Kuopio Airport Mini Guide
Why do People Visit Kuopio?
A lot of people come here because of the history of the place. Much of old Finland is preserved in the Quarter-Block Museum and the old town. Today it looks much as it did 150 years ago and is fascinating to explore on foot. Literature lovers also visit the museum that used to be the home of Minna Canth whilst those interested in religious history visit the museum celebrating Orthodoxy in Northern Europe.
How Easy is it to Get to?
Not very, but with perseverance it’s worth the effort. You’ll need to fly into
Helsinki or from Latvian airports of
Riga,
Liepaja or
Ventspils and catch a connecting flight to Kuopio. From there it’s a short journey by public bus which only operates on weekdays or taxi to the city centre.
What’s the Airport Like?
It’s modern having been remodelled several years ago and offers good facilities for a small regional airport. Arriving, you’ll find an information desk in the main hall but also an unusual facility in the Lake Terminal which acts as a travel agency as well as a booking centre for activities on and around the adjacent lake. You can also eat in the cafeteria/restaurant here.
There are no buses on a weekend so, apart from taxis, your best bet would be to hire a car. Remember that this is very popular at Kuopio because of the lack of a transport infrastructure so to avoid disappointment, book well in advance. The companies’ desks are found in the arrivals hall near the Lake Terminal and are easily spotted.
What About for When I Depart?
There’s enough for the traveller passing through and it helps that they have a child care facility if you want to drop children off before dealing with checking in. There’s a small shop which, whilst not classing themselves as ‘duty free’, still offers duty free style products as well as gifts and handicrafts from the region. There’s also a small kiosk selling newspapers, magazines and snacks. For airport food you’ll need to go to the Lake Terminal where the minimalist café/restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices for Finland. If you need assistance then as long as you let the airport know in advance, they’ll be able to offer help to you. Finally, for those last postcards, there’s a post office in the terminal.
Kuopio is proud of its past and has carefully preserved and celebrates the old quarter of the city. Buildings from over 150 years ago have been renovated and make for a pleasant stroll around the city.
If you hire a car you can head out to the Puijo Panorama Tower on a hill that overlooks the city. From here you get a great perspective on the influence that water has on the city. It’s surrounded on three sides by lakes and attracts thousands of tourists a year to the beaches and activities on the lakes.