Kouvola

Kouvola 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.

By plane
The airport in Helsinki 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 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 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@undefined, 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
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

 * Verla museum.jpg

Drink


There are three nightclubs in Kouvola as well. Of these, the first is the most popular.

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.