Arrival
From Helsinki it takes by plane 45 minutes, by train or by bus about 4–5 hours to reach Kuopio.
Flights: Finnair
Train: VR
Buses: Matkahuolto
Flights
Connections by air to Kuopio are excellent, as there are 9–10 daily flights from Helsinki to Kuopio. Kuopio Airport also operates charter flights. The airport is located 20 km from the city centre.
From the Kuopio airport you can also take a local bus or a taxi to the city centre. Bus number 40 operates between the airport (lentoasema) and the city center on Mon – Fri (from approx. 06:00 to 19:00). This bus arrives at Tulliportinkatu 33 (bus stop: “Keskusta 1”) and it departs to airport at Maljalahdenkatu 31 (bus stop “Keskusta 9”).
Taxis
Menevä Taxi: + 358 (0)800 02120 or via Menevä app
Kuopion Taksi1: + 358 200 111 01 or via Taksi1 app
VieVie: +358 2000 3000 or via TaksinAppi app
You can pre-order a taxi free of charge. The taxi in Kuopio costs approx. 1,65 € / km + basic fee 6-9 €.
Kuopio doesn’t have metros, local trains, or Uber so you need to use a bus or regular taxi. When ordering through taxi apps you may get a price estimate
Weather
Hotels/Apartments/Hostels
Numbered dots = hotels (all within 15 mins by bus to campus):
1. Lapland Hotels (next to the train station)
2.Hotel Scandic Atlas (next to the central market square)
3.Original Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi
4.Hotel Scandic Kuopio (close to harbour)
6. Forenom Aparthotel Apartments, Niiralankatu 25 (easy access to Savonia campus by bus or on foot)
7. Hostel Matkustajakoti, Vuorikatu 35 (15 min by bus from campus)
Hotel Savonia (20 min walk from campus, no direct bus connection to campus) map below.
Local buses
Kuopio local bus route planner. You can find the schedules also in Google Maps.
You can pay by using contactless payment (Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard and Eurocard), Google Pay, Apple Pay, cash, or the Vilkku app. The ride in the city area costs 2,70€ when paid with contactless payment or Vilkku app, and 3,80€ when paid with cash. Please note that one ticket is valid for 1 hour, in case you need to take two busses, you can use the same ticket.
We recommend that you walk while you are here, at least a part of the time. The views are beautiful and this way you can enjoy them better. Also, the distances between places aren’t that long. For example, the distance between the city centre and Microkatu campus is about 3km.
Local buses from city centre (bus stops “Keskusta 1” and “Keskusta 2”) to Microkatu campus (bus stops “Savilahti E” or “Microkatu”)
City centre bus stops at Tulliportinkatu
By utilizing the local bus route planner you can find the buses between the city centre and Savonia main campus (Microkatu 1). Many buses depart from Tulliportinkatu 33. The bus ride from the city center to Microkatu campus takes about 4-7 min. The buses will drop you off either at Savilahti E or Microkatu bus stop (follow the app or the screens on the busses):
Buses 4, 7, 16, 21, 23, 31 stop at Savilahti E (Savilahdentie 8, a road just next to the Microkatu campus).
Buses 35 and 40 stop at Microkatu (next to the Savonia main entrance)
Please note that not all bus stops have info panels or bus stop names.
Buses from Microkatu campus (Savilahti P or Microkatu) to city center (Keskusta 3, 4, 6, 9)
Buses 4, 7, 16, 21, 23 and 31 to city center depart along the Savilahdentie (bus stop named Savilahti P) to city center.
Buses 35 and 40 depart close to the Microkatu campus main entrance (bus stop named Microkatu) heading to city center.
At the city center, you can disembark e.g. at the main market place (bus stops Keskusta 3, 4, 6, 9)
Savilahti E bus stop near Microkatu campus
Local bus from city center to the airport
Bus 40 operates between the city center and airport (lentoasema). The bus departs at the bus stop “Keskusta 9” at Maljalahdenkatu 31 (Google maps).
Addresses
Savonia Kuopio campus: Microkatu 1, Kuopio
Savonia Iisalmi campus: Haukisaarentie 2, Iisalmi
Wifi
On campus: Savonia guest
Smoking
Savonia is a non-smoking campus
Shopping
Taitoshop, address: Haapaniemenkatu 28
Finnish crafts
Vaahteranmäen Mumma ja Pappa
Address: Shopping center Apaja, under the market place (under the street level)
Handmade crafts of local wood
Moico crafts & design, address: Haapaniemenkatu 20
Ceramics, textile crafts, prints, jewellery
Sokos, address: Haapaniemenkatu 22-24
Department store
Carlson, address: Kauppakatu 36
Department store