bogs, high hills with good views and a wilderness farm. The Hyöteikkö trail is closed as the duckboards are in bad shape; the Näränkä Vaaranpolku trail (3 km) is still reached via the Näränkä farm.
• Ölökyn ähkäsy trail. Hiking trail (10 km) around the Julma-Ölkky lake. A shorter route, Ölkyn ylitys (5 km) takes a shortcut by a suspension bridge over the lake. Impressing canyon lake. Rock paintings. Both trails are fairly demanding; the terrain is rough. Part of Hossa National Park.

Ruka, +358 8 860-0250. One of the biggest ski centres in Finland.

Oulanka National Park. Many trails, ranging from easy 1–10 km ones (including ones accessible by wheelchair and pram) to the famous Karhunkierros trail. The summer trails are generally well marked with good infrastructure. Also canoeing routes. Borders [[Paanajärvi National Park]] in Russia (border passing for wildlife only). No entrance or hiking fees.

Karhunkierros. The most popular hiking trail in Finland. The 80 km long trail leads through two beautiful national parks. There are also several shorter variations of the trail. The trail is easily accessible from Kuusamo airport with a bus that takes you to the beginning of the trail. Although the trail is quite easy, you should still be prepared with a decent map and enough food. Water is not a problem, as there are plenty of rivers that have clean and drinkable water. There are several open wilderness huts (autiotupa), where you can stay for free. The huts tend to get full during peak season (end of June to beginning of August), so you should consider bringing your own tent. It is possible to extend the hike all the way to [[Urho Kekkonen National Park]] by the UKK trail.

Näränkä Natural Forest. Virtually pristine nature, unique even in the scale of Western Europe (according to Metsähallitus). By the Russian border, 30 km from Kuusamo centre. Forests, natural small waterways, bogs, high hills with good views and a wilderness farm. The Hyöteikkö trail is closed as the duckboards are in bad shape; the Näränkä Vaaranpolku trail (3 km) is still reached via the Näränkä farm.

Ölökyn ähkäsy trail. Hiking trail (10 km) around the Julma-Ölkky lake. A shorter route, Ölkyn ylitys (5 km) takes a shortcut by a suspension bridge over the lake. Impressing canyon lake. Rock paintings. Both trails are fairly demanding; the terrain is rough. Part of [[Hossa National Park]].

There are many handicraft stores at the Ruka resort and in central Kuusamo.

• Kuusamon Uistin, Kemijärventie 44-46, +358 8 860-3450. 10:00–18:00 (Sat-Sun 10 16). The famous spoon lure manufacturer Kuusamon Uistin has a shop located on the factory premises. There is also a café.
• Supermarket Prisma Kuusamo, Huoparintie 1, +358 10-763-3100. 9-21, Sat 09:00–18:00, Sun 12:00–18:00. Big supermarket in Kuusamo city. Daily items, clothing, sport equipment etc.
• K-Citymarket Kuusamo, Luomantie 1-3, +358 207204100. 9-21, Sat 9-18, Sun 12-18. Big supermarket. Here you can buy almost anything.

Kuusamon Uistin, Kemijärventie 44-46, +358 8 860-3450. 10:00–18:00 (Sat-Sun 10 16). The famous spoon lure manufacturer Kuusamon Uistin has a shop located on the factory premises. There is also a café.

Supermarket Prisma Kuusamo, Huoparintie 1, +358 10-763-3100. 9-21, Sat 09:00–18:00, Sun 12:00–18:00. Big supermarket in Kuusamo city. Daily items, clothing, sport equipment etc.

K-Citymarket Kuusamo, Luomantie 1-3, +358 207204100. 9-21, Sat 9-18, Sun 12-18. Big supermarket. Here you can buy almost anything.

• Leipäjuusto a regional fresh cheese. Also known as Finnish squeaky cheese because the cheese is "squeaking" when one's chewing it.
• Poronkäristys, sauteed reindeer. A speciality of Lapland, but also available in the northern part of the Oulu province.

Leipäjuusto a regional fresh cheese. Also known as Finnish squeaky cheese because the cheese is "squeaking" when one's chewing it.

Poronkäristys, sauteed reindeer. A speciality of [[Finnish Lapland|Lapland]], but also available in the northern part of the Oulu province.

• Restaurant Mango, Kylpyläntie 1, 93699 Kuusamo, +358 8-859 6440. Different opening hours every day. The restaurant in the spa hotel offering healthy food.
• Spa Coffee, Kylpyläntie 1, 93600 Kuusamo, +358 8-859 6000. 10-21.30. The restaurant has a la carte meals, pizza, toast, salad and different kinds of snacks on their menu.
• Sokos Hotel Kuusamo Restaurants, Kirkkotie 23, 93600 Kuusamo, +358 20 1234 693. From 9 until at least 23 (some days until 4 am). Three different restaurants: Torrero for really good meal, Ollin Baari for drinks and Hotku Club for dancing.

Restaurant Mango, Kylpyläntie 1, 93699 Kuusamo, +358 8-859 6440. Different opening hours every day. The restaurant in the spa hotel offering healthy food.

Spa Coffee, Kylpyläntie 1, 93600 Kuusamo, +358 8-859 6000. 10-21.30. The restaurant has a la carte meals, pizza, toast, salad and different kinds of snacks on their menu.

Sokos Hotel Kuusamo Restaurants, Kirkkotie 23, 93600 Kuusamo, +358 20 1234 693. From 9 until at least 23 (some days until 4 am). Three different restaurants: Torrero for really good meal, Ollin Baari for drinks and Hotku Club for dancing.

There are many bars and pubs in Ruka and Kuusamo, Ruka is famous for its dance and karaoke bar ZONE.

• SportBar & Arena, Kylpyläntie 1, 93600 Kuusamo, +358 8-852 1909. 15-22(24). This place is for sport fans. You can can go bowling, play billiards, watch sports or just enjoy a drink.

SportBar & Arena, Kylpyläntie 1, 93600 Kuusamo, +358 8-852 1909. 15-22(24). This place is for sport fans. You can can go bowling, play billiards, watch sports or just enjoy a drink.

Locals don't like arrogant tourists, especially when they are intoxicated, so be polite to them and they are polite to you.

• Finnish Lapland