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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Finland

Simo

Come for one night only if you fish the Simojoki for wild salmon or want quiet villages; otherwise skip and stay in Kemi, 27 km north.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Jun–Aug
avoid Nov–Mar (cold, dark, most services shut)
Airports
KEM · OUL
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
  • Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
  • Finland ↗Finland is in the EU and the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border.
  • Finland ↗The land border with Russia is closed to travellers; do not plan a route across it.
  • Finland ↗Everyman's rights let you walk, camp for a night and pick berries on most land, but not near homes, and not to make fires without permission.

Simo is a small Lapland municipality of about 3,300 people on the Bothnian Bay, 27 km south of Kemi and 80 km north of Oulu on the E75. It is a summer place: the Simojoki is one of the few Baltic rivers with its own wild salmon stock, and the old villages of Simoniemi and Simonkylä hold the sights. There is no passenger train stop, so you arrive by car or coach and move around the same way.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Simo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and a bun in a village café€4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
  • Metro or bus rideLocal bus Simo centre–Simonkyläabout €3.30 (≈ US$4)
  • Budget bedTent or caravan pitch, a night, per person€18 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse or lodge double room, a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse or lodge double room, a night, per room€170 (≈ US$200)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €190 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Wild Baltic salmon fishing on the SimojokiSimoniemi and Simonkylä old villagesSimo Skirmish of 1916Post-glacial rebound shoreline
Airports
KEM Kemi-Tornio Airport (About 40 km north; daily Helsinki flights, then coach or car to Simo.) · OUL Oulu Airport (About 110 km south; more flights, then coach or car.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Simo: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−7°C

−15°C

10 rd

Feb

−7°C

−15°C

9 rd

Mar

−2°C

−11°C

8 rd

Apr

4°C

−5°C

7 rd

May

11°C

1°C

8 rd

Jun

17°C

7°C

8 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

9 rd

Aug

18°C

9°C

10 rd

Sep

12°C

5°C

10 rd

Oct

5°C

0°C

11 rd

Nov

−1°C

−6°C

11 rd

Dec

−5°C

−12°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

No local train stop. Coaches on the Oulu–Kemi line stop at Simo centre or drop you on the highway; a local bus runs once or twice on weekdays between Simo and Kemi via the villages. Otherwise you need a car or taxi. The villages and river sites are spread over tens of kilometres.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Kemi

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Coach or car north on the E75

SnowCastle in winter, icebreaker cruises; the practical base for this stretch.

Tornio

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Coach or car north past Kemi

Border town on the Tornio river; combine with Kemi in one day.

Ranua

go

Door to door: About 1 h 20 min

National road 924 east, or coach

Wildlife park with polar bears; the Simojoki canoe route starts from lake Simojärvi here.

Tervola

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Car or coach north on the E75

Small river municipality; only worth it if you are already driving north.

Ylitornio

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Car via Kemi and Tornio, or coach

Long for a return day; better as a stop on a northbound drive.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Simo centre (Simontori)

Groceries, bus stop and riverside camping; best if you arrive without a car.

Simoniemi village

By the guest marina and the 1846 wooden church; cottages, quiet.

Simojoki river, Ranua road

Fishing lodges and caravan sites 20–37 km inland; car needed.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€50–80 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
€90–140 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
€160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse or lodge double room1 × 1 night × €110€110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110€220
Fishing permit, national plus Simojoki river permit2 × €30 · check€60
Coach Kemi–Simo, one way2 × €7€14
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€43
Trip total≈ €239 per person per day, bed included€477≈ US$600

2026 estimate in euros; travel to Simo excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and a bun in a village café€4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
Lunch plate, salmon soup or similar€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
Grocery basket for two, one day€25–40 (≈ US$30–50)
Coach Kemi–Simoabout €7 (≈ US$9)
Coach Oulu–Simo€10–18 (≈ US$12–25)
Local bus Simo centre–Simonkyläabout €3.30 (≈ US$4)
Fishing permit for the Simojokicheck

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low crime; the real risks are ticks carrying TBE, long distances with no phone signal in the mires, and cold water. Tell someone your route before going out on the river or the bay.
  • Tick-borne encephalitis is present here; the local tick species carries it more often than elsewhere in Europe. Use repellent and check yourself after walking in grass.
  • Runkaus Strict Nature Reserve is closed to the public; entry needs written permission for scientific work only.
  • Duckboards on the Martimoaapa mire trails are in poor condition.
  • Most camping areas and the Pahnila museum open only June–August.
  • The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Kemi hospital; the Simo health station is weekday daytime only.

Emergency numbers

Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SimoSimo

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Tähän osoitteeseen, kiitosTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Emergency112

Embassy

No embassies in Simo; Helsinki has the embassies, and several countries keep consulates in Oulu or Rovaniemi (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Coach Kemi → Simo: about €7 (≈ US$9), 30–40 min
  • Coach Oulu → Simo: €10–18 (≈ US$12–25), about 1 h 15 min
  • Local bus Simo centre → Simonkylä: about €3.30 (≈ US$4), weekdays only

Say or show

  • Hei — Hello (hay)
  • Kiitos — Thank you (kee-tos)
  • Puhutteko englantia? — Do you speak English? (poo-hoot-te-ko eng-lan-tee-a)
  • Paljonko se maksaa? — How much is it? (pal-yon-ko se mak-saa)
  • Missä on vessa? — Where is the toilet? (mis-sa on ves-sa)
  • Tarvitsen apua — I need help (tar-veet-sen a-poo-a)

112 works without a local SIM and in most wilderness areas with any signal.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Simo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Aug · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, dark, most services shut) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Field-check the weekday local bus times between Simo centre and the villages before publishing them as fixed.
  2. Confirm 2026 salmon permit prices and the Simojoki rod rules with the forest administration.
  3. Verify which camping areas and museums actually open in 2026, and their dates.
  4. Add a winter page only if snowmobile and ice-fishing operators confirm services.

Meanwhile

Back to Finland

Sources