Information about Ruka-Kuusamo

In winter: Ruka Ski Resort, national parks, Ruka village, cross country tracks, snowmobiling routes and great variety of guided winter activities. 

In summer: the magnificent nature in Kuusamo — National Parks in Oulanka, Riisitunturi, Hossa, Salla and Iso-Syöte, Karhunkierros hiking trail, Kitka and Oulanka rivers, steep hills and numerous lakes with lots of fish. 

Ruka-Kuusamo Bucket list

The readers of German Trekking Magazine have chosen Finnish Lapland as the 3rd most exciting hiking destination in Europe. The nomination was connected to the article in Trekking Magazine on 2/2023, as part of the campaign by Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association and Visit Finland.

Investments during 2018-2021: 100 MEur. 

All novelties and recent investments in Ruka-Kuusamo are listed our page New at Ruka-Kuusamo. 

New at Ruka-Kuusamo

Ruka in Lapland is the largest ski resort in Finland comparing skiing days: During ski season 2023-2024 there were 476 500 skiing days.

41 groomed runs, biggest vertical 201 m and longest run 1300 m. The top of Ruka is 492 meters above sea level.

Groomed runs altogether 20 km: 41 % blue/beginner, 43 % red/intermediate and 16 % black/advanced.

5 groomers and over 105 snow guns.

22 lifts: 5 chairs with super fast Masto Express, Vuosseli Express, Saarua Express and Village Express detachable chair lifts. Village-2-Valley scenic gondola.

Ruka Park and moguls run, Battery Run, suitable for international competitions (length 225 m, vertical 106 m, steepness 52 % i.e 29 degrees), internationally renowned Aerials Jump and FIS rated slalom run. Mini Ruka and Ruka Park Junior, Rosa & Rudolf Family Park.

4 rental shops: over 2500 sets of alpine ski equipment, 400 sets of snowboards and 200 sets of cross-country skis.

The biggest and oldest ski school in Finland, Ski School Ruka, 180 instructors (mostly part-time).

Ski season from October to May (over 200 days), ski season 2023-2024: 6.10.2023-5.5.2024. During season 2022-2023 the ski season lasted altogether 213 skiing days.  

Slopes are open every day 9.30 a.m - 7 p.m. according to weather conditions. 
Night skiing on Fridays 7-11 p.m (December - mid-April)

Slopes and lifts

Appr. 2000 km of different kinds of marked routes on Kuusamo area.

Nearly 450 km of cross country trails in Kuusamo area (40 km illuminated); out of these 100 km in Ruka (17 km illuminated).

First Snow Track in Ruka village with stored snow is open every year in mid-October. First Snow Track nearby Kuusamo centre (Petäjäkangas) will be opened  each October/November according to cold weather (man-made snow).

400 km of marked, free-of-charge snowmobile routes and 100 km of safari organizers' own routes.

In the summer: 300 km of hiking routes, 180 km of biking routes, 350 km of classified paddling and boating routes. New for summer 2024: over 900 km of new gravel biking routes!

There are altogether five versatile national parks in the area or nearby. Many of these have been mentioned on the Lonely Planet's list of the best national parks in Finland. 

In Ruka area appr. 30 restaurants & bars/pubs (almost 8.000 seats), out of which 10 on-mountain restaurants and several cafés; appr. 1000 seats on terraces.

In the whole Kuusamo area over 60 restaurants & bars/pubs with over 15.000 seats.

Food and entertainment

Ruka pedestrian village consists of over 1000 visitor beds, 15 restaurants, 10 shops and underground parking for 320 cars right by the ski area.

Shopping Centre Kumpare: Ruka Info (tourist office), shops, kids' playground, bowling, saunas, massage, internet.

Kuusamon Tropiikki Spa: 3 saunas, large pool area and a big water slide. Angry Birds Activity Park.

Ruka Summer Sled Track is the longest one in Finland (1.001 m), Ruka Disc Golf Park, Mini golf.

About 40 safari organizers with varied programs and equipment rentals.

A new 18 hole golf course nearby Kuusamon Tropiikki Spa.

Ruka International Ski Jump Stadium: K120 and K64 jumps (K120/HS142 is the biggest year-round jump in Finland).

Karhuntassu Visitor Centre: Kuusamo Info (tourist office), internet, Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre, fishing permits, Kuusamo products, cafe.

SkiBus route around the ski resort and accommodation areas in Ruka and Kuusamo; free of charge in Ruka Ski Resort area.

Hiking bus transporting hikers to the starting points of Karhunkierros Trail as well as to the airport; year round. 

Pre-Booked Airport Bus from and to all scheduled flights at Kuusamo airport; year round.

Getting around

Altogether approximately 12.000 beds in Kuusamo area available for guests. 

7.500 holiday apartments and cottages in Kuusamo.

Ruka-Kuusamo Travel Search shows the availability and prices for most of the accommodation in the area.

Accommodation

Appr. one million visitors in Kuusamo every year; 126 300 of these arrived by airplane 2024 (Finavia).

During 2024 there were 545 000 registered overnights, of which 390 000 were Finnish (72 %) and 155 000 (28 %) foreigners. Un-registered overnights 2024: 491 000. These numbers do not include overnights in privately owned cottages. (Source: Tilastokeskus/Statistics Finland, visitory.io)

Visits in the area's national parks 2024: Oulanka 187 400, Hossa 75 500, Riisitunturi 58 800 visits and Salla 55 900 visits (source: metsa.fi). Oulanka National Park's impact on the local economic was 26,9 MEur on 2024. (Source: metsa.fi)

Visitory.io shows you the amount of visitors and bed nights in Ruka-Kuusamo: 

visitory.io

Tourism income in Kuusamo on 2023 was 152,7 MEur (17.3% of the total turnover across all industries).

Tourism provided year-round employment for 696 residents of Kuusamo in 2023 (17.7% of the total full-time equivalent jobs in the region).

The climate in Kuusamo region is more continental than in most other parts of Finland. The mean temperature of the year is around 0°C and the growing season is 135 days long.

The ground is covered with snow around 200 days from the end of October till the middle of May. Winter conditions may cause a challenge for drivers, so please take a look at Driving in Finland. 

When to travel?

We've gathered some details about weather conditions in Kuusamo.  
*) Weather permitting. The Northern Lights appear throughout the year, but they are difficult to see during the light summer nights. 
Snow cm = average snow depth in centimetres 
Temp. C = average temperature (Celsius)
Daylight h = amount of daylight in hours