Sotkamo

Contents

Sotkamo is in Kainuu. The municipality is best known for the Vuokatti ski resort.

Understand

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Shores of Iso Sapsojärvi seen from Vuokatti

Vuokatti

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Vuokatti is a diverse ski and sports resort by a couple of lakes 7 km from the town of Sotkamo. There are many hotels, resorts and cottages to stay in and enjoy the nature and doings.

Get in

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Kajaani is the nearest major city, served by planes, buses and trains. From there you can travel to Sotkamo by bus.

Like elsewhere in rural Finland, car is your other option for getting in. Highway 6 leads between Kajaani in the north-west and Valtimo and Nurmes in the south-east. From Kajaani, turn to Highway 76, which leads via Vuokatti to Sotkamo and on to Kuhmo. From Nurmes, you can turn to regional road 899 for the last stretch.

Get around

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Map
Map of Sotkamo

By bus

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In winter, the free Vuokatti SkiBus operates between Sotkamo and Vuokatti.

Electric kick scooters

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See also: Finland § By motorised scooter

Finnish Move on East[dead link] rents electric kick scooters for use in the centre.

By car

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If you arrived by car in Sotkamo, using the car is good for travelling longer distances – the municipality is large.

By taxi

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See also: Kainuu and Eastern Oulu region § By taxi
  • Menevä Sotkamo, ☏ +358 50-471-0470 (head of office), toll-free: 0800-02120 (booking), . 
  • Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

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Storages houses in Tervajärvi
Sotkamo museum
  • 64.13211128.3925281 Huovishuone, Niemeläntie 1. Veikko Huovinen´s memorabilia room Huovishuone (Q91744011) on Wikidata 
  • 64.1294828.409032 Sotkamo museum, Sopalantie 1, ☏ +358 40-848-5543. Two old granaries are the museum of local history and culture in Sotkamo. Sotkamon Makasiinimuseo on Wikipedia Sotkamo Museum (Q61314904) on Wikidata OSM directions 
  • 64.2037928.733433 Tervajärvi house museum, Tervajärventie 16, ☏ +358 400-755-599. Tervajärvi is a classic Kainuu farmhouse, with a main building built in the 19th century and three storage houses. Tervajärven talomuseo on Wikipedia Tervajärvi Museum (Q61610651) on Wikidata OSM directions 

Do

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  • 64.13228.2711 Vuokatti (7 km east of Sotkamo centre). Ski resort. Vuokatti on Wikipedia Vuokatti (Q1749889) on Wikidata OSM directions (updated Mar 2018)
  • 64.187328.22542 Naapurinvaaran Huvikeskus, Naapurinvaarantie 20 B (by Naapurivaara, 6 km north from Vuokatti), ☏ +358 40-761-8165, +358 45-131-0932, . Most weeks May–Nov, usually Sat, Midsummer Fri 19:30–00:30. Social dancing to live music (run by the local youth association). Restaurant with nice view towards Nuoasjärvi and Vuokatti. Bus transport for the dances from Sotkamo and Vuokatti, sometimes from Kajaani (☏ +358 40-541-8696). €22–25/15+cloakroom €2–3 (reduced price in 2025 for youth < 25 years, older students get a €1 discount), ticket+bus from Sotkamo/Vuokatti and back €27 (perhaps cash only). (Q18682310) on Wikidata OSM directions 
  • 63.68128.2623 Tiilikkajärvi National Park Web link (Tiilikkajärven kansallispuisto) (mostly in neighbouring Rautavaara). Dry ridges, aapa mires and wilderness lakes, among other features. Tiilikkajärvi National Park on Wikipedia Tiilikkajärvi National Park (Q2606800) on Wikidata OSM directions 

Buy

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Eat

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Drink

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  • 64.1312128.38461 Makea Cafe ja Deli, Torikatu 8 (In the town centre), ☏ +358 40-831-7202. Café serving pastries, cakes and other sweet treats, including the local Sotkamo cake. OSM directions 
  • Leipomo-Konditoria Vilja, Kainuuntie 17 (Opposite the market square), ☏ +358 50-574-7977. Traditional bakery and café selling freshly baked bread, pastries, pies and cakes. (updated Nov 2026)

Sleep

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Lodging

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Cottages at campsites; hotels, apartments and cottages at Vuokatti.

Camping

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There are a few shelters by the trails, behind Vuokatti and to the north, one above the steep western slope of Naapurivaara. Camping by tent by the shelters is probably possible. The shelters probably have an outhouse and a campfire place, no other services.

Proper campsites:

  • 64.170128.20934 Naapurivaaran Lomakeskus Ky, Pohjavaarantie 66, ☏ +358 40-504-7694, . Cottages all year, camping summer season only. Camping and cottages. Beach. Most cottages have their own sauna, others can book and pay one separately. Campers have access to communal showers and kitchen. Tent €12/person; caravan, two persons and electricity €37+€5/2.50 per additional person. Naapurivaaran Lomakeskus Ky (Q134173254) on Wikidata 

Backcountry

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Wild camping is possible according to the right to access, but you should keep off developed areas, which in practice means finding a suitable place 2–3 km from the centres of Sotkamo and Vuokatti. Nature reserves, such as the one behind the Vuokatti downhill slopes, are off limits. Also don't stray into the Pisterinniemi golf course.

Connect

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Postal code: 88600 Sotkamo

Go next

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  • 63.901928.99771 Hiidenportti National Park – national park offering silence, old-growth forest and the Hiidenportti gorge. 30 km from the centre, mostly by small roads, signposted from road 76 towards Kuhmo.
  • Kuhmo – with a famous chamber music festival and associated events
  • Kajaani – the biggest town in the region, with 35,000 inhabitants
  • Valtimo
Routes through Sotkamo
Kouvola ← Valtimo ←  S  N  → Kajaani → END


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