Discover Jyväskylä by Hire Car
The central Finnish city of Jyväskylä can be reached by car from the capital Helsinki within a few hours.
The city lies between the Harju Mountains and Lake Jyväsjärvi. It was founded only 170 years ago, clearly seen in the geometric layout of the streets shows that run parallel or at right angles to the lake shore.
Free time activities in Jyväskylä
Almost a quarter of the inhabitants are students, which clearly shapes Jyväskylä’s cultural and nightlife and offers visitors plenty of opportunities to get to know the Finns and their culture a little better. The “big small town” ? according to one self-assessment ? is large enough for diversity and variety, yet manageable enough to prevent thoughts of hustle and bustle and big-city anonymity from arising in the first place.
Culturally, the summer festival, attractive to residents and visitors alike, is the annual highlight of city life; trade fairs and conventions at Jyväskylä Paviljonki and the expertise of Jyväskylä Science Park attract international businessmen and scientists to the city.
Sights in Jyväskylä
For visitors to Jyväskylä, the presence of architect Alvar Aalto, who was influenced by Bauhaus and the Werkbund and spent his childhood and youth here, is particularly striking: for example, the buildings of the university, the city museum and the police headquarters were designed by him. The Alvar Aalto Museum is devoted entirely to the work of one of Finland’s most famous architects and designers.
One Jyväskylä attraction that is most conveniently accessible by hire car is the Savutuvan Apaja Open Air Museum, located just outside. The internationally renowned winter sports centre Laajavuori, where ski jumper Matti Nykänen trained, for example, is also just outside the town.