Puijo

Puijo hill is the famous landmark of Kuopio, and the ridge of Puijo is among the most popular recreation areas of the city. The hill is 150 metres high, has an observation tower on its peak and is situated close to the city centre of Kuopio. map

Puijo observation tower, Tower restaurant and Hotel Puijon Maja

Puijo Tower provides you with a magnificent Finnish scenery and cuisine – not to mention the best window seats! The revolving tower indulges you with views over Kuopio in the middle of the Lakeland. You can order from á la carte menu all day. Try out the Finnish Menu, Kuopio Menu or Puijo Menu! Lunch is served at the tower restaurant Mon-Fri. Beside the tower there is an idyllic hotel Puijon Maja. Restaurant Puijon Maja serves lunch Mon-Fri, other times open by an agreement.

Opening hours: Puijo Tower and souvenier shop: Mon-Thur 11 am - 7 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am – 9 pm, Sun 11 am - 6 pm. Puijo Tower Restaurant opens at 11 am and takes in customers as long as the Tower is open (last orders half an hour before closing).

Entrance fee to the tower: Adults €6, pensioners, students, unemployed €4, children 4 – 12 yrs. €3, family (2 + 2) €14, groups over 10 persons €4 / person. With a main course is half of the price of the entrance ticket compensated.

Contact information:

Add. Puijontornintie 70300 KUOPIO, FINLAND

Reservations: Tel. +358 (0)44 552 4810 myynti@puijo.com

Tower restaurant: Tel. +358 (0)17 255 5255

Souvenier shop / tickets: Tel. +358 (0)17 255 5253

Hotel Puijon Maja: Tel. +358 (0)17 255 5250

www.puijo.com

Recreation and nature conservation on Puijo

Puijo ridge is one of the favourite recreation areas in Kuopio, with its numerous paths and extensive track network. Two nature trails offer a chance to experience the area’s diversity.

You can move freely on most of Puijo ridge. Gathering of berries, mushrooms and other plants is also allowed. Movement is restricted to the paths in the nature conservation area and in the deciduous areas that are less resistant to use.

Nature conservation has a long tradition in the Puijo area. The first conservation area was established in 1928. It was one of the first nature conservation areas established in Finland. The size of the Puijo nature conservation area is currently approximately 208 hectares.

Free material about Puijo, including a nature trail guide and different maps, are available in Kuopio Tourist Information, Haapaniemenkatu 22.

Puijo Sports Centre

Puijo is especially well-known as a venue for winter sports events, including cross-country skiing, ski jumping and downhill skiing. Top international ski jumpers train and compete at Puijo, and top-class cross-country ski events also take place at Puijo each year. Puijo is a well-known venue for Nordic Skiing World Cup events, as well as for competitions between national and regional top skiers.

Puijo is a diversified winter sports centre in Kuopio, which also has 2 downhills: the short and steep Puijo Slope at the Ski Stadium and the Antikkala Slope, especially suitable for beginners, on the opposite side of Puijo Hill. The services in the area include equipment hire, a ski school and a café.

The Puijo Golf Course in Kuopio zigzags across the slopes of Puijo Hill. The scenic par 3 practice course with 9 fairways is open from the spring after the snow has thawed until the first snowfalls in autumn. The lengths of the fairways vary between 90 and 180 metres. Sales of season and day tickets at the Puijo Tower.