Tarkenna hakuasi

22065 City of Kuopio

General info about Kuopio

Kuopio Tourist Service (Kuopio Info)

Address: Apaja Shopping Centre, Kauppakatu 45, 70110 Kuopio

Opening hours: Check the website.

Tel: +358 80 018 2050

Email: palveluneuvonta@kuopio.fi

Information about the Kuopio region:

The City of Kuopio was founded in 1775 to stimulate trade and other economic activity in the extensive region of Eastern Finland. Today Kuopio has a population of over 117 000 and it is the ninth largest city in the country. The City of Kuopio is the largest city in the Province of Eastern Finland. Kuopio has developed into a centre serving the entire region of eastern Finland. Some 600 000 people live within its sphere of influence.

Kuopio is a modern, developing centre of economic life in Eastern Finland. 70% of those living in Kuopio are employed in service professions. The unique nature and services of excellent quality make the city an appealing place to live in. The people of the growing city have not forgotten their roots and they still highly value the genuine Northern Savo region’s way of living. The unique summer atmosphere in the Kuopio region is provided by lakes and islands, and as well as by the landscape of forest-covered hills. Boating, hiking and other forms of outdoor recreation are plenty. The lakes, which are abound with fish, guarantee good catches throughout the year. Leisure spas with their bubbling pools and baths offer relaxation and invigoration whenever you feel the need.

In general, the climate varies a lot in Kuopio. Here you can enjoy the four distinctive Finnish seasons. The temperatures may vary from -30 C in the winter to +30 C in the summer. Read more information on the weather . The northern lights, although more common in Lapland, can sometimes be seen during winter nights also in Kuopio.

The main road of the region is Highway 5, which runs from Helsinki to Lapland. The Saimaa Canal links Kuopio to the Baltic Sea and is open for most of the year. By road, the distance from the capital Helsinki to Kuopio is about 390 km. There are also several daily flights from Helsinki to Kuopio. Coach and railway connections to Kuopio also are excellent from Helsinki as well as from the Tampere and Turku regions.

Distances and travelling times (approximately) to Kuopio from

Distance By car By rail By air
Helsinki 390 km 4 h 30

min

4 h 60 min
Tampere 300 km 3 h 45

min

3 h 30

min

(via Helsinki)
Turku 450 km 5 h 30

min

5 h 40

min

(via Helsinki)
Joensuu 136 km 1 h 45

min

3 h 30

min

(via Helsinki)
Savonlinna 161 km 2 h 6 h (via Helsinki)
Multicultural Centre Kompassi

Kompassi is the multicultural centre of the Kuopio Settlement Puijola, which is located in the city centre of Kuopio. Kompassi was established in 1999 and is funded by the City of Kuopio and RAY (Finland’s Slot Machine Association). Kompassi offers information, support and activity opportunities, multicultural events and Finnish language courses. In Kompassi you can use a computer, meet new people, get help in problematic situations, get information about, for example, immigration services in Kuopio, multiculturalism and internationality. Kompassi welcomes everyone and values all of its visitors equally without discrimination.

Multicultural Centre Kompassi (opens in a new tab, only in Finnish)

Opening hours: Check the website Address: Kauppakatu 40-42, 70110 Kuopio
Email: kompassi(a)puijola.net

Day-care and Schools

If you are coming to Kuopio with children, you should contact the Student and Learning Services for information on schools and day-care. There is an English and a German kindergarten in Kuopio and some schools have English language classes. There are two comprehensive schools offering bilingual teaching and one upper secondary school offering International Baccalaureate (IB) studies. For more information about day-care in Kuopio.

Some daycares and schools:

The English Kindergarten

Address: Tulliportinkatu 37 H, 70110 Kuopio

Tel: +358 44 767 5057

Website

Deutscher Kindergarten

Address: Kauppakatu 59-61, 70110 Kuopio

Tel: +358 45 111 2070

Website

Rajala Comprehensive School

Address: Sammakkolammentie 14, 70200 Kuopio

Tel: +358 44 718 4356

Website

Hatsala Comprehensive School

Address: Opistotie 3, 70200 Kuopio

Tel: +358 44 718 4503

Website

Lyseo Upper Secondary School

Address: Puijonkatu 18, 70110 Kuopio

Tel: +358 17 184 563

Website

Community College of Kuopio

The Community College of Kuopio (Kansalaisopisto) is an institution offering adult education, enabling people of all ages to study and participate in activities relevant to their interests. Courses range from languages and sports to music and social sciences. The autumn semester starts in September and the spring semester in January.

Open University and Summer University

Both the Open University (Avoin yliopisto) and the Snellman University (Kesäyliopisto) of Kuopio offer a wide variety of courses (including Finnish language courses) to all interested students. Please note that fees are usually charged.

Open University, Kuopio Campus

Address: Neulamäentie 2, Bioteknia building, 2nd floor

Tel: +358 294457 028

Email: avoinyliopisto@uef.fi

Website

SnellmannEDU

Address: Haapaniemenkatu 40 C 1, 70110 Kuopio

Tel: +358 44 746 2840

Email: asiakaspalvelu@snellmanedu.fi

Website

Kuopio City Library

The City Library (kaupunginkirjasto) is run by the City of Kuopio. In Finland, libraries are open to all and borrowing material is free of charge. In order to be able to borrow material from the library, you will need a library card (kirjastokortti). You can get a library card for free from any library in Kuopio. You need to present proof of identity and fill in an application form in order to get a card. If books are not returned by the date they are due, a fee will be charged. Remember to cancel your library card immediately, if you lose it as the material borrowed on your card is on your responsibility. Please note that the university library card is not valid at the city libraries, only at the university libraries. The Kuopio City Library also has a music library where you can listen to music or borrow records, CDs and notes. There is also a language centre for language studies and you can borrow language learning tapes.

Kuopio City Libraries

Opening hours, addresses and contact info: Check the website

Website

Ethnic Grocery Stores

Big supermarkets like Prisma and Citymarket offer a variety of spices and, for example, halal meat. However, if you are looking something specific, there are a couple of ethnic grocery stores in Kuopio.

Marrakesh Shop, Pyörönkaari 26

Suker Shop, Alakatu 3,

Istanbul Market, Pyörönkaari 9 (halal meat available) Samruai, Thai restaurant and shop, address: Kauppakatu 63

Second Hand Shops

The Kuopio Recycling Centre (Kierrätyskeskus) sells clothes, furniture, kitchenware, televisions and bicycles, for extremely low prices. Remember that there are many second hand stores all over Kuopio, where you can also buy used furniture etc. They are popular among students.

Kuopion kirppari (online) 

CityPörssi – Lapinlinnankatu 21-23

Kirpparilla – Leväsentie 2

Rihma – Puijonkatu 39

SPR Kontti - Leväsentie 2

Elävä Kauppa - Teollisuuskatu 1 (also second hand household items and furniture)

Second hand bookstores (books, CDs, DVDs):

  • Antikvariaatti Kirja- ja Lehtilinna – Kuninkaankatu 23
Religious Denominations

There has been a complete freedom of religion in Finland since 1923. The Finnish Constitution guarantees the freedom of worship. This means that everyone is free to practice any religion they wish as long as they do not violate the fundamental human rights or break the law. Finns are not particularly active churchgoers although most of them are members of the church. There are two national churches in Finland, the Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church. Around 75% of Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, while around 1% belongs to the Orthodox Church. There are also Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, and a number of small religious denominations represented in Finland. Information on international church services in Kuopio will be delivered through the ESN KISA.

More information

Student Pastor Mr Raimo Hakkarainen, Kuopio Campus Contact: raimo.hakkarainen@uef.fi or +358 40 484 8471

Prayer Room

There is a prayer room for Muslims on campus in Kukkola building. The building is locked so you will need a key to access the room. You can apply for the key of the prayer room at Buildings and Estate Services (Tilapalvelut) located in Snellmania building, ground floor, Ms Anne Sulkakoski, Room 1078/5. There will be an about EUR 40 deposit for the key.

Congregations

Cinema, Theatre and Music

There are two cinemas in Kuopio, Scala (Ajurinkatu 16) and Kuvakukko (Vuorikatu 27). Films are shown in the original language with Finnish and Swedish subtitles, in Scala also in 3D format. Tickets cost between EUR 7.50–15. Films usually run for one to three weeks. Film clubs show classic films and re-runs at reduced prices at Kuvakukko. Scala offers discounts for students.

There is also the Student Union Film Club (Hyvät Kuvat), which is open to everybody. You have to buy a personal movie card for the price of about EUR 25. Please note that there are free club cards available for exchange students every semester. The film club shows one film in two sessions on Thursdays in the cinema Kuvakukko (Vuorikatu 27). All the films are in their original language with subtitles in Finnish.

The Kuopio City Theatre has several stages and there are many other theatre groups in Kuopio. Even if you cannot understand the language (all the shows are in Finnish), the performances are worth seeing.

The Student Theatre (KYT) 

A popular rock festival called Kuopio Rock 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.

In Kuopio, ordinary bars and pubs are also venues for shows and concerts of Finnish pop and rock groups; especially The Circus (Vuorikatu 19), Ottopoika (Kauppakatu 40-42) and Sawohouse Underground (Tarhakuja 1) have many bands performing regularly. The KISA mailing list will provide you with more information whenever there are shows that might interest students.

Kuopio Symphony Orchestra has concerts at the Kuopio Music Centre (Kuopiolahdenkatu 23), usually on Thursdays. More information and tickets are available at Kuopio Music Centre and Kuopio Info (Apaja).

Museums

Kuopio Art Museum (Kauppakatu 35) is housed in a former bank building. The collections include primarily Finnish art from the end of the Nineteenth Century to the present, with an emphasis on local painters. The central theme of museum is nature and the environment.

Kuopio Museum (Kauppakatu 23) is a cultural historical museum. Their permanent collection consists of pieces from the history of the Northern Savonia region. They also arrange temporary exhibitions.

Old Kuopio Museum (Kirkkokatu 22) consists of a block of eleven old wooden houses. Their interiors represent living conditions and living styles of different families from the 1800s to the 1930s. In addition, there is a pharmacy house, an exhibition hall and a room dedicated to the renowned local author Minna Canth.

VB Photographic Centre (Kuninkaankatu 14-16).

J. V. Snellman Home Museum (Snellmaninkatu 19) is museum for the philosopher and statesman. The museum building is the house he used to live in during his years in Kuopio in the 1840s.

The Orthodox Church Museum of Finland (opens in a new tab, page in Finnish) preserves studies and displays the unique cultural heritage of the Orthodox Church of Finland and to uses this heritage for educational purposes.

Events in Kuopio

Please note, that Covid19 affects the events!

Kuopio is famous for a multitude of events and known as both a lively sports centre and a city of rich cultural life. Every summer in June the Kuopio Dance Festival (Kuopio Tanssii ja Soi) takes place in Kuopio. The festival is a significant international dance festival presenting a wide spectrum of dance art from different cultural backgrounds, as well as modern trends and traditional dance theatre. Students get a discount on tickets.

Every year Kuopio also hosts many other national and international events and festivities. Among them are the rock festival Kuopio RockCock, Kuopio International Wine Festivals, Ice Marathon on Lake Kallavesi, different food festivals and many more. There are also several sport events (ice hockey matches, football in the Keskuskenttä and Väinölänniemi and Finnish baseball in the Puijo Stadium).

The Kuopio Music Centre offers a variety of concerts throughout the year.

Anti, International Contemporary Art Festival held in Kuopio every autumn, free entrance to festival events

For further information on sport activities in Kuopio and cultural activities in Kuopio.

Bars, Restaurants and Cafes

There are several bars, pubs, restaurants, pizzerias and cafés in Kuopio. The opening hours vary: usually the cafés are open between 8:00–18:00 (8am–6pm), but restaurants stay open until later in the evening. Most pubs open around 13:00 (1pm) and close around 02:00 (am). Nightclubs open at 22:00 (10pm) and close at 04:00 (am). More information about restaurants in Kuopio.

In Kuopio, ordinary bars and pubs are also venues for shows and concerts of Finnish pop and rock groups; Puijonsarvi Night (Maaherrankatu 5) have many bands performing regularly. The KISA mailing list will provide you with more information whenever there are shows that might interest students.

Sports

Please note that the Sykettä Sports Programme offers a variety of activities for students on Kuopio campus.

Information on different sports and outdoor recreation possibilities in Kuopio.

Kuopio has a wide network of jogging and skiing tracks.

Nature trails for hiking.

Exercise tracks and skiing trails.

Check also the rights and the regulations for the outdoor activities (everyman’s right).

Swimming Pools (Uimahalli):

  • Lippumäen uimahalli Petosentie 8, 70820 Kuopio
  • Kuntolaakson uimahalli, Hannes Kolehmaisenkatu, 70110 Kuopio

You can try ice swimming with the Kuopio Ice Swimming Association (opens in a new tab, page in Finnish). Swimming and sauna are available for non-members by a single payment of about EUR 10.

Kuopio Hall (Opistotie 4) offers several sporting options and their facilities include a football field, a running track, a gym etc.

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:

Horseback Riding

There are several stables in the Kuopio area. You can find the stables in the internet, but the most popular stable is Savisaaren Ratsastuskeskus (Savisaari 61, tel. +358 17 2822238, also SMS messages, talli@savisaari.com)

Ice Hockey Halls (Jäähalli) 

  • Kuopion jäähalli Olvi Areena
  • Hannes Kolehmaisen katu 4, 70100 Kuopio
  • Lippumäen jäähalli Rauhalahdentie 66, 70820 Kuopio

There are excellent opportunities for winter sports in Kuopio. 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. 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 Kuopio, for example in Puijo. 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 Kuopio, such as Kasurila and Tahko.

Skiing

Bowling Alley (Keilahalli)

Climbing

There are also several fitness clubs and gyms in Kuopio.