Illuminated Kinakuja Bridge in Jyväskylä

Five good reasons for visiting the Jyväskylä Region

In the Jyväskylä Region, you can experience the breathtaking and affecting nature, unique architecture along with culture, Unesco world heritage sites, the well-being brought by the sauna, some fabulous lightning sites and installations as well as thousands of interesting events. Read why Jyväskylä Region is a unique place to visit.

Discover the Finnish happiness in the Jyväskylä Region.

saunas
140000
lakes
3700
holiday cottages
34000
moose
5700
Photo: Jukka Paakkinen

Thousands of lakes and four national parks

The Jyväskylä Region is located in the middle of the most beautiful Lakeland Finland and is part of the largest unbroken lake district in Europe. There are over 3 700 lakes shimmering in the Jyväskylä Region, of which the largest one is the Lake Päijänne, the longest lake in Finland. The waterways in the Region not only provide beautiful scenery but also opportunities for many kinds of activities, such as cruises, canoeing and kayaking along with swimming. There are also four national parks in the Jyväskylä Region: the Leivonmäki, Southern Konnevesi, Pyhä-Häkki and Salamajärvi National Parks. They all fascinate and attract with their own special features.

Photo: Tero Takalo-Eskola

The capital of Alvar Aalto

The handprint of the internationally known and respected architect and designer Alvar Aalto is more visible in Jyväskylä than anywhere else in the world: in Jyväskylä and in the surrounding areas, there are a total of 29 significant complex of buildings designed by Aalto. The pearls of Aalto’s production in Jyväskylä are, for example, the Alvar Aalto Museum, the Muuratsalo Experimental House and the Säynätsalo Town Hall, which is considered one of Aalto’s significant building works. You can experience Aalto’s production in Jyväskylä easily either self-guided or through guided tours.

photo: Eemeli Nättinen

The Region with two UNESCO Sites

The Jyväskylä Region is home to two of Finland’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. During one holiday, you can experience the atmospheric Petäjävesi Old Church and admire the stunning views to Lake Päijänne from the Puolakka Triangulation Tower at the top of the Oravivuori hill on the Struve Geodetic Arc.

Photo: Julia Kivelä

The Sauna Region of the world and the Sauna Region week

In the Jyväskylä Region, the Sauna Region of the world, you can experience and enjoy the sauna with its gentle warmth all year round. You can explore memorable sauna moments for example in the world’s largest smoke sauna, in the Sauna Village or on the floating saunas sailing across the Lake Jyväsjärvi. The summer will be crowned by the annual Sauna Region Week, during which dozens of sauna events are arranged in the Jyväskylä Region.

Photo: Toni Ollikainen / AKK Sports Oy

Events in the Jyväskylä Region

More than 5 000 events of various sizes and themes from pop-up events to competitions at world championship level are organised yearly in the Jyväskylä Region. One of the most well-known is the Rally Finland, a FIA world championship event organised annually at the turn of July and August. In the autumn, the delightful City of Light event in Jyväskylä attracts approximately 100 000 visitors to enjoy works of light art every year. In Jyväskylä, there are also over 100 permanently illuminated sites and installations, such as bridges and public works of art along with the facades of the buildings shining magnificently in the dark autumn and winter evenings.

Best tips for your summer holiday in the Jyväskylä Region