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Kuusamo is a place that has something for everyone in different seasons. We have visited Kuusamo in summer, autumn and winter in March. All the seasons have been beautiful. The snow and clear lakes are captivating. We enjoyed hiking in the forest. Skiing, both on the slopes and doing cross-country in the forests, is delightful. Kuusamo is famous for the skislopes of Ruka, which are about 20 km from the centre. It is also known for its hiking trails in Oulanka and Posio. You can read about those in the activities section. Have a look at our top five tips for visiting Kuusamo and the surroundings. The nearest airport is Rovaniemi.
Accommodation
When we go to Kuusamo, we stay at the Holiday Club Kuusamo. The hotel complex has different types of accommodation from hotel rooms to villas and cabins. It has a small spa and a bowling alley. There is a small indoors Angry Birds activity park for little kids. This is perfect in case of a rainy day and too much energy. Outdoors, you can have lovely and easy nature walks around the hotel. You can also enjoy cross-country skiing in the well-maintained ski trails. Alternatively, you can walk on the ice. There is also a winter and summer swimming pier with clear waters close to the hotel. There is plenty of accommodation in the Ruka area. You can also find places in the Ruka Village if you want to be closer to the slopes.
Shopping Favourites
In Kuusamo town centre there are the usual food supermarkets. Bigger shops are a couple of kilometres from the centre. They offer clothes and other items for souvenirs. In the centre there is a lovely shop Bjarmia with ceramics, candles, souvenirs and clothing. There is also In Ruka village where you can find souvenir shops. They offer items for winter and summer sports. You can definitely find your treats to take home. Reindeer, elk, and bear meat in tins or as jerky might be a nice souvenir. You can also consider lovely jams and handicrafts. Finnish Fazer Chocolate is of course always something to try and take home.
Eating
Here I will list our favourite places that we always visit on our trips. The first one is the cafe-restaurant Talon Pöytä.
There I can recommend the buffet lunch. You can check out their lunch menu beforehand. See which day’s menu caters to your (and your kids’) palates best. Also there are many restaurants in Ruka so it is easy to find good food. We also tend to visit the Petäjälammen Herkku. You can have a light soup lunch there. Enjoy nice home-baked pulla (Finnish sweet buns) with coffee. In Ruka Village you can find a souvenir shop and traditional Finnish Buffet and Cafe called Pitäjän Pirtti. They sell huge sugary donuts so you cannot leave this place hungry. In Finland, if you do some excercise, you can treat yourself. You know you have earned it and can enjoy it guilt-free.
Activities
As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of things to do in Kuusamo and the surroundings. In the summer and Autumn you can go hiking in the Oulanka National Park.
There are different trails based on the difficulty level and length. In the summer make sure you bring your mosquito repellent. There is also a Riisitunturi National Park about 50 km away. It is a beautiful 4.5 km trail you can visit all year round.
You can bring sausages and hot drinks with you and enjoy them by the fire. On this same trip you can visit the village of Posio and the Pentik ceramics factory outlet and Art Gallery.
In winter Ruka is the place to go if you like winter sports. The slopes are quite easy so they are excellent for skiers that are not so familiar with the sport. You also have ski lifts with a “bubble” you can close. Condole lifts are also available. These allow you to hide from the wind or cold on the way up. Ruka has nice cafés along the ski trails, so you can warm up if the temperatures get well below zero.
If you want to try a husky or reindeer ride, you can do that here. If you are interested in snow mobiles, there are options for everyone. There are also small snow mobiles for the kids in Lammintupa. This place is a lovely stopover on your cross-country skiing trip. You can enjoy a warm soup lunch. For dessert, there are Finnish pancakes with whipped cream and jam.
If you want to go for a longer ski trip, you can listen to an audiobook. With this Bookbeat link, you can get a 45-day free trial.
The Nature
The last thing I need to mention about Kuusamo is the nature and the fresh air. Wherever you go, just enjoy the scenery and the harmony. Kuusamo is not Lapland but it has almost all the elements. On a clear winter night, you can witness the Aurora Borealis. Alternatively, you might see a clear starlit sky and enjoy the silence. After a cold day outdoors, it is nice to huddle by a fire. Enjoy a nice hot Glögi drink with almond flakes and raisins. If you want more action, you can stay in the Ruka Village. There are bars and restaurants around you. The Kuusamo area truly caters for everyone. Hope these top five tips for visiting Kuusamo help you with your travel plans!