'''Joensuu''' is in Eastern Finland.

Understand

Joensuu is - as the name of the place translates - at the mouth of a river entering a lake. It is one of the relatively fast growing centres in Eastern Finland whichs university supplies a constant stream of freshmeat student from all over the country. There are reportedly also a few foreign students doing their study exchange or post-graduate studies here.

Get in

  • Train
  • Bus
  • Car
  • Plane from Helsinki
  • Get around

    There are about 10 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 not many departures in Saturdays and Sundays. Some bus lines continue to countryside outside the city.

    See more: Public transport in Joensuu [http://www.jns.fi/Resource.phx/sivut/sivut-jns/aikataulut/paasivu.htx]

    See

    Ilosaarirock music festival [http://www.ilosaarirock.fi/] once every summer (30+ years and counting)

    Do

  • '''Bunker museum''': As part of the Salpa-line protecting Finland from the thread of Russia during WW2 (erm, the Winter War and the Continuation War, nothing to do with WW2) the museum displays several models of concrete bunkers fully equipped with original guns and gear. A bizarr but worthwhile visit. During summer some local history students will hang round geared up as soldiers serving tea and are willing to answer all your questions. Open only during the summer. 2007: 1.6. - 19.8. tuesday-sunday 11.00-17.00.
  • '''Keskusta''' (City center): 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 in the 1960's up to present. The center anyhow follows the town plan that was made in 1848. Streets were made wide to prevent fire in a wooden town, and the trees in the streets are birch for the same reason, for example in Kirkkokatu (Church St.) that has a church in both ends, Greek Orthodox and Lutheran. Otherwise the centre is a rather ugly grid system post war concrete collection of houses with the typical shops and bars and restaurants you will find in any finnish city. Most important modern buildings are the new library and Metla building in the university campus (There is a cafe inside).
  • '''Tori''' (Market): is held in the centre of Joensuu and is especially lively during the summer months. In the winter the two market cafes will close and most of the stands will not be there. Obviously this is the only place in the area where anything happens, so everyone goes there who cannot be in Helsinki.
  • '''Carelicum''': 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! Open daily, Mo-Fr 10 - 17 Sa-Su 11 - 16, except on national holidays.
  • '''Rantakyla''':Also check out the most beautiful place Rantakyla, a suburbian in the heart of Joensuu. It was rated the most violent place in Finland at middle 90_Ls. loads of skinheads and underground business will be found at the area 80160. Well known street from its gunshots is the "latolankatu" a.k.a "the bullet alley".
  • Buy

    Eat

    For Carelian food, try Karjalantalo restaurant, serving lunch menu all year round and evening menu at summertime. At the cityhall there is a (quite expensive) restaurant as well. Rosso in the corner of the marketplace is a chain pizzeria, but very popular. In Kauppatori marketplace you have a choice of local and etnic (including thai) food stands. For small snacks only, try local "karjalanpiirakka" pastry at the marketplace stands or from Marttakahvila's Piirakkapaja. In Finland so called grilliruoka or Grill food is popular but not much recommended. For fish lovers, however, some stands will serve "muikku," a small fish that is fried whole in butter and coated with rye flour. It's eaten whole, head and all; it's small enough to not even feel the bones. A choice of these are around the town, including in both ends of the marketplace Kauppahalli. You can also go to eat in any of the University canteens or in the canteen of Joensuu Science Park (most busy and maybe best of them) Lunch menu starting from around 5 euros. Otherwise there are plenty of pizzerias and kebab places all around the city center.

    Drink

    There are plenty of pubs around the city center.

  • '''Jet Set Bar''' is a local sports bar that is, of course, very popular among the local sportsman, and there seem to be plenty of them. Small and good ambient, relatively low prices.
  • '''Kerubin kuppila''' at the univercity students uninon building is the opposite of the former. Nice and relaxed. Used to be in another location the best (and only) rock club of the town.
  • '''Public Corner''', beers and ciders. Also internet.
  • '''Palaveri''', The best selection of beers in Joensuu
  • '''Giggling Marlin''', The cheapest and most crowded bar in Joensuu (they sell vodka drinks for 1? per glass!)
  • Sleep

  • Scouts' Youth Hostel. artiotalon retkeilymaja. ttp://youthhostel-joensuu.net.

    Get out