Kuopio is a Finnish city located in the eastern part of Finland. It is the eighth-largest city in the country and the largest city in the North Savonia region.
Kuopio is surrounded by Lake Kallavesi, which provides a number of beaches and waterfront areas throughout the city. In addition, the centre still has a number of wooden houses that are worth a visit.
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Things to see and do in Kuopio
The city of Kuopio has a number of tourist attractions that are not to be missed if you visit this region of Finland.
In addition, the forests and Lake Kallavesi offer a variety of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed all year round.
Puijo tower
The Puijo Observation Tower is situated on the highest hill in the city, so the views from the tower of the surrounding environment are breathtaking.
From the tower, it is possible to see the entire city of Kuopio, as well as the huge lakes and some neighbouring villages.
Inside the Puijo Tower, there is a café and a revolving restaurant where you can stop to rest and enjoy the scenery.
Old Kuopio Museum
The Old Kuopio Museum, also known as the Museum Quarter or Kuopion Korttelimuseo in Finnish, consists of a total of eleven old wooden houses.
The museum allows visitors to discover the conditions and lifestyles of different Finnish families from the 19th century to the 1930s. The Old Museum, both the exterior and the interior of the houses, transports you to another era.
Kuopio Market Square
The city centre is largely pedestrianised. Here you will find the town hall and the Kuopio market square.
The market has a total of 20 different food stalls where you can sample local dishes and buy other products characteristic of the city of Kuopio.
Kuopio Museum
The Kuopio Museum is an Art Nouveau building located next to Snellman Park. Its construction was completed in 1907. It houses the exhibits of the Kuopio Museum of Natural History and the Kuopio Museum of Cultural History.
It is the third oldest museum in Finland, after the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki and the Turku Art Museum.
Its construction, by architect Johan Victor Strömberg, is influenced by other Finnish castles, such as Vyborg Castle and St. Olaf’s Castle.
Kuopio Cathedral
Kuopio’s orthodox cathedral was built in the early 19th century and is located in a beautiful park very close to the city centre.
The neoclassical cathedral combines a white background with smooth stones decorating the façade. It is one of the leading orthodox church museums in Europe.
Kuopio Art Museum
The Kuopio Art Museum is located next to the cathedral, very close to the market square.
The museum’s collection includes some 7,000 works of art, most of them by Finnish artists. Highlights include the collections of the von Wright brothers, Juho Rissanen and other important artists from the area.
Kuopio Harbour and Lake Kallavesi
Surrounded by Lake Kallavesi, the city of Kuopio has an important harbour where you can see a large number of different boats. You can also enjoy the breathtaking views of the lake.
How to get to Kuopio
It is possible to reach the city of Kuopio using different means of transport. Firstly, Kuopio Airport, located about 14 kilometres from the city centre, allows you to get to Kuopio from Helsinki in about an hour.
Alternatively, you can travel by train. In that case, the journey time from Helsinki is 4-5 hours. The main advantage over travelling by plane is that the ticket price will be much lower.
It is also possible to reach Kuopio by boat if you are travelling from other nearby cities. Buses also connect Kuopio with other major cities in Finland. If you’re thinking of hiring a car, the journey from Helsinki takes about 5 hours.
How to get around the city
The city is not very big and the main points of interest are not far from each other.
However, it is interesting to note that Kuopio has a good public transport system that will allow you to get around the city. Most bus lines depart from the central station in the city centre.
Where to stay in Kuopio
Kuopio has a wide range of hotels and accommodations to help tourists relax. We recommend choosing one of the hotels located in the city centre so that you don’t have to constantly rely on public transport to get around.
Where to eat in Kuopio
It’s not too difficult to find good bars and restaurants where you can stop for a bite to eat and rest. The various food stalls in the city market and the revolving restaurant in the Puijo Tower are two of the best places to eat.
You can’t leave Kuopio without trying the traditional kalakukko fish cake, one of the most typical dishes of the area. It is a type of rye bread cake stuffed with fish. The Kuopio Market is the best place to try this dish.
We hope our travel guide to Kuopio will help you prepare for your trip to the city. We invite you to share this article on social media using the buttons below. And if you have any questions, you can use the comments section to ask them.