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 on Saturdays during winter (from 19.11.2022 onwards). An airport bus runs between the airport and Ruka in connection with scheduled flights.
Kuusamo Airport's air traffic will be suspended during 17.7.-15.8.-2023
At Kuusamo Airport, Finavia is renewing the runway lighting system and apron coating. The current lamps will be replaced with LED lamps, which will reduce electricity consumption. The investment costs 2,5 M€.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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)
Directly from Ruka to Oulu
Onnibus partner Ruka Charter takes you from Oulu to Kuusamo from Monday to Friday and on Sundays. From 9.1.2023 onwards this route is operated on Mon, Thu-Fri and Sun.
Return trip is available directly from Ruka to Oulu from Monday to Friday and on Sundays. From 9.1.2023 onwards this route is operated on Mon, Thu-Fri and Sun.
Also Nevakivi takes you directly from Ruka to Oulu on Sundays. Other weekdays offer good connection between Kuusamo and Oulu.
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, Karhunkierros Trail Bus, HossaBus... Local transportation services are being developed all the time!
Luggage storage for travelers, e.g. when going hiking or waiting for a late flight
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 10 €/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.