Leisure time

Kuopio has an active cultural life all year round with many clubs and bars offering live music every week. Kuopio also hosts many student festivals throughout the year. Kuopio has many movie theatres and also a movie club offering international movies free of charge to international students.

There are also several museums, the Kuopio City Theatre and the Kuopio Music Centre. In the summer time Kuopio hosts the international Kuopio Dance Festival, Kuopio Wine Festival, Kuopio rock festival and various events on the market place.

The University offers an excellent sports programme on campus free of charge to all students and staff. The programme includes, for example, aerobics, gym, basketball, volleyball, badminton and table tennis etc. For a small fee there is also available short courses in self defence, lady boxing, oriental dance and dance jam, etc.

Kuopio offers wonderful opportunities for summer sports such as swimming, paddling, fishing and horseback riding just to mention a few. There are also various nature trails in and around Kuopio for hiking and enjoyment of the beautiful nature of Finland.

The possibilities for winter activities such as skating and cross-country skiing are available just around the corner from the university and student housing. In addition, there are four ski resorts in a 100 kilometre range from the university offering wonderful opportunities for downhill skiing. There are also many spas near Kuopio for after ski enjoyment. Kuopio also organises annually the Finland Ice Marathon on the lake Kallavesi and the World Cup Ski Jumping Event.