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Young people from behind.

Leisure time for international staff

Although Kuopio and Joensuu are fairly small cities, there are plenty of activities for all tastes. In addition to cultural activities, Finns enjoy nature and outdoor sports such as walking, cycling, fishing, skiing, skating – you name it!

You may also want to try some popular leisure time activities such as picking berries and mushrooms in forests in the autumn.

You can find further information for leisure time from the contents below.

Films at cinemas are screened in their original language with Finnish subtitles. Tickets cost about €12. Films usually run for one to three weeks.

Joensuu:

Kuopio:

Music is the only truly international language. You can enjoy music in all campus towns.

Joensuu City Orchestra's home venue is the Carelia Hall at the Joensuu Campus of the University of Eastern Finland (Yliopistokatu 4).  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. There are several live performances weekly in the local venues such as Kerubi. Please follow the advertisements and bulletin boards.

Kuopio has a symphony orchestra and a concert hall on Kuopionlahdenkatu 23.

You can study playing musical instruments and singing at Conservatoires, Community Colleges and music schools.

Joensuu: 

Kuopio:

Arksavo is a web-based guide which introduces interesting architechture in Kuopio.

City Art Museums (Taidemuseo) and various private galleries usually exhibit works of local artists and they change their exhibitions regularly. If you are interested in visual arts as a hobby, you can attend art courses at Community Colleges in Joensuu or in Kuopio.

Art Museum and galleries in Joensuu

Art Museum and galleries in Kuopio:

Various museums in the campus cities offer many interesting exhibitions to culture enthusiasts.

Joensuu:

  • Carelicum -North Karelian Museum, A visit there is an excellent way of getting to know Joensuu and North Karelia, its culture, and the essence of Karelianness. Koskikatu 5
  • Joensuu Bunker Museum, Two renovated bunkers will take you back 50 years to the time when former generations fought for Finland's independence, Virrantaus 7

Kuopio:

There are many opportunities for exercise and sports as well as watching sports in Joensuu and Kuopio. Sporting venues such as sports hall, swimming beaches, jogging/skiing tracks and nature trails are particularly well-suited to outdoor activities.  

UEF's sports programme called Sykettä offers extensive opportunities for sports and exercise at a very affordable price both for staff and students.

Joensuu:

Kuopio:

  • Bowling alley
  • Cross-country skiing - Hundreds of kilometres of machine-prepared tracks through beautiful winter landscapes, that is a dream come true for skiers. Puijo is the best-known cross-country ski area in Kuopio with its 40 kilometres of largely illuminated tracks for both recreational and competitive use.
  • Downhill skiing -  Kasurila Ski Centre (20 kilometres from Kuopio) and Tahko Ski Centre (65 kilometres from Kuopio)
  • Nature trails in Kuopio and  information on national parks and hiking destinations
  • Fitness Clubs and Gyms
  • Fishing- Free-fishing areas are located at Iso Valkeinen (the Päiväranta side), Maljalampi, Rahusenlampi, Pitkälampi, Sammakkolampi, Leväsenlampi, Pieni-Neulalampi, Pieni-Valkeinen in Päiväranta, Litmasenlampi and Valkeinen in the centre. Angling, ice fishing, artificial lure fishing and fishing with fish trap do not require a fishing licence issued by the city. Using equipment than the above is not allowed. Further information on Everyman's Right in Finland.
  • Ice-skating- Outdoor ice-skating rinks can be found near schools around the town in wintertime. Skates can be purchased at sports shops, department stores or flea markets. You can skate on the lake Kallavesi in January/February and even take part in the Ice Marathon. Ice stadium: Hannes Kolehmaisen katu 4 and Petosentie 8
  • Ice-hockey matches: KalPa
  • Football: KuPS
  • Horse Riding
  • Kuopio Sports hall (Kuopio halli) with football field, running track, gym etc., Opistotie 4
  • Swimming pools (Uimahalli)
    • Kuopio swimming pool: Hannes Kolehmaisenkatu 4
    • Lippumäki swimming pool. Petosentie 8
    • Rauhalahti Spa, Katiskaniementie 8
  • Renting of cross-country skiing, snowshoes and ledges, SpaHotel Rauhalahti, Katiskaniementie 8
  • Renting of ice-skates, During best ice-skating season (around January-March) skating cafe in the Kuopio passenger harbour (on board of M/S Queen R).

Almost 70 per cent of Finland's total land area is covered in forest and some 10 per cent by water. Nature is ever-present and part of everyday life even in cities. Nature offers an abundance of outdoor activities for you to enjoy.
Just to name a few: fishing, boating, hiking in summer; skating and skiing in winter and picking berries and mushrooms in autumn. Unlike in many other countries Everyman's Right allows people in Finland to roam on others' land for recreation or exercise, even to camp, as long as they do not damage property or disturb others.

Recommended nature links: