The fastest way to reach us all year round is to fly in from Helsinki. You can also take a train to Oulu, Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi and continue on to Kuusamo by bus or your own car. In the wintertime, there are also direct bus connections available from the Helsinki metropolitan area to Ruka.
Getting here
Getting to Kuusamo is easy!
You won’t need your own car when you’re here, because local public transport works well especially in the Ruka area.
Flying to Kuusamo
Finnair flies from Helsinki to Kuusamo all year round. The flight takes approximately one hour, and there are several daily flights available in the winter.
From Europe, during winter there are direct flights by Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Kuusamo once a week on Saturdays as well as from Düsseldorf to Kuusamo by Eurowings once a week on Sundays and from Zürich to Kuusamo by Edelweiss Air once a week.
The Pre-Booked Airport Bus runs between the airport and Ruka in connection with scheduled flights.
Driving to Ruka
When setting off from Helsinki, the most direct road to Kuusamo is Finnish national road 5, and the distance to cover is a little over 800 km. The route via Oulu is also favoured by many. You can find great places to take a break and refuel along the way. Please keep in mind: the reindeer herding area begins near Kiiminki when arriving via Oulu and in Suomussalmi when coming via Kajaani.
There is plenty of free parking available in the Ruka area. For those heading to Ruka village, a paid parking hall provides easy access right in the centre. There are charging stations for electric cars along the way and all around Kuusamo, see the bottom of this pages as well as page Parking.
Getting to Kuusamo by train and bus
You can take the environmentally friendly train to Kemijärvi, Oulu or Rovaniemi, from where you can continue on to Kuusamo by bus and then take a local bus to Ruka. And don’t forget the option of a car-carrier train: load your car on the train and get behind the wheel well-rested and refreshed in the morning.
The night train runs daily from Helsinki to Kemijärvi and there's a bus connection to Ruka. The car-carrier train continues to Kemijärvi three days a week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays). Vice versa, return departures by car-carrier train from Kemijärvi on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The bus connection between Rovaniemi and Kuusamo operates on weekdays. The bus connection between Kuusamo Aiport and Rovaniemi Airport also runs through Kuusamo city center, Rovaniemi bus station, and Rovaniemi railway station.
You can find routes and schedules easily from Matkahuolto's online route guide.
Tickets are easily bought with a mobile phone on Reitit ja liput app (only in Finnish, available in Apple Store and Google Play). Please note: this app only works in mobile phones. You can also purchase bus tickets when buying your train tickets in Matkahuolto.fi!
Directly from Ruka to Oulu
Onnibus partner Ruka Charter takes you directly from Ruka to Oulu during winter season. Schedules are available on Ruka Charter website in Finnish, tickets can be purchased in Matkahuolto.fi.
Schedule and tickets are also available on Onnibus website (Ruka Charter Oy R20 - Oulu - Pudasjärvi - Kuusamo - Ruka).
Bus connection from Rovaniemi to Kuusamo/Ruka
Rukan Taksipalvelu Oy operates from Kuusamo to Rovaniemi Mon-Fri starting from August 6, 2025.The bus does not operate on weekends and weekday public holidays. Tickets matkahuolto.fi/en.
The route also provides a connection from Kuusamo Airport to Rovaniemi Airport. The route runs through Kuusamo city center, Rovaniemi bus station, and Rovaniemi railway station.
The airport bus operating from Ruka to Kuusamo Airport (with a schedule that varies according to flight times) connects to the bus heading to Rovaniemi Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On the Matkahuolto website, set the departure location as Ruka and the destination as Rovaniemi Airport.
Starting from December 1, 2025, the bus departing from Rovaniemi bus station connects to SkiBus 3, which runs from Kuusamo centre to Ruka, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On the Matkahuolto website, set the departure location as Rovaniemi bus station and the destination as Ruka.
| Rovaniemi - Kuusamo | Mon-Fri | Mon-Fri |
|---|---|---|
| Rovaniemi bus station | | | 16.25 |
| Rovaniemi airport | 13.30 | 16.34 |
| Kuusamo centre (Kelantie) | 17.10 | 19.35 |
| Kuusamo airport | | | 19.50 |
| Kuusamo - Rovaniemi | Mon-Fri | Mon-Fri |
|---|---|---|
| Kuusamo airport | | | 9.15 |
| Kuusamo centre (Kelantie) | 5.50 | 9.30 |
| Rovaniemi airport | | | 12.15 |
| Rovaniemi bus station | 9.35 | 12.40 |
Detailed schedules, all stops and tickets at Matkahuolto.fi:
Kuusamo = Kuusamo city center (Kelantie, Ervastin aukio)
Rovaniemi = Rovaniemi bus station
From Kajaani to Kuusamo by bus
Bus connection from Kajaani to Kuusamo operates year round. This connection is very useful when travelling from Kuusamo to Hossa during 3.6.-29.9.2024. The whole schedule is available on Matkahuolto website and Kuusamo-Hossa on page Buses.
Train + bus: Kemijärvi-Kuusamo
This bus connection is especially suited for guests arriving by night train to Kemijärvi. If the train is late, the bus waits at Kemijärvi for max. 60 minutes.
This route is operated daily. We reserve the right for changes.
x = The bus will stop here if needed.
This bus connection is operated by Pohjolan Matka.
Please note: You can purchase bus tickets when buying your train tickets in vr.fi.
| Kemijärvi-Kuusamo | Mon-Fri, Sat, Sun |
|---|---|
| Kemijärvi railway station | 9:15 |
| Kemijärvi ABC | 9:20 |
| Joutsijärvi | x |
| Hotel Suomutunturi | 9:55 |
| Sale Käylä | 10:50 |
| Ruka village (Kumpare Shopping Centre roundabout) | 11:10 |
| Rukajärvi school | x |
| Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki | x |
| Kuusamo centre (Kelantie) | 11:40 |
| Kuusamo - Kemijärvi | Mon-Fri, Sat, Sun |
|---|---|
| Kuusamo centre (Kelantie) | 16:20 |
| Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki | x |
| Rukajärvi school | x |
| Ruka village (Kumpare Shopping Centre roundabout) | 16:50 |
| Sale Käylä | 17:10 |
| Hotel Suomutunturi | 18:05 |
| Joutsijärvi | x |
| Kemijärvi ABC | 18:40 |
| Kemijärvi railway station | 18:45 |
Detailed schedules and tickets at Matkahuolto.fi:
Kemijärvi = Kemijärvi railway station
Ruka = Ruka village (roundabout at Shopping Centre Kumpare)
Kuusamo = Kuusamo city centre (Kelantie, Ervastin aukio square)
Train + Bus: Oulu-Kuusamo
These bus connection are fitted to the timetable of certain trains arriving/leaving via Oulu.
Kuusamo Oulu: Mon-Fri at 4:30-7:30.
Oulu-Kuusamo: Mon-Fri at 20:30-23:30.
Please note: The only way to get from Ruka to Kuusamo (and return) is by taxi.
By bus via Oulu
A bus runs between Oulu and Kuusamo every day. You can take a bus from Helsinki to Kuusamo if you change buses once in Oulu.
SkiBus from Oulu to Ruka
A skibus runs from Oulu to Ruka and back in January–April every Saturday, additional service available during the weeks of Finnish winter holidays.
Local transportation in Kuusamo
Airport Bus, SkiBus, Lammintupa Bus, Village-2-Valley Gondola... Local transportation services are being developed all the time!
Arriving by electric car
Check charging points on map: latauskartta.fi. We have listed charging points in Kuusamo on page Parking.
Luggage storage for travelers, e.g. when going hiking or waiting for a late flight
There is a small luggage room in connection with the tourist information point Ruka Info, located in Kauppakeskus Kumpare in Ruka village. The price of the luggage storage is 7 €/day and 10 €/7 days per large bag or a few small bags of the same party. The space cannot accommodate skis or boards. Luggage storage is open according to the opening hours of Ruka Info (note possible exceptions in opening hours).
Scandic Rukahovi in Ruka village rents storage cages in the hotel's ski storage during the summer for tourists, also other than those staying at the hotel. Price 15 €/storage, payment to the hotel reception and the key to the storage cage can be left in storage at the hotel reception for e.g. during the hike. Ski storage is located behind the reception on the same floor, guidance from the hotel reception.
Transportation service providers:
Pohjolan Matka Busses
Traffic
Ruka Buses
Traffic
Ruka Charter
Traffic
Ruka Parking
Traffic
Ruka Taxi Service
Traffic
Taxi Centre Otaxi Kuusamo
Traffic
Taxi Centre Otaxi Ruka
Traffic
Village-2-Valley Scenic Gondola
Traffic