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City in Kymenlaakso, Finland
Photo: Otto Karikoski, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kouvola is a city of 80,000 people (2021) in Southern Finland, 134 km northeast of the capital, Helsinki.
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Wooden houses and museums.
Maailmanperintökohde Verla
The 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.
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.
Kouvolan pienoisrautatiemuseo
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.
One of the largest amusement parks in southern Finland.
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.
A popular fast food joint opposite to Tornionmäki school.
A pizzeria in central Kouvola serving pizza, kebab and steaks.
Lunch buffet restaurant.
The bar under the train station, is a good option for those who want to experience a typical Finnish bar.
The nearby pub Old Tom is a great place to have a drink in the summer time when the al fresco part is open.
formerly known as Bar&Club RedMoon
Basic accommodation in a guesthouse near the railway station in the village Myllykoski.
A hotel in central Myllykoski
The amusement park has a campground too.
Basic hotel 400 m from the railway station. Breakfast costs €6 extra.
Centrally located near the pedestrian area. Breakfast included.
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.
An older shopping mall, close to Veturi but on the southern side of highway 6.
By train
Kouvola is well-connected by rail with tracks from four directions:
By bus
There are direct coach connections from cities such as Tampere, Lahti, Kotka and Lappeenranta. See Matkahuolto.
By car
By bus
If you want to go somewhere farther from the centre, you can go by bus. Children younger than 7 don't need a ticket, and people younger than 17 pay reduced "children's" prices.
By bike
50/1 hr, €4/5 hr, €12/24 hr.
By 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.
By boat
There is a boat taxi from the Hillosensalmi railway station to Repovesi National Park.
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Lappeenranta · International · LPP
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