I do not know if this is still a hidden gem, but when I visited in December 2021, it seemed like an oasis amidst the overcrowded, touristy towns. Having come from Rovaniemi, the place gave an utterly opposite vibe. While there were black and red or blue winter suit-clad, penguin-looking tourists everywhere in Rovaniemi, there were hardly any people there. Saariselkä, about 15 km north of Kiilopää, is where you would find most winter tourists visiting this region. So, if you ask me, ‘How did I end up here?’ it was thanks to a nice hostel that was part of the Hostelling International network and one of the few in Lapland accessible by public transportation. Additionally, it provided affordable accommodation for one person, even during the peak tourist season. Read on to know more about this hidden gem of Finland.
Why visit Kiilopää?
Before we move ahead, I should clarify this: I will probably not be able to categorise Kiilopää as a village or town. It is rather a fell in Finnish Lapland. At its base is a hiking centre operated by Suomen Latu, the Finnish Outdoor Association, where I spent a few days of winter. Kiilopää is one of the gateways to the wilderness of Urho Kekkonen National Park. So if you are seeking wilderness adventures, irrespective of the time of the year, this might be the place to visit. The rolling hills here are a distinct geography that you can experience in Finland.
How to reach Kiilopää?
Kiilopää is located close to the European route E75, which runs vertically through Finland. At the time of writing this blog, at least three buses on their way further north to Ivalo and Karasjok from Rovaniemi take a detour from the highway to visit Kiilopää. It takes about 3.5 hours to cover the 250 km distance from Rovaniemi. The updated schedules for the buses can be found on Matkahuolto.fi and Perille.fi. The nearest airport is located at Ivalo (45 km), which happens to be the northernmost airport in Finland. It is serviced by year-round FinnAir flights from Helsinki and seasonal (read winter) flights from other European cities.
Where to stay and eat in Kiilopää?
The Suomen Latu Fell Centre offers both hotel and hostel accommodations. As mentioned, their Hostel Ahopää is part of the Hostelling International network and has shared dorms for up to eight people in each. For food, you can cook at the shared kitchen in the hostel or enjoy local delicacies at the Fell Centre restaurant. I still remember having one of my best traditional Finnish Christmas dinners in this restaurant. The Fell Centre also has a small store from which you can purchase snacks and canned food; however, the nearest full-stocked grocery store is located in Saariselkä.
Apart from the Suomen Latu Fell Centre, several other resorts and cabins can be found in the area, including the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. It is one of those places you might have seen on Instagram reels, with rows of glass igloos. These resorts usually have a restaurant that you can drop by for food. While exploring the area on a bike, I came across the Laanilan Savottakahvila, which seemed like a nice pitstop to warm up in the cold weather. Another cafe that I discovered while writing this blog is at Luulampi, a junction for several hiking and biking routes in the area. Located inside the Urho Kekkonen National Park, the cafe can only be accessed on foot or by cycle and is open only outside the winter season.
What to do in Kiilopää?
Hike – Bike – Ski – Sauna!!! I suppose that sums up the things that you can do here in Kiilopää. According to the Luontoon.fi website, Finland’s centralised information source on outdoor activities, the Saariselkä, Kiilopää and Kakslauttanen area has approximately 200 kilometres of hiking trails, of which approximately 80 kilometres are located in the Urho Kekkonen National Park. Although these trails are primarily accessible in summer, at least some of them double up as ski and snowshoeing trails in winter. The hike to the summit of the Kiilopää fell would be one of my recommendations if you are visiting Kiilopää. On a clear day, the summit offers great views of the rolling hills that form a vast expanse of the national park. The hike is part of the 5.7 km Kiirunapolku Circle Trail and is usually considered an easy hike. In winter, however, a snowshoe might be essential as the latter part of the trail is not as frequented as the climb to the top following an anti-clockwise direction. Besides hiking trails, the area also has several marked cycling routes, including those that are also maintained in winter. You can ride a fat-bike all the way to Saariselkä and back through the snow-covered forest. The Kiilopää Adventures rental shop, located on the premises of the fell centre, rents out the necessary equipment/gears for hiking, biking and skiing. They also offer guided tours and are the point person for ground-level guidance for planning your own adventures. During my visit, they helped me chart out my snowshoeing and biking routes, and to date, it was one of my best winter experiences. However, there was one thing that I missed experiencing and would not recommend others make the same mistake. The Kiilopää Smoke Sauna is mentioned to be ‘one of the five must-experience saunas in Finland’. After you have soaked in all the adventures for a day, you can rejuvenate yourself by relaxing in the sauna, followed by a dip in the river Kiilopuro. The autumn and winter pictures I have seen of the sauna and the pool are one of the reasons that would take me back to this place, even if for a day.
A random view while fat-biking in the winter wonderland.
Fatbiking through the snow covered forests.
Chasing the auroras.
Back into the forest.
Moving past the tree line on the way upto or down from the Kiilopää fell.
Snowshoeing along the Kiirunapolku Circle Trail. The wind speed rose and the visibility dropped low just as I reached the top of the Kiilopää fell.
View along the Kiirunapolku Circle Trail.
View from the top of the Kiilopää fell. I made a second attempt on my last day there and was rewarded with a better view.
Luckily spotted some reindeer roaming in the wild.
The Hostel Ahopää (Kiilopää) building
For more pictures from this trip and my other trips in Finland, please visit my Instagram and 500px.com pages.
Assuming you enter Finland through Helsinki, Cheap Sleep can be where you spend the first night in the country. It is part of the Hostelling International network and is probably the cheapest hostel in Finland, with prices starting from EUR 20 per night in a 24-bed dorm. The number 24 here might scare off people, but unlike in several hostels, you get a better space for the price. Also, it usually fills slower than the lower-capacity rooms. The dorms have bunk beds with personal lockers, reading lights, and plug points close to the bed. In most of the rooms, each set of bunk beds is separated by partition walls for privacy. If you are into cooking your own meals while travelling, they have a well-equipped common kitchen. Alternatively, you can always grab a snack from the 24-hour grocery store located on the ground floor of the same building or the restaurants nearby during their opening hours. The hostel also offers ample common areas to sit and relax. You can browse through the books available on the common bookshelf or enjoy a session of board gaming. They also host board and arcade gaming nights as part of their weekly activities which also include a movie night and a party night. If I remember correctly, I also saw a couple of massage chairs in one of the corners of the hostel. This might be something you would like to try after a day of exploring the Finnish capital. The bus and tram stops are located within 100 m of the hostel. The bus route 600, which runs between Helsinki Central railway station and Vantaa Airport throughout the day, passes through this stop. Thus making this hostel a perfect base to start and end your Finnish adventures.
Hostel Cafe Koti (Rovaniemi)
The Finnish word ‘Koti’ translates to ‘home’ in English. I suggest making Hostel Cafe Koti your home during your visit to the ‘Official Hometown of Santa Claus’. But beware, Rovaniemi has two faces — it is a tranquil retreat during the summer solstice but a bustling tourist town in winter. The Santa Claus village and the northern lights are a major tourist magnet of this town, located close to the Arctic Circle. Thus, it is advisable to book early to secure a cheap stay in this town. The Rovaniemi railway station and the bus station are located less than 2 km away from the hostel. The local bus number 8 might be the best option to reach the hostel from either place if you hate walking. The bus connects the railway station to the Santa Claus Village and has a stop near Koskikatu, which is the most important shopping street in Rovaniemi. The hostel is just a few hundred metres from this bus stop. The price of a dorm bed in this hostel starts at EUR 30 but can double during peak season. The dorms are composed of bunk beds with access to personal lockers, reading lights and electric sockets. Here you would be sharing the room with nine other persons; however, there are curtains between each set of bunk beds for privacy. The hostel has a common kitchen and TV lounge for use by the guests. There is also a sauna, but it may be accessible only during specific hours. As the name suggests, the hostel operates a cafe on its premises, offering buffet breakfast and lunch. If you are staying at the hostel, you can enjoy a hearty breakfast at the cafe at a discounted rate before heading out to explore the most popular destination in Finnish Lapland.
This was a real hidden gem I discovered during my 2021 winter trip to Lapland. Kiilopää is located 200 km north of Rovaniemi and 15 km before the more touristy ski resort of Saariselkä. The hostel is part of the Hostelling International network and is one of the northernmost hostels in Finland, easily accessible by public transport. Two buses from Rovaniemi on their way further north in Lapland take a detour from the highway to make a stop at the Kiilopää Fell Centre. Hostel Ahopää is conveniently located at one of the entrance points to the Urho Kekkonen National Park, making it an ideal base camp for wilderness adventures throughout the year. If you are familiar with Finnish folklore, you might have heard of Korvatunturi — a fell along the Finnish-Russian border where Santa is believed to have his secret workshop. Korvatunturi is part of the Urho Kekkonen National Park and is on the opposite side of where Ahopää is located. So if you happen to get lost while exploring this vast wilderness area, you might end up meeting the real Joulupukki himself. The hostel has dorms that can accommodate up to eight people and is priced at EUR 30 per bed. Here, you would be sleeping on cosy wooden bunk beds housed in a traditional wooden building. The dorm building has a common kitchen and a few toilets, but no showers. The shower is located in the main building, which also houses the Fell Centre reception and restaurant. The area has no grocery store, and the nearest one is located at Saariselkä. However, the Fell Centre has an equipment rental shop on its premises that can satisfy your hunger for adventure. You can easily rent the necessary equipment, including fat bikes, skis, and snowshoes and set out on an adventure of your own along the vast marked trails and routes or go on a guided excursion. Also, while you are here, try their smoke sauna followed by a dip in the Kiilopuro River (especially in winter). It is recommended as one of the five must-experience saunas in Finland due to the scenic landscape that surrounds it.
The Hostel Ahopää (Kiilopää) building
Dorm room in Hostel Cafe Koti (Rovaniemi)
For more pictures from these hostel cities, visit my Instagram or 500px.com page.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The content is based on my personal experiences in staying in these hostels, although not on a single trip.
Åland Islands is a cluster of islands between Finland and Sweden in the Baltic Sea. Given its strategic location, it has found its place in the pages of history books. Today, it is an autonomous and demilitarised region of Finland with a predominantly Swedish-speaking population. The island cluster, especially those on the eastern flank, is a popular biking destination. Many often choose to ferry hop through the islands while going from Finland to Sweden or the other way around. Besides the endless natural attractions, there are only a handful of touristy sightseeing places. During the mid-summer weekend of 2023, I planned to visit the island and explore the place on my bike. But instead of ferry hopping between the small islands, I visited the four corners of the main island. This is my take on #BikExploring Åland under the midnight sun!
Mariehamn
Mariehamn is the capital of Åland. It is one of the gateways to the main island of the Åland Islands. I started and ended my journey from this port. I literally sailed with (or rather on) the Vikings. The Viking Line is one of the operators that sail cruise ships between Finland and Sweden with a stopover at Åland. The journey from Turku to Mariehamn took me about six hours. Geographically, the city is located on a peninsula with sea on three sides.
At Mariehamn, I set up my first camp at the Gröna Uddens Camping. This is on the east side of the city and close to the city centre. Yet, the camping ground has a peaceful setup amidst nature. The area is actually close to a protected nature area. You might catch a glimpse of free-roaming peacocks or deer nearby if you are lucky. The best thing about pitching my tent here was that both the forest and the sea were less than 100 m away. Since it was the midsummer weekend, the site was buzzing with people. There was also live music to enjoy at the restaurant during the evening besides good food and alcohol.
Being the capital of Åland, Mariehamn has its fair share of cafes and restaurants to visit. One that is often recommended and that I have visited is Café Viktor. It is housed in a 19th-century wooden building close to the central square. Apart from the food scenes, the natural scenes are also great around Mariehamn. Among the places I would suggest are Vista Point and Strandpromenaden. Both of these are located on the western side of the peninsula offering amazing views of the sunset and the interplay of colours thereafter. While it is possible to bike to the first point, the second one is more of a walking path along the harbour. From Strandpromenaden you can have a closer look at the ships heading to dock at the Mariehamn harbour. Other key places to visit in Mariehamn are the Åland Maritime Museum and the Museum ship Pommern both of which tell about the maritime history of the island.
Bomarsund
On the east end of the Åland main island is a historical place. After Åland and Finland came under Russian occupation following the Finnish War in 1809, the then Rusian emperor ordered to building of a fortress within the current Sund municipality of Åland. However, the fortress never achieved its planned glory. Rather, in the 1850s during the Battle of Bomarsund, even the completed structures were demolished. Among the erect structures remaining today are the walls of the fortress that are always open to visitors. There is also a museum where one can learn more about the history of this otherwise peaceful place.
Bomursund is 35 km from Mariehamn. I would say this was the most relaxing day of the trip not only for the short distance but also for the places to visit in between like the St. Olaf’s Church at Jomala just 8 km into the ride. After another 13 km of hustling I reached Uffe på berget, a cool cafe at Godby. This was suggested to me by an Instagram acquaintance. Here, you can enjoy their delicious Åland style pancakes served with whipped cream and plum jelly. I would also recommend their berry pie to satisfy the sweet tooth. The cafe is located on a hill so you can have a panoramic view of the surrounding areas while having your food. Adjacent to the cafe is a 30-meter-high observation tower if you need to seek what lies in your path ahead.
The Taffel Factory Shop is actually what lies on the path next and is a must pitstop. If you have spent time in Nordic grocery stores, you might be familiar with their savoury snacks. Here you can collect them in bulk at a discounted rate for the rest of the trip. About 3 km from here is the Kastelholm village which houses a medieval castle and one of Åland’s greatest historical attractions. This 14th-century castle is one of the five medieval castles still standing in Finland. While at Kastelholm, you can also visit the prison museum Vita Björn and the Jan Karlsgården open-air museum. Collectively, the two museums tell a story about life at opposite ends of the social spectrum — one as a prisoner and the other as a free man. If the three exhibitions here have overloaded you with information, you can choose to relax at the Åland Distillery restaurant sipping their finest products.
After Kastelholm, the ride is on the Åland Highway 2 until the next camping site about 10 km away. The Puttes Camping ground is located within the ruins of the Bomarsund fortress area. In fact, when you first reach the campsite by road, you will encounter the honeycomb-patterned remains of the fort wall. The camping ground is a long stretch of green field between two hills. It was among the planned sites for the fortress buildings that were never constructed. On top of the hills are the remains of the watch towers but even today they offer amazing views of the area. The north end of the camping ground opens into the sea and has a guest harbour. Bomarsund is along the old postal route biking trail that stretches from Hummelvik in the east to Storby in the west bifurcating Åland into two halves.
Geta
After visiting the eastern corner, it is time to head north. You have the option to either trail back along the highway to Godby and then head north along Åland Highway 4 or go via the Finby-Vivastby-Sibby-Brännbolstad-Sund-Rangsby-Saltvik route. As this is not a major road, the traffic is even quieter allowing a peaceful rendezvous with the villages of Åland. At Saltvik you re-enter the mainstream of traffic flow and continue on an uneventful road till Geta. The only interesting thing I recall from this stretch is riding along apple orchards. There is a bistro at Västanträsk where you can stop by to refuel yourselves. Unfortunately, during my visit, it was closed but this bistro run by Grannas Äppel is a recommended place to visit.
Geta is a sort of hidden gem in Åland. It is about 42 km from Mariehamn and 45 km from Bomursund along the aforementioned route. The place is known for its hills, gorges and caves. The rock formations in the area are attributed to the events of the Ice Age. Currently, the area is a popular rock-climbing and bouldering destination. Djupviken Bay, towards the north, is among the most photographed landscapes in the region. Along the hiking trail that follows the rocky paths to the cave and the bay is an interesting place filled with rock cairns. Although the cairns have been made recently, the rocks date back to 5000 years ago. Besides this, Geta has a beautiful church and I suggest you do your prayers before you start your uphill ride to the campsite.
The Soltuna campsite is located high up on a hill. Once I reached here, pushing my bike along the road, it took me a bit of time to realize that there were no grassy campgrounds that I was used to. I literally had to pitch my tent on the rocks. And since this place was at a high altitude and close to the sea, it was pretty windy. I had to secure the lines of my tent with heavy rocks to prevent it from flying away. But unlike other campsites, there were hardly any people here. Most were here on a day visit to the nature trails or the disc golf park. I must mention here that the campsite has a nice restaurant where you can enjoy a ‘meal with one of the most beautiful views that the Aland islands can offer!’.
Eckerö
Another spot of geological interest is on the west coast of Åland in Eckerö. Close to the photographic old fishing harbour is a hiking trail that leads to a rocky landform that forms the breakwater to the natural harbour. The Rapakivi granite landmass, I would say, is a great location to enjoy the setting sun. But before you can enjoy that pretty sunset, you have to bike about 50 km from the Soltuna campsite. The first part of the ride is a short 6 km ride to Snäckö to hitch the ferry between Snäckö and Skarpnåtö. This is a limited service offered especially for the bikers. So confirm the schedules while planning your trip. While at Snäckö waiting for the ferry, you can enjoy a good seafood brunch at the Lolo’s Seaside Café & Restaurant.
Once on the other side at Skarpnätö starts the actual hustle. It was a decently warm day and riding on the tarmac with limited tree cover was quite tiring. The first stop however came at 9 km from the Skarpnätö ferry pier. The Sålis Battery lookout tower gives a great view of the surrounding archipelago. The tower sits at the site of a demolished coastal artillery battery dating back to the First World War. The next lap is about 14 km long till another historical church on the island. The Eckerö church is believed to be standing there since the 13th-century church. For people island hopping between Finland and Sweden, the Eckerö Port has ferry services to Grisslehamn in Sweden to continue their journey.
I pitched the last tent of my trip at Hummelvik Camping further 7 km from the church. While Eckerö has a more popular and busy Käringsund resort and camping ground, this one was less crowded and comparatively peaceful. However, unlike my previous three campsites, this one had no restaurants on site. Fortunately, the town had a couple of restaurants including a buffet restaurant called Bettys i Eckerö to top up my energy to the max. The restaurant also had a small convenience store attached to get some post-meal snacks.
Nåtö-Järsö-Granö
The final leg of the trip is the return to Mariehamn covering a distance of about 35 km. The journey starts by trailing back along the same route we had taken while coming to Eckerö until Karlholm at 9 km. From here, most part of the ride follows the Åland Highway 1. At the 11 km point, you can find Hugos Livsmedel, a supermarket, to grab a quick snack for the rest of the ride. This was, as I recall, the last store to grab food and drinks along the route before Jormala. If you are interested, you might take a detour to visit the Fire Brigade Museum of Åland about 1.5 km from Hugos Livsmedel. Also along the route to Mariehamn and about 2 km from the supermarket is Hammarland Church. I missed noticing it as it was hidden behind trees and might take a good sight to spot while riding on the other side of the road. Two other stops that I could recommend along the route are the Långträsk rest stop and the road alongside Ramsholmen. The bike track near Ramsholmen is close to the Marieham airport, so you can spot flight take-offs or landings if you schedule your ride accordingly.
This time instead of spending the night at Mariehamn I headed further 12 km south towards Järsö. This bike trail is a recommended route if you are looking for a short ride along the archipelago while staying at Mariehamn. The Nåtö and Järsö nature trails in the area are popular among day trippers and nature lovers for their wooded meadows. A lucky eye might even spot free-roaming deers in the area. Seemingly there was hardly any space to legally camp in this area as they were primarily marked as nature reserves or private land. So I ended up booking a small cabin at the Fågelvik B&B sufficient to spend the night. The place was by the sea where you can either go for a swim or just sit by the shore and enjoy a pizza. By now if you have fallen for Åland style pancakes, then you should stop over at the Nåtö Kiosk while riding along this route.
As mentioned earlier, this post is based on my solo bikepacking adventures in Åland during the week following the midsummer day of 2023. Parts of the post were first published on www.frsthand.com as a part of the ‘Camping is trendy again’ call in September 2023. You can see more pictures from the trip on my Instagram and 500px.com profiles.
Sailing past the Turku archipelago
Mariehamn Strandpromenaden
Midsommar maypole at Mariehamn
Uffe på berget
Åland style pancake at Uffe på berget
Taffel factory store
Bomarsund ruins
Bomarsund guest harbour
Camping on the rocks at Geta
Rock cairns at Geta
Grottstigen Caves
Djupviken Bay
Sunset from Soltuna golf course
Smoked salmon platter at Lolo’s Seaside Café & Restaurant
Oulu — the stop before Lapland! It is the fourth largest city in Finland, located around 170 km south of the Arctic Circle. The city has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2026. So if you happen to find yourself in this city, here is a list of things that you may want to check out.
Hunt the auroras: I mention this first as this was what brought me to the city for the first time. It was September of 2021 when I saw news of a period of high solar activity that may bring in good auroras. Oulu is one of the southernmost locations in Finland with frequent auroras. Unfortunately, the weekend we travelled to Oulu was cloudy and we got no show. However, it was during another trip later that year, that I finally managed to see the aurora in Oulu. The Facebook group Oulu Aurora Spotters has a map that tells the best locations in Oulu to see auroras. The group also has active members who post about aurora sightings almost immediately.
Winter cycling: Oulu is the winter cycling capital of the world and home to the Winter Cycling Federation. It has the most extensive network of cycling routes in Finland covering the entire city and also the neighbouring municipalities. Not only that they have the routes, but most of them are well maintained and kept illuminated even through the cold dark winters which is basically about half the year. The real thrill of cycling does come when the temperatures go as low as -20°C.
Meet the Toripolliisi: Be it sun or snow, the policeman is on duty overseeing the Oulu’s market square. The bronze statue sculpted by Kaarlo Mikkonen was unveiled in September 1987. It is dedicated to the market police officers who patrolled the area between 1934 and 1979. The Toripolliisi is probably the most recognizable and photographed landmark in the city. So don’t forget to get yourself clicked with the officer.
Eat and shop local at Kauppahalli: Built in 1901, the market hall or kauppahalli, as in Finnish, is one of the iconic buildings at Oulu’s market square. It is the third oldest market hall in Finland after Helsinki and Turku. The red brick building hosts several local merchants selling vegetables, meats, and other locally produced/manufactured items. A cup of coffee and some pastry or piirakka at one of the cafes here might be a good way to start your day in Oulu. Also, if you are looking for souvenirs to take back home, the Kauppahalli is the place to shop at.
Wonder the Wooden City: Just a walk away from the Kauppahalli is the historic Pikisaari island. Located in the estuary of Oulujoki River, the island was once used to house shipyards apart from several other industrial setups like sawmills, distilleries, wool mills, and machine workshops. The island derives its name from the pitch distillery established during the 17th century. Even today you can see some of the old wooden buildings that survived the fires and the test of time. The Sailor’s Home Museum from the early 18th century is said to be among the oldest. Currently, the island is a protected area with limited traffic and is home to some of the charming restaurants of the city. One that I can definitely recommend is the Sokeri-Jussin Kievari, located on a red wooden building just after you have crossed the bridge while coming from Kauppahalli.
Relax at Nallikari: Exit Pikisaari from the other end and head straight until you hit the sea — that’s where Nallikari beach is. In summer, you can enjoy a dip in the blue sea or practice a variety of water sports. While in winter, as the sea freezes, it is an ideal time to hone your skills in skiing, snow-shoeing, and even ice-fishing. Fat-biking on the vast flat whites is also something you must try while in Oulu.
Hop through the museums of Oulu: The Northern Ostrobothnia Museum is your destination if you want to learn more about the history of this once ‘most internationalized’ Finnish city. The museum, established in 1896, is more than 120 years old and houses exhibits and photographs far older. Among the exhibits, the primary eye-catcher is a miniature model of Oulu before the World War II bombings. Have a nice look at this model and head to the 45-meter tower adjoining Science Centre Tietomaa. See if you can identify where some of the important old buildings were located. The Science Centre Tietomaa was the first science centre in Finland and tells stories ranging from technological advancements in Finland to some of the unique natural phenomena that happen in these arctic regions. I remember among the exhibits was a collection of mobile telephonic devices manufactured by Nokia including the game-changer Mobira Cityman 900. Close to the Science Centre is the Oulu Museum of Art which hosts an extensive collection of art, especially Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia.
Pray at Oulu Cathedral: A distinguishing architecture with a dome and clock tower that you might observe while viewing the city from the top of Tietomaa is the Oulu Cathedral. While the current building was completed in 1832, it stands in the place of an erstwhile wooden church dating back to the 1610s. The current building was built atop the remanent of the stone church that was built to replace the wooden church in 1777 but was burnt down completely during the Oulu fire of 1822.
Check out the remains of Oulu castle: Close to the market square, in the vast green zone along the Oulujoki River, is reminiscent of centuries of history. While it might now be difficult to identify the observation tower as a castle, it is at this site a once impenetrable castle stood in the 1370s. As per records, the castle was built and rebuilt several times and what stands today dates to 1875 when the Oulu School of Sea Captains built their observatory. Currently, the observatory hosts a cafeteria with a small exhibition on the castle’s history.
Ruska: If you are visiting Oulu somewhere around late September or early October, you are just in time for one of the most beautiful seasons to visit Finland. The trees turn yellow preparing to shed their leaves for the winter but put on a final show before they go barren. Especially during the golden hour, the autumn foliage adds a wonderful splendour of colours to the already beautiful landscape. Either experience it up close by taking a stroll in the parks of Oulu or drive down the highways and admire the streets lined with yellowed birch trees. If nothing else, the yellow mohabbatein leaves at Ainolan Puisto would definitely help you fall in love with the city.
Bonus: Where to stay? While there are several options you will find on Booking.com or AirBnB or any other websites, I will recommend a property that is named “Lovely apr with sauna at the best area of Oulu“. It is a studio apartment suitable for up to two people. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best places I have stayed in while travelling. It is about 4 km from the city centre in an area with limited public transport facilities but just 1 km from the Nallikari beach (one of the recommended places for aurora hunting). If you prefer walking, the shortest path passes through Pikisaari Island.
BTW how to reach Oulu? Oulu is literally connected by all three modes of transport to the world. You can sail through the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, from anywhere to Oulu. Oulu also has its own airport with direct connections to several European destinations. However, if you are already within Finland or in the Nordics, you might also consider taking the trains or buses. Oulu is connected to Helsinki and other Finnish cities with regular services throughout the day including an overnight train with sleeping berths. A limited number of buses also operate between Oulu and Tornio, where you can cross over to Sweden. The Haparanda bus and railway station have onward connections to several destinations within Sweden. During the peak summer and winter months, there are also direct buses all the way up to Tromsø in Norway. The Arctic Route buses operated from Tromsø connect to Rovaniemi and Oulu in Finland and some of the finest winter destinations in the Arctic including Narvik, Skjervoy, and the Lyngen Alps.
Did I miss anything? Please mention them in the comments below or message me on Instagram (@ag1805x). I might explore them during my next trip! Until then, check out my pictures from Oulu here.
Rovaniemi is undoubtedly the most popular destination in the Finnish Lapland. It sits right on the Arctic Circle, around 900 km north of Helsinki. It is the most convenient place in Finland to get to watch the midnight sun in summer and the auroras in winter. Rovaniemi also happens to be the “official” hometown of Santa Claus and you can meet him at his office throughout the year. As of July 2022, I made two visits to Rovaniemi — first during the mid-summer weekend in June 2021 and then again in December 2021 a week before Christmas and I had a contrasting experience either time. Not only because of the contrasting weather but the vibe of the place. During my June visit, the town was literally empty like most other Finnish cities during mid-summer. The Friday I reached there and the Saturday next, only a few restaurants were open and most stores closed early. Even the public transport was not operational on Saturday which threw my plans in jeopardy. In December however, I could hardly find cheap accommodation thanks to the high demand. There were tourists all around. For the first time in Finland, I saw and travelled in a crowded city bus where many passengers had to go standing. Enough of my experiences! Let me show you Rovaniemi from my perspective.
How to reach?
Rovaniemi has its own international airport and is the third busiest airport in Finland after Helsinki and Oulu. The majority of the traffic is due to international charter flights. While there are a few direct connections to some European cities, you can fly in from anywhere via Helsinki. Rovaniemi is also connected to Helsinki by train several times a day including an overnight sleeper train known as the Santa Claus Express. It is also possible to carry your car on the overnight train. The cheapest option however might be to take the bus. It takes about 13 hours for the trip. Tickets for trains can be purchased from www.vr.fi and for busses from www.matkahuolto.fi or www.onnibus.com. To be noted, Onnibus does not list connections outside their partner operators while Matkahuolto does and may help find busses in Lapland. The Matkahuolto app can be used to find inter-changeable connections between trains and buses.
Where to stay?
Being among the popular tourist destinations, Rovaniemi has no dearth of places to stay. All sorts of options are available for all budgets. During my trips, I stayed at the Wherever Mini Hostel and the Guest House Arctic Heart and I would recommend them both if you are tight on budget and/or travelling solo. The other cheaper option would be the Hostel Café Koti. All three places are at a distance of 1 – 1.5 km from the railway station, bus station and the city centre. During the summer months, it is also possible to pitch a tent at the Ounaskoski Camping site on the banks of river Kemijoki across the city centre. Pitching a tent is actually a cheaper option for accommodation in Finland. Arctic Snow Hotel, as the name suggests, provides a unique experience of staying in a room made of ice and snow. Don’t worry you would be sleeping in warm sleeping bags. The Arctic Snow Hotel and several other places also have options to spend the night in a glass igloo or rather glass-domed cabins watching the auroras from the warmth of your bed.
What to do?
Visit the Santa Claus Village (SantaClausVillage.info): Let’s start with the primary crowd-puller of this city. The Santa Claus Village is located around 8 km away from the city centre. Here you can meet Santa Claus in his office throughout the year, have a chat and get a picture clicked. Around Christmas, there are a lot of visitors and you might have a lesser time to share your wishes. I met him during my summer trip and had a nice chat with him about my stay in Finland and about India. The interesting part was when he told me he did visit my hometown, Tura. I got into the flow and was about to ask him when but I soon realised it must be during Christmas. Apart from meeting him, you can also cross the Arctic Circle and get a certificate (though you have to pay a price of EUR 5 or so) or post a postcard to your loved ones. All posts made from Santa Claus’ official post office bear a special postal mark. In case you or any of your close ones cannot make it to meet Santa himself, you can arrange for a video call or request for a personalised letter from Santa himself to be sent during Christmas.
See the midnight sun and the auroras: The two trips I made to Rovaniemi were mainly due to these two natural phenomena. For around a month from June to July, the sun literally never sets and there’s daylight throughout. On the other hand, during the winter months, it is mostly dark with only about two hours of daylight around noon. At night, however, the sky lights up with the aurora provided there are no clouds. In Rovaniemie, both phenomena can be observed from the vicinity of the city centre, the best places being Arktikum Park/Arboretum, Jätkänkynttilä (“Lumberjack’s Candle”) Bridge and Ounasvaara Fell. For the auroras to be visible from the city centre, it has to be of sufficient intensity so it would be recommended to go outside the city where there is less light pollution. I would recommend the Arctic Road Trips with whom I had gone hunting. Read more about my experiences of seeing the aurora and how to hunt them in my other blog posts here and here.
Hike, bike, or ski in Ounasvaara Fell: The Ounasvaara Fell on the other side of the river Kemijoki is the hub of sports activities. There are hiking and biking trails maintained throughout the year and ski trails maintained in winter. Just as I mentioned, the top of the fell is one of the best places to see the midnight sun and the aurora. The top has a watch tower and a fireplace and can be reached easily from the city centre by walking for about 4 km. The trail to the top starts on the left after crossing over the Jätkänkynttilä Bridge.
Know more about the Arctic region: The Arktikum Science Centre and museum provide ample information about the nature, culture and history of Rovaniemie and Lapland. It tells the story of how Rovaniemi was almost reduced to the ground during the Second World War and its rise back. The science exhibits are an eye-opener about how we have been degrading the Arctic region. The arboretum outside has a collection of plants found in the region.
Admire the art at Rovaniemi Art Museum: Rovaniemi Art Museum located within the Korundi House of Culture exhibits art inspired by life in Lapland. The Rovaniemi culture pass acts as a discounted single entry pass to Korundi House of Culture, Arktikum and Science Centre Pilke.
Sleigh rides: One of the major touristic activities in Rovaniemi and in other parts of Lapland is to try the reindeer or husky-pulled sleighs. Several companies offer rides at farms in and around Rovaniemi. The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park organises such rides within the Santa Claus Village. Not only do you get to enjoy the ride but also meet and maybe cuddle them afterwards.
Snowmobiling: As with the sleigh rides, this is another touristic thing in Lapland. The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park and other operators organise snowmobile trips around Rovaniemi. The trip can also be arranged at night and include aurora hunting.
What and where to eat?
When in Rovaniemi or Lapland in general, one thing that you must try is reindeer meat. Sauteed reindeer meat with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam is probably the most sought-after dish. I tried my first plate during my summer trip at the Frans & Chérie, restaurant in the city centre. Another restaurant that I would recommend is Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi in Santa Claus Village. While at Santa Claus Village, you can also try salmon cooked traditionally on an open fire and hot berry juice at Santa’s Salmon Place. The interesting thing about this place is it is located within a cone-shaped traditional Lappish teepee or shelter. The fire cooking the salmon is at the centre and you sit surrounding it.
How to get around?
While you always have taxis to move around, walking or biking might be the best way to see the city since most things are close by. You can rent a bike from the hotel or hostel you are staying at or from the places mentioned here. Also to be noted, not all taxi operators are available across Finland. Lähitaksi is said to be the 100% local taxi in Rovaniemi. To visit Santa Claus village, you can take the bus no. 8 which starts its journey from the railway station and passes through the city centre. The timetable for this bus and all other city buses can be found on rovaniemi.digitransit.fi. Else, like me, if you happen to be in Rovaniemi around midsummer when there are limited city busses, you can take the long-distance busses that go towards Ivalo-Inari and get down at the Napapiiri bus stop (tickets are more expensive than the city bus).
Next stop?
Rovaniemi is the hub of all other destinations in Finnish Lapland. From here you can get connecting busses towards Kilpisjarvi and Nuorgam, the two destinations in the two northern extremes of Finland and places en route like Levi, Enontekiö, Ivalo, Saariselkä, Sodankylä, etc. However, there might only be a couple of services per day and usually leave in the morning, so better reconfirm on the Matkahuolto website. Interestingly, while writing this post (July 2022), I also found out that there are direct busses to Karasjok, Tromsö and North Cape in Norway. Beyond Rovaniemi, there is a single train service to Kemijärvi.
How much would you end up spending?
From my trips to Rovaniemi and other cities in Finland, I have observed that I end up spending about EUR 100 per day including travel, accommodation and food. Rovaniemi, like any other tourist place, tends to get expensive during the peak seasons around Christmas and the new year. The cost will also proportionally increase based on the type of activities you choose during your stay here. It is also advisable to get the travel tickets early as the train ticket prices skyrocket as the travel days get nearer. Comparatively, the bus ticket prices do not change as much, but limited seats are available.
Before ending the post, there is one thing that I would like to mention if you are visiting Rovaniemi to meet Santa Claus. There are actually two Santa Claus in the village — you can meet one at his office and the other at the Christmas house building (check the second pic). I suggest you meet both of them and decide who is the real one! Till then do check out the pics from my trips to Rovaniemi on Instagram.
Back then, I had never expected to see the northern lights in Kuopio. Though I had heard about these rare sightings, I never expected to be that lucky to see the lights so close to my home. It was a Friday night and I had gone out with my bike to click the sunset (late summer sunset at around 8.30 pm), but by the time I could negotiate a hill and reach the other end of the town, it was already dark. However, the darkness had a surprise for me in store. Like every other day, I halted at the Särkilahti bridge to catch up on my breath from the 30 km ride. I was about to ignore a man thinking he was just out with his dog, but he had his camera and eyes fixed towards the sky. I would have missed the faint aurora but thanks to him it was my first encounter with the northern lights.
The September equinox is one of the times when the solar activity is at a peak and the chances of seeing the auroras are higher. It was also in the news about a certain day or days when the aurora might be visible — the start of the season. I decided to improve my chances by travelling further north to Oulu and was accompanied by a friend. At Oulu, we also put up at a place close to the beach which is among the best places to see northern lights in Oulu according to the Oulu Aurora Spotters group. But this trip taught us yet another lesson about travel and hunting auroras — be humble, keep your expectations in check and enjoy whatever comes your way. Every night might be not yours. It was overcast for both the nights we spent there and only cleared just a few hours before we were about to travel back to Kuopio. Even though our target remained unfulfilled, we ended up exploring the city amid the autumn colours.
Not one but the start of three shows. Due to changes in COVID-related travel rules, I had to cancel my trip to home in India and I ended up exploring Finland over two weeks. My first destination on the trip was Oulu. Hoping to catch up on some aurora this time, I again took an apartment close to yet another better aurora viewing spot a bit farther away from the city centre. But just like the previous time, it started getting overcast as soon I reached the city — the curse of Meghalaya. Clouds wouldn’t let me miss home. Cut to the second night. At around 9 pm, I got a notification on the Oulu Aurora Spotters FB group that the auroras were visible. Immediately I reached the Meri-Toppilan puisto which at that time glittered under the white full moon. On the far end of the Gulf of Bothnia, I could feel some strange lines amid the dark sky. My camera was much better at picking up the colours than my eye. Not much of a great show but definitely my first successful Aurora chase! I returned after staying there for over an hour.
After spending two nights in Oulu, I reached Rovaniemi — the capital of Lapland. This is where most people visit Finland during winter — for just two reasons: Santa Claus and auroras. The office of Santa Claus is located just a few kilometres outside the city, right over the Arctic Circle. Being on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi also happens to be the place where you could start seeing the auroras. It is said to be visible every other night during the winter months. The town has several companies that offer aurora hunting tours and one among them was Arctic Road Trips. I had been following them on Instagram for quite some time and their pictures made me determined that I had to take a trip with them. Thankfully I found a seat in their car for that night and we started the chase around 7.30 pm. After driving for about an hour outside the city, we started seeing the auroras. Still faint but understandable. We halted at a place close to a lake to get some pictures till the auroras started getting further faint and also as more people started coming in. Next, the chase took an adventurous turn as we decided to hike up a hill to get some better views. Though at the end we couldn’t see much of the aurora from the top, I would remember the night for the hike under the moonlit sky through the magical snow-covered alpine forest and an amazing barbecue.
The northernmost point of my trip was Kiilopää. Given its location, I was hoping to see some nice aurora and had planned to stay at least three nights. Even as I reached the place, the weather looked beautiful with the crimson hue over the horizon at noon marking the polar night’s sunrise/sunset. But soon the curse started haunting me again and the weather turned bad to the extent that there were strong winds and snow on the second day. I tried hiking up to the fell but had to return from mid-way as I could hardly find the trail. However, for the next five days, the overcast conditions actually helped me by maintaining the temperature around -10°C else it would have been difficult for me to bike and hike in the fells of Kiilopää. Christmas finally brought in some presents — the night was clear and indications were high. I along with another South Korean guy ended up hiking halfway to the fell. But soon we realised that the winds were too strong to stay there for long and the blowing snow made it difficult to take clear pictures. We descended to a spot where the wind was comparatively low but the auroras were not that strong. The camera could just manage to capture a starry sky with a flat greenish background. Also, though Kiilopää is an isolated place with minimal inhabitants, it is the lights from Saariselkä in the north that prevented a nice view.
It was another uneventful Friday night and I was not expecting much. Just before I was heading to bed, I saw an Instagram story about the lights visible further south in Tampere. I cross-checked in the Aurora live cam and it was seriously there. The next thing I did was to go out to the balcony and check the skies — clear it was. Yet without much excitement, I went to the lake and started checking if my cam could see anything. There was something green. I now had to see where I see them better. From all the pictures I had previously seen, I knew it was usually visible in the direction of Puijo tower, so I found a nice place and pointed my cam there and started a time-lapse shoot. The auroras were pulsating in the sky. But for some reason, I had to turn to the other direction and realised that the actual show was going on there and was getting better so that I could capture it on my mobile camera as well. At this moment I knew I had to call someone who couldn’t afford to regret not having seen the aurora — for the first time — so close to home. We spent the next two or three hours enjoying the show as it got crazier. Even for me, I would like to mark this as the first real show and I am glad I saw it with some good company.
At around 7-8 pm when I was enjoying some home-cooked biriyani, I saw an Instagram story that the auroras were visible over Kuopio. Either I had to skip enjoying the biriyani and head out for the aurora or vice versa. I chose Biriyani as I knew I had missed the show already. Yet, after dinner, something in me was telling me to go out as auroras get better towards late night, but then there was a cloud cover prediction. I reached the same spot from where I had seen it exactly a month earlier. Nothing much visible to the naked eye but my camera got a bit of a green hue. I spent almost three hours there from 9.30 pm to 12.30 am with my camera pointed towards the sky hoping for the auroras to get a bit crazier and get a nice video of it. Unfortunately, nothing much happened except a few sparks in the sky and the passing of haze over the frozen lake. A bit disappointed and having almost drained both the camera batteries I started heading back. Just as I came outside the forest, I couldn’t believe the entire sky was lit up. I wasted no time redeploying my camera but was not sure which direction to point to. It was all over the sky, getting greener bit by bit even on a full moon night and easily visible. Even here I spent another half an hour or so. I was by now already about five hours outdoors in the cold and decided to head indoors — warm up, get my batteries recharged and come out again. The real surprise awaited me close to my apartment. Just as I took the turn to reach my building, I saw the greenest aurora ever with my eye. But by the time I could take out my camera and shoot it, it was off. LOL fact: The brightest aurora I saw was just over the apartment where my friend ‘who couldn’t afford to regret not having seen the aurora’ stayed, but unfortunately she was not in town.
My take on seeing auroras. Spotting aurora is like spotting a Royal Bengal tiger in Sundarbans. You might be tricked into believing a patch of cloud is aurora, just like you might see the black stripes of a tiger among the tall mangrove grass. You need both a keen interest and understanding to track them. Also, the best things come when you least expect them. There were a couple of other times I headed out with high expectations but returned home with an empty memory card.
Stay tuned! With more aurora chases more exciting stories to come. Check out the timelapse videos on YouTube.
Auroras are one of nature’s best gifts that Finland has. As per the Finnish Metrological Institute (FMI), auroras can be seen every other day in Lapland. The same web article mentions Kilpisjarvi among the most favourable places to see auroras. The cities in Lapland might give a good show from within the city itself. Yet it might be better to get outside the city limit as city lights may hamper the view. In other parts of Finland, the phenomenon is rare but not zero. Auroras can be occasionally seen even in Helsinki when the conditions are favourable. Solar winds are the major factor that causes these stunning lights to occur towards the earth’s poles. But two other things that are far more important are the time of the day and cloud cover. The lights are actually ignited throughout the day but are only visible when dark and when there are no clouds to obstruct the view. Here are some of the links that might be helpful in knowing, chasing, and capturing the auroras.
FMI Space weather: Simple and effective. Higher bars or red in the charts mean higher chances. Preferably look for an observatory below your location.
aurorainfo.eu: Track the Bz. The lower, the better. Southern parts of Finland usually have a great show when the Bz values touch -15 or lower.
Aurora live cameras: Another easy way is to keep an eye on the live cameras from the various observatories across the region. Instead of going out in the cold to check, it might be a good idea to check if the lights are on from the warmth of your shelters.
Windy.com: Where are the clouds? Look for brown areas, which denote a clear sky, while white represents clouds. The wind direction on the maps can be used to guess the direction of cloud movement and accordingly plan your hunt.
Aurora Labs: Aurora Forecast: All-in-one mobile app. The coloured tiles provide an easy-to-interpret probability of seeing the aurora at your location. The green tiles indicate higher chances of seeing the lady in green while red indicates no chance.
Oulu Aurora Spotters: This Facebook group is pretty active in sending alerts whenever there is an aurora in Oulu’s skies. They also have a map of places in Oulu with less light pollution.
Aurora alerts in Finland: Another Facebook group with active members reporting aurora sightings across Finland.
SpaceWeatherLive: The Facebook page and the website provide regular updates about possible solar storms that can generate strong auroras.
Lorenzo, Luisa and the Arctic Road Trips: They are based in Rovaniemi and conduct aurora hunting tours around Lapland. I had joined them during my visit in December 2021. Check out their Instagram page for some amazing captures.
Jasim Sarker and his Aurora Van: Another aurora hunter based in Rovaniemi. Though I haven’t travelled with him yet but have been following his work on social media for more than a year now. His photographs speak of what you are going to see if you tag along with him.
My captures
Ever since I moved to Finland, the auroras have amazed me every time I see them. Since in Kuopio, the occurrence is not as regular as in Lapland, I have learned and managed to capture timelapse videos of the show to replay them whenever I miss them. You can find the videos on my YouTube channel and on Instagram as reels. Below are three selected frames from the timelapse videos. You can also read about my first few experiences of seeing the aurora in another post on this blog. Click here to read!
Kuopio is a town around 400 km north of the Finnish capital Helsinki in the Northern Savonia region. This region is also called Lakeland due to the numerous lakes present here. Kuopio, the seemingly capital of Lakeland, almost seems like an island with water bodies on all sides.
How to reach?
Kuopio is connected to Helsinki by European route E63. Busses and trains are also available at regular intervals. Finnair flies in at least once a day from Helsinki.
Where to stay?
Airbnb is a popular option to find accommodation here in Kuopio. There are quite a few hotels in the town. For budget or solo travellers, Hostel Hermanni and Hostel Matkustajakoti are also an option.
What to see?
Kuopion kauppahalli (kuopionkauppahalli.fi): This translates to market hall. It is a beautiful yellow building that represents the centre of the town. The hall and the surrounding areas used to be places where local farmers came to sell their produce. Even today, the hall offers some truly local products.
Kuopio city hall: Located just opposite kauppahalli in the city centre is another impressive old building built in the 1880s. It is currently the administrative centre of Kuopio. In 2009, the building was voted as one of the three most beautiful municipal buildings.
Kuopion tuomiokirkko: It is a stone Neoclassical-style Evangelical Lutheran church dating back to the early 1800s. The cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Kuopio.
Kuopio Museum Center (kuopionmuseo.fi): The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History, the Kuopio Museum of Natural History and the Kuopio Art Museum together form the Kuopio Museum Center. (Tip: if you plan to visit multiple museums in Finland over up to one year, get a museum card to save on entry fees.)
Puijo Tower (www.puijopeak.fi): The highest point of the town is the Puijo hill and on top of it sits the Puijo Tower. One can get a panoramic view of Kuopio town and the lake that surrounds it. Apart from Google Maps, this is where you can understand what Lakeland is all about. The tower also houses a cafe and a restaurant.
Kuopion korttelimuseo (kuopionkorttelimuseo.fi): If you are particularly interested in the lives of people of Northern Savo during the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries, this is the place to be. The museum was created to preserve some of the old wooden buildings of the city. In fact, several buildings have been moved from other parts of the city to form this museum cluster. Among the eleven structures here, the oldest dates back to the late 1700s.
VB Photographic Centre (vb-valokuvakeskus.fi): This was the first regional photographic centre in Finland. It hosts several national and international photographic exhibitions throughout the year.
RIISA-Orthodox Church Museum of Finland (www.riisa.fi)
Sauna: Finland is synonymous with the sauna. In Kuopio, the Kuopion Saana and Spa Hotel Rauhalahti offer a public sauna. A more traditional smoke sauna is also available at Spa Hotel Rauhalahti.
Nature trails: In today’s world where forests are inside cities, Kuopio is still a place surrounded by forest. It is said that there is a forest just 500m from your doorstep and that is true. The Finnish everyman’s right allows anyone to explore this forest at any time provided they do not harm them. The nature trails are accessible throughout the year. Find maps and more info here.
Water sports: Being surrounded by water, Kuopio offers a variety of possible water sports including kayaking, rowing, SUP boarding, etc.
Cruise: During the summer months, one can explore Kallavesi on a cruise. The short cruises for about two hours take a trip around the archipelago. Longer cruises all the way to Savonlinna are also available from Kuopio.
Skating and skiing: In winter when the lake freezes, Kuopio hosts the Finland Ice Marathon – one of the first ice-skating events on a natural rink. About 12 km of track for skating and skiing are maintained on the lake. Apart from this, there is a wide network of skiing tracks within the city with the Puijo area being one of the favourites. A map of maintained ski tracks can be found here.
Snowboarding: Kasurila, 18 km from the city centre is a snowboarding destination. It can be easily reached by bus 31, 35 and 40.
Equipment rentals for outdoor activities
Kuopion Seikkailukeskus Oy (seikkailukeskus.johku.com): Kayak, SUP boards, rowing boats, e-fat bike, and snowshoes.
Kuopio Water Sports Centre (www.kwsc.fi): Kayak, SUP boards, rowing boats and e-fat bike
Roll Risteilyt (www.roll.fi): Skiing and skating equipment.
Spa Hotel Rauhalahti (www.rauhalahti.fi): Skiing equipment, snowshoes.
The region of Northern Savonia and Kuopio has been adjudged the tastiest province in Europe for the year 2020-21. So there is no dearth of food to try. The market square and kauppahalli are the best places to start experiencing the food Kuopio has to offer. Especially during summer, the market square is filled with numerous eateries offering the best of Kuopio. Yet when asked about what is unique to Kuopio, you might be directed to Kalakukko. This is a fish rooster. Apart from this muiku fritter, deep-fried small fish from the surrounding lakes is also a great snack option. Another place to try local food would be the Puijo Tower restaurant. According to its website, it sources all its raw materials from the area that is within the range of sight of the tower.
How to get around?
Kuopio is a really small town where you can get around walking or cycling. Separate pedestrian cum cycle paths are available throughout the town. During summer, app-based cycle rent is available for the commute. If you are not fond of either of these or have to cover a longer distance, public buses are the best option. Hop-on-hop-off buses and ferries connecting the major sites in Kuopio operate in summer. Last but not least, taxis are available on-call or through app booking.
Check out my clicks from Kuopio on Instagram. If you are a history buff, you might also be interested in some before and now pics from Kuopio. Click here to see them.
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