# Kouvola

Kouvola$^{[deadlink]}$ is a city of 80,000 people (2021) in Southern Finland, 134 km northeast of the capital, Helsinki.

## Understand

The town emerged around the junction of the north-south and east–west rail tracks. It is one of Finland's most important rail hubs, and the main rail link between Finland and St. Petersburg goes through Kouvola. In 2009, the six municipalities – Kouvola, Kuusankoski, Elimäki, Anjalankoski, Valkeala and Jaala – merged, accounting for the new municipality of Kouvola as the 10th largest city in Finland.
Verla Groundwood and Board Mill, near Jaala, is a monument to the early days of the Finnish forest industry and a world heritage site since 1996.
Although Kouvola is said to be the ugliest city in Finland, there are still many sights worthy of seeing in Kouvola. Even the ugliness can be an experience.

## Get in
### By plane

The airport in Helsinki (HEL) has good connections.

### By train

There are railways to Kouvola from four directions:
* Helsinki–Lahti–Kouvola
* Kotka–Kouvola
* Pieksämäki–Mikkeli–Kouvola
* Joensuu–Imatra–Lappeenranta–Kouvola, from this direction also trains from St. Petersburg and Moscow arrive

### By bus

There are coach connections from Helsinki, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Joensuu, Lappeenranta, Imatra and Kotka. See Matkahuolto.

### By car

* Highway 6 (Helsinki–Kouvola–Lappeenranta)
* Highway 12 (Rauma–Huittinen–Tampere–Lahti–Kouvola)
* Highway 15 (Kotka–Kouvola–Mikkeli)

## Get around

In the city centre, the easiest way to get around is to walk. Everything is within quite a small distance, and Kouvola's main street 60.869426.70361 Manski is a pedestrian zone.

### By bus

If you want to go to somewhere farther from the centre, you can go by bus or train. See local bus info. There is an interactive route planner$^{[deadlink]}$ for local buses. Waltti mobile app can be used for ticket purchase.

### By bike

There is a bike sharing system using bluetooth and the Donkey Republic about €1.50/1 hr, €4/5 hr, €12/24 hr. For longer stays becoming a member is cheaper: €9 or €18/month covers all trips of less than 1 hr respectively 12 hr, also in other towns using Donkey Republic – but you need to register as member in the country of your card (available: most countries in western Europe and USA). Customer service info@kaakau.fi, ☏ +358 44 716 0644 daily 09:00–21:00. Several towns in south-east Finland use the same system, which is in use also elsewhere in Finland and abroad.

### By scooter

    See also: Finland#By motorised scooter
You can rent electric kick scooters for use in the centre from Finnish Joe Scooter.

### By taxi

Taxis are useful, especially for getting back to your hotel after a long night.
* Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Menevä, Taksini

### By boat

There is a boat taxi from the Hillosensalmi railway station to Repovesi National Park.

## See

* 60.867226.68121 Kaunisnurmi district. Wooden houses and museums. Verla Groundwood and Board Mill museum
* 61.0632926.639872 Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (Maailmanperintökohde Verla), Verlantie 295, Verla (From the Kouvola–Heinola highway road 46 → road 369 → road 14570), ☏ +358 20-415-2170, museum.verla@upm.com. Early May and September: M–F 10:00–16:00 (Sa Su closed); late May to August: Tu–Su 09:30–17:00 (M closed). The UNESCO World Heritage Site can be visited on guided tours only, though you can see the buildings from the outside free of charge. The tours in Finnish begin each hour, the first one at 10:00. Tours in languages other than Finnish are arranged on request. You can also hike a 2-km forest trail or see rock paintings of human figures and animals made by ancient artists around 9,000 years ago. Adult €10, student or pensioner €8, child under 18 free.
* 60.49050326.452453 Kymijoki. Kymi river, flowing through many towns and districts of Kouvola (though not the city centre), is one of the widest rivers in Southern Finland. Giving the name to the entire region (Kymenlaakso translates to Kymi's Valley), it is one of the most important drainage rivers of the Finnish Lakeland (the main lakes upstream are Vesijärvi, Päijänne and Keitele). A swift river with many rapids, it has long been a major source of hydroelectricity (earlier on timber rafting too) and as a result of this much of the Finnish wood and paper industry has historically been concentrated in this region. (updated Jul 2016)
* 60.86725126.7031384 Kouvola Miniature Railway Museum (Kouvolan pienoisrautatiemuseo), Asemakatu 2, ☏ +358 400-711-607, pienoisrautatiemuseo@kolumbus.fi. The museum's collections cover the history of the miniature railway world from yesterday to the present day, from rolling power to digitally controlled trains. (updated Jun 2022)

## Do

* 60.884826.77781 Tykkimäki Amusement Park, Kanuunakuja 2. One of the largest amusement parks in southern Finland.
* 61.18826.8482 Repovesi National Park. This former site of intensive commercial forestry area has been transformed into a pristine national park. Pine and birch dominate the park. Repovesi abounds with wildlife including deer and various birds. The River Koukunjoki cuts through the park. Other streams and lakes are also found in the park. The landscape is rugged, but there are easy trails suiting families with small children. There are longer trails for hikes of several days, biking routes and service for canoeists and boaters.

### Festivals

* Pioneerifestivaali: . Rock festival in mid-August. (date needs fixing)

## Buy

* 60.875926.65261 Kauppakeskus Veturi, Tervasharjunkatu 1. A large shopping mall next to highway 6, opened in 2012. If you feel like going on a shopping spree in Kouvola, this is probably the right place.
* 60.871826.65542 Prisma, Tommolankatu 9. An older shopping mall, close to Veturi but on the southern side of highway 6.

## Eat
### Budget

* 60.873626.73511 Nipan Grilli, Hongistontie 15, ☏ +358 45-348-2885. M-Th 10:00-23:00, F 10:00-02:00, Sa 11:00-02:00, Su 11:00-23:00. A popular fast food joint opposite to Tornionmäki school.
* 60.8740926.703052 Ravintola Tabasco, Kauppalankatu 37, ☏ +358 5 379-4000. A pizzeria in central Kouvola serving pizza, kebab and steaks.
* 60.866526.70823 Ravintola Maku Bistro, Hallituskatu 7 B (Just by the railway station.), ☏ +358 10-666-1020, pitobistro@pitobistro.fi. 08:00–15:30. Lunch buffet restaurant. (updated Apr 2015)

### Splurge
## Drink

* 60.8661526.704711 Ravintola Kaisa, Hallituskatu 3. The bar under the train station, is a good option for those who want to experience a typical Finnish bar.
* 60.8694326.705082 Pub Old Tom, Käsityöläiskatu 4. The nearby pub Old Tom is a great place to have a drink in the summer time when the al fresco part is open.
There are several nightclubs in Kouvola as well.
* 60.8700426.703943 Las Palmas, Kauppalankatu 13, ☏ +358 10 762 4810.
* 60.8700826.704254 Night/Amarillo (at Manski).
* Tivoli (close to the train station).
* 60.8705426.70545 Q Bar, Salpausselänkatu 27 (near the city library). formerly known as Bar&Club RedMoon
* 60.8687426.702596 Nightclub Riviera, Keskikatu 6 (in Hansakeskus (Hansa centre)).

## Sleep
### Budget

* 60.7697526.789061 Matkustajakoti Rauhala, Itäasemantie 17, ☏ +358 5 5735388, +358 5 3656061, majatalo.rauhala@gmail.com. Basic accommodation in a guesthouse near the railway station in the village Myllykoski.
* 60.7679126.781772 $^{[deadlink]}$ LEO-Hotelli, Kenraalintie 6, ☏ +358 40 721 8169. A hotel in central Myllykoski
* 60.88726.77373 Tykkimäki Camping, Käyrälampi. The amusement park has a campground too.

### Mid-range

* 60.9055726.624544 Hotel Sommelo, Pallokentäntie 2, Kuusankoski.
* 60.8678226.711595 Hotelli Turistihovi, Kouvolankatu 23, ☏ +358 5 311 5661. Basic hotel 400 m from the railway station. Breakfast costs €6 extra. triple €80, double €67, single €50.
* 60.8687726.70366 Hotelli Kymenhovi, Keskikatu 9, ☏ +358 5 375 8770. Centrally located near the pedestrian area. Breakfast included. double €65, single €40.
* 60.8676726.704647 Hotelli Cumulus Kouvola, Kouvolankatu 11, ☏ +358 5 789 911, fax: +358 5 789 9299, kouvola.cumulus@restel.fi.

### Splurge

* 60.8688426.694128 Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, Hovioikeudenkatu 2, ☏ +358 20 1234 651, fax: +358 5 8288 288, reception.kouvola@sokoshotels.fi.

## Go next

* Lappeenranta — 87 km east. An old fortress and the entrance point to either the Finnish Lakeland or Russia.
* Kotka — 57 km south. Where Kymenlaakso region meets the sea. An aquarium, a maritime centre and an imperial fishing lodge.
* Lahti — 62 km west. Pretty similar to Kouvola but with the Finnish radio museum, the ski jumping towers, several parks and more shopping options.