Central Ostrobothnia (Keski-Pohjanmaa, Mellersta Österbotten) is in Western Finland.

Cities

• 1 Kokkola
• 2 Kannus

Municipalities

• 1 Halsua
• 2 Kaustinen – Famous for its folk music festival.
• 3 Lestijärvi
• 4 Perho
• 5 Toholampi
• 6 Veteli

Other destinations

Lake in Salamajärvi National Park.

• 1 Salamajärvi National Park

Get in

There is an airport in Kronoby serving Kokkola with flights from Helsinki and Stockholm. Kokkola is on the main north–south railroad, so you can easily get in by train from the southern or northern parts of the country. In addition, coaches along the coast stop in Kokkola, from where you can continue with regional buses to inland towns.

The following OnniBus.com routes serve the province:

• M8 (Helsinki—Turku—Pori—Vaasa—Kokkola—Oulu)
• M13 (Helsinki—Jyväskylä—Kokkola)

Get around

There is a dense coach network covering most of the province, but services are sparse on most of the routes. Timetables from Matkahuolto. The Kulukuri service brings together all the mobility services of the rural areas of Central Ostrobothnia in one place.

Google Maps includes timetables of trains, long distance buses and local transport of many cities and towns. Other useful route planners are Matka.fi for trains and local buses and Matkahuolto Reittiopas for regional buses.

By taxi

• National smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Taxi Booker (iTaksi)

See

• Tankar lighthouse off Kokkola
• Neristan, the old town of Kokkola.

Do

• Celebrate what is called the "Venetian party" (Venetsialaiset); the ending of the summer cottage season with fireworks in Kokkola.
• Watch and listen to folk music performances at the huge yearly folk music festival in Kaustinen in July.
• Kaustinen also host a classical music festival, the chamber music week in January–February. Many of the local musicians master both genres, which can be seen in some concerts at both festivals.

Stay safe

Central Ostrobothnia region is a safe place.