Pieksämäki

By train

Pretty much the only reason a traveller is likely to end up in Pieksämäki in the first place is that it's a major train junction where the Jyväskylä-Joensuu and Kouvola-Kuopio lines meet. The town can thus be reached by direct train from virtually all of Finland's main cities: Helsinki (3 hrs), Tampere (2 hrs) and Turku (4 hrs).

It's under 500 meters on foot from Pieksämäki railway station to the market square.

• Savo railway museum

  phone: +358 15 613-838
  address: Ratakatu 8
  The museum is in the former station building from 1889. It tells about life and work at the Savo railway line. Ask for guiding (free).

• Pieksämäki Parish Old Church and belfry

  phone: +358 50-381-9642
  address: Kirkkotie 31
  Wooden church, one of the oldest churches in eastern Finland, built 1753 (belfry from 1746). 18th century paintings by Mikael Toppelius. In 2016, until 30.9, the church is being painted and only the interior can be seen.

Festivals

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If you have half an hour or more to kill at Pieksämäki, make your way to the market (signposted as Tori), where in summer you'll find vendors of berries, freshly cooked vendace (muikku), and more. There's also a large S-Market supermarket right next to the market.