Kouvola

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.

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 🌍 Manski is a pedestrian zone.

• 🌍 Kaunisnurmi district. Wooden houses and museums. 
• 🌍 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. 
• 🌍 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)
• 🌍 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)

• 🌍 Tykkimäki Amusement Park, Kanuunakuja 2. One of the largest amusement parks in southern Finland. 
• 🌍 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. 

• 🌍 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. 
• 🌍 Prisma, Tommolankatu 9. An older shopping mall, close to Veturi but on the southern side of highway 6. 

• 🌍 Ravintola Kaisa, Hallituskatu 3. The bar under the train station, is a good option for those who want to experience a typical Finnish bar. 
• 🌍 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 three nightclubs in Kouvola as well. Of these, the first is the most popular.

• 🌍 Night/Amarillo (at Manski). 
• Tivoli (close to the train station). 
• 🌍 Q Bar, Salpausselänkatu 27 (near the city library). formerly known as Bar&Club RedMoon 
• 🌍 Nightclub Riviera, Keskikatu 6 (in Hansakeskus (Hansa centre)). 

• 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.