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City in North Savo, Finland
Photo: Lentävä Kalakukko, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kuopio is the capital and largest city of North Savonia. The city is surrounded by lakes from three sides, which supplies loads of beaches and the feeling of water being always close. Some of the wooden houses arranged as a grid have been preserved in the centre which makes it a nice place to visit. The former municipalities of Juankoski, Karttula, Maaninka, Nilsiä, Riistavesi and Vehmersalmi have been incorporated into Kuopio and are described in this article; the municipality now covers a fifth of the area of North Savonia.
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Lurks over the city on the highest hill far and wide. From here you have a stunning view over the neighbouring lakelands.
Ortodoksinen Kirkkomuseo
A leading museum of Orthodox Churches in Europe.
Southeast from the main square and you can just walk around following your feet.
Kanttila
The house where the famous first Finnish female writer Minna Canth lived after her husband's death. Most noticeable it contains a replication of the Minna Canth room where she is said to have written some of her work.
Korttelimuseo
In the old town has plenty of old buildings done up in their original style 150 years ago containing also a pharmacy museum and most enchantingly a little history of Wonderous Healers in Eastern Finland of which still two or three exist and offer their service to believing people today!
Kauppahalli
Over 20 local stallholders.
The VB Photographic Centre is dedicated to display high-class Finnish and foreign photography. The Centre is housed in an idyllic wooden building that is more than 100 years old and located in the heart of the Old City of Kuopio in Eastern Finland. The VB Photographic Centre is regarded as one of the major photographic galleries and research centres of the country. During the summer, the Centre organizes well-known international exhibitions.
Neoclassical church built between 1806 and 1815.
Snellmaninpuisto
A park named after J. V. Snellman.
Iso hautausmaa
Founded in 1867. The most famous person buried in the cemetery is author Minna Canth.
Rauhalahden eläinpuisto
Maaningan kirkko
Nilsiän kirkko
Nilsiän museo
Muuruveden kirkko
Riistaveden kirkko
Riistaveden kotiseutumuseo
Vehmersalmen kirkko
Horkanlahden hautausmaa
A former forest cemetery in Vehmersalmi that operated from 1865 to 1913.
Vehmasmäen kappeli
Suomen sodan taistelupaikka
A historical landmark about the battle that took place in September 1808.
Karttulan kirkko
Cruises are worth trying during the summer season (June–August). You could also rent a boat (or a canoe) to cruise for yourselves. The main routes are Kuopio–Leppävirta–Varkaus–Savonlinna, Kuopio–Heinävesi–Savonlinna, Kuopio–Iisalmi (or shorter legs on those itineraries) and Kuopio–Juankoski–Nilsiä–Tahko, while already the archipelagos of Kallavesi by Kuopio offer enough to see for most, and such trips are easily extended to adjacent lakes. Check height restrictions if you have a sailing boat, and the rules if you are going to go up or down streaming water.
A popular dance venue since 1961.
Kuopion eläinpuisto
Honkalahden uimaranta
Kuntolaakson uimahalli
Kuntolaakso's indoor swimming pool is the second largest in Finland. Includes a 10-lane 50-m main pool, a diving pool with all the levels of diving required for competitions, a teaching and youth pool, a multi-purpose pool, a cold pool, a hot tub and a kids pool. Massage showers, a hot tub, an aroma sauna, daily gym control, body composition measurement, a jumping arm and virtual water gym equipment.
Holiday resort. Includes spa and restaurant services.
Paloniemen uimaranta
Offers large indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a jacuzzi, an ice-cold pool, a children's pool, a waterslide, saunas and a steam room.
Ritoniemen uimaranta
Puijo & Antikkala
Skiing 1.5 km from the city centre.
Popular centre, with ski resort activities in winter and hiking, biking, fishing etc. in summer.
The bakery shop Kalakukkoleipomo Hanna Partanen boasts a long tradition in kalakukko baking.
Tasty fried small whitefish in a pub-like atmosphere, a real classic in Kuopio.
"Black Sheep" in English, the best restaurant in town, fine dining, pretty expensive.
A restaurant in the city centre, popular among adult people.
Wooden lakeside restaurant and terrace since 1902. Beautiful and peaceful scenery.
Lounasravintola Aika
Italian restaurant.
Hand-made hamburgers made over an open fire.
Mexican restaurant serving Latin American dishes.
A restaurant in Puijo observation tower serving local dishes.
Ihme Tupa
Grill by the shore.
A bar and a restaurant in central Kuopio.
A storehouse-restaurant in Kuopio harbour.
A pub and club restaurant for adults in the city centre.
A pub in the city centre. Rockmusic, live bands.
More alternative pub in Kuopio center, has for example punk and prog gigs.
Bar and restaurant by the sea, accessible by boat, also offers boat rentals.
Nightclub of Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi.
A nightclub with multiple sections; Live Club, London British Pub, Karaoke and Finnish Classics club.
Buffet breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.
Big hotel. Buffet breakfast, gym, sauna. Free Wi-Fi. The rooms are of different styles, choose yours.
Buffet breakfast included. Sauna, gym. Free Wi-Fi.
Offers rooms and a swimming pool department (indoor and outdoor pools, a jacuzzi, an ice-cold pool, a children's pool, a waterslide, saunas and a steam room).
Has nice cottages or holiday homes (11 also for winter use).
Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. Also apartments in the centre.
Boutique hotel.
Tahko Hills is a holiday cottage complex in Tahko, near Lake Syväri. The complex has 10 spacious cottages, each with four bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace and sauna. Guests have access to the lakeshore, a shared pier and boats. Some cottages also have an outdoor hot tub. The cottages are suitable for families and groups year-round.
Apartment hotel.
Art handicrafts, gifts and utility items.
Handmade clothes, records, comic books, 1960s and 70s second hand shop, mini-gallery.
Kauppakeskus Minna
The shopping center is named after local author Minna Canth. Includes about 20 stores, and its neighbours include H-Talo, IsoCee and the Lumottu metsä playground.
Stoneware.
Local handicrafts and gifts
Pikku-Pietarin torikuja
Three blocks from the Market Square is the idyllic Pikku-Pietari Market Alley, lined by old stables. The log buildings of the alley house a cafe with a terrace, art exhibitions and small boutiques. Handwork demonstrations weekly.
Special shop for sauna products in the Market Hall.
Toy store.
A small local store, part of the Kesko chain.
By train
About 4–5 hours from Helsinki. Tickets and timetables information: VR
By boat
Kuopio is also reachable by yacht from the sea, via the Saimaa Canal, via either Varkaus or Heinävesi. Some marinas:
By bus
Good connections from all directions. Direct routes connect Kuopio f.ex. with Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä and Joensuu.
By car
National highway 5 from Helsinki and highway 9 (E63) from Turku. Kuopio is about a five hour drive from Helsinki.
Electric kick scooters
American Bird, Finnish Move on East and German Tier rent electric kick scooters for use in the centre.
By bike
Kuopio has a city bike system (e-bikes). An app is required. As of 2026: 24 hr €6, 90 days €44; rides up to 3 hr, the first 30 min included, additional time with increasing fee €1–3/30 min.
By taxi
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Kuopio / Siilinjärvi · International · KUO
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