Getting here

You won’t need your own car when you’re here, because local public transport works well especially in the Ruka area.

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.

New for winter 2024-2025: Finnish Railways (VR) is adding more train services to Kemijärvi during the busiest holiday weeks. You can travel to Kemijärvi from Helsinki on Fridays with a train departing at 12:24, and from Kemijärvi to Helsinki on Saturdays with a train departing at 7:40.

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!

Arriving by electric car

Check charging points on map: latauskartta.fi.

When driving from Helsinki to Kuusamo, you can recharge your electric car with a high power charger at Graani’s McDonalds in Mikkeli. When arriving along road number 5, there is a Neste My recharge station in Neste Kontiomäki (Paltamo) with 6 high power chargers as well as a recharge infra four car high power charger in Suomussalmi at Jalonniemi House.

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: