Winter time at Jyväskylä Harbour

As the winter arrives the harbour of Lutakko in Jyväskylä covers itself under a snowy blanket offering different kinds of possibilities for recreational activities. When the ice of the Lake Jyväsjärvi is thick enough you can skate on a natural ice skating rink which is about 1,2–3,2 kilometers long. On frosty but sunny winter days people of Jyväskylä love nothing more than to put on their skates and head out to Lake Jyväsjärvi! Skates can be rented from café Kotakahvila or café Satamakahvila. Satamakahvila also rents out snowshoes and kicksleds.

Skiing enthusiastics are pampered with a ski trail on the ice that’s approximately three kilometers long. Remember to check the safety of the ice before heading out to ski or skate! It is never safe to go on thin ice. Check the current information on the ski trail service.

For those who prefer staying on land, Rantaraitti offers a great setting for jogging around the year. Rantaraitti route takes you around the Jyväsjärvi lake in changing sceneries. The 13 kilometre route provides changing landscapes in different neighbourhoods in Jyväskylä. At dusk you can admire the illuminations of the Valo/City of Light along the route: On the lakeside trail you can see, for example, the Kuokkala and Ylistö bridges illuminated at night and several illuminated works of art. In the harbour you can admire the boat designed by the world-famous architect Alvar Aalto, which is on permanent display in a purpose-built boat shed.

For a chilly day, the saunas and hot tubs in the sauna restaurant Sataman Viilu offer warmth and relaxation. If you don’t mind the cold, a dip in Lake Viilu pool at Lake Jyväsjärvi harbour is an endorphin-stimulating experience. 

After a day of wintery activities it’s nice to wrap your fingers around a hot cup of coffee or juice. Warm drinks, pastries and campfire pancakes are up for grabs at the atmospheric café Kotakahvila. At Kotakahvila you can warm up in the cozy warmth of an open fire – comfortably inside a traditional barbecue hut and conveniently in the middle of the harbour. 

If you’re hungry for something heartier, restaurant Trattoria Aukio is located conveniently only a stone’s throw away from the harbour. Nearby is located also the local HIISI brewery Taproom&Bottleshop. At the Viilu harbour on the shores of Lake Jyväsjärvi, you can enjoy restaurant food and café products. Viilu’s terrace is the number one place to enjoy the first warming rays of spring sunshine! The paddle steamer Vellamo also is in service during the winter season.