• Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Puijo Tower ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Puijo Tower
© h368k742/stock.adobe.com

2. Kuopio Art Museum ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Museums & Culture
Kuopio Art Museum
© Kuopio Art Museum

3. Monastery of Valamo

Monastery of Valamo
© RnDmS/stock.adobe.com

4. VB Photographic Centre

Category: Attractions
VB Photographic Centre
© VB-valokuvakeskus

5. Kuopio War Veteran Museum

Category: Museums & Culture
Kuopio War Veteran Museum
© Kuopion Lentäjät

6. Wife-Carrying World Championships

Wife-Carrying World Championships
© Volodya/stock.adobe.com

7. Pikku-Pietari Torikuja Market

Category: Shopping
Pikku-Pietari Torikuja Market
© Pikku-Pietari Torikuja Market

8. Hanna Partanen’s Bakery

Category: Food & Drink
Hanna Partanen’s Bakery
© Hanna Partanen’s Bakery

9. Musta Lammas

Musta Lammas
© Musta Lammas

10. Puijo Tower Revolving Restaurant

Category: Food & Drink
Puijo Tower Revolving Restaurant
© Vincent/stock.adobe.com

11. Ravintola Albatrossi

Ravintola Albatrossi
© Karanov images/stock.adobe.com

12. Wanha Satama

Wanha Satama
© Wanha Satama

13. Koivumaki Manor

Koivumaki Manor
© Koivumäen Kartano

14. Muikkuravintola Sampo

Muikkuravintola Sampo
© Muikkuravintola Sampo

15. Tirol Tahko

Tirol Tahko
© Tirol Tahko

Summary and Frequenly Asked Questions:

  • Kuopio began with a church and a parish in the 1550s and was officially established in 1775.
  • From 1809 to 1917, it fell under Russian rule, which opened up the waterways and rail links south to the Baltic Sea.
  • Today, the city is 4500 square kilometers, half of which is forest and a sixth, water.
  • It is built on islands, surrounded by Lake Kallovesi, and is the cultural center of east Finland.
  • Every second street is set aside for pedestrians and cyclists.
  • It has a subarctic climate, with short and mild summers.
  • The lake freezes over in winter, and maximum temperatures remain below freezing from November to March.

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