Arriving in Finland
When planning your travels to Finland, please check the current instructions for border crossing with the Finnish border guard: https://raja.fi/en/frontpage (opens in a new tab).
Getting to Helsinki (opens in a new tab)
Ferries
If you decide to travel to Finland by a ferry, there are a couple of good ferry connections. For example, you can take a ferry from Travemünde, Germany to Helsinki as well as from Stockholm, Sweden to Helsinki or Turku.
Some ferry connections:
Travelling from Helsinki to your campus city
Both campus cities Joensuu (about 440 kilometres north-east from Helsinki) and Kuopio (about 380 kilometres north-east from Helsinki) are very accessible from Helsinki: several trains and buses daily to both of them.
- VR, Finnish Railways (opens in a new tab). The trains from Helsinki to Joensuu and to Kuopio leave from the Central Railway Station.
- Matkahuolto, long distance bus services (opens in a new tab). The busses to Joensuu/Kuopio leave from the Helsinki city centre (Kamppi central bus station).
- Onnibus, long distance bus services (opens in a new tab). The Onnibus Busses leave from the Helsinki city centre (Kamppi central bus station).
- Finnair, international and domestic flights (opens in a new tab)
Public transport from the Helsinki airport (opens in a new tab) If you wish to travel by train directly from the Helsinki airport to the campus city, you should first take a local train from the airport to Tikkurila and from Tikkurila you can take a train to Joensuu or to Kuopio.
Please note that you are entitled to student discounts on Finnish trains and buses only if you have the Finnish student card. In order to receive one, your study right has to be valid and you have to be registered as a UEF student. If you are a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree student, also your tuition fee (does not apply to exchange students) and your student union membership fee has to be paid (obligatory to exchange students). Read more about student cards.
Arriving in your campus town
- In order to get the keys for your accommodation, we recommend you to arrive during the opening hours of the housing office: Joensuun Elli in Joensuu and Kuopas in Kuopio.
- If your student tutor is in the campus city when you arrive, the tutor might be able to pick up the key for you if you inform them about your arrival well in advance. The tutor will then meet you on your arrival.
Arriving in Joensuu
The Joensuu airport is located about 11 km from the Joensuu city centre. There is usually a bus leaving after each flight from the airport to the city centre. Airport info (opens in a new tab).
City of Joensuu (opens in a new tab)
Public transport (local buses) in Joensuu (opens in a new tab)
Joensuu Campus map and Parking on Campus (opens in a new tab)
Lecture rooms on Joensuu Campus (opens in a new tab)
Joensuu Campus Facilities (pdf)
To search for bus routes, you can use the link below. If you have a smart-phone or a tablet, you can also download an application called “Nysse – Journey Planner” and use that. It has the public transportation schedules for some other cities in Finland as well. The app is currently available at Google Play and Windows Store.
JOJO – Joensuu region’s local public transport (opens in a new tab)
Arriving in Kuopio
The Kuopio airport is located about 14 km from the Kuopio city centre. Airport info (opens in a new tab).
During Mon – Fri until 19.35 there is a bus but please note that there is no public transportation from the airport to the city during the weekends, nights, or evenings after 19.35 but you have to take a taxi which is a lot more expensive. If available we recommend trying to take an airport taxi (shared taxi). Make sure you check the fare from the taxi driver beforehand.
City of Kuopio (opens in a new tab)
Kuopio Campus map and Parking on Campus (opens in a new tab)
Lecture rooms on Kuopio Campus (opens in a new tab)
Kuopio Campus Facilities (pdf)
To search for bus routes, you can use the link below. If you have a smart-phone or a tablet, you can also download an application called “Nysse – Journey Planner” and use that. It has the public transportation schedules for some other cities in Finland as well. The app is currently available at Google Play and Windows Store.
Public transport (local buses) in Kuopio (opens in a new tab)
Taxis
Taking a taxi is quite expensive in Finland. If you take a taxi, make sure you check the price from the driver beforehand. The price of a journey can change depending on the day or the time of the day. It is usually cheaper to share a taxi with your friends whenever possible.
There are several taxi companies and they have different prices so comparing the prices can be a bit tricky.
Taxis can be ordered by using apps (such as Valopilkku) or by phone. You can find the taxi companies in the internet.