Kuusamo is a city or according to the administrative-territorial system of the country, a community located in the east of Finland. The Arctic Circle passes 60 kilometers from Kuusamo.
Those who are used to traveling on their own and sightseeing without a guide and tour groups can rent a car in Finland at a rental agency and not depend on anyone. Renting a car in Helsinki will cost an average of 20 euros per day. For comparison, in Oslo, renting a compact car will cost from 18 euros per day.
Thanks to the location of the city on the territory of the Oulanka Nature Reserve, lovers of outdoor recreation come to Kuusamo. More than five thousand small lakes and the richness of the natural landscape await tourists. Also nearby is a large ski resort "Ruka".
There are 400 kilometers of ski slopes, some of which are illuminated in the evening. In addition to lovers of cross-country skiing, slalom lovers come here. There are architectural sights and museums in the city.
Despite active recreation as the main reason for the popularity of Kuusamo, there are some interesting objects available for viewing. First of all, it is worth visiting the farmyard, which is an open-air museum exhibit.
It presents the main buildings of the Finnish village - a real windmill, a forge, a sauna and places for grain storage. There is also a classic type of museum - local lore, housed in a small building. The main architectural monument is the Kuusama stone church.
There are currently seven hotels in Kuusamo. Many of them, in addition to the traditional set of services, offer their guests a visit to the Finnish sauna. If you are booking hotels before traveling with children, it is worth considering the distance from the hotels to the city center.
The Tropics water park, located in the historical part of Kuusamo, operates here. Most of the water attractions are designed for children of different ages. In winter, snowmobile rides and sometimes reindeer sleigh rides are offered.
The proximity of the Arctic Circle affects the climate of the city. Fortunately, in summer the air warms up to quite comfortable values. The thermometer rises to +18 C. Winter, quite mild for this region, lasts from November to March. The air temperature at this time of the year averages -10 C.
Such weather conditions make it possible to have a good time on the ski slopes: they are designed for both beginners and experienced athletes. Many trails are artificially lit and equipped with chair lifts.
In addition to equipment rental, there are hot food points on the ski slopes. Most of them are organized on the principle of fast food or bistro. In Kuusamo, tourists can visit several cafes and restaurants with national cuisine.
Soups, fried sausages with an admixture of local spices and coffee popular in the country will make up a good menu. As a meat delicacy, venison and elk dishes are available - traditional for this region of the country. Alcohol is represented mainly by liqueurs from berries growing in the Arctic.
In Finland, and in Kuusamo in particular, spirits are quite expensive and are sold only in specialized places.