Ruovesi is a municipality in Pirkanmaa, Finland, with 200 lakes (18 % of the area) and quite some forest.

Understand

Ruovesi centre

• Ruovesi tourist information, ☏ +358 44-787-1388 (tourist office), +358 3 486-111 (municipal switchboard), matkailu@ruovesi.fi. Early June–mid-August 11:00–18:00, off season municipal office M–F 08:15–15:15. Ruovesi has tourist cooperation with Virrat, Keuruu, Jämsä, Mänttä-Vilppula, Juupajoki and Orivesi under the name "Heart of Finland". 

Get in

Road 66 from Orivesi leads via Ruovesi and Virrat to Lapua.

If you come by train, bus or bike and stay the night in Tampere or Virrat, coming the last leg by heritage lake steamer would be a nice alternative. Services twice weekly from each.

If coming by coach or train, check the last leg, as bus services are sparse.

By train

Nearby Vilppula and Juupajoki have railway stations, serviced by regional trains from Tampere, Orivesi or Keuruu, (Haapamäki).

By bus

Coaches from Tampere (1½ hr, often transfer in Orivesi) and from Kokkola (4 hr). For timetables, see Matkahuolto. Osmo Aho's route Pohjanmaan pikavuoro between Tampere and Kokkola stops at Ruovesi; its tickets are sold at the Onnibus web site. There are also local buses from Tampere and Mänttä-Vilppula. Coming from other directions, try to guess possible transfer options, deducing from the last leg bus.

By boat

Murole Canal (Muroleen kanava)

Ruovesi is on the 130-km Toisvesi–Ruovesi–Näsijärvi waterway. From Virrat centre max draught is 2.4 m, max height is 7 m (?). Näsijärvi's outlet is the rapids through Tampere.

• 1 Guest harbour, Laivarannantie 5. Marina and restaurant. Showers, toilets, laundry, septic tank emptying, water and electricity. Minigolf, beach volley, swimming beach. Church boats for hire: rowing boats with 15 pairs of oars, traditionally used to get to the church along the waterways. For access from Näsijärvi you need to pass the Murole Canal locks (depth 2.4 m, height 18 m; daytime in season, only some days in autumn). The Kauttu canal (Kautun kanava) has no locks (check depth if relevant: 1.8 or 2.4 m, height 11 or 11.5 m). €12.50/night. 
• 2 s/s Tarjanne (from Mustalahti harbour (Mustanlahden satama) in Tampere, near Särkänniemi, don't confuse with the local namesake; or from Virrat), ☏ +358 10-422-5699 (booking), +358 400-234-816 (the ship), asiakaspalvelu@hopealinjat.fi. Early June–mid-August: W F Tampere 10:00–Ruovesi 14:45, Th Sa Virrat 11:00–Ruovesi 14:45. A steamer built in 1908, on its original route between Tampere and Virrat via Murole, Ruovesi and Visuvesi, over Näsijärvi, Ruovesi and other lakes. Restaurant on board; lunch of the day or à la carte (book in advance if possible). Also cruises and packets with on-shore activities. Adult €49 (return €74), bike €10; à la carte €24–32, child dish €12. 

Get around

By taxi

• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

Kalela, atlejée of Akseli Gallen-Kallela

Runeberg's spring

• 1 Runeberg's spring (Runebergin lähde), Runebergintie 6. Part of a culturally, historically and scenically important local recreation area. The spring is named after J. L. Runeberg, the national poet of Finland, who worked as a tutor in Ruovesi in 1825–1826. 
• 2 Murole Canal, Muroleenkanavantie 481. (updated May 2023)

Do

• 1 Helvetinjärvi National Park (6 km west-northwest from the centre). 
• 2 Pirkan taival (starting at the school, by the sports ground in the centre). Trails with lean-to shelters and other infrastructure. 
• 3 Siikaneva (17 km south from the centre). Large mire protection area. Trail, duckboards, campfire sites and lean-to shelter. 
• 4 Kiimajoki canoeing (in northern Tampere; road 338 towards Tampere passes the Velaattajärvi beach, turn to smaller roads after the municipal border to get to the other launching sites; the route starts at Frantsinlammi of Ukaa; from Tampere some launching sites can be reached by the daily or twice-daily bus line 90), ☏ +358 400-232-164, +358 40-685-7775 (volunteers of Teiskon kirkkovenesoutajat), +358 50-435-8242 (canoe/kayak rental of Kirpputori Oljenkorsi). 13.5 km former timber floating route, now a canoeing/kayaking route: 6 km small lakes, the bigger Velaattajärvi, and 6 km along the brook Kiimajoki to Terälahti of Näsijärvi. Mostly easy as whitewater. Some low bridges and other obstacles, check the route with a local. Real whitewater skills required on some legs because of obstacles, portaging needed around some rapids. There is some infrastructure, such as campfire sites (mind wildfire warnings), a small lean-to shelter on Velaattajärvi and a beach by Velaattajärvi and another by Terälahti. Avoid landing off marked spots; respect private yards and pastures. On portages by road, watch out for the traffic. Nuutilanlahti (off the route) is dangerous in duck hunting times in autumn. Niinikoski is long and narrow, some museal infrastructure obstructs it partly. Kalmakurjenkoski appears suddenly and must be portaged (6.5m/20 m). Vehkakoski is easy, but popular with freestylers at high waters. Teräkoski must be portaged because of dam equipment. 

Buy

• 1 Kirpputori Kupla, Joensuuntie 6, ☏ +358 44 040 4765. A flea market. 

Eat

Several grill or fast food places. Few real restaurants, except catering services. Some lodgings serve meals.

• 1 Fenni (Hot Pot), Joensuuntie 1, ☏ +358 44-972-0588. Chinese restaurant. 
• 2 Rantaravintola, Laivarannantie 5 (in the harbour), ☏ +358 44-988-4924, info@ruovedenrantaravintola.fi. In summer; 11:00–, lunch M–F 11:00–14:00. €13–24, children €8; lunch €10.70. 
• 3 Helvetin Portti, Helvetinkoluntie 775 (at the entrance of the Helvetinjärvi National Park), ☏ +358 3 476 6104, ravintola@helvetinportti.fi. 12-17 or up to 9-20 in season. Ostrich and wild boar farm, serving ostrich and wild boar and conventional dishes €10-38, children €12. (updated Jul 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Ruovesi Camping & Adventures (Haapasaari, island by the centre), ☏ +358 44-241-4520, info@ruovesicamping.com. Camping and cottages. Guided tours etc. Tent, 2 persons: €15; caravan, 2 persons: €30; sauna €20/person. 
• 2 Hotel Liera, Ruovedentie 11 (in the centre), ☏ +358 440-738-840, osuuskunta@hopea-aurinko.fi. Single €55, double €85; breakfast +€8/person. (updated Nov 2022)

Farther away

• 3 Mäkelän lomatuvat, Mäkelänjärventie 372 (7.5 km from Juupajoki), ☏ +358 45 233 2440, myynti@makelanlomatuvat.fi. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 12:00. B&B, cottages and agritourism. Bikes, Sup boards, snowshoes and skis for rent. €90–160.