Kuopio

Kuopio is one of the many Finnish towns founded under Swedish rule. The town was established as a village in the 1500s and incorporated as a city in 1782. Kuopio is surrounded by lakes from three sides, which supplies loads of beaches and the feeling of water being always close. Part of the wooden houses arranged as a grid have been preserved in the centre which makes it a nice place to visit. Kuopio has a population of around 100,000.

Tourist office

• Kuopio Tourist Information

  address: Haapaniemenkatu 22
  Kuopio Regional tourist information

By plane

• Kuopio AirportKuopio is a one hour flight away from Helsinki. Most flights are met by a bus connecting to the city centre. Fares €5 adults, €2,5 children. Taxi to city centre costs €18. As with most Finnish passenger airports nowadays, the only flights are to Helsinki by Finnair (depending on the day 3-6 daily flights).

By train

About 4–5 hours from Helsinki. Tickets and timetables information: VR

By bus

Good connections from all directions. Timetables, fares and tickets information: Matkahuolto

By car

National highway 5 from Helsinki and highway 9 from Turku. Kuopio is about a five hour drive from Helsinki.

Kuopio has a good system of public transport. You can ride from one part of the city to another with a single ticket of €3.3, kids €1.7. Kauppatori is the center of Kuopio's public transport system, but be aware that many bus lines just pass through and continue somewhere to the other side of the city.

• single ticket workdays: €3,3 adults/€1,7 children 7–16 years
• single ticket during the night (11PM-4AM): €5 adults/€2,6 children 7–16 years

Information about local buses can be found here. You can use route planner to seek local bus routes between given locations and addresses.

• The Puijo Panorama TowerLurks over the city on the highest hill far and wide. From here you have a stunning view over the neighbouring lakelands.

• The Orthodox Church Museum

  address: Karjalankatu 1
  Is a leading museum of Orthodox Churches in Europe.

• The Old Town CentreSouth east from the main square and you can just walk around following your feet.

• The Minna Canth HouseThe original house where the famous first Finnish female writer Minna Canth lived. Most noticeable it contains a replication of the Minna Canth room where she is said to have written some of her work.

• The Kuopio Quarter-Block Museum

  address: Kirkkokatu 22
  In the old town has plenty of old buildings done up in their original style 150 years ago containing also a pharmacy museum and most enchantingly a little history of Wonderous Healers in Eastern Finland of which still two or three exist and offer their service to believing people today!

• The Kuopio Market HallOver 20 local stallholders.

• The Victor Barsokevitsch Photographic Centre

  phone: +358 17-261 5599
  address: Kuninkaankatu 14–16, 70100
  The VB Photographic Centre is dedicated to display high-class Finnish and foreign photography. The Centre is housed in an idyllic wooden building that is more than 100 years old and located in the heart of the Old City of Kuopio in Eastern Finland. The VB Photographic Centre is regarded as one of the major photographic galleries and research centres of the country. During the summer, the Centre organizes well-known international exhibitions.

Festivals and events

• • • • 
        

        Around the year

        • Rauhalahti Spa

          address: Katiskaniementie 8
          Offers large indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a jacuzzi, an ice-cold pool, a children's pool, a waterslide, saunas and a steam room.
        
        

        Do in the summer time

        • Passenger Boat Cruiseson Lake Kallavesi are worth trying during the summer season (June–August).

        
        

        Winter sports

        • Puijo Slopes / Puijo & AntikkalaSkiing only 1,5 km from the city centre.

        
        

• Artiko

  address: Haapaniemenkatu 12
  Art handicrafts, gifts and utility items.

• DaigaDaigaDuu

  address: Puijonkatu 12
  Handmade clothes, records, comic books, 60s and 70s second hand shop, minigallery.

• Daxhund Ceramics

  address: Itkonniemenkatu 25

• Pentik

  address: Kauppakatu 32
  Stoneware.

• Hallin käsityökammari

  address: Market Hall
  Local handicrafts and gifts

• Pikku-Pietari Market AlleyThree blocks from the Market Square is the idyllic Pikku-Pietari Market Alley, lined by old stables. The log buildings of the alley house a cafe with a terrace, art exhibitions and small boutiques. Handwork demonstrations weekly.

• Sauna NestorSpecial shop for sauna products in the Market Hall.

Alcohol

Alko is the national alcoholic beverage retailing monopoly in Finland. Essentially, it is the only store in the country which retails beer over 4.7% ABV, wine (except in vineyards) and spirits. Alcoholic beverages are also sold in licensed restaurants and bars to ages 18 and up. Alko is required by law to sell drinks with lower alcohol content than 4.7% and non-alcoholic alternatives, but in practice carries a very limited stock of low alcohol beer, cider and non-alcoholic drinks and mixers as supermarkets sell the same products at a lower price.

• Alko Kuopio Kolmisoppi

  address: Kolmisopentie 3

• Alko Kuopio Petonen

  address: Jalkasenkatu 5

• Alko Kuopio Prisma

  address: Savilahdentie 10

• Alko Kuopio Päiväranta

  address: Päivärannantie 18

• Alko Kuopio Sokos

  address: Haapaniemenkatu 24-26

• Kalakukko fish pie, The best-known speciality in the province of Savo is probably the ‘kalakukko’ fish pie, a type of rye bread pie stuffed with fish (the name literally means "fish rooster"). Once you have tasted warm ‘kalakukko’, it is hard to resist. The best places for shopping for a genuine ‘kalakukko’, consisting vendace or perch and bacon baked inside a rye crust, are the Market Hall and the Marketplace.
• You should also try fried vendace (muikku, a fresh-water fish) at local kiosks and restaurants.

• Kalakukkoleipomo Hanna Partanen

  address: Kasarmikatu 15
  The bakery shop Kalakukkoleipomo Hanna Partanen boasts a long tradition in kalakukko baking.

• Muikkuravintola Sampo

  address: Kauppakatu 13
  Tasty fried small whitefish in a pub-like atmosphere, a real classic in Kuopio.

• Restaurant Musta Lammas

  address: Satamakatu 4
  "Black Sheep" in English, the best restaurant in town, fine dining, pretty expensive.

• Restaurant Wanha Satama

  address: Satamakatu

• Restaurant Kummisetä

  address: Minna Canthinkatu 44
  A restaurant in the city centre, popular among adult people.

• Viking Restaurant Harald

  address: Tulliportinkatu 44

• Restaurant Peräniemen Kasino

  address: Väinölänniemi
  Wooden lakeside restaurant and terrace since 1902. Beautiful and peaceful scenery.

• Restaurant Hiili

  phone: +358 50 411 9445
  address: Käsityökatu 25
  Steak restaurant.

Cafes

• Trube Markethall-cafe

  address: Markethall

• Burts Cafe

  address: Haapaniemenkatu 20

• Café Fado

  address: Puijonkatu 15

• Cafe Houkutus

  address: Kauppakatu 36

• Cafe Kaneli

  address: Kauppakatu 22

• Café Kolibri

  address: Kauppakatu 16-18

• Cafe Sektori

  address: Puijonkatu 23

• Coffee House

  address: Haapaniemenkatu 24-26

Bars & pubs

• Ale pupi

  address: Kauppakatu 16

• Beerhouse Pannuhuone

  address: Kauppakatu 25

• Gloria

  address: Kauppakatu 16

• Intro Bar & Grill

  address: Kauppakatu 20
  A bar and a restaurant in central Kuopio.

• Malja Beer and Wine Restaurant

  address: Kauppakatu 29

• Restaurant Albatrossi

  address: Makasiininkatu
  A storehouse-restaurant in Kuopio harbour.

• Restaurant Apteekkari

  address: Kauppakatu 18
  A pub and club restaurant for adults in the city centre.

• Henry's Pub

  address: Kauppakatu 18
  A pub in the city centre. Rockmusic, live bands.

• K-Klubi

  address: Vuorikatu 14
  More alternative pub in Kuopio center, has for example punk and prog gigs.

• Millibaari

  phone: +358 17 385 1500
  address: Laituritie 10, 71310 Vehmersalmi
  Bar and restaurant by the sea, accessible by boat, also offers boat rentals.

Nightclubs

• Bar & nightclub Onnela

  address: Vuorikatu 18

• Club Passion

  address: Kauppakatu 16

• Puikkari

  address: Maaherrankatu 5
  Nightclub of Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi

• Viihdemaailma Ilona

  address: Vuorikatu 19
  A nightclub with multiple sections; Live Club, London British Pub, Karaoke and Finnish Classics club

• Tähti

  address: Kauppakatu 18

• Cumulus City Keskusta Kuopio

  address: Haapaniemenkatu 22

• Best Western Hotel Savonia

  address: Sammakkolammentie 2

• Finlandia Hotelli Jahtihovi

  address: Snellmaninkatu 23

• Hotel Cumulus Kuopio

  address: Puijonkatu 32

• Hotel Puijon Maja

• Rauhalahti Spa Hotel

  address: Katiskaniementie 8
  Offers rooms and a swimming pool department (indoor and outdoor pools, a jacuzzi, an ice-cold pool, a children's pool, a waterslide, saunas and a steam room).

• Holiday Centre RauhalahtiHas nice cottages or holiday homes (11 also for winter use). The holiday centre is situated very near to Rauhalahti Spa.

• Hotel Viihdekartano

  address: Tarhakuja 1

• Quality Hotel IsoValkeinen

  address: Majaniementie 2

• Scandic Kuopio

  address: Satamakatu 1

• Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi

  address: Minna Canthinkatu 16

Press

Locally published newspapers include:

• Savon Sanomat
• Viikkosavo
• Kuopion Kaupunkilehti

Religious services

Local international churches:

• Kuopio church international International friendship group provides activities: learn English, bible study groups, camps and sport events.

• KymppiareenaThe only ski and multipurpose sports hall in the world built into rock lies below the Spa Hotel Vesileppis. The skiing, biathlon and curling facilities are available 12 months a year. For children there is also a snow play area. Services: hotel, spa, restaurant, pub, cafe, meeting rooms, gym, squash, indoor ice rink, physiotherapy, Kymppi Areena

• TahkoTahko is a popular Finnish tourist center, both during winters and summers.