Frequently asked questions
What can I do in Jyväskylä in a few hours? Where can I find souvenirs? What is happening today in the Jyväskylä Region? Below you can find answers to the above- mentioned questions along with many other frequently asked questions in the Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office. If you cannot find any answer to your question, the Tourist Office will be happy to help you.
Places to visit
We are staying in Jyväskylä for a few hours. What should we experience and see during this time?
Jyväskylä, known for Alvar Aalto’s architecture, provides you with a one-of-a-kind cultural insight by the three-hour Express Route. Within a few hours, you will see the most recognizable landmarks in Jyväskylä, sense the atmosphere of a university city, visit museums and the sense evoking Toivola Old Courtyard, not forgetting the lively city centre and the relaxed feel of the harbour.
On the Landmarks in Jyväskylä-route you can admire the most well-known buildings and monuments in the city.
We are travelling with children, what places would you recommend to us?
In the Jyväskylä Region, special attention has been paid to those who are on the move with children and there are a lot of nice places to visit and tips on holiday activities available on the Visit Jyväskylä Region’s website.
We would like to participate in a guided city tour. What kind of tours are available?
The Visit Jyväskylä Region organizes guided tours (in Finnish) with different themes in the summertime, which are advertised on Visit Jyväskylä Region’s website and in the Event Calendar of the Jyväskylä Region. Also other guided tours organised in the Region can be found in the Event Calendar under the category ‘Guided tours and sightseeing tours’. Groups can also book private guided tours with different themes and/or tailored according to the interests of the group. Explore the available tours and book a guided tour here.
The self-guided tours put together by the Visit Jyväskylä Region provide also an outstanding option for a smaller group! Tours can also be found through the free CityNomadi service, which you can download to your smartphone free of charge and follow the route guided by your smartphone.
How can I get to the Unesco World Heritage site Petäjävesi Old Church?
Petäjävesi can be accessed with train and bus. Checking the schedules beforehand is adviced. The distance from the bus stops and the train station to the church is approximately 1km. Check the opening hours of the Petäjävesi Old Church here. (Scroll down).
Which destinations are accessible by public transport?
The Jyväskylä Region has many attractions, destinations, nature trails and experiences that are accessible by the local bus Linkki, long-distance buses or train.
Read more about Public transport to tourist destinations here.
Read more about Public transport to nature sites here.
Are there any accessible travel destinations or services in the Jyväskylä Region?
For sure! There are plenty of accessible options for accommodation, attractions and restaurants. Read more about barrier-free Jyväskylä Region.
Events
What events there are in the Jyväskylä Region today?
The Event Calendar of the Jyväskylä Region can conveniently be found online in both Finnish and English. You can browse the events in the Calendar even for a longer period. Current events and good tips on places to visit are highlighted on the Now -section on Visit Jyväskylä Region’s website, which includes a two-week event compilation and a list of activities this week.
Where can I buy tickets for various events?
Tickets for the most part of the events are sold by online shops Lippu.fi, Tiketti and Ticketmaster. A ticket office of these online shops in Jyväskylä is located in the Prisma Seppälä (Ahjokatu 7). Lippu.fi tickets can also be bought from R-kioski (Note! Gift cards cannot be used in R-kioski). The Jyväskylä City Theatre has its own ticket office in the Theatre House. The ticket office of the Theatre sells tickets for the performances of the City Theatre without any service charges and you can also buy tickets and season tickets for the Jyväskylä Sinfonia’s concerts.
Activities
Where can I experience a public sauna?
In the Jyväskylä Region, the Sauna Region of the World in the Central Finland, you can gain diverse sauna experiences. You have access to public saunas in Jyväskylä in the Sataman Viilu, Kankaan Sauna and in the Hakala Sauna in Halssila (in Finnish). You have also an opportunity to swim, barbecue and enjoy a summer day there. In the Mämminiemi outdoor recreational area for boaters and hikers located in Toivakka, there are also available common sauna shifts in summer. There are also organised a lot of different sauna evenings and events in the Jyväskylä Region. Sauna evenings, available and open for everyone, are organised for example by the Varjola Resort & Activities, Revontuli – The Northern Lights Resort, the Tupaswilla Heritage Village (in Finnish) and the Villa Kivitasku (in Finnish). The highlight of the summer is the Sauna Region Week consisting of over 70 sauna events in the Jyväskylä Region.
Read more about sauna activities in the Jyväskylä region here.
Where can I see the Northern Lights?
It is difficult to predict very much in advance when the Northern Lights will appear and some luck may be needed too. The Northern Lights occur the most on darkening evenings early autumn and late winter. The sky must be dark and cloudless so that you can see them. The Northern Lights can be seen everywhere in the Jyväskylä Region, but in Hankasalmi it is however the easiest and most probable, as it has been shown to be one of the most darkest places in southern Finland. If you are interested in the Northern Lights, you should check out the blog post on how you can see the Northern Lights in the Jyväskylä Region. Revontuli – The Northern Lights Resort provides you with an opportunity to see the Northern Lights through the igloos with a glass roof, just lying down comfortably in bed. In Hankasalmi, there is also an observatory where you can get to know the Northern Lights even more closely.
The website of the Finnish Meteorological Institute provides you with good tips on observing the Northern Lights. Also the website Space weather in Finland provides you with up-to-date information on the activities and probability of the Northern Lights.
What kind of nature attractions there are in the Jyväskylä Region?
The Jyväskylä Region offers you a wide range of magnificent nature attractions. In the Region, there are four national parks: The Leivonmäki National Park, the Pyhä-Häkki National Park, the Southern Konnevesi National Park and the Salamajärvi National Park. In addition, you can find numerous nature trails along with places with scenic views in the Jyväskylä Region. You can also look for diverse routes and places to visit through the Outdooractive service.
Where could I see some Finnish animals, such as a reindeer?
There are several animal farms in the Jyväskylä Region, where you can meet with Finnish animals. The well-known domestic animal farms include The Moose Manor in Jämsä, the Animal Park Ysitien Lemmikki in Jyväskylä close to the boundary of the municipality of Laukaa along with the Tarhalehto Petting Farm (in Finnish) in Laukaa. The Tarhalehto Petting Farm has around 100 animal species and you can also see some reindeer there.
When can you go and ice-skate and ski outdoors on the lake Jyväsjärvi?
There Jyväsjärvi lake ice-skating rink is in use according to weather conditions. If you wish to walk or ski on the Jyväsjärvi lake ice, please exercise caution and stay on existing paths. You can rent ice skates, snow shoes and kick sleds from Jyväskylä Harbour Cafe. The cafe is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 16.
What kind of cruises are available in the Jyväskylä Region?
M/s Rhea as well as the Lake Päijänne Cruises Hildén, Päijänne-Risteilyt Hildén, provide inland water cruises daily from the Jyväskylä Harbour (Satamakatu 8) in the summertime. The duration of the cruises is 2–4 hours and they will take you to the Northern Päijänne or the Vaajakoski Canal. The Lake Päijänne Cruises Hildén, Päijänne-Risteilyt Hildén, also provide cruises through five canals to Äänekoski, the Suolahti Harbour and a few times in the summer to Lahti. Cruise timetables and ticket information are available on M/S Rhea’s and the Lake Päijänne Cruises Hildén’s, websites.
Paddle-boat Elias Lönnrot cruises at Keurusselkä during the summer. The paddle-wheeler Elias Lönnrot departs from the Ahtola harbor and also has some cruises with special programme. M/S Autere and E-K Lines cruise in the Southern Konnevesi National Park in summer.
What can you do in the Jyväskylä Region on a rainy day?
There are several interesting museums located in the city centre of Jyväskylä and its vicinity, where you can spend a rainy day comfortably. Those who are interested in shopping should head towards the Jyväskylä’s pedestrian shopping area, which offers a great variety of shopping centres, shops, restaurants and cafés. On rainy days, it is also worth taking a look at the Event Calendar, whether there are some concerts or theatre performances in the Jyväskylä Region. The auditoriums of several summer theatres are also covered. More tips on spending a rainy day are available in the blog post of the Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office.
What kind of cycling routes are there in the Jyväskylä region?
The Jyväskylä Region provides an excellent setting for cycling trips. There are diverse routes to fulfill many different needs through a variety of terrains and environments, including majestic national parks, scenic highways, enchanting forests and meandering around waterways through shore paths. There are suitable routes for everyone, for both experienced enthusiasts and for those who prefer casual, leisure time cycling routes. So pump up your bicycle tires, pack your backpack with a snack and check out the best cycling routes in the Jyväskylä region here. Other optioin is to take a look at gravel biking routes in the area! You can also easily download Jyväskylä’s cycling map pdf to your phone by clicking here or pick up the paper version from the Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office.
We would like to fish in the Jyväskylä Region. What kind of fishing permits are needed and where do we get them?
The easiest way to go fishing is together with a professional guide who also takes care of fishing permits. Familiarize yourself, for example, with the opportunities for fishing provided by the Varjola Resort & Activities, the Fishing and Accommodation Vonkale or the Kapeenkoski Travel.
You can read more about fishing permit practices on the Eräluvat.fi site. In addition to the Fisheries Management Fee, you may also need a local fishing permit.
Moving around in the Jyväskylä Region
Where can I park the car free/for a longer time?
Parking places in the city centre of Jyväskylä are marked on the PDF parking map of the Jyväs-Parkki Parking Service Company. You can park free on those places marked with a letter K by using a parking disc. If you are staying in Jyväskylä for a longer time (for example overnight), you should choose one of the multi-storey car parks in the city centre.
I will stay in Jyväskylä for a few days, what kind of bus ticket should I buy?
You can travel by bus with single tickets which can be bought in every public transport bus in the Jyväskylä Region. You can pay for the trip:
- in the bus with cash (up to a 20 euro note) or contactless pay.
- by the Linkki mobile app, which can be downloaded to the smartphone.
- by buying a day ticket or a travel card from the Linkki service point (Asemakatu 7).
The price of a one bus trip depends on the number of zones (a total of four zones) in which you travel during your trip. For example, the price of an adult’s single trip in one payment zone is about 3,50 euros (the trips are more affordable both with a mobile ticket and a Linkki card). If you travel to Jyväskylä more often and you use local buses, you should buy a Linkki card, which is available from the Linkki service point (Asemakatu 7, Jyväskylä) or preorder the Linkki card through online service. You can download either a monthly ticket or money (in other words value) to this card.
More information on bus tickets on the Linkki’s website.
How to get to and from the airport?
The Jyväskylä Airport is located in Tikkakoski about 23 kilometres from the city centre of Jyväskylä. Some of the long-distance buses stop at the airport, timetables are available on the Matkahuolto’s website. The easiest way of getting to the airport is by taxi, which you need to preorder from Jytaksi. JYTAKSI service has fixed prices to the airport from the city centre of Jyväskylä. Price information is available on the JYTAKSI’s website. For more information, please, visit the Finavia’s website.
Where can I rent a bicycle?
There are several places in the Jyväskylä Region where you can rent or borrow a bicycle, such as Polkupyörätori (in Finnish) and Bikepark. See more bike hire places here. In the city, it is easy to move around too by electric scooters. For example Voi Scooters, TIER -scooters and Ryde -scooters are operating in Jyväskylä
How can I move around in Jyväskylä and the Jyväskylä Region during winter?
In Finland, snow and weather conditions rarely affect transportation. Pathways are regularly cleared of snow, and gravel is spread on streets to reduce slipperiness. Winter shoes with proper shoe soles are recommended for better grip.
You can equip your bike with winter tires at XXL, Intersport or Polkupyörätori.
Public transport operates normally throughout the winter.
If you’re driving your own or a rented car, remember that proper winter tires are mandatory. Since Finland is a long country geographically, weather conditions can vary significantly across regions. If you are renting a car from a different area, inform the rental company of your destination and ensure the vehicle is equipped with suitable winter tires.
More information about driving in Finland during winter can be found from here.
Accommodation in the Jyväskylä Region
You can search for hotels, cottages, camping sites and other options for staying overnight in the Jyväskylä Region on our Stay-page.
Are there campsites and caravan sites in the Jyväskylä Region?
Yes. The nearest campsite in the city centre of Jyväskylä is the Laajis Urban Caravan in Laajavuori serving year-round (4 kilometres from the city centre) and Camping Nyyssänniemi in Keuruu is known for its events. SF-Caravan campsites are located in Uurainen and Äänekoski. You can familiarise yourself with campsites in the Jyväskylä Region here.
Is there farm accommodation available in the Jyväskylä Region?
Yes, the Jyväskylä Region provides numerous farm accommodation options. Beautifully renovated sites or even slightly more modest accommodations are sure to be remembered. You can explore farm accommodation options here.
Local Food
Where can I taste local food?
In the Jyväskylä Region, food consists of the cleanest ingredients: fish from the lakes, game from the forests, berries, mushrooms, and many other delicacies from local producers. In Jyväskylä, The Hiisi Taproom & Bottleshop, near the harbour, provides you with local flavours and craft beers. You can enjoy the stunning scenery along with local ingredients at Sataman Viilu, Alba Lakeview Restaurant and Café & Restaurant Vesilinna. The Restaurants Pöllöwaari, Figaro and Harmooni guarantee an atmospheric dinner together with a delicious à la carte menu. In turn, a home-made lunch is served by the Restaurant Eeden in the Garden Centre Viherlandia (in Finnish) and you can find a Finnish breakfast in the Verso Bar & Kitchen.
The Restaurant Kellari (in Finnish) in Joutsa provides you with an opportunity to taste local home-brewed beer Sahti, which the area is famous for, and in the Karoliinan Kestikievari (in Finnish) in Leivonmäki you can enjoy a delicious lunch. Around Laukaa, the local flavours are served by the Barn Restaurant of the Varjola Resort & Activities (in the summer) and by Revontuli – The Northern Lights Resort in Hankasalmi.
Shopping and souvenirs
Where can we find souvenirs in Jyväskylä?
There are several shops and small boutiques in the Jyväskylä Region where you can find nice gifts and souvenirs to take home. Read tips on buying souvenirs here! More ideas are also available under the section Take a piece of the Jyväskylä Region with you. You can also explore various handicraft, design and atelier shops here..
Where can I buy and send postcards?
You can find Jyväskylä- and Finland-themed postcards for example in the Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office, the Museum shop of the Jyväskylä Art Museum, the Ellin Kirja & Putiikki Bookshop (in Finnish) and the Harjun Paperi Shop (in Finnish). You can send a postcard for example in the Jyväskylä Main Post Office, which is located in the city centre of Jyväskylä, address Vapaudenkatu 48–50, behind the buildings in the main street. You can check the location and opening hours of the service points and postboxes here. You can leave letters and postcards in the orange postboxes, which will be emptied every day. Stamps are being sold in post offices, kiosks, bookshops, in most shops and hotels.
Where are the nearest flea markets located?
Flea markets located in the city centre area of Jyväskylä include inter alia Keskustan kirppis, Happy Second, Rebel ja Blue Train. You can also explore the flea markets through the Flea Market Route by clicking here.
Alvar Aalto
Where can I get some information and material regarding Alvar Aalto?
The Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office provides you with many different type of Alvar Aalto-themed location brochures free of charge and you can also buy the Architectural Map at a price of four euros (can be bought on Monday–Friday at 10am–2pm). The Tourist Office personnel are happy to answer any Aalto-related questions preoccupying the travellers, such as when the Aalto buildings are open and where they are located. Additional information on Aalto’s sites are available here.
Take also a look at the self-guided Aalto-themed tours by the Visit Jyväskylä Region: Self-guided Alvar Aalto tours.
Other practical information
Are there accessible attractions and services in the Jyväskylä Region?
Jyväskylä Region offers a wide range of accessible accommodation options, restaurants, attractions, and activities! Explore Barrier-free Jyväskylä Region here.
Where can I store my suitcase?
There are luggage lockers of different sizes in the Jyväskylä Travel Centre (Hannikaisenkatu 20). See further details here.
Can I get other brochures and maps from the Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office than those related to the Jyväskylä Region?
The Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office provides a wide range of brochures related to the Jyväskylä Region. In the Tourist Office, you can also find maps and travel brochures of a few other cities in Finland. Foreign maps and travel brochures can be found for example in libraries and bookshops.
Where can I exchange money in the Jyväskylä Region?
Unfortunately there’s no place to exchange money in the Jyväskylä Region. The nearest station called Forex is located in Tampere, around 2h from Jyväskylä. You can easily access Tampere by train (timetables and tickets VR) or by bus (timetables and tickets Matkahuolto / timetables and tickets Onnibus).
If you did not find an answer to your question, you can conveniently contact the Visit Jyväskylä Region Tourist Office through the chat at the bottom of the page or by sending e-mail to [email protected].