Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä is a university town and Finland's seventh-largest city. It sits in Central Finland on the northern shore of Lake Päijänne.

In this article you'll find everything worth knowing about the city, its sights and things to do. We also introduce the four most popular restaurants and the most beautiful nature experiences around Jyväskylä!

Quick facts

• Population: 143,420 (as of December 31, 2020)
• Size: 1,466.34 km²
• Location: Central Finland, 270 km north of Helsinki; 62° 14' N, 25° 44' E
• Currency: euro
• Costs: around 25% higher than in Germany
• Drinking water quality: high
• Weather:

Month	Average temperature
January	-11°C to -5°C
February	-12°C to -5°C
March	-8°C to 0°C
April	-2°C to 7°C
May	3°C to 14°C
June	8°C to 18°C
July	11°C to 21°C
August	9°C to 18°C
September	5°C to 13°C
October	1°C to 6°C
November	-4°C to 0°C
December	-8°C to -3°C

The city's history

Jyväskylä was founded in 1837 and has been a university town since 1966. Until 1997 it was the capital of the Province of Central Finland. Today the city is the capital of the Central Finland region.

In 2009 the city of Jyväskylä merged with the Rural Municipality of Jyväskylä and the municipality of Korpilahti.

Top 10 activities and sights

In and around Jyväskylä you'll find plenty of one-of-a-kind sights and interesting things to do.

Museums

Jyväskylä has many unusual museums. Four of them are especially worth a visit.

Craft Museum of Finland, Suomen käsityön museo

This museum shows off remarkable craftsmanship, with both permanent and constantly changing exhibitions.

Admission is free for anyone under 18. Otherwise it costs 8 euros; pensioners pay just 6 euros and students 4 euros. There's a group rate as well.

More at www.craftmuseum.fi/en

Finnish Air Force Museum, Suomen ilmavoimamuseo

At the aviation museum, visitors can admire old aircraft once flown by the Finnish Air Force. The museum also has a café and a museum shop.

You can find out more here: www.airforcemuseum.fi

Natural History Museum of Central Finland, Luontomuseo

This museum is part of the University of Jyväskylä's science museum. It covers Finnish geology and the development of flora and fauna.

More about this museum at www.tiedemuseo.jyu.fi/fi/luontomuseo (the site is only available in Finnish).

Jyväskylä Art Museum, Jyväskylän taidemuseo

The Jyväskylä Art Museum is a treat for art lovers. The exhibitions change frequently, so there's always something new to see.

More about the museum here: www.jyvaskyla.fi/en/jyvaskyla-art-museum

Sport & entertainment

There are many places for sport and entertainment in and around Jyväskylä. A few of them stand out.

Himos Ski Resort

Himos Ski Resort isn't in Jyväskylä itself but in Jämsä, so it's easy to reach by car or public transport.

The resort is a dream for anyone who loves skiing. And if you can't ski but would like to learn, it's worth a visit too, because there's a ski school here.

The resort has everything a good ski trip needs.

More information here: www.himos.fi (the site is only available in Finnish).

Mäki-Matti Family Park, Mäki-Matin perhepuisto

The Mäki-Matti Family Park is ideal for a day out with the whole family. It's the oldest family park in Finland, founded back in 1979.

It consists of two buildings and a large outdoor area where kids can really let off steam.

Mysteeri escape rooms

Here you'll find four different escape rooms. You solve tricky puzzles and work as a team to get out of the room you've chosen.

Prices vary depending on the number of players, between 25 and 40 euros per person.

More information about the Mysteeri escape rooms in Jyväskylä at www.mysteeri.com/en/escape-room-jyvaskyla

More places

Beyond the places already mentioned, there's much more to discover in and around Jyväskylä. Some of it you really shouldn't miss.

Jyväskylä harbor

At Jyväskylä's harbor you can enjoy a beautiful view over the water. There are numerous restaurants and cafés nearby, and in summer it's a fine spot to watch the sunset.

The city church

The city church impresses with its Romanesque and Gothic Revival architecture. Various events and activities take place here regularly.

Around the church is a park with lovingly tended flower beds and statues.

Säynätsalo Town Hall

Säynätsalo lies just outside Jyväskylä.

The Säynätsalo Town Hall consists of two buildings arranged around a courtyard. The building is known for its unusual architecture, which combines influences from Finnish vernacular building and the humanist Italian Renaissance.

It was designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. A total of 29 of his buildings stand in the Jyväskylä area; nowhere else in the world has as many of his works as here.

Getting there and around

There are plenty of ways to get from one place to the next in Jyväskylä.

Bus and train

Getting around Jyväskylä by bus is no problem at all, and the city has its own railway station, which serves as both the city's main station and a long-distance stop.

Taxi

You can of course also take a taxi. Here are some taxi companies to consider:

• Jytaksi (www.jytaksi.fi/en)

Contact: 0100 6900

• Keski-Suomen Aluetaksi Oy (www.keskisuomenaluetaksi.fi)

Contact: 0100 0700

• Jyvässeudun Taksiautot Oy (www.taksiautot.com)

Contact: 030 030 99 00

Your own car or a rental

If you have your own car, getting around is no problem anyway. You can also rent a car locally. Some of the companies offering this service with a branch in Jyväskylä are:

• Europcar (www.europcar.de/de-de/stationen/finnland/jyvaskyla)
• Scandia Rent (www.varaa.scandiarent.fi)
• Hertz (www.hertz.fi)

Airport

Jyväskylä Airport is 21 kilometers north of the city and is handy for arriving or traveling onward.

Places to stay in Jyväskylä

In Jyväskylä you can stay in a hotel, a holiday apartment, a cottage or at a campsite. Prices vary considerably, but on the whole, hotels are a reasonably priced option on average.

Here's a list of selected places to stay:

• Sokos Hotel Alexandra
• Finlandia Alba Hotel
• Sokos Hotel Paviljonki
• Boutique Hotel Yöpuu
• Hotel Milton
• Hotel Scandic Jyväskylä

Restaurants, cafés and bars

If you fancy a meal in a restaurant or café during your stay, or drinks in a bar, there's a lot to choose from in Jyväskylä. A few restaurants, cafés and bars are especially worth a visit.

Pöllöwaari

The Pöllöwaari restaurant in Jyväskylä serves Scandinavian dishes alongside a large selection of wines. You can also enjoy Finnish microbrewery beers and cocktails here, and the restaurant hosts private parties.

More information here: www.ravintolapollowaari.fi. (The site is only available in Finnish.)

Figaro Restaurant & Bar

Figaro impresses not only with its modern interior but also with a generous menu. There are gluten-free, lactose-free, low-lactose, dairy-free and vegan options as well.

Figaro also offers catering.

More here: www.figaro.fi. (The site is only available in Finnish.)

Kahvila Miriam's

This café charms its visitors with a romantic, cozy atmosphere. The selection of cakes and other pastries is large, and you can also settle in for breakfast or lunch. Salads are on the menu too.

If you want to know more about the café, look here: www.miriams.fi/frontpage.

Harry's

Harry's is a pub in Jyväskylä built on the English model. The interior recalls English pubs from old films and gives the place a charm all of its own.

On Friday and Saturday evenings there's free live music.

Find out more here: www.harrys.fi/kuvat. (The site is only available in Finnish.)

Shopping and everyday needs

The shopping centers "Forum", "Jyväskylä Torikeskus" and "Jyväskeskus" are great for shopping in Jyväskylä. The pedestrian zone in the city center and the streets Väinönkatu and Kauppakatu are also good for a relaxed stroll.

Designer shops, boutiques or delicatessens, there's a wide choice here! If you like handmade things, visit the many craft shops outside the city.

Grocery stores can be found almost everywhere.

For healthcare, Jyväskylä has various doctors and pharmacies. Some of the pharmacies in the city are the "Yliopiston Apteekki", the "Jyväskylän 2. Uusi Apteekki" and the "Jyväskylän 12. Kuokkalan Apteekki".

Nature experiences around the city

Finland is known for its unique nature. During a stay in the Jyväskylä region, you can explore the Finnish outdoors up close.

Leivonmäki National Park

Leivonmäki National Park is in Joutsa, about 70 kilometers southeast of Jyväskylä. The 30 km² park is excellent for long hikes.

Visitors can admire moraine, lake and bog landscapes. You can swim in Lake Rutajärvi or row on it.

The various trails through the area have different levels of difficulty, and the Harjujärvi route is well suited to wheelchair users.

Pyhä-Häkki National Park

The oldest tree in Pyhä-Häkki National Park in Saarijärvi is more than 500 years old. But this park isn't only about old trees; there's plenty of bogland too.

Visitors can follow one of the circular trails, and in winter you can explore the park on the 1.5-kilometer cross-country ski track.

Southern Konnevesi National Park

Southern Konnevesi National Park has only existed since 2014. Challenging hiking trails and the views make the park an ideal destination for hikers and nature lovers.

You can do water sports on the park's waters, and the many small islands out there are waiting to be explored.

Salamajärvi National Park

Salamajärvi National Park is in Kivijärvi. It can be explored along various routes, and the best starting point for a hike is the Koiransalmi nature information hut, where visitors can also get meals.

In this park you may well come across reindeer, and the landscape is marked by boggy meadows and rough rock.

Nature trails

The Jyväskylä region has numerous nature trails. They vary in length and difficulty. They include:

• Tourujoki nature trail
• Vaarunvuoret nature trail
• Oravivuori nature trail

Language

Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Swedish, though, is spoken by only around 5% of the population.

Most Finns speak English, so you'll get by fine with it. Still, it helps to know a few basics in Finnish.

Hello!	Hei!/Moi!/Terve!
Bye!	Heippa!/Hei hei!/Moi moi!
Thank you!	Kiitos!
You're welcome!	Ole hyvä!
Yes	Kyllä/Joo
No	Ei
One coffee, please.	Yksi kahvi, kiitos.
Where is the toilet?	Missä vessa on?
I don't speak Finnish.	Minä en puhu suomea.
Can you* say that in German/English?	Voitko sanoa sen saksaksi/englanniksi?

* In Finnish, everyone is addressed informally.

Video about the city of Jyväskylä

Conclusion

Jyväskylä has numerous museums and plenty of other interesting places. Getting around is easy, and there are lots of restaurants, cafés and bars.

Shopping and medical care are good too. The city has everything you need for an enjoyable holiday.

Frequently asked questions

More cities in Finland

Credits:
Alexandr Medvedkov / bigstockphoto.com
Dotsent2000 / bigstockphoto.com
Estea / bigstockphoto.com

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