The Koli area is located a one-hour drive from Joensuu railway station and airport. You can travel here by public transportation, your own car, or even by bicycle. Having your own car or another vehicle provides flexibility for getting around the entire Koli area, as there are many sights to see and distances can add up.
Arrival to Koli
We are not so far.
Are you ready for your journey?
By car
Fast and easy. Travel at your own pace and explore the area without schedules. We are only one stop for a coffee break or charging away.
Kuopio
Koli & Lieksa
184 km ( 2 h 14 min )
Jyväskylä
Koli & Lieksa
329 km ( 4 h 2 min )
Oulu
Koli & Lieksa
332 km ( 4 h 15 min )
Tampere
Koli & Lieksa
477 km ( 5 h 53 min )
Helsinki
Koli & Lieksa
528 km ( 6 h 15 min )
By train
Train travel is eco-friendly and affordable. Lieksa can be reached with a couple of changes and you can easily take your bikes and other items with you. For more information, go to vr.fi/en
Helsinki
Lieksa
6 h 16 min, 1 vaihto
Tampere
Lieksa
7 h 28 min, 2 vaihtoa
Kuopio
Lieksa
7 h 41 min, 2 vaihtoa
Oulu
Lieksa
11 h 30 min, 2 vaihtoa
By plane
Flying is the fastest way to get to Koli and Lieksa. Closest airports are in Joensuu, Kajaani and Kuopio.
Helsinki
Kuopio
1 h 00 min
Helsinki
Joensuu
1 h 5 min
Helsinki
Kajaani
1 h 25 min
Demand-Responsive Transport Service Joensuu – Koli
A direct on-demand transport service operating daily from Monday to Sunday based on ticket reservations, with a schedule that aligns with the train arriving at Joensuu at 11:40 AM and departing from Joensuu at 12:11 PM. In Koli there are approximately 20 stops. Tickets must be purchased in advance by 6:00 PM the previous evening at the latest. Tickets are not sold on the bus. The vehicle in Koli only stops at locations where a ticket reservation has been made, so please make sure to purchase your ticket for the correct stop.
Timetable
Joensuu-Koli
12:00 Joensuu railway station (platform 5)
approx. 13:00 Break Sokos Hotel Koli village
13:03-13:38 tour of Koli stops according to advance reservations
Koli-Joensuu
10:00-10:50 tour of Koli stops according to advance reservations
approx. 10:50 Break Sokos Hotel Koli village
11:45 Joensuu bus station (platform 5)
Tickets can be purchased on Matkahuolto home page (all stops in Koli), on VR home page when purchasing a train ticket as a connecting bus (most common stop options in Koli), or via the nationwide Matkahuolto Reitit & Liput app. Please, check the bus stops from here. Pets are allowed with advance notification to asiakaspalvelu(a)kolintaksi.fi. The pet fee of €7 is payable on the bus.
By buss from Joensuu or Nurmes to Koli on weekdays
On weekdays from Monday to Friday, you can travel from Joensuu and Nurmes to Koli by bus with a transfer at Kolinportti. Tickets are purchased on the bus. The connection between Kolinportti and Koli village runs according to the timetable. Transportation to other stops in Koli (e.g., Ukko-Koli and Loma-Koli) is provided as needed, so transport to these stops must be ordered in advance.
Timetable (Summer 2024)
Joensuu–Koli
15:15 Joensuu bus station (platform 5)
15:45 Kontiolahti
16:20 Kolinportti (transfer)
16:35 Koli village
T 16:45 Ukko-Koli (Break Sokos Hotel Koli)
T 16:55 Loma-Koli
Koli–Joensuu
T 8:30 and T 15.40 Loma-Koli
T 8:40 and T 15.50 Ukko-Koli (Break Sokos Hotel Koli)
8:50 and 16.00 Koli village
9:00-9:05 and 16.15-16.37 Kolinportti (transfer) (NOTE! The afternoon connection bus stop locates by the main road 6)
9:40 Kontiolahti
10:10 and 17.35 Joensuu bus station (platform 5)
Nurmes–Koli
7:50 and 14.05 Nurmes bus station (platform 2)
8:45 and 15.10 Juuka
9:05-9:10 and 15.40-16.20 Kolinportti (transfer)
9:25 and 16.35 Koli village
T 9:35 and T 16.45 Ukko-Koli (Break Sokos Hotel Koli)
T 9:45 and T 16.55 Loma-Koli
Koli–Nurmes
T 15:40 Loma-Koli
T 15:50 Ukko-Koli (Break Sokos Hotel Koli)
16:00 Koli village
16:15-16:20 Kolinportti (transfer)
16:45 Juuka
17:35 Nurmes
T = as needed by prebookings
Connections from Joensuu and Nurmes to Koli require a transfer at Kolinportti. The service between Kolinportti and Koli village operates according to the timetable. Departures from Loma-Koli, Ukko-Koli (Upper Koli), and Ylä-Kolintie are only upon request: orders must be placed by 6 PM the previous day with Kolin Tilausajopalvelu Oy, phone +358 20 741 4392. Arrival and departure times at Loma-Koli and Break Sokos Hotel Koli are approximate, depending on travel needs.
Please, check the bus stops from here. Current timetables can be found on Matkahuolto home page.
Pricing for main connections Joensuu/Nurmes-Kolinportti: according to Savonlinja fare schedule. The price includes an additional fare for the transfer from Kolinportti to Koli. The fare schedule for this can be found in the Savonlinja fare prizing summer 2024 (see page 45).
By buss from Joensuu or Nurmes to Kolinportti
Several Joensuu-Nurmes bus connections stop daily at Kolinportti. From Kolinportti, it’s approximately 9 km to Koli village, a distance conveniently covered by taxi.
Taxi and Charter Services Joensuu-Koli
Book your transportation in advance so that the driver and car will be waiting for you, for example, at Kolinportti, Joensuu airport, or the railway station.
Kolin Taksipalvelu Oy
Email: asiakaspalvelu(a)kolintaksi.fi, phone: +358 20 741 4391, and Kolin taksipalvelu homepage.
By train to Joensuu or Vuonislahti
From Helsinki to Joensuu, express trains take just over four hours. From Joensuu to Koli, there is an on-demand transport service operating daily from Monday to Sunday, and a regular service on weekdays. You can browse the train schedules on VR home page.
You can also purchase a train ticket to Vuonislahti. The rail bus connection allows you to travel to the village of Vuonislahti on the eastern side of Lake Pielinen. When the Koli–Vuonislahti ice road is open in winter, the taxi ride from Vuonislahti station to Koli village is only about 10 kilometers. In summer, there is a boat service between Koli and Vuonislahti, and you can purchase a route ticket from our online store. The distance from the Vuonislahti rail bus stop to the harbor is about 0.8 kilometers.
Carpool Service from Koli to Juuka and Lieksa, as well as between Ruunaa and Lieksa
In Lieksa, there is a call-guided, accessible transportation service open to everyone. Rides are booked directly with the driver on the day before the service between 4 PM and 6 PM. Departure times are approximate, and you will receive a more precise schedule when you book your ride.
Timetables
Koli-Juuka and back, Tuesdays
Departure from Koli at approximately 9:15 AM, return from Juuka at around 12 PM.
Booking number: +358 40 356 0940 (Taxi and Charter Services J. Miettinen Oy)
Koli-Lieksa and back, Wednesdays
Departure from Koli at approximately 9 AM, return from Lieksa at around 1 PM.
Booking number: +358 40 356 0940 (Taxi and Charter Services J. Miettinen Oy)
Ruunaa-Lieksa and back, Mondays
Departure from the village at approximately 7:15 AM, return from the city center between 11 AM and 11:30 AM.
Booking number: +358 40 530 9147 (Taxi Arto Kortelainen)
How to book a ride:
1. Check the carpool map on theLieksa city web page to see the area you need a ride from.
2. Find the travel day and booking phone number from the list.
3. Book the ride by calling the day before.
4. Agree on an estimated pick-up time and specify your departure location when booking.
5. Have your payment method and any discount proof ready for the ticket. (Payment methods: bank card, cash.)
By car
It is recommended to reach Koli via Kolintie (Route 504). This road branches off from the Joensuu-Kajaani highway (Route 6) at Kolinportti in Ahmovaara. In winter, you can also drive to Koli from Vuonislahti using the ice road.
By plane
The nearest airports to Koli are in Joensuu and Kuopio. There are several daily flights from Helsinki to both Joensuu and Kuopio. The flight time from Helsinki to either city is about one hour. From the airport, you can continue your journey by bus to Joensuu city center, rental car, or taxi. You can rent a car at both Joensuu and Kuopio airports. Car rental providers are available at Joensuu Airport and Kuopio Airport.
Check the flight schedules on Finnair time tables. Car rentals at the Joensuu airport and the Kuopio airport.
By boat
You can also reach Koli by boating across Lake Pielinen. Koli guest marina (Rantatie 12, 83960 Koli, 63°6.7′ 29°48.4′) has ten guest boat berths, four of which are stern buoy berths. The berth cannot be reserved in advance and must be purchased upon arrival from the city of Lieksa’s online store. You can stay at the berth for a maximum of three days at a time
By bicycle
It’s easy to take your bike along on the train, bus, or the boat sailing from Vuonislahti. Additionally, the Pielisen Kierros cycling route encircles Lake Pielinen, making it easy to detour to the scenic Koli area. There is an extensive gravel road network in the Koli area, allowing access from several directions. Please note that cycling is not permitted on the hiking trails in Koli National Park.