Places to Visit in Kuhmo: Discovering Local Nature and Everyday Beauty

August 27, 2026 - By pinoyupnorth

There are places we visit because they are famous.

And then there are places we grow to love simply because they become part of our everyday life.

For our family, Kuhmo has slowly become one of those places.

Located in the Kainuu region of eastern Finland, Kuhmo has become our second home, a quiet town surrounded by forests, lakes, changing seasons, and a kind of peacefulness that feels very different from the busy city life we were used to before.

What I have come to appreciate most is how easy it is to be close to nature here.

You don’t always need to plan an entire day trip or drive far away.

Sometimes, a simple family walk beside the lake is already enough.

Sometimes, it is watching the snow fall quietly in winter.

Sometimes, it is seeing the first green leaves appear after months of cold weather.

And sometimes, it is simply standing by the water, listening to the wind moving through the trees while our daughters laugh nearby.

The scenery changes every season, but somehow the place remains the same… slowly becoming part of our family’s memories.

Walking by the Lake

One of our simplest family routines is walking beside a nearby lake.

We try to do this whenever we have free time, especially during the weekends.

There is something refreshing about stepping outside after being at home or at work, breathing in fresh air, and seeing a completely different view from what we have indoors.

By the lake, there is very little noise.

Most of the time, it is just us and nature.

We hear the wind moving through the trees and grasses, the gentle movement of the water, birds somewhere in the distance, and our daughters talking and laughing as they walk with us.

Those sounds are so simple, yet they make the whole experience peaceful.

Having lived in Dubai for almost ten years, we know what busy city life feels like.

Traffic.

Crowds.

Buildings.

Noise.

Shopping malls.

Schedules.

There were many things we loved about Dubai, but living in Kuhmo has introduced us to a completely different kind of life.

And at this stage, I have learned to appreciate this quieter rhythm.

Kuhmo Through the Seasons

One of the things I enjoy most about living in Finland is seeing how dramatically the surroundings change throughout the year.

The same lake.

The same path.

The same trees.

But a completely different view depending on the season.

Winter in Kuhmo

Winter can be challenging, especially when the temperature drops very low.

There are days when it can reach around –30°C, and when we first moved here, that level of cold was definitely something we had to learn to adapt to.

Coming from much warmer countries, winter required a completely different way of dressing, planning, and even thinking about daily life.

Little by little, though, we became more used to it.

I still have days when I feel less motivated to go outside because of the cold and darkness.

But winter also has its own beauty.

Snow falling quietly.

Trees covered in white.

Frozen lakes.

Soft winter light.

And, of course, the possibility of a white Christmas.

Sometimes the scenery looks simple, almost empty, but there is something magical about seeing everything covered in snow.

It reminds me how different life can look when the season changes.

Spring in Kuhmo

If I had to choose, spring is probably my favorite season.

It feels like the perfect transition between the cold of winter and the warmer days of summer.

The temperatures gradually begin to rise.

The snow melts.

Leaves slowly return to the trees.

Flowers begin to appear again.

After months of white landscapes, seeing green return feels exciting.

Spring gives the impression that everything is waking up again.

Of course, melting snow and ice can also make roads and walking paths slippery, so this is something we always keep in mind when going outside or driving.

But overall, I love this season because it brings back color and longer days without the full heat of summer.

Summer in Kuhmo

Summer is the warmest season, and some days can feel surprisingly hot.

There are moments when our house becomes warm enough that we need an electric fan just to make the room more comfortable.

And then there are the mosquitoes.

Lots of mosquitoes.

And other little insects that seem very happy to enjoy summer with us. 😄

Sitting in the backyard can sometimes become a challenge because of them.

That is why we sometimes put up a tent or canopy with mosquito netting so we can still enjoy being outside without constantly swatting insects away.

Despite that, summer is wonderful.

The days are long, everything is green, flowers are blooming, and lakes become much more inviting.

It is also the perfect time for family walks, picnics, berry picking, swimming, and exploring nature.

Autumn in Kuhmo

Autumn is beautiful in a completely different way.

The green leaves slowly begin turning yellow, orange, and brown.

Little by little, they fall from the trees.

Flowers begin to wither, the air becomes cooler, and you can feel winter slowly approaching again.

Autumn can be short, but visually, it is one of the most beautiful seasons.

And of course, it gives us another excuse to take family photos.

There is something about autumn colors that makes almost every background picture-perfect.

Why Walking by the Lake Never Gets Old

Even though we walk around the same area many times, it never really feels exactly the same.

The weather changes.

The water changes.

The sky changes.

The trees change.

And we change too.

Sometimes we walk when we are happy.

Sometimes after a tiring week.

Sometimes we talk a lot.

Sometimes we just walk quietly.

But somehow, the lake and the surrounding nature always make the day feel a little lighter.

For me, walking there is a simple way to breathe, de-stress, and spend time together as a family.

No pressure.

No itinerary.

Just walking.

Kuhmo Church

Another beautiful place near the center of Kuhmo is Kuhmo Church.

We have passed by and taken photos outside several times, although we still haven’t properly explored the inside ourselves.

The church is one of Kuhmo’s recognizable landmarks.

According to Visit Kuhmo, Kuhmo Church was built in 1816 and has a cross-shaped Neoclassical design. Its bell tower was later completed in 1862. The church was badly damaged during the Winter War and was later restored.

When my parents came to visit us in Finland, we took pictures in front of the church.

At the time, the snow was already beginning to melt.

That made the visit particularly special because it was my parents’ first time experiencing snow.

For us, it was simply another familiar place in Kuhmo.

For them, it was something completely new.

And that made the moment more memorable.

Tervansoutaja – The Tar Boatman Statue

Another place worth stopping by is the Tervansoutaja, or Tar Boatman, monument near the lakeside.

It is located at Maakunnanranta, an area closely connected with Kuhmo’s old tar-trading history.

According to Visit Kuhmo, tar production became an important livelihood in the Kainuu region, and tar from Kuhmo was transported by boat along waterways toward Oulu. The Tar Boatman monument, created by Risto Saalasti in 1973, stands as a reminder of that history.

The location is also lovely for photographs because the lake forms a beautiful background behind the statue.

So yes, taking a picture with the Tar Boatman is something I would recommend when exploring the center of Kuhmo.

It connects the present-day town with a small piece of its local history.

Kide – The Outdoor Performance Stage

Another interesting place in the center is Kide, the wooden outdoor performance stage at Kuhmo Market Square.

It has become one of the more distinctive modern landmarks in town.

According to the City of Kuhmo, Kide was designed and built by students from Aalto University’s Wood Program and was completed in 2024. It was built using locally sourced wood and was designed as a venue for cultural events and public gatherings.

Visit Kuhmo also notes that the stage later received international recognition through the Architizer A+ Awards People’s Choice award.

When events are happening in Kuhmo, the area around Kide can become much livelier.

There may be performances, food stalls, families, and people gathering around the market square.

For example, concerts and community events have been organized there during the summer season.

So depending on when you visit, you might see a very quiet market square, or a much more energetic one filled with music and people.

The Beauty of Everyday Places

What I like about this particular blog post is that these are not necessarily places that require a full travel itinerary.

They are places we simply encounter as part of living here.

The lake.

The church.

The market square.

The Tar Boatman.

The Kide stage.

Walking paths.

Trees.

Snow.

Flowers.

Sometimes we pass them without thinking much about them.

But over time, they become familiar.

And familiarity creates memories.

That is probably why I wanted to include them in my Places to Visit in Kuhmo series.

Because visiting Kuhmo is not only about finding one major tourist attraction after another.

It can also be about slowing down enough to notice the quieter parts of town.

From City Life to Small-Town Life

One of the biggest changes in our lives has been moving from Dubai to Kuhmo.

Dubai gave us many experiences and opportunities, but the pace of life was completely different.

Here, things feel slower.

There are fewer crowds.

Nature is much closer.

And instead of always searching for somewhere to go, we sometimes simply walk outside.

I didn’t expect that I would appreciate this kind of lifestyle as much as I do now.

Perhaps living in a busy city for so long made me understand the value of silence.

Or perhaps we simply changed as a family.

Either way, I have learned that a peaceful place doesn’t have to feel boring.

Sometimes peace is exactly what we need.

Final Thoughts

Kuhmo may be a small town, but living here has shown us that beautiful places don’t always have to be dramatic or famous.

Sometimes beauty is found in ordinary surroundings.

A lake we walk beside every week.

A church we pass on the way through town.

A statue beside the water.

An outdoor stage that becomes lively during summer events.

A snowy path in winter.

A yellow tree in autumn.

These things slowly become part of our everyday life.

And maybe that is what makes them meaningful.

The scenery changes with every season, but the memories remain.

Our daughters grow.

Our parents visit.

We take pictures.

We walk the same paths again.

And each time, the same place becomes part of a different chapter in our lives.

That is why I think exploring your own town can be just as meaningful as traveling somewhere far away.

Sometimes you don’t need to search for something extraordinary.

You simply need to notice what is already around you.

“Sometimes the most beautiful places are the ones that quietly become part of our everyday lives.”

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” — Psalm 24:1

Living close to nature has slowly taught me to notice the little things.

The first green leaf after winter.

The sound of water beside the walking path.

Snow falling quietly at night.

Our daughters laughing while we walk.

My parents standing in front of a Finnish church and seeing snow for the first time.

These moments may not seem extraordinary while they are happening.

But later, they become the stories we remember.

And maybe that is one of the greatest gifts of slowing down: we finally begin to notice the life we are already living. 🧡

Sources

Explore More Places to Visit in Kuhmo

Kuhmo may be a small town, but there are so many peaceful and beautiful places to discover. From lakes and rivers to walking trails, beaches, cultural landmarks, and quiet family spots, each place has given us a different memory of life here in Finland. If you’re planning to visit Kuhmo, or simply want to see more of the places our family has explored, you can browse our growing collection below.

This list will continue to grow as our family discovers more of Kuhmo. Some places may be well known, while others are simply quiet corners that have become special to us. Either way, I hope these stories help you discover a little more of the beauty of our second home. 🧡