G kuopio finland. Kuopio - a picturesque resort in Finland

Kuopio is a Finnish city in the Northern Savo region, whose population allows it to hold the 9th place in the country in terms of population.

Lake Kallavesi washes Kuopio, which turns it into a port. In addition, part of the city is built on islands.

For residents of the country, Kuopio is in 6th place in terms of the attractiveness of living, as it is a major cultural center and ski resort.

Climate

It's time for the ski season here from mid-December to April. Average temperatures and precipitation during the cold season are shown in the table.

Characteristics of Kuopio as a ski resort

Brief reference.

• Altitude difference - 93 m;
• number of tracks - 2;
• slope lengths - 800 and 400 m;
• the length of the cross-country track is 400 km;
• the length of the illuminated sections of the tracks is 50 km;
• number of ski jumps - 4;
• ski jumping school.

About skating

Despite the small number of tracks, there is an endless stream of tourists-guests at the base. This is because there are 5 more ski bases near the city.
Therefore, when tourists say they are going to Kuopio, they mean not only the city itself, but also the resorts in the area.

The slopes closest to tourists are Antikalla and Puyo. They belong to the resort of Kuopio.

Antikalla is a zone for beginners. Its length is 800 m. There is a lift with a capacity of 2,100 people per hour.

The height difference on Antikalla is not large - about 80 m. This slope has night illumination.

The Puyo zone is shorter at 400 m. But it has a higher vertical drop of 93 m. This slope is intended for more experienced skiers.

There is also night lighting here, and the lift has a capacity of 1,200 people per hour.

There are 4 ski jumps built on Puyo. And snow cannons provide high-quality coverage of the slopes.

To the north of Kuopio are the resorts Kasurila (20 km) and "" (70 km). There are professional, difficult, simplified tracks. In general, there is more variety than on the 2 slopes of Kuopio.

Ski jumping can be learned at a special school. She is the only one in the world who specializes in this sport.

About transport

The city has an excellent bus network. Almost all flights depart from the city center of Keskusta. You can follow the routes on the website kuopionliikenne.fi.

On weekdays, a ticket costs 2.9 €, and on weekends (and night flights) - 3.8 €.

Bicycles are popular in summer. The city has a developed system of bicycle paths, so you can get to the desired point by bike.

Entertainment

Kuopio is interesting for a huge variety of entertainment and fascinating places for the traveler.

Apres ski.

• Discos;
• restaurants, bars;
• Finnish baths, swimming pools, saunas;
• sports and recreation complexes;
• order sightseeing tour around the city and its environs;
• malls, market squares, shops and boutiques for shopping.

Sports events

Winter activities.

• Skating and sledding;
• walks along the picturesque routes of Finnish nature: on foot and with snowshoes;
• snowmobile and dog safari;
• ice fishing;
• participation in the annual Finnish ice marathon - a race among amateurs and athletes on treadmills on ice.

Summer classes.

• Horseback riding;
• safari on quad bikes or jeeps;
• golf;
• hiking.

Attractions in Kuopio that you can visit in any season

• Zoo;
• manor "Rauhalahti" with the house of the cartoon bear Uppo-Nalle;
• automobile museum, in which the oldest rarity is a Sears car, released in 1909.
• art galleries: "Sitruuna", "Minna-Galleria", "Taitemia-Galleria", "Kapriisi";
• the largest collection of exhibits of the Orthodox Church of all Western Europe - in the Finnish Museum of the Orthodox Church;
• The Old Museum Quarter of Kuopio is made up of 11 old wooden buildings that show the lifestyle of the estates of the 19th century. Among them is the house of Minna Kant, a Finnish writer;
• "Alahovi" is a wine-growing plantation. It is located on the island of Vaayasalo. Here they show the technology of producing berry wine, organize tastings, offer to buy a wonderful drink in a wine shop;
• a colorful and original restaurant-timber hut by Lake Kallavesi with complicated name"Yatkyankyampya";
• "Kauppahalli" and "Kauppatori" - an indoor market and market Square respectively;
• Pikku Pietari is a cozy shopping lane with wooden buildings. There is a cafe with a summer terrace, several small art galleries, souvenir shops and boutiques selling hand-made artisan products;
• the charming bakery Kalakukkoleipomo Hanna Partanen is open from 06:00 to 21:00 (Monday-Saturday). Here they buy pastries and traditional Finnish fish pies. All dishes are prepared exclusively according to local old recipes.

Restaurants

• An institution that will convey the atmosphere of Kuopio as much as possible will be the Sampo restaurant. This place is also famous for its excellent fish dishes.
• The cozy Peräniemen Kasino, whose terrace overlooks the lake, will allow you to get aesthetic pleasure from nature.
• Tourists like to visit the restaurants "Kummisetä" and "Viking Restaurant Harald", where an affordable price is supported by delicious traditional cuisine Finns. A true gourmet must visit Musta Lammas.

Accommodation

Kuopio offers guests a hotel room or a cottage as a place to stay.

Prices depend on the location of the facility and service. Of the budget hotels, Puijo Koto stands out - cozy, "homely". It is located near the city center, near the Puyo stadium.

in class over expensive hotels includes "Rauhalahti Spa Hotel”, on the territory of which there are SPA, saunas, swimming pools, clubs, restaurants.

The cottages, which vary in size, are located in the Holiday Center Rauhalahti area. 11 of these facilities are all-season.

In summer, the camping season opens here. Near the cottages there is a SPA salon "Rauhalahti Spa".

Regarding prices, one can cite Scandic Kuopio or Finlandia Hotel Jahtihovi as an example, where rooms for 1 person cost from 60-65 €.

Hotel map

Service prices

The cost of ski-pass subscriptions is as follows:

The cost of training sessions with an instructor.

Road to Kuopio

By plane.

In Kuopio, you can fly to their capital - Helsinki. There are 9-10 such flights every day. The journey takes about 1 hour.

Flights from Riga also land in Kuopio. From the city to the airport about 14 km.

On the way between it and Kuopio, buses run regularly, the ticket price for which is 5 €. You can pay 18 € for a comfortable taxi.

By train.

Also, the resort is reached by trains of the VR company, on the official website of which (www.vr.fi) you can see the various routes, departure times of train flights and their cost.

From Helsinki, the train journey will last 5-6 hours. From Moscow, the Leo Tolstoy train leaves, stopping at Kouvola for 3 hours, during which you can easily buy a ticket for the next Helsinki-Kuopio train (No. 73).

Buses.

Matkahuolto buses run from various cities in Finland. it a budget option way to Kuopio, but longer.

Bus routes also travel from Russia.

A bus departs from St. Petersburg Bus Station (36, Obvodny Canal Embankment) on Mondays and Saturdays at 10:45.

He arrives in Kuopio at 20:30. An "adult" ticket costs 50 €.

Close to Kuopio ski resort, be sure to visit this place, here you can perfectly diversify your vacation.

At a distance of about 380 kilometers from Helsinki and about 460 kilometers from Saint Petersburg. The city is located in beautiful place, on a peninsula surrounded by the waters of Lake Kallavesi. The population of the city is more than 97 thousand people. There are more than 1200 islands on the lakes surrounding the city. Many people in Finland choose this region as their holiday destination. There are more than five thousand country houses and cottages on the territory of the municipality of Kuopio. Frequent guests here and vacationers from Russia.

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). Under the square is a car park. central square located about a hundred meters above sea level and has a size of 130 × 174 meters. The territory of the square is paved with stone blocks.

On the southern edge The square is one of the sights of the city - the building of the city market. Near the market there are two statues known to every inhabitant of Kuopio: Veljmies-patsas and Siskotyttö-patsas. According to the 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 the Osuuspankki bank, Sektori and Anttila shopping centers. To the south is the gymnasium building and the Aapeli shopping center. On the western border of the square are the 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 local residents and tourist activities.

The most famous events in Kuopio

ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival

In order to stand out from the mass of festivals similar to each other, the organizers call their festival the Anti-Festival. ANTI - Kuopio Contemporary Art Festival is held mainly in public spaces. The festival presents works in various genres and types of creativity. The festival uses contemporary cityscapes as the stage for its events. Most events are free to the public.

Kuopio Rockcock

The Kuopio Rockcock (also Kuopio Rock) Rock Festival 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, at Cape Väinölänniemi. Performances of musicians are also held in other places of the city.

Wine Festival in Kuopio

The Kuopio Wine Festival (Kuopion kansainväliset viinijuhlat, kuopio wine festival) has been held in Kuopio since 1997. From the very beginning, the festival has become very popular. The festival is visited by about 50 thousand people, mainly from the nearest 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 particular wine-producing country. Access to the festival territory is paid, only for people over 18 years old.

Finland Ice Marathon

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

Puijo Natural Park

Puijo is a conservation area located within the city. It is currently a recreation area and sports complex. Puijo fell is located in the northern part of the city. On the hill is located lookout tower from which you can see the surroundings 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 for tourists and locals alike. The territory of the nature protection park is actively used for sports. There are several ski jumps, a golf course. The Puijo area became a conservation area as early as 1928.

Technopark in Kuopio

The city of Kuopio (like the whole of Finland) relies on the development of science and technology. To realize this task, a Technopark (Tiedepuisto) was created in Kuopio. The Kuopio Technopark is located in the Savilahti neighbourhood. The technopark concentrates enterprises working in the field of high technologies, computer technologies, international companies and enterprises working for export. The University of Eastern Finland, the Savonia Polytechnic Institute are also located here. One of the most famous enterprises of the Technopark is Technopolis Kuopio, which also operates in Russia. The technopark hosts most of the city's jobs, more than 8,000 students study there.

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 the merger of the universities of Kuopio and Joensuu. The university has branches in the cities of Kuopio, Joensuu and Savonlinna. The Times magazine 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 for work in the fields of: culture, environment, tourism, catering and economics, sociology, health and sports, technology and transport, business and management. Teaching is conducted in Finnish and English.

How to get to Kuopio

The city of Kuopio is connected by automobile roads with many cities in Finland.

Road number 5 goes from the very north of Finland, from the city of Sodankylä, through Kuusamo, Kajaani, Kuopio, Varkaus, Mikkeli, and further along road number 4 to Lahti and Helsinki.

From Mikkeli on road number 13 you can get to the city of Lappeenranta and beyond to Petersburg.

From Kajaani on road No. 89, through the Vartius – Kivijärvi checkpoint, you can drive to Kostomuksha.

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

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

The airport located at a distance of 14 kilometers from the city center. There are regular flights from Kuopio Airport to.

The passenger port of Kuopio in summer offers the possibility to reach the city by the lake.

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 becomes crowded on a small peninsula. According to existing plans, the city will expand in the direction of located south of the islands. Island city - this is how the name of the new residential areas of Kuopio Saaristokaupunki (Saaristokaupunki) can be translated. Saaristokaupunki is the new territory of the city. Housing for 14,000 people will be built in the new residential microdistrict. The distance from the new microdistrict to the old city center is 2.5 kilometers.

Matkus business center

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

Information for tourists

(shopping centers and shops).

City of Kuopio.

Kuopio is the eighth largest city in Finland, popular resort country and the center of the province of Northern Savo. 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 arrangement creates an excellent ecology - in these places beautiful nature and breathtakingly clean air. There is no season here wonderful holiday guaranteed at any time of the year. More than 1,000 kilometers operate in Kuopio and its surroundings in winter ski slopes, and in the summer-autumn season expanse for fans water activities: fishing, descents along the river rapids in kayaks, riding on jet skis. In addition to tourism, the city has a well-developed chemical, woodworking, food and engineering industries. Kuopio has great developed infrastructure with many shops, restaurants, hotels and hotel complexes located on the picturesque banks of Kallavesi among coniferous 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 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 it began to develop tourism infrastructure: construction of comfortable cottages, hotels and apartments, with water parks and a wide range of SPA services, ennoblement of the territory and its equipment for various sports.

• Founded: 1775;
• Area: 1,730 km²;
• Timezone: 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 they give way to ecotourism.

There are no direct flights from Russia to Kuopio, so you will have to fly via 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 (search as Aviasales + a selection of promotions and sales of airlines).

And for the selection of long-distance transport (airplanes, trains, buses) in Europe, try, the service offers the best ways to travel along popular routes.

Or plot your route.

What to watch

The main attraction of the city is Mount Puyo, which is part of the country's oldest nature reserve. 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 top of the mountain, in the building of which there is a cafe, a revolving restaurant and viewpoint with magnificent views of the city and its surroundings. This place is ideal for taking photos of the picturesque scenery of Kuopio. Puyo turns into a ski resort in winter 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; a lot of colorful lights are lit on the top of the mountain, creating a mysterious and fabulous atmosphere of celebration.

Fans of religion will be interested in visiting the oldest Orthodox Cathedral in the city of St. Nicholas and the museum of church art located 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 utensils and ancient artifacts are exhibited here. Many exhibits were evacuated during the war from Karelian parishes and monasteries.

Popular with tourists is the Kuopio Quarter museum, which is a quarter of several old houses of the 19th century, in which the interiors of that time are reproduced with great accuracy. There is also a shoe shop, an old pharmacy, and a tailor's shop. A stylized antique cafe will offer delicious pastries and cakes.

Kuopio is becoming more and more popular every year not only among the inhabitants of Finland, but also among European fans winter holiday. 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 save or get more for the same money:

• Insurance: the journey begins with the choice of a profitable insurance company, allows you to choose the best option for your requirements;
• Flight: Aviasales is looking for the best tickets, you can also find promotions and sales of airlines in Aviadiscounter;
• Accommodation: first we select a hotel through (they have the largest base), and then we look at which site it is cheaper to book it through RoomGuru;
• Movements: you can order an inexpensive transfer to and from the airport, you can also rent a car for

If you love outdoor recreation, surrounded by forests and beautiful clean lake, then you should definitely go to Finland, and more precisely to its ninth largest city, Kuopio, founded in 1652. It is the center of the region called Northern Savonia. A little less than 100 thousand people live here. Currently, a large number of tourists and residents of Finland go to rest in this cozy city, the territory of which is half occupied by picturesque forests, and it is located on Lake Kallavesi. Kuopio is also a popular center winter tourism for fans of skiing and skating. Therefore, the city will offer a different holiday.

The most famous landmark of the city is the 75-meter-high Puijo Tower, located on the mountain of the same name in Finland's oldest protected area. Its construction was completed in 1963. On the first floor of the tower there is a cozy cafe, on the second - a restaurant rotating in a circle, and on the third - an observation deck. You will get a lot of pleasure from contemplating the blue lakes and green dense forests that stretch out before you. The spectacle, indeed, is impressive. In winter, when a lot of fluffy snow falls here, Mount Puyo and the entire reserve transform into a first-class ski resort with wide pistes between tree trunks. deserves special attention.

From cultural places, also worthy of your attention, you can highlight the Museum of the Orthodox Church. Its history began in 1911 in Valaam. Only in the 5th years of the 20th century the museum with all its relics was moved to Kuopio. It contains many cultural and religious values: ancient icons, samples of special ceremonial fabrics, as well as priceless items from Valaam and Karelia. Read about on our website.

If you come to rest with children, then the best place for their entertainment will be the Toy House, located in the health center Rauhalahti. In addition to playing with chic toys, children can also become spectators of an interesting children's theater performance and learn to ride a pony or clown. And on Christmas Day, the real Santa Claus comes here.

In addition, tourists often visit the house-museum of the famous Finnish writer Minna Kant and the house of photography, where exhibitions of contemporary photographers are held.

Hotel prices and shopping

There are 16 hotels in Kuopio, all of them with a service level of 3 or 4 stars. The atmosphere there is very pleasant, always cozy, clean and bright. The staff is unobtrusive, but happy to serve you at any moment. Among the 4-star hotels are the Rauhalahti Spa Hotel (located on the shores of Lake Kalavesi and has the popular Rauhalahti Spa division), the Hotel Atlas Kuopio (in the city center) and Best Western Hotel Savonia, having positive reviews from tourists. Prices for a double room range from US$150 to US$200 per night. In three-star hotels with excellent service, Scandic Kuopio (located on the waterfront), Original Sokos Hotel and Cumulus Kuopio Hotel (in the city center), prices for a double room are approximately at the same level of US$150-170 per night.

If you want to buy something unusual with a national Finnish flavor, then go to Kalakukkoleipomo Hanna Partanen, where guests of Kuopio can buy very tasty and hearty Finnish pies stuffed with fish. They are called kalakukko and are prepared by chefs according to old Finnish recipes. The traditions of making this pie are carefully preserved and passed on to posterity. Of course, you need to buy gifts and souvenirs for family and friends. For this purpose, it is worth going to Hallin käsityökammari or the popular Pikku-Pietari street. Items needed for a Finnish bath are sold in the city's shopping center. In addition, if you find yourself in the Kuopio Quarter Museum, you can buy some of the shoes and national clothes of the Finns in very beautiful workshops and shops, and in a local cafe you will be treated to delicate pastries.

Winter paradise in Kuopio

Most of all, this fabulous city attracts with its winter landscapes and of course the ski slopes that run through the entire city and the reserve on Mount Puyo. Before you go on the track, be sure to consult with the guides regarding the lighting of the tracks, as in winter it gets dark here by lunchtime. But, fortunately, most of the paths are brightly lit by spotlights. Almost all trails start from the mountain and have a gradation according to the complexity of the slopes. There are also "black slopes" with steep slopes for professionals, as well as more gentle "blue" ones - for beginners and inexperienced skiers. The resort is constantly staffed by trainers who will help you get on the skis and learn how to manage them. All equipment can be rented.

Cuisine and restaurants in Kuopio

In this city, there are both expensive restaurants offering gourmet dishes and wines, as well as budget ones. Among the high-class restaurants that have earned excellent reviews from tourists, Musta Lammas and Ravintola OS can be distinguished, offering dishes of European, Scandinavian and French cuisines. For a full meal in these establishments, you will have to pay an average of 50 - 100 dollars per person.

Try Finnish fish dishes in a pleasant atmosphere at Sampo Restaurant. In addition, in Kuopio you will find inexpensive restaurants and cafes where you will be treated to Italian, Mediterranean and Chinese cuisines. Dine in them will cost you about 10-20 US dollars.

You can taste aromatic wines made from berries according to northern traditions by going to the island of Vaayasalo. After the tasting, you will be offered to buy your favorite types in the wine cellar.

Ways to get there

The most comfortable way to get to Kuopio is to fly there from the capital of Finland - Helsinki by plane.

This flight will take you 50 minutes. Every day 5-8 aircraft arrive from the capital to Kuopio, including from Riga. You can get from the airport to the city by taking a bus (cost 14 euros) or a taxi (about 18-20 euros). In addition to the airport, the city has a large Train Station. Trains from Helsinki arrive at the station 6-9 times a day. By the way, high speed trains The Pendolinos are very modern and well equipped and are a pleasure to travel with. The time that will have to be spent on the move is four hours and 50 minutes according to the schedule.

If you are driving your own car, then the fastest way to get there is on the fifth highway, which connects the capital of Helsinki with fabulous Lapland.
From Moscow and St. Petersburg there is a permanent railway connection. To get to Kuolio from Moscow, take the Leo Tolstoy train, and from St. Petersburg you can take the same train or Allegro, which will take you to the Kouvola station. On it you should transfer to the local train, which will bring you to the appointed place - the station of the city of Kuolio.

Since 2011, a bus connection has been established between Peter and Kuolio. The bus departs from the bus station number 2 on Mondays and Saturdays. The travel time to the destination is about 10 hours.