Practical tips for your stay
Weather
Jyväskylä has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and winters cold and snowy. Spring and autumn are relatively long, providing a gradual transition to the next season. Winter generally starts in November, spring arrives at the beginning of April, summer at the end of May, while the first signs of autumn appear in early September. Click here for weather forecast.
More information of four seasons from visitors pages.
Shopping
During a congress or meeting trip it is nice to buy some local and Finnish products to take home with you. There are many shopping centres in the city centre of Jyväskylä, such as Sokkari, Forum and Tawast, of which in Tawast there is, for example, a popular Marimekko store. In addition to these, there are charming boutiques, brick-and-mortar stores along with specialised shops in the city centre, such as the Taito-Shop Aivia, the Alvar Aalto Shop, the Toivola Old Courtyard as well as the Pienikamari Shop and Ellin Kirja & Putiikki, where you can buy souvenirs.
Very close to the city, there are also Puttipaja Design Puoti Wanha Paja and Outlet, Panda’s factory outlet and Viherlandia Carden Centre that provide a wide variety of opportunities for shopping. University products can be ordered through the online store or bought from JYU SOPPI outlets (Soppi University Shop) in the Semma Restaurants and from the pop-up SOPPI shop on the campus.
Seasonal markets and fairs are being arranged in Jyväskylä, providing local products and services and bringing special products in various fields available in the city centre.
Further information on shopping opportunities in Jyväskylä from visitors pages.
There are very diverse practices regarding opening hours of the shops and restaurants in different countries. Check local opening hours.
Local transport
Jyväskylä is a compact city and one which is easy to cover on foot, by bike or by bus. If you wish to travel beyond the city centre, simply jump on a local bus – look for the green “Linkki” logo. All local buses travel to and from the outdoor terminal on Vapaudenkatu, which is located between Asema-aukio square and Forum shopping centre. It is also possible to hire a car or a bike.
For further information about tickets, bus routes and timetables from “Linkki” web page.
Photo: Hanna-Kaisa Hämäläinen
Finnish sauna culture – Must experience!
For the Finns the sauna has always had a special significance. The first saunas were smoke saunas and they are still in use today. Heating them using wood takes several hours and the smoke is kept inside the sauna. The world’s biggest smoke sauna can be found at Tupaswilla, just over half an hour’s drive from Jyväskylä.
If you would like to go to a sauna during your visit, in Jyväskylä this can be easily arranged. There are saunas in every hotel and spa. Smoke saunas and sauna facilities for groups, which have to be booked in advance, are often located close to water. In the city you’ll even find a few floating saunas, which is the perfect way to enjoy both a relaxing sauna and a glorious summer evening while drifting across Lake Jyväsjärvi.
Further information on sauna culture from visitors pages.
