At a distance of approximately 380 kilometers from Helsinki and about 460 kilometers from St. Petersburg. The city is located in a beautiful place, on a peninsula, surrounded by the waters of Lake Kallavesi. The city's population is more than 97 thousand people. There are more than 1,200 islands on the lakes surrounding the city. Many residents of Finland choose this region as their holiday destination. There are more than five thousand country houses and cottages in the Kuopio municipality. Vacationers from Russia are also frequent guests here.

In the city center of Kuopio

The streets of the central part of the city are laid in a parallel-perpendicular order. The central part of the city is the market square (Kauppatori). There is a parking lot under the square. The central square is located about one hundred meters above sea level and has a size of 130 × 174 meters. The territory of the square is paved with stone paving stones.

On the southern edge of the square is one of the city's landmarks - the city market building. Near the market there are two statues known to every resident of Kuopio: Veljmies-patsas and Siskotyttö-patsas. According to existing tradition, every year, on May 1st, students wash the statues and put student caps on them.

On the northern border of the square there is the city hall building, in the east there is the Osuuspankki bank, the Sektori and Anttila shopping centers. To the south is the gymnasium building and the Aapeli shopping center. On the western border of the square there are department stores Carlson and Sokos, H-talo and Sektori. There are many more places for shopping near the square.

Like any Finnish city, Kuopio strives to organize more interesting events for local residents and tourists.

The most famous events in Kuopio

ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival

In order to stand out from the mass of similar festivals, the organizers call their festival an Anti-festival. ANTI - Kuopio Contemporary Art Festival takes place mainly in public areas. The festival presents works in a variety of genres and types of creativity. The festival uses modern cityscapes as a stage for its events. Most events are free to the public.

Kuopio Rockcock

The rock festival Kuopio Rockcock (also Kuopio Rock) is held annually in late July or early August. The festival lasts two to three days. The festival is held on the shore of the lake, on Cape Väinölänniemi. Musician performances also take place in other places in the city.

Kuopio Wine Festival

The Kuopio Wine Festival (Kuopion kansainväliset viinijuhlat, kuopio wine festival) has been held in Kuopio since 1997. From the very beginning, the festival became very popular. The festival is visited by about 50 thousand people, mainly from the surrounding regions of Finland. Wine is not the main thing at this festival. The main thing is to have a good time. Every year the festival is dedicated to a wine producing country. Access to the festival territory is paid, only for persons over 18 years old.

Finland Ice Marathon

The Finnish Ice Marathon skating festival is held annually in late February - early March in Kuopio. The first time was held in 1984. These are speed skating competitions over distances of up to 200 kilometers. Different distances for all ages. The competitions are held on the ice of a lake near the city.

Puijo Natural Park

Puijo is a conservation area located within the city. Currently it is a recreation area and sports complex. Puijo Hill is located in the northern part of the city. There is an observation tower on the hill from which you can view the surrounding area of ​​the city. The height of the tower is 75 meters. There is also a restaurant on the tower. There is a small hotel. The height of the observation deck above the level of Lake Kallavesi is 224 meters. This is one of the most popular places in the city among tourists and local residents. The territory of the nature conservation park is actively used for sports. There are several ski jumps and a golf course. The Puijo area became a conservation area already in 1928.

Technopark in Kuopio

The city of Kuopio (like the whole of Finland) relies on the development of science and technology. To implement this task, a Technopark (Tiedepuisto) was created in Kuopio. Kuopio Technology Park is located in the Savilahti neighbourhood. The technology park concentrates enterprises working in the field of high technology, computer technology, international companies and enterprises working for export. The University of Eastern Finland and the Savonia Polytechnic Institute are also located here. One of the most famous enterprises of the Technopark is the Technopolis Kuopio company, which also operates in Russia. The technology park houses most of the city's workplaces, and more than 8 thousand students study.

University of Eastern Finland

The University of Eastern Finland (Itä-Suomen yliopisto) is one of the most famous universities in Finland. The university was formed by merging the universities of Kuopio and Joensuu. The university has branches in the cities of Kuopio, Joensuu and Savonlinna. Journa Times in 2012 included it in the list of the hundred most prestigious universities in Europe.

Polytechnic Institute of Savonia

The Savonia Polytechnic Institute (Savonia-ammatikorkeakoulu - higher technical school) trains specialists to work in the fields of culture, environment, tourism, catering and economics, sociology, health and sports, technology and transport, business and management. Training is conducted in Finnish and English.

How to get to Kuopio

The city of Kuopio is connected by road to many cities in Finland.

Road No. 5 goes from the very north of Finland, from the city of Sodankylä, through Kuusamo, Kaiaani, Kuopio, Varkaus, Mikkeli, and then along road No. 4 to Lahti and Helsinki.

From Mikkeli you can take road no. 13 to the city of Lappeenranta and beyond. to St. Petersburg.

From Kajaani you can take road no. 89, through the Vartius – Kivijärvi checkpoint to Kostomuksha.

Railway provides good connections towards the cities of Helsinki, and. Comfortable trains take you from Helsinki to Kuopio or back in about 4 hours.
Their city of Lappeenranta can be reached by rail from Kuopio in about the same time.

Kuopio can also be reached by bus from many cities in Finland.

Airport located 14 kilometers from the city center. There are regular flights from Kuopio Airport to.

Kuopio Passenger Port offers access to the city via the lake in summer.

Distances from Kuopio to some cities: Helsinki – 382 km, 779 km, 144 km, 169 km, - 277 km.

Kuopio is expanding

City on the islands

The city is becoming cramped on a small peninsula. According to existing plans, the city will expand towards the islands located to the south. Island city - this is how you can translate the name of the new residential areas of Kuopio Saaristokaupunki. Saaristokaupunki is the new territory of the city. Housing for 14 thousand people will be built in the new residential microdistrict. The distance from the new microdistrict to the old city center is 2.5 kilometers.

Business center Matkus

Matkus is an area in the south of Kuopio designated for the location of various businesses. The total area of ​​the territory is about 60 hectares. The distance to Kuopio city center is about 5 kilometers. At first, the largest enterprise here will be the IKEA store, which will be located in the Ikano shopping center. The Ikea store is scheduled to open in early summer 2012. The Ikano shopping center will open in autumn 2012. (The Ikano company is the founder of the Ikea chain of stores.)

Tourist information

(shopping centers and shops).

City of Kuopio.

The city of Kuopio, founded in 1652, is located in Eastern Finland and is rightfully considered the center of winter tourism, but it should be added that for lovers of water summer adventures it will also become a favorite resort, as it is located on the shores of Lake Kallavesi. But you won’t have to search for long to find the city’s attractions; everything is within walking distance.

Sights of Kuopio

Lake Kallavesi – the pearl of the city

Kallavesi is one of the largest port lakes in Northern Savonia. For city residents, this is a kind of water symbol that attracts not only tourists, but also Finns from all over the country, there is confirmation of this - in 2012 Kuopio was ranked sixth place in the ranking of the most prosperous cities in Finland. By the way, whoever dreams of skating not on a small skating rink near the slope, but on the frozen mirror of a sleeping lake, then this is your place.

The main celebrity of Kuopio is the 75-meter tower on the protected mountain. The mountain is covered with dense forest, located near the city center and not far from the market square.

At the very top, a surprise awaits you - a revolving restaurant, cafe and observation deck.

At the foot of the mountain there is a souvenir shop and a hotel where you can be accommodated for 50 euros per person, this is the minimum price for a room.

Tower and restaurant opening hours

• Mon-Thu: tower from 11 to 19, restaurant from 11 to 20.
• Fri-Sat: tower from 11 to 21, restaurant from 11 to 22.
• Sun: tower from 11 to 16, restaurant from 11 to 17.

Tower ticket prices

Adult – 6 euros, child – 3 euros, family (2 children + 2 adults) – 14 euros.

City attractions

Vaajasalo Island

Getting to this island is very easy, there are small boats from the city, you can also get there by land if you go in the direction of Toivala. Having walked around all the surroundings, you will probably end up at the famous wine plantation Alakhov. Berry wines are produced here; many tourists come to this island specifically to buy several bottles of aromatic wine.

A small zoo corner is open for kids.

Opening hours

In season: from early May to late summer; Mon-Fri from 9 to 20, Sat-Sun from 10 to 18.

The rest of the year: Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the iconic places of the city is the market square. As in any European country, there is a wonderful market where you can buy souvenirs for the trip, or try local delicacies. Not only tourists flock here, but also residents of Kuopio. Walking around the bazaar and choosing fresh products from local farmers, buying the morning catch - this is the joy of a metropolitan person, but the most valuable thing is the handicraft products. If you don't get tired of trading quickly, then you can continue your route to Pikku Pietari Lane; paintings and handicrafts are sold in the old premises.

By the way, at the very end of the market, imported products have been sold under a canopy since 1902.

Address

Haapaniemenkatu 22 70110 Kuopio

Opening hours

Mon-Fri from 7 to 17, Sat from 7 to 15.

Kuopio Orthodox Church Museum

Kuopio is the center of the Orthodox Church of Finland. The Orthodox Museum has the best collection of valuable icons. This is not only the pride of Suomi, but of all Western Europe. It was founded in 1957, the building itself was built 12 years later. In addition to icons, you will see liturgical textiles and sacred objects from the Valaam and Konevets monasteries.

Despite the fact that the museum has been operating quite recently, it contains objects dating back to the 17th-19th centuries.

Address

Suomen ortodoksinen kirkkomuseo, Karjalankatu 1, 70110 Kuopio

Kuopio Quarter Museum

If you are interested in the history of the city of Kuopio and its inhabitants, then be sure to visit this museum, because here you can see the life of the past generation, from 1700 to 1930. In a large space, 11 buildings were created, inside the interiors of the apartments of merchants and officials of the 19th century were reproduced, and you will also see: a shoemaker's workshop, a tailor's shop and an old pharmacy. Of course, it is necessary to look into the room of the Finnish writer Minna Kanta and the exhibition hall.

At all retail outlets you can make purchases, for example, purchase goods from an old pharmacy. And the gastronomy will delight you with its baked goods based on recipes from past years.

Address

Kuopion kortelimuseo
Kirkkokatu 22
FI-70100 Kuopio

Zoo

Tahko address for GPS navigator

Tahkonkaari 1, Nilsia

Another important event in the city that Finns love so much is wine festival. Unfortunately, the northern people cannot boast of an abundance of grapes on an industrial scale, although they greatly respect this drink. Spain, Austria, Hungary, Brazil, California, and Greece have already been invited to the festival. The event is paid - 25 euros for one day, and only persons who have reached the age of majority are allowed.

Violetta Dmitrieva

Kuopio is one of my favorite cities in Finland. I especially like that there are so many tennis courts available here, as well as 3 ski resorts! For active travelers there will always be something to do here.

And, of course, I love the stunning mushroom forests, where you can pick more than one basket of blueberries, lingonberries or cloudberries.

Come with your whole family to Kuopio, I'm sure you'll love it here as much as I do!

How to get there

From Moscow, as well as from St. Petersburg, Kuopio can be reached by four main types of transport:

• by plane - there is an airport where Finair flights arrive;
• by train - first you need to get to Helsinki, and from the capital to Kuopio;
• by bus - most often tourist buses come here from Russia;
• by car - below in the appropriate section I have indicated for you the most convenient option, which for some reason is ignored by navigators.

By plane

The city of Kuopio has its own airport, which is not so far from the city. The main airline operating flights from Helsinki is FinAir. Planes arrive here several times a day, and tickets are quite inexpensive.

For example, to fly from Moscow to Kuopio, you will need 170-250 EUR per person in both directions. The price depends only on the duration of the transfer to Helsinki: the less time you spend at the airport, the more expensive the ticket. And the average duration of summer is 6 hours.

A flight to Kuopio from St. Petersburg with a transfer in the capital of Finland will take you approximately 5 hours one way, and the ticket price will be about 190 EUR per person in both directions.

You can compare prices on current dates. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Kuopio.

How to get to the city center

You can get to the city center by taxi, which meets arrivals right at the exit from the airport building. If suddenly there is not a single free car, then it is better to call them. I am attaching contacts:

• Savon Taxidata Oy. Phone number +358 200 30 300.
• M. Niskanen. You can order a taxi in advance by email [email protected] or by phone number already on site 0400-747056.

The cost of a trip to the center (in Finnish city center - Keskusta) will cost you 20-25 EUR.

In addition to taxis, there are buses from the airport to Kuopio and surrounding towns. You can check the schedule and ticket prices on the website.

You can also rent a car in advance or upon arrival at the airport building.

By train

By train you can only reach Kuopio from Helsinki. Flights are quite frequent, approximately every 3 hours.

A one-way ticket for one person will cost approximately 20 EUR. And you can purchase it on the website of the Finnish railway company VR.fi.

By bus

You can get to Kuopio by bus from Moscow or St. Petersburg, but it will be a tourist bus with an already thought-out program, so I don’t like such routes.

By car

For those who like to travel by car, I suggest the route I take myself. For some reason, navigators don’t offer it to anyone, but in fact this is the shortest route!

Travelers from Moscow first need to get to St. Petersburg; they wrote about this in great detail in this article.

And already from the Northern capital you need to go to the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter (the road is toll, prices are attached below) and then follow the road A181 (E18) to the Brusnichnoye checkpoint. Keep in mind that repair work is being carried out in Scandinavia (as the A181 highway is popularly called), monitor traffic changes on the Internet.

The navigator is confidently trying to guide you through Svetogorsk. Why do I advocate so much for Brusnichnoe?

You know, I really don’t like the Svetogorsk border checkpoint, because the roads there are simply terrible and there is an indescribable smell from the paper and pulp mill. So don't spoil your mood! The travel time and the length of the route are the same... Feel free to head to the Brusnichka checkpoint (as the locals call it) and enjoy a journey along the beautiful Saimaa Canal.

To avoid queues at the border, I advise you to leave St. Petersburg early in the morning, at 4-5 o’clock. Because the main traffic jams appear from about 9 am and can last the whole day. The most problematic days are before Christmas, on the May and New Year holidays and on March 8 or February 23, depending on which of them falls on 3 days of rest. On weekdays and in winter the situation is much simpler, sometimes even at the very rush hour - 9 am on Saturday - there are 1 or 2 cars parked, but this is real luck!

Having passed the border (marked on the map with a red dot with a black border), you will come out onto road No. 13. Remember her number, right after Lappenranta you will return to her again. In the meantime, follow it until the intersection with road 6 (the next red dot on the map).

Having reached road 6, continue driving until you see the signs indicating the exit to road 13 again. You will need to drive along it for about 65 km straight ahead.

Then roads 13 and 15 merge into one (I marked it with a red dot on the map below), and after 40 km of driving you will arrive at.

What are the prices for holidays?

Accommodation

Accommodation in the city or its environs for two for 6 days amounts to just under 450 EUR. For this money you can choose a cottage, apartment or hotel room. Renting a place in a hostel in the city for the same days will cost approximately 250 EUR.

Road

• A flight from Moscow, as well as from St. Petersburg, will cost you approximately 170-200 EUR in both directions per person.
• The train journey will cost about 130 EUR per person round trip.
• A green card for a week costs about 45 EUR, and you will need at least 2 tanks of gasoline, which is around 30 EUR. In this case, a car turns out to be the cheapest mode of transport: 75 EUR for the entire trip, regardless of how many of you are traveling, one person or four.
• Traveling by bus is not cheap and very time consuming. The cost of travel per person in both directions is 90 EUR, and the journey will take you almost 7 hours without large queues at the border.

Excursions

If you want to go through all the museums in Kuopio, you will only need 10-15 EUR. So don't waste your money and see all the exhibitions in Kuopio!

Leisure

I spend an average of 50-100 EUR on various activities in 6 days. If I play tennis only on asphalt courts (they are free), then I save a lot!

Food

Breakfast or lunch will cost you around 10-13 EUR, and for dinner set aside from 15 EUR.

I usually spend about 170 EUR on food in 6 days, if I don’t cook it myself. But when it is possible to buy food in a store and cook it at the hotel, then in the same 6 days it costs approximately 80-100 EUR. Therefore, try to choose hotels with self-catering or breakfast included!

Getting around the city

I usually save a lot on buses or renting a car. There are a couple of good ideas for saving:

1. Bringing your own bicycle to Kuopio or renting one here is very cheap. Around 5 EUR per day. There are rental companies on almost every corner, so finding a two-wheeled friend is very easy.
2. Hike. The city is small, and walking you will see many times more than by bus or car.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

In Kuopio it is interesting to stroll through the galleries and look into the automobile museum.

Visit the churches of the city, they are very beautiful! In addition, believers will be especially interested here, because Kuopio is the center of Orthodoxy in Finland.

I described everything in detail below.

Top 3

I will briefly describe for you the most interesting places in Kuopio, and you can read detailed information about them in the relevant sections below.

Beaches. Which ones are better

There are about 20 public beaches in Kuopio: clean, well-groomed, water quality is checked daily, so you can swim freely without worrying about your health and the health of your children.

Almost all beaches are sandy. When entering the water, sometimes there are small pebbles, you can hardly feel them. Umbrellas and sun loungers on the beaches are usually not available for rent.

I would like to recommend to you my three favorite places:

Särkiniemi

It is very cozy here, there are changing rooms and toilets. Come here if you like to be at one with nature. In addition, you can rent a boat or boat and ride around the lake.

The beach is sandy, but there is also a part where you can lie on the grass. The entrance to the water is shallow, but there are pebbles, so watch your step!

To get to the beach you need to follow Särkiniemi street to the lake.

Sammakkolampi

It is located, consider it, right in the center of the city. To find it, look for the school on Nuolitie Street. The beach is grassy, ​​there are toilets, changing rooms, and in the summer you can buy ice cream in a small cafe. The depth of entry into the water increases slowly, so you can even just wet your feet.

Väinölänniemi

This beach is very popular among locals and even appears first in Google maps searches! The place is good, there are a lot of people, but that makes it more fun.

On the beach there are two beach volleyball courts, changing rooms, toilets, a small cafe, and boat rentals. Overall, a great place to stay.

And how can we not mention the tennis courts just a few steps away. I advise those who like to play to definitely go to them, they are open and inexpensive - about 10 EUR per hour. But check the price further, I haven’t gone there for a long time.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Kuopio is the center of Orthodoxy in Finland.

• Here in Episcopal Square you can find an incredibly beautiful Church of St. Nicholas.

• In addition, in 1995, the architect Juha Leiviskä received an international award for his church design Saint Johannes. Here she is in the picture.

• And considering that more than 90% of the population of Finland profess Lutheranism, it is worth seeing the main cathedral for local believers - Stone Cathedral in the very center of the city. It was built in 1806–1815 and is simply amazing in its beauty!

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are 5 main museums in the city that are worth visiting.

Kuopio City Museum

Working hours:

• Monday-Friday 9:00-15:00;

Ticket price: adults - 4 EUR; children 7-12 years old - 2 EUR.

Kuopio Art Museum

It exhibits works by local Finnish artists, mainly the von Wright brothers and Juho Rissanen. is located in the city center and its main activity is art education. If you love fine art, then definitely visit it.

Working hours:

• Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00;
• The rest of the days the museum is closed to the public.

Ticket price: adults - 6 EUR; students, military, pensioners, groups of 5 people - 4 EUR; children 7-12 years old - free.

G12 Museum

Exactly the same museum is located in Helsinki, and is located in Kuopio. I really love this place because interesting exhibitions are constantly held here. I advise you to go!

Working hours:

• Tuesday-Thursday 12:00-18:00;
• Friday-Saturday 11:00-16:00;
• Sunday - closed.

Ticket prices: admission to the gallery is free.

House-Museum of J.V. Snellman

Johan Wilhelm Snellman is a Finnish philosopher who worked as a school rector in the city of Kuopio from 1843 to 1849. He published the newspaper Saima, which had a very great influence on the development of national identity and the formation of the Finnish language.

Bar SporttiPubi Futari

A good bar with an average price tag - 15-20 EUR for dinner, open until 2 am every day, except Monday and Tuesday. Various sports events are broadcast here and there is an opportunity to drink beer or cocktails, the choice of which is amazing.

Clubs and nightlife

Club Viihdemaailma Ilona

The dance floor in this club is the largest in the city! In addition, there is an excellent DJ and bands often perform here. There are bar tables and regular sofas. There is also a karaoke room where you can shout your favorite songs with friends.

Is the dress code here the same as in all real nightclubs? light, bright and beautiful, the so-called club one.

The entrance ticket here is not cheap, from 10 EUR (depending on the performing group or DJ) and there is always a queue at the entrance...

You will definitely have a great time!

Extreme Sports

If you like to tickle your nerves, then you should come to Kuopio in winter. In December, ski resorts open where you can snowboard or ski on the slopes. I wrote about them below.

How to get around the city

Considering that the city is not very big, the best way to get around it is on foot: see it, as they say, from the inside.

In addition, taxis are quite inexpensive in the city, I often use them when returning late from friends or from a bar, incredibly convenient!

Taxi. What features exist

Buses

There are many bus routes in the city and detailed schedules are provided.

But since buses run at a certain time, be sure to take this moment into account: as soon as it stops and gathers people at the stop, it immediately leaves. It is very rare to see a situation where someone is running, waving to be waited for, and the driver is waiting. Most often this does not happen.

Transport rental

You can rent a car in Kuopio not only at the train station or at the airport. There are also many online resources for booking cars, which you can use in advance and upon arrival simply pick up the rented car. The rental cost per day will be at least 80 EUR. Also keep in mind that many companies offer a discount when ordering a car for 7 days or more. You can view options and costs.

Gasoline in Finland is quite expensive compared to prices in Russia: on average you will pay 1.3 EUR for a liter of 95.

Kuopio - holidays with children

You will really like it here with kids! Nice beaches with shallow entry into the water, interesting museums, beautiful hiking trails where you can pick berries and mushrooms together with the whole family.

Also in shopping centers there are various entertainment programs for children, where they will definitely never be bored.

And finally, in winter you can teach your child to ski at the ski center!

Ski holiday

Takho Ski Resort

Very close to Kuopio there is a famous ski resort Takho .

It is incredibly popular among tourists from Russia for its proximity, cheapness and the opportunity to catch the winter (especially important for travelers from St. Petersburg).

The resort offers rental equipment for skiers, snowboarders, and cross-country skiers. And, of course, Takho will help you get your skis or snowboard in order: there is an excellent repair shop here!

For those who, in addition to rides, like to go to a cafe to eat or just warm up, there are several pretty decent restaurants at the top. In the evening you can attend the After Ski party. Be sure to join the general celebration!

Kasurila Ski Slope

In addition, Kuopio itself also has its own small ski slope - Kasurila .

The resort offers good rental conditions for downhill and cross-country skis, snowboards and other equipment. There is a very good service for servicing your skis at affordable prices.

Puyo ski slopes

And in the very heart of the city there are a couple of slopes Puyo (Puijon Rinteet) . Here you can rent equipment, as well as order an instructor to learn how to ski jump!

I wrote about the slopes and prices for ski passes below.

Ski passes

Takho and Kasurila use keyCards, which are valid throughout Finland and the world. If you have not previously purchased a card, you can do so at one of the resorts for 5 EUR. The cards are all identified (your photo is printed on it), take this into account and do not give it to anyone else!

For those who have been using keyCard for a long time: be sure to take it with you. If its number starts with 14 or 08, then it will be exchanged for you here, because such cards are no longer used!

Prices for ski passes in Takho:

• 3 hours: adults 33 EUR, children (7-12 years old) 23 EUR;
• 6 days: adults 157 EUR, children (7-12 years old) 115 EUR.
• Ski passes are free for the following categories:
  • adults over 75 years old;
  • children under 7 years of age must ride only with a helmet and with an adult
• There is also a belt lift for beginners, it is free.
• You can see other prices for the lift here.

Prices for ski passes in Kasurila:

Ski pass prices in Puyo you need to find out locally at the beginning of the season. They do not have a website and information is posted at the checkout only during the season. But the fact is that they are very cheap.

Trails

Ski slopes

Takho

On Takho ski resort 24 slopes operate. They are all wide, smooth and divided by skiing level: for beginners - green, for intermediate - blue, for confident - red and for extreme sports - black. The resort also has a snow park with street, pipe - a great place for snowboarders!

Here is the route map.

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

Kuopio is the eighth largest city in Finland, a popular resort in the country and the center of the province of Northern Savonia. It is located on the shores of Lake Kallavesi, while the entire area is surrounded by a large number of natural lakes and islands with coniferous forests. This location creates an excellent ecology - these places have beautiful nature and amazingly clean air. There is no season here - a wonderful holiday is guaranteed at any time of the year. In winter, there are more than 1,000 kilometers of ski slopes in Kuopio and its surroundings, and in the summer-autumn season there is freedom for fans of water activities: fishing, kayaking down river rapids, and jet skiing. In addition to tourism, the city has well-developed chemical, woodworking, food and engineering industries. Kuopio has a well-developed infrastructure with many shops, restaurants, hotels and hotel complexes located on the picturesque banks of Kallavesi among pine forests.

general information

The city is quite “young” - the date of its foundation is considered to be 1775. In the 19th century, it was the center of provincial trade, and the construction of the railway and the Saimaa Canal, which provided communication with the Gulf of Finland, served as a huge impetus to its economic development. The Kuopio ski resort gained popularity in the second half of the 20th century, when the tourist infrastructure began to develop: the construction of comfortable cottages, hotels and apartments, with water parks and a large range of SPA services, landscaping the area and equipping it for various sports.

• Founded: 1775;
• Area: 1,730 km²;
• Time zone: UTC+2;
• Population: 111,400.

The region has a temperate continental climate with snowy, frosty winters and warm, sunny summers. So the weather in Kuopio is conducive to relaxation throughout the year: winter activities start in November, and in April give way to ecotourism.

There are no direct flights from Russia to Kuopio, so you will have to fly through Helsinki. There are direct flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg to the capital of Finland, from where the flight to Kuopio takes about an hour.

A selection of profitable air tickets through Aviadiscounter (searches like Aviasales + a selection of airline promotions and sales).

And to select intercity transport (planes, trains, buses) in Europe, try, the service offers the best ways to travel along popular routes.

Or make your own route.

What to see

The main attraction of the city is Mount Puyo, which is part of the oldest nature reserve in the country. It is located in the center of the resort and is covered with densely growing coniferous trees. In 1963, a 75-meter three-story tower was built on the top of the mountain, the building of which houses a cafe, a revolving restaurant and an observation deck with a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings. This place is ideal for taking photos of Kuopio's picturesque landscapes. In winter, Puyo turns into a ski entertainment center with a ski school. Here you can rent equipment, learn skiing and even ski jumping. At Christmas, Puyo becomes the main venue for the holidays; many colorful lights are lit on the top of the mountain, creating a mysterious and fabulous atmosphere of the celebration.

Fans of religion will be interested in visiting the oldest Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas in the city and the museum of church art housed in it, with the chair of the Karelian Archbishop.

Kuopio is home to the Orthodox Church Museum, the largest in Western Europe. Valuable icons, church textiles, sacred objects from monasteries, church items and ancient artifacts are exhibited here. Many exhibits were evacuated from Karelian parishes and monasteries during wartime.

The Kuopio Quarter museum is popular among tourists. It is a block of several old houses of the 19th century, in which the interiors of that time are reproduced with great accuracy. There is also a shoemaker's workshop, an old pharmacy, and a tailor's shop. And the antique-style cafe will offer delicious pastries and cakes.

Kuopio is becoming more and more popular every year not only among residents of Finland, but also among European winter holiday enthusiasts. The resort is well equipped, has a developed infrastructure, historical monuments and will undoubtedly give a lot of pleasant impressions to everyone who comes here to relax and have fun.

Services for tourists that will allow you to save or get more for the same money:

• Insurance: the journey begins with choosing a profitable insurance company, allowing you to choose the best option for your requirements;
• Flight: Aviasales looks for the best tickets, you can also find airline promotions and sales in Aviadiscounter;
• Accommodation: first we choose a hotel through (they have the largest database), and then see which site is cheaper to book it through RoomGuru;
• Movements: you can order an inexpensive transfer to the airport and back, you can also rent a car at

It must be said that transport in Finland is quite expensive. From Joensuu to Kuopio there are only 150 kilometers, and the ticket costs 25 euros, that is, about a thousand rubles. When purchasing tickets at the bus station in Joensuu, a funny incident occurred. Approaching the ticket office, I asked in English for tickets to Kuopio, and from Kuopio in a few hours we had to go to Nurmes. In general, young people in Finland communicate well in English, but the guy at the checkout was even worse at it than I was. After several attempts to understand what exactly I needed, the guy asked in desperation: “Or maybe you speak Russian?” He is not Russian, but he speaks and understands our language quite well, in any case definitely better than in English. Accordingly, we quickly understood each other and a few minutes later we were rushing across the Finnish expanses by bus.

The city of Kuopio is the capital of the province of Northern Savonia, slightly larger than Joensuu. As we were told, Finnish cities are very similar to each other. This turned out to be partly true, but not so much that it was uninteresting to walk around a new city. So, we arrived at the bus station.

The train station is also located nearby.

Probably the most beautiful building in the city is the town hall. Its facade faces the shopping area, and if you walk from the stations, you first see the back part. Let's not break the chronology and first go from the rear

There is some kind of monument to young people here

This sculpture is called "Compound Interest". But this is a literal translation of the inscription on the monument; most likely there is some other interpretation. Further, if I understand correctly, it is written “to the shoemakers who founded the national trading society.”

This is even more difficult to understand. Either modern art or a capsule in which astronauts descend)) But, given that the Finns have not yet flown into space, it’s more likely the former

Nearby are shopping centers. By the way, there are large centers in Finland even in very small towns

And we go out to the shopping area and here we already see the facade of the town hall

We were a little unlucky, since one of the symbols of Kuopio - the indoor market, built at the end of the 19th century in Art Nouveau style, was under reconstruction and remained in this form

Let's take a short walk away from the square. Museum of Art

We approached the Lutheran Cathedral

The cathedral was open, so we went inside

Another example of how technological progress serves the benefit of the church. However, I didn’t pick up the phone, so I don’t even know what it’s all for. Not otherwise, a direct connection with God

It was also the first time I saw a church with a free public toilet.

This is the view from the church door

There is this building nearby. Judging by the sign, something related to security

Monument to the writer Johan Wilhelm Snellman

A hundred meters away there is a school named after Snellman

Kuopio City Museum

Judging by the anchor we are approaching the port

This is, so to speak, a port station

And these, as I understand it, are port warehouses

Views of Lake Kallavesi

Ships in port awaiting imminent defrosting

Another evolution option

Parking meter. Parking prices, as you can see, are also draconian.

It seems like there are Sokos hotels in every Finnish city

Memorial to fallen soldiers. There is a park around the monument

And a few more photos from the city streets without further ado)

After all the walking around the city, we still had an hour of time left and we decided to devote it to a hike to the Puyo Tower. Now it is a television tower, plus there is a restaurant on a rotating platform. It’s only about two kilometers from the bus station to the tower, but most of this route is uphill, so we almost missed the bus. Of course, we didn’t have time to climb it, but we still saw the tower up close, after which we boarded a bus that took us to Nurmes. But more on that in the next story.

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Blog tour to North Karelia