9 Things to do in Kuopio Finnish Lakeland In Winter
Things to do in Kuopio
Kuopio is located in Finnish Lakeland and is the regional capital of North Savo. There are many winter activities at your disposal in Kuopio and it is a city not to be missed when you visit Finland.
Perhaps you want to visit Oulu on your travels as well. This city is the home of the air guitar championships and is the European capital of culture 2026.
Visit Puijo Tower
Take a lift to his 75m hilltop tower with 360 views of Kuopio. There is also a revolving restaurant so you can grab a bite to eat or drink and take in the breathtaking views of Kuopio.
Winter Fun Actiities at Puijo
Snowtubing
Snowtubing was a super fun activity that you can do in Puijo. Simply grab a tube and put it in the starting position then when you are ready put your hand up and it will start to inlcine and off you go. It was so much fun. There were two slopes here and one was steeper than the other.
Virtual Ski Jumping at Puijo
You can ski jump at Puijo but it is not for the faint-hearted. It is so steep! To compromise they do give the option to do a virtual ski jump (a very safe bet in my opinion). This is done via VR something I had not done before. There is no motion involved I just sat down to experience it all but it did give me slight motion sickness. Hey at least I know I will never become a ski jumper.
Puijo Peak Nature Walk
The nature walk at Puijo Peak is a boarded circular walk that you can experience during the day or night when it is all lit up. The nature walk is through a forest where there are various decorations put in place that make it feel more Christmassy.
Visit a Sauna – Kuopion Saana
If you visit Kuopio I would recommend visiting a sauna specifically Kuopion Saana. Here you can have some dinner, plunge into icy waters and relax in a traditional wood-burning sauna right by Lake Kallavesi. They also have indoor hot tubs as well as a huge smoke sauna.
Saana Sauna & Spa (Kuopion Saana) is mixed gender therefore swimsuits are to be worn at all times.
Activities on Kuopio Harbour in Winter
Try Nordic skating on a frozen lake
The Finland Ice Marathon is held here annually. I visited M/S Queen R a boat situated on Kuopio Harbour so you can watch the Finland Ice Marathon or you can hire skates and give it go yourself.
Try Ice fishing on a frozen lake
Also on the M/S Queen R boat, they give you the tools to try ice fishing. I would recommend wearing layers and gloves as you may be sitting on the lake for a while.
Kick Sledging
Another activity on offer on Kuopio Harbour is Kick Sledging. They had a traditional kick sledge and a modern version (I opted for the modern version as it looked more stable). You can control how fast or slow you go and it is icy but you do get the hang of it eventually.
go sliding snowshoeing
Sliding snowshoeing combines the features of snowshoes and traditional skis. I tried sliding snowshoeing at Hyvarila Youth and Holiday Centre. Here you can stay the night and try all their activities and they also have dining options available as well.
How to get to Kuopio from Helsinki
By Train
Taking the train to Kuopio from Helsinki will take just over 4 hours and leaves at Helsinki Central Station. This option is advisable as there are 15 trains that go to Kuopio each day.
By Bus
Going by bus from Helsinki to Kuopio will take slightly longer than the train for the duration of just over 6 hours however this will be cheaper than the train.
By Flying
Although this is the quickest option as it is just a one-hour flight, there arent many flights going to Kuopio and this is the most expensive option.
Where to stay in Kuopio
I would highly recommend Lapland Hotels Kuopio. The rooms were spacious and comfortable and their buffet breakfast was the best I’ve ever had. There was so much choice.
If you are looking for a more unique stay in Kuopio I would say Bella Lake Resort is a must, with your own sauna and ice dip with beautiful views of the lake. Breakfast is also included in the rate. If you would like a more traditional sauna experience Kuopion Saana is within walking distance from Bella Lake Resort.
Where to eat in Kuopio
Puijo Lodge is situated next to Puijo Tower and is a great place to eat if you intend to visit Puijo Tower or go snowtubing in the area. I would recommend the Salmon Soup – a must-eat dish when you visit Finland.
Kolin Ryynanen – I would recommend the Pike Fillet.
M/S Queen R – a restaurant on a boat in Kuopio Harbour. Here you can try kick sledging, ice fishing and Nordic skating.
