Information about the Joensuu region:
Joensuu is the administrative centre of the North Karelia region in Finland. The city was established by Czar Nikolai I of Russia in 1848 and it has flourished in the estuary of a notable waterway. Joensuu is located next to the Russian border. It is a vital city with a growing and relatively young population. The population of Joensuu is approximately 75 000. Joensuu believes in regional and international cooperation as one of the motors for the development.
Currently, the most important business areas include metal industry, wood and forestry sector, information and communication technology as well as expertise related to the border region and cross-border collaboration. Joensuu is also the forestry capital of Europe with a stronghold in research, inclusive the European Forest Institute and Joensuu Science Park. In the city centre of Joensuu you can find silence, peace and nature like nowhere else in Europe.
Besides the science and business scene, Joensuu is also a city where a number of recent Finnish films have been made. In Joensuu, you can find the Karelian folk, the most talkative ones in Finland. Furthermore, Joensuu is home to the famous summer rock festival called Ilosaarirock, which is sold out every year months before the event.
Distances and travelling times (approximately) to Joensuu from
| Distance | By car | By rail | By air | |
| Helsinki | 437 km | 5 h 30 min | 5 h | 60 min |
| Tampere | 395 km | 4 h 55 min | 5 h | (via Helsinki) |
| Turku | 540 km | 6 h 45 min | 6 h 45 min | (via Helsinki) |
| Kuopio | 136 km | 1 h 45 min | 3 h 30 min | (via Helsinki) |
| Savonlinna | 133 km | 1 h 40 min | 2 h 15 min | (via Helsinki) |
Culture and Tourist Centre Carelicum
Immigration Service: International House Joensuu
The Joensuu District Multicultural Association (JOMONI, in Finnish Joensuun seudun monikulttuurisuusyhdistys ry, open in a new tab) was founded in January 2009. The founding meeting included around 30 people from approximately ten different countries. The association’s intention is to promote multicultural diversity and to prevent immigrants from being discriminated and isolated. The association is open to people of all origins, nationalities, religions and political views. The association organises cultural and recreational events, seminars, press conferences and other activities that bring together people from different backgrounds. The association helps immigrants around the Joensuu area to deal with various authorities and bureaucracy issues, and raises awareness of multicultural diversity.
Citizen’s House (Kansalaistalo) supports voluntary work, develops co-operation and creates dialogue between the public welfare system and the activities of the voluntary sector. It also promotes partnership orientation in community, develops regional social and health policies and creates and develops new initiatives and innovations that increase welfare and decrease exclusion. You can find a meeting place, bikes for rent and an Internet Café at Kansalaistalo.
Both the Open University (Avoin yliopisto) and the Riveria Summer University (Kesäyliopisto) offer a wide variety of courses (including Finnish language courses) to all interested students. Please note that fees are usually charged.
The studies at the adult education center of Joensuu Area are open to everybody. You can study a variety of subjects such as computer science, music, sports, dance, manual skills, cookery, drama as well as arts and crafts. Teaching language is mainly Finnish, but in most lessons instruction in English can be made available (check at Customer Service Center). Language studies are also offered, e.g. in Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French, Russian, Spanish and Italian. Please note that fees are usually charged.
Cinema
There is one cinema in Joensuu, Tapio. Films are shown in their original language with Finnish and Swedish subtitles. You can get student discount on some films, remember to ask when you are buying tickets. Savonkinot website.
Theatre
The Joensuu City Theatre (Joensuun kaupunginteatteri) is located in the Town Hall. Information and tickets are available at Carelicum or the Town Hall one hour before the performance. Performances are usually in Finnish.
If there are tickets left on the day of the performance, they can be bought with student discount one hour before the show.
There is also a Student Theatre in Joensuu.
Music
The rock and pop music scene in Joensuu is very active. A popular rock festival called Ilosaarirock is arranged every year in mid-July drawing thousands of young people into the city. At other times, there are several live performances weekly. Please follow the advertisements and bulletin boards.
Kerubi is a place that offers a wide variety of Finnish music, live performances, disco nights, etc. See Kerubi website in Finnish.
The Joensuu Orchestra (website in Finnish only) has concerts in the Carelia Hall usually on Thursdays. Information and tickets are available at Carelicum as well as one hour before the concert at the Carelia Hall.
Joensuu Regional Library
The Joensuu Regional Library (Vaara libraries) has books in several languages, music, videos, magazines, international newspapers and a café. The library also has material for studying the Finnish language. Library cards can be obtained from the main desk of the library. The main library is located near the city centre and there are several branch libraries in different residential areas.
Museums
Art Museum (Kirkkokatu 23, the large red brick building) has a permanent collection of Finnish art, sections of Chinese art, ancient Greek and Roman art, and Orthodox icons from the monastery of Megri. They also arrange temporary exhibitions.
Art Centre Ahjo (opens in a new tab) (Kirkkokatu 23, the yellow wooden building) gives a fresh view of North Karelian and other Finnish art. Exhibitions include photographic art, paintings and handicrafts.
Carelicum - North Karelian Museum (Koskikatu 5) is a modern museum of history and culture. There is a permanent exhibition called “Visiting Karelia”, which takes a look at the region of Karelia in its historical and cultural entity. For more information on this or on the smaller art galleries, please ask at the Information Desk at Carelicum.
The Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden includes about 900 species of plants from 113 countries all over the world. The collection of greenhouses (570 m2) imitates five climatic regions: tropical, sub-tropical summer-rain, sub-tropical winter-rain, temperate and desert. There is also a small greenhouse (180 m2) for propagation and research purposes and two small plastic greenhouses for summer use only. Visitors are welcome to stroll through the outside garden in the summer. The Tropical Butterfly Garden is open for visitors from April to August–September. Also available for visitors are Café Botania and Boutique Botania.
Please note that the Sykettä Sports Programme offers versatile possibilities for students on the Joensuu campus:
Nature tracks for hiking in Joensuu area (opens in a new tab). Check also the rights and the regulations for the outdoor activities (everyman’s right).
Swimming pools (Uimahalli):
You can try ice swimming with the Joensuu Polar Bears Ice Swimming Club. Swimming and sauna is available for non-members by a single payment. The wristband costs about EUR 6 and can be bought from a machine at the club. For more information about location, opening hours, etc. visit their website or call tel. +358 45 7845 1992.
Sports Hall (Joensuun Kuntokeidas) offers bowling, tennis, squash, badminton, indoor climbing, table tennis, mini-golf, billiards, and a golf simulator. Address Linnunlahdentie 10, tel.+358 13 126 558 .
There are also several fitness clubs and gyms in Joensuu.
If you want to try fishing, it is good to know that persons who are 18 years or older must pay a fishing management fee (kalastuksenhoitomaksu in Finnish) and a local fishing license (kalastuslupa). No fishing licenses are needed for ice fishing or angling. More information here:
- Fishing in Finland
- Fishing licences in Joensuu (in Finnish)
- Regulations: Everyman’s right in Finland (opens in a new tab)
Horseback Riding
There are several stables in the Joensuu area. To browse different options, please go here: http://www.visitkarelia.fi/en/Travelling → Activities → Horseback riding
Information on nature tracks in Joensuu area.
There are excellent opportunities for winter sports in Joensuu. You can find ice-skating rinks around the town in wintertime, and they can be used by everyone, free of charge. Skates can be purchased at sports shops, department stores or flea markets. Alternatively, you can borrow a pair of skates from a fellow Finnish student or from the storage of the Student Union office at Joensuu. Skiing is a very important part of Finnish culture. If you have never skied before, in Finland you have a unique opportunity to try both cross-country and downhill skiing. There are many publicly maintained cross-country skiing trails in Joensuu, for example in Mehtimäki, which is very close to the Joensuu campus. Trails are always open, naturally depending on the snow conditions, and some of the trails are lit. There are also many downhill skiing centres close to Joensuu, such as Mustavaara and Koli.
Koli is situated about 70 km north of Joensuu. It is a beautiful and popular downhill skiing centre. All ski centres also rent the necessary equipment for downhill skiing and snowboarding, as well as for cross-country skiing. Snowshoeing is a new and popular form of winter sports, and the necessary equipment can also be rented at Koli.