The city of Kuopio stands amid the lakes and rivers of central Finland, 24 miles north of Helsinki. It is surrounded by a region of water and forests that have become popular as an outdoor recreation area. Lake Kallavesi alone has more than 3, miles of shoreline to explore. If you hire a car in Kuopio You'll find that the E63 highway loops through the city and offers spectacular drives in both directions, crossing lakes and islands via bridges and causeways. In the summer this is a region for water-sports enthusiasts and in the winter there are three ski centres in the countryside outside the city.
The university city of Kuopio stands on a peninsular of islands and is almost surrounded by Lake Kallavesi. So expect to find lots of attractive waterfronts. If you hire a car in Kuopio You'll soon notice that among its 18th-century grid pattern of streets, every second road is now traffic free. At the heart of the city is the cobbled market square in front of the grand old town hall. The restaurants and stalls around here are a great place to try the local delicacy: a fish baked in pastry and don't miss the city's tourist highlight: the view of Kuopio spreading across the watery landscape from the Puijo Tower on a hill overlooking the city.