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, there are direct Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt to Kuusamo once a week during winter.
An 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.
Ruka has plenty of parking. There are charging stations for electric cars all around Kuusamo.
Getting to Kuusamo by train and bus
You can take the environmentally friendly train to Oulu and 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.
New: Kemijärvi - Kuusamo from 6.6.2022 onwards
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.
Tickets: matkahuolto.fi. This route is operated daily from 6.6.2022 onwards.
x = The bus will stop here if needed.
| 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 |
New: Kajaani - Hossa - Kuusamo 6.6.-2.10.2022
Small changes in timetable are possible. Tickets: matkahuolto.fi.
Explanations of abbreviations
Mon-Fri = Monday to Friday
Sat = Saturdays
Sun = Sundays
SS = If there are two or more bank holidays in a row, the bus will operate on the last bank holiday, not on single bank holidays.
x = The bus stops here if needed.
-- = The bus does not travel via this bus stop.
| Kuusamo - Hossa - Kajaani | Mon-Fri | SS |
|---|---|---|
| Kuusamo centre (Kelantie) | 7:45 | 10:00 |
| Kuusamon Suurpetokeskus | -- | -- |
| Julma Ölkky | -- | -- |
| Hossa Visitor Centre | 8:45 | 11:00 |
| Hossa E (Hossan Lomakeskus) | 8:50 | 11:05 |
| Suomussalmi bus station | 10:20 | 12:35 |
| Kajaanin Matkakeskus | 12:00 | 14:20 |
| Kajaani - Hossa - Kuusamo | Mon-Fri | SS |
|---|---|---|
| Kajaanin Matkakeskus | 14:40 | 15:15 |
| Suomussalmi bus station | 16:20 | 17:00 |
| Hossa P (Hossan Lomakeskus) | 17:50 | 18:25 |
| Hossa Visitor Centre | 17:55 | 18:30 |
| Julma Ölkky | -- | -- |
| Kuusamon Suurpetokeskus | -- | -- |
| Kuusamo centre (Kelantie) | 19:00 | 19:35 |
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 November–April every Saturday, additional service available during the weeks of Finnish winter holidays.
Onnibus from Oulu to Ruka
An Onnibus runs directly from Oulu to Ruka on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
