Street train sightseeing (Kuopio)

Summer is started in Finland and the tourism professionals are ready to offer plenty of alternatives to travelers to enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city they are visiting. The most popular way to visit a city is to jump in one of these Hop-on Hop-off busses which tell its story in different languages. As Finland is a land of water (sea or lakes), boat sightseeings are very popular as well.

Train sightseeing is another way to discover a city. In this article is presented the street train of Kuopio. For 6.50€ (4.50€ for children), passengers can jump in the city train for a ride of approximately 30 minutes in the center of Kuopio and listen in Finnish and English to the history of the city, culture, traditions and to anecdotes. It is possible to leave the train at 5 different "street stations". Based on the Hop-on Hop-off concept, passengers can take the train at anytime during the day, as often as they wish. The train starts at the market square, go to the Puijonsarvi hotel, to the passenger harbor and continue along the shore to the Scandic hotel and to Väinölänniemi where the train turns back to the city center, passing by the Orthodox church. The train makes a last stop in the old Kuopio, surronded by wooden houses at the Old Kuopio museum (Korttelimuseo). It is much more fun than the bus sightseeing, especially when the city is small. Taking pictures from the train is easy (no windows) but be carefull of all the streets obstacles.

City train at the market square

Passenger harbor

Fun and interesting!

The city train operates from June 3rd to August 10th 2013 every hours from 9:25 to 15:25.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry tree

The Cherry Blossom Festival "Hanami" will be organised by the Roihuvuori residents’ association on Sunday May 18th from 12 to 17:30 in Herttoniemi (Kirsikkapuisto). Hanami is the Japanese custom of celebrating the arrival of spring beneath blossoming cherry trees! It is a great event for meeting new people and discovering the Japanese culture. The program of the day is full of martial art demonstration, music, art performances and cosplay.

Cosplay

When you see the water tower, you know that you are at the right place

Traditional Japanese music

Martial art demonstration with real swords

Paper waterlily workshop

 Link to the event

How to get there?
Take the subway to Herttoniemi and walk about 700m along Linnanrakentajantie until the big crossing (there is a park on the other side of the crossing). Turn left on Abraham Wetterin tie. The park is on your left. You won't miss it as there is a water tower on the Northern part of the park. If you don't want to walk, take the bus number 82 at the subway station of Herttoniemmi in direction of Itäkeskus and get off at the 3rd stop called Porolahti.

Updated on May 8th, 2014

Weekend full of events in Helsinki

Maybe it is because spring is back that Helsinki is hosting many events this weekend for everyone.

The first event is called Ihana Helsinki (fantastic Helsinki) and is dedicated to the fashionistas. Many shops in the city center have special offers and diverse shows are presented. This event is also a celebration to spring in museums and restaurants which are decorated with flowers.

Ihana Helsinki

On Saturday from 12-17 in Hämeentie (Helsinki), is organized the Arabia street festival including flea market, dance, secondhand shops, recycling points, skateboarding, restaurants, bookcrossing, artists creating their art on the streets, cafés and much more.

Link to the Facebook event 

Flea market

Still on Saturday, over 1000 popup restaurants will be open in the whole country where everybody can try different kinds of food made with passion by amateurs.

Find the restaurants

Restaurant Day

Finally on Sunday from 11:30 young kids and veterans are competing in Herttoniemi  (Helsinki) in the ski jumping festival.

Link to the Facebook event

Ski jumping

And of course in the evening on Saturday, Finns will watch the semi final of ice hockey, supporting their team against Sweden and hopefully on Sunday evening, the final. The games will be shown in most of the bars.

The other TV event of the weekend is the final of the Eurovision where Finland is represented by Krista Siegfrids with her song "Marry Me".
Official clip

Coca-Cola bottles with names

Since April 22nd, Coca-Cola bottles labeled with 150 different Finnish names are available in the shops. The campaign will last the whole summer.

List of the 150 names available

Ice hockey world championship 2013

Since a week in Helsinki and in Stockholm, the best nations in the world are competing for the world champion title in ice hockey. So far, Finland is doing well in the tournament, enjoying all the Finns and the fans of the Leijonat. This year, the tickets to assist to the games are more affordable. Some games are sold at only 12.50€. But if you wish to see Finland playing, you'll have to spend much more money.

The whole country supports its team

Merchandizing sold at the arena

Next to the arena, there is a big tent where you can watch the games in the middle of thousands of fans. If Finland is playing, come early! Some fans are already there three hours before the game starts. Most of the bars are showing the games and it's great places to meet new people.

Tickets for the games played in Helsinki

You still have a couple of days to enjoy the tournament as the semi-final and the final will be played in Sweden.