General Information
CITY OF KUOPIO
Discover Kuopio – where nature meets culture and science
Nestled among lakes and forests in the heart of Eastern Finland, Kuopio is known for its breathtaking scenery, with Lake Kallavesi surrounding the city and offering easy access to peaceful nature. One of its most iconic landmarks is the Puijo Tower, providing panoramic views over the lake and surrounding landscapes — a must-visit, especially given the name of our symposium.
Kuopio is also a dynamic university city, home to the University of Eastern Finland and several leading research institutes. The city has a strong reputation in health sciences, pharmaceutical research, and environmental studies, making it a hub of scientific innovation and academic collaboration in Finland.
In addition to its stunning natural surroundings and scientific excellence, Kuopio offers a vibrant cultural scene — from concerts and museums to local markets and unique culinary experiences. Whether you’re looking to relax in nature, enjoy the lakeside atmosphere, or explore Finnish culture, Kuopio has something to offer alongside the symposium.
HOW TO REACH KUOPIO
By flight: connections are excellent as there are several daily flights from capital Helsinki. Kuopio airport is 16 km from the city. A regular bus service is available from the airport to city centre.
Finnair
By train: There are several trains daily from Helsinki to Kuopio and the journey only takes a few hours. The train station is located in the city centre within 10 to 20 minutes walk from the hotels.
Finnish Railways, VR
By bus or by car: Kuopio is situated by one of the arterial roads of the country, highway 5 leading from Helsinki to Lapland. The Kuopio region can also be reached by bus.
Matkahuolto
TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE CITY
Official Puijo Symposium congress hotels and the congress venue are situated in the city centre or near by.
Kuopio also has a very efficient public transportation system that services the entire city.
BANKING & EXCHANGE
Finland uses the euro (€) as its currency. Visitors can easily withdraw cash from ATMs using international bank or credit cards. Card payments are widely accepted almost everywhere, including with all major debit and credit cards. More information about the latest currency conversations can be found on Currency Converter Forex
CLIMATE
Finland has a climate that is transitional between maritime and continental. Summers are warm and bright, temperatures ranging from a cool 59F (15C) up to a hot 86F (30C) in the warmest month of July. Days are long and sunny, with up to 19 hours of daylight. Towards the end of September temperatures cool down drastically as days grow shorter, and by November the weather is at freezing point as the cold, snowy winter sets in.
Weather in Finland
TIME
The local standard time zone in Kuopio is Greenwich Mean Time GMT +2 hour. Finland uses summer time and daylight saving time is +1 hour.
ELECTRICITY
The electrical power supply in Finland is 220 volts (European standard plug).
