Kontiolahti is a municipality in the heart of North Karelia in Eastern Finland.

Understand

The Kontiolahti Church

The municipality was founded in 1873. Today it has some 14,600 inhabitants. The population growth has continued at the same rate since 1978 and is estimated to continue at about 100 people per year. The population breakdown by age shows an unusually high percentage of youth and children. This is indicative of a vibrant, continuously developing and growing community.

Get in

By plane

Domestic flights from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport to nearest City Joensuu. From there you have to travel by taxi or bus.

By train

The nearest train station is in Joensuu. Long-distance trains from Helsinki and Pieksämäki terminate in the heart of the city at the Joensuu Railway Station.

By bus

Joensuu local transport Jojo has services from Joensuu to Kontiolahti. Long-distance bus from Oulu and Kajaani to Joensuu stops at Kontiolahti, more information from Matkahuolto.

Get around

By bus

See Joensuu#By bus

Joensuu local transport Jojo has services in Kontiolahti.

By taxi

• Smartphone app: 02 Taksi

See

• 1 Kontiolahti Church, Kirkkotie 6. A wooden church from 1881, designed by Georg Wilenius. 

The 1 Koli National Park lies in the municipalities of Eno, Lieksa and Kontiolahti, on the western shore of Lake Pielinen and covers 3000 hectares.

Do

• 1 Karelia Golf, Vaskiportintie 7, ☏ +358 10 666 9040, caddiemaster@kareliagolf.fi. 
• 2 Kolvananuuro Nature Reserve. Drive to the parking area and walk a demanding 5 km nature trail through the area, including a gorge, old-growth forest and brooks. Walk clockwise. In the gorge there are traces of an ice age 2500 million years (sic!) ago. There is a campfire site by the trail. You could also come hiking by the UKK route/Kolinpolku/E10 or the Patvinpolku route (these come from far away but are not well maintained, so check the route carefully). 

Sleep

• 1 Motel Kontio, Huoltamontie 8 (along the Highway 6 (Kajaanintie) near the town center), ☏ +358 40 059 6063, majoitus@motellikontio.fi. triple €179, double €99-139, single €89. 

Stay safe

In general, Finland is a fairly safe country, and Kontiolahti is no exception. There are no exceptional crime problems or health hazards.