Joensuu

Understand

Joensuu ("River's mouth" in Finnish) is near the point where the Pielisjoki river flows into the Lake Pyhäselkä. It is one of the relatively fast growing centres in Eastern Finland. The University of Eastern Finland supplies a constant stream of fresh student meat from all over the country and exchange students from abroad. Joensuu's industry, as well as a large part of the University programs, is dominated by forestry.

Getting there

By plane Many daily flights from Helsinki provided by Finnair to Joensuu Airport (JOE), about 11 km northwest of the centre. A bus runs between the airport and town (the university and downtown) before and after each flight. The bus takes 10 minutes and costs €5. There are also taxis at the airport.

By train Direct connection from Helsinki via Lappeenranta, several trains a day. Travel time is about 5 hours. If coming from Russia, transfer at Kouvola. There are also trains from Pieksämäki. The station is small and open only during the day. It's on Railway Square on the left bank of the river. For more information see the website of Finland's national railway company.

1 Joensuu railway station, Itäranta 12. (updated Jun 2019)

By bus From Helsinki one departure a day seasonally with a traveling time of about 7 hours, see timetables. Services also from Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu,Kajaani and Savonlinna. There is a daily connection from Petrozavodsk. Joensuu bus station is on the Railway Square.

By car National road 6 goes from Helsinki via Lappeenranta and Kouvola in Joensuu and further Nurmes and Kajaani, although the route via Mikkeli and Varkaus is shorter. Joensuu is also along the Blue Highway from Mo i Rana via Umeå, Vaasa and Kuopio, the last stretch along national road 9. If coming from Saint Petersburg or Vyborg in Russia, after Nuijamaa in Lappeenranta you turn on the main road 6, which leads to Joensuu. From Petrozavodsk (Petroskoi) the route along the Blue Highway via the Värtsilä/Niirala (Вя́ртсиля) crossing in Tohmajärvi is shorter.

By boat Joensuu is on the shore of lake Saimaa which is accessible from sea by the Saimaa Canal.

Getting around

By bus The local bus terminal is located one block south from the main market square, a 10-minute walk from train and the bus station. There are ten bus lines which serve traffic inside the city of Joensuu. Departures are usually every hour per line, most traffic runs in work/school days and there are less departures in Saturdays and Sundays. Some bus lines continue to countryside outside the city. A one-way ticket on Joensuu local buses costs €2 (June 2016). If you travel frequently, Waltti card will offer a discounted rate. If you are a Joensuu resident there are even 30-day cards available at the City of Joensuu service point Carelicum. Waltti Mobiili mobile app can be used for ticket purchase. Information about local buses can be found here. You can use route planner to seek local bus routes between given locations and addresses. Demand responsive Noutopoika service is available on city area. Call Noutopoika-bus by calling, +358 13-337-7002. The bus will pick you up from the agreed spot. Try booking at least an hour before your departure. You can pay for your journey with cash, use your Waltti card or download an app on your phone and purchase a single ticket directly to your phone. Demand responsive Taxis operate in Eno, Kiihtelysvaara, Tuupovaara, and Uimaharju. Taxis run on fixed routes according to schedule, but will spur from its route slightly if needed. Try to call the taxi at least a day before by calling the driver directly, indicate your destination and agree the time with the driver. Only cash will be accepted.

By scooter

You can rent electric kick scooters for use in the centre from German Tier.

By bike Many locals ride their bicycle all year around. Easybike offers city bikes for rent.

By taxi Menevä Joensuu, ☏ +358 50-471-0470 (head of office), toll-free: 0800-02120 (booking). Also bookable by app. Fixed price based on calculated route and time if destination address given when booking by app. Flag fall M–Sa 06:00–18:00: €4, other tim

See

1 Carelicum, Koskikatu 5, ☏ +358 13 267 5222. Daily M–F 10:00–17:00, Sa–Su 11:00–16:00, except on national holidays.. The North Karelian Museum displays a wide range of stuff from Karelian folklore dresses to maps and photographs of places nowadays forgotten behind the Russian border. If you have made the effort to go to Joensuu, it is well worth a visit. If you are a student of Finnish Culture (e.g. in Helsinki University), you might get in for free, try! (updated Dec 2017) 2 Joensuu Bunker Museum (Joensuun bunkkerimuseo) (in Marjala district, 7 km towards Kuopio), ☏ +358 13 267 5222. Tu–Su 11:00–17:00. As part of the Salpa-line protecting Finland from the threat of Russia during World War II, the museum displays several models of concrete bunkers fully equipped with original guns and gear. A bizarre but worthwhile visit. During summer some local history students will hang around geared up as soldiers serving tea and are willing to answer all your questions. Open only during the summer. 3 City Hall (Kaupungintalo). On the main square in the Art Nouveau style by the famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen. Saarinen is also the architect of the Helsinki Central Railway Station (1909), and they resemble each other remarkably. The theatre of the city also functions in the same building. 4 Joensuu Arena, Mehtimäenaukio 2. The largest wooden building in Finland which offers a magnificent setting for various types of events. The arena is a venue for a variety of events from fairs to exhibitions, concerts and from small-scale meetings to large conferences. For the uses of sports, the arena is used for football, Finnish baseball, athletics, boxing, climbing and many another indoor sports. 5 City Centre (Keskusta). Wooden 19th-century houses close to the Pielisjoki river. Some other remains of the wooden Joensuu remain here and there, but the old town as it was is now mainly lost due to construction speculation since the 1960s. The centre still follows the town plan that

Do

Football: JIPPO plays soccer in Ykkösliiga, the second tier. Their home ground Mehtimäki (capacity 1000) is 500 m west of town centre. The playing season is April-Oct. 1 Ilosaarirock. This is an annual rock festival held in Joensuu on the second weekend of July. Founded in 1971, it is the second oldest rock festival in Finland still active, and one of the oldest in Europe. It gathers about 21,000 daily visitors and has been sold out in advance every year since 1998. Rokumentti Rock Film Festival. An annual film festival held in November.

Buy

Supermarkets 1 K-Citymarket Joensuu Keskusta, Kauppakatu 16. A hypermarket in the city centre. 2 K-Citymarket Joensuu Pilkko, Linjatie 2. A hypermarket along the Highway 9. 3 S-Market Uimaharju, Honkajoentie 2 (in Uimaharju). M–Sa 07:00–22:00, Su 09:00–22:00. A supermarket along the Highway 73.

Other stores 4 Taitokortteli Arts & Crafts, Koski