Nurmes

Nurmes is a town in North Karelia.

Nurmes is a town of 8,000 inhabitants situated at the northern end of Lake Pielinen.

In the Middle Ages, Nurmes was part of the Novgorod Empire, and the area was the scene of several battles with Sweden. In the 17th century, Nurmes was incorporated into the Swedish Empire, but in 1721 it became part of Russia.

In the 19th century Nurmes developed rapidly with industry. Several sawmills, mills and iron foundries were established in the area, bringing new residents and prosperity to the town. Later, Nurmes also developed as a tourist town, attracted by its magnificent nature.

Being pretty much off the beaten track, the easiest way to travel to and from Nurmes is by car.

The national railway operator VR runs a twice-daily train from Joensuu, the trip takes a little less than two hours. 63.54116929.1378361 Nurmes railway station is centrally located.

There are coach connections from Joensuu, Kuopio, Oulu and Kajaani. Timetables from Matkahuolto.

This is (besides Iisalmi) as far north as you get with a yacht via the Saimaa waterways. Welcome from anywhere! (10.5 or 12 m height restriction at Joensuu, though).

The town small, so you can easily get around by foot. Google Maps offers route planner which includes sparse long distance buses which can be used for local trips also, and Matka.fi^{[dead link]} route planner includes also some of them.

Katuri service is open to all in the city of Nurmes, including Valtimo. Anyone can order a ride for their trips. Katuri rides are provided on request from door to door or from an agreed location. The service is available to people of all ages. The vehicles are equipped for people with disabilities.

Children under 12 years of age and people over 75 years of age receive two one-way trips a day free of charge. Prove your age with an identity card or a proof of age accepted by the driver (e.g. if you start from Sivakka, arrive in Valtimo and continue to Nurmes, it is one one-way trip).

See North Karelia#By_taxi

• Menevä Nurmes, ☏ +358 50-471-0470 (head of office), toll-free: 0800-02120 (booking), info@meneva.fi. Flag fall M–Sa 06:00–18:00: €4, other times and holidays: €7; 1–4 persons €0.90/km + €0.90/min, 5–8 persons minimum €20, €1.60/km + €0.90/min (December 2021). 
• EHT Line
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Taksi EHT

• 63.54729.131 The old town (Puu-Nurmes). The "Wooden Nurmes" consists of 19th century wooden houses that are still inhabited.  
• 63.534629.17242 The Bomba house and Karelian village. A replica of a common Karelian log house village. The largest house is the main building for a resort.  
• 63.564629.11093 Ikola Museum, Kotiniementie 2, ☏ +358 40 104 5152, museo@nurmes.fi. 27.6–5.8 (2016) Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00. Farming and industry museum. €4/2.   ^{[dead link]}
• 63.548829.12844 Kötsi Museum, Kötsintie 2, ☏ +358 40 104 5152, museo@nurmes.fi. Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00. A museum where you can learn about the history of Nurmes. Free.  

• 63.53306429.1789361 Bomba Spa, Tuulentie 10. The attractions of the spa are various saunas, such as Kyly, which leads to the Karelian landscape, or Sampo, which contains beautiful details. The spa also has an atmospheric pool area and experience showers that lead the visitor to the sounds of wild nature.  (updated Jun 2021)

There are some nature parks in the area around Nurmes, where you can walk, swim, fish and camp in the summer and enjoy cross country skiing in the winter.

• ^{[dead link]} Nurmes Film Festival. Late in the summer every year Nurmes hosts a film festival with older and newer Finnish films.  
• Nurmes Christmas Carol Festival (Nurmeksen Joulumusiikki). A yearly Christmas song festival, obviously in December. 

• Villa Kudelma, Porokylänkatu 13 (In Porokylä). Craft and hobby shop selling yarn, fabrics, sewing supplies and locally made handicrafts, including ceramics and knives. 

• Sasta Brand Store (Sasta factory outlet), Porokylänkatu 17 (In Porokylä, upstairs at E. Saastamoinen). Factory outlet selling outdoor clothing. 

• Kolme Sisarta, Kirkkokatu 25 (In the Vanha Kauppala wooden-house district), ☏ +358 50 362 6932. Gift and interior design shop selling textiles, gifts and locally themed products. Also sells tickets to the local cinema. 

• Kirjakauppa Sananhelinä (Sananhelinä Bookshop), Porokylänkatu 29 (In Porokylä), ☏ +358 45 161 6462. Independent bookshop selling books, art and craft supplies, games and hobby items. 

• VoimaVilla, Raatihuoneenkatu 7 (In the Vanha Kauppala wooden-house district). Small shop selling wellness products and gifts, including wool products. 

• Kauppalan koru- ja kelloliike (Kauppalan Jewellery and Watch Shop), Kirkkokatu 20 (In the Vanha Kauppala district), ☏ +358 13 480 146. Jewellery and watch shop also selling gifts and congratulatory flowers. 

• Restaurant-café Thure (Ravintola Kaneli), Raatihuoneenkatu 24 (Inside the historic railway station in Puu-Nurmes), ☏ +358 44 901 9492. Weekdays for lunch. Lunch restaurant and café in a preserved railway station built in 1911, serving a buffet of homemade food, salads, cakes and specialty coffees. 

• Kahvila-Konditoria Supikas (Supikas Café and Patisserie), Porokylänkatu 25 (In the historic wooden building in Porokylä), ☏ +358 50 407 8905, supikas@pielispakari.fi. Weekdays. Lunch café and patisserie specialising in traditional Karelian pastries, cakes, coffee and home-style lunch with a salad buffet. 

• Porokylän Kahvila-leipomomyymälä (Porokylä Bakery Café), Kyrönrannankatu 2 (In Porokylä), ☏ +358 50 445 0744. Weekdays. Bakery shop and café selling freshly baked bread, Karelian pies and other pastries. 

• Buolu Café & Ristorante, Tuulentie 10 (At Break Sokos Hotel Bomba), ☏ +358 10 783 0450, sales.karelia@sokoshotels.fi. Restaurant and café serving artisan pizzas and classic pasta dishes. 

• Frans & Emma, Tuulentie 10 (At Break Sokos Hotel Bomba, by Lake Pielinen), ☏ +358 10 783 0408. French-inspired à la carte restaurant serving dinner in a lakeside hotel setting. 

• Restaurant Bomba (Bomban talon ravintola), Suojärvenkatu 1 (Inside Bomba House in the Karelian village), ☏ +358 10 783 0450, bomba.vastaanotto@sok.fi. Check current opening times. Restaurant in a traditional Karelian log house, offering regional food and a distinctive cultural setting. 

• Ibo Kebab & Pizza, Kaarlonkatu 4 (In central Nurmes), ☏ +358 13 480 553. Casual restaurant serving pizza, kebabs and grilled dishes. 

• Herkkukalapuoti (Smoked Fish Shop and Lunch Café), Hiekkatie 6 (In Porokylä), ☏ +358 45 173 2665. Fish shop Tue–Fri; lunch on Thu–Fri. Local fish shop selling smoked fish and other regional delicacies. Salmon soup is served for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays. 

• 63.533229.1781 Sokos Hotel Bomba, Tuulentie 10, ☏ +358 20 1234 908, fax: +358 13 687 2401. Large resort hotel with great views over the Pielisjärvi lake. Nearby is the replica of a traditional Karelian house built as a home for the large Bombi family in 1854, now a restaurant that is part of the resort.  (updated Jan 2018)

• Koli National Park with great views over Pielinen. Many painters of the Finnish Golden Age of Art got inspiration from those views.
• Valtimo – former municipality, today part of Nurmes

Kouvola ← Juuka ←

S  N

→ Valtimo → Kajaani