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Practicalities
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During the summer months
ferries
run to Savonlinna (a?¬42.50; 11 hours; check with the tourist office for times). The
bus station
is at one end of Puijonkatu, which leads past the
train station
into the
market square
(
kauppatori
). The
market hall
(
kauppahalli
; Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-2pm) forms a colourful contrast with the glass fronts of the encircling department stores and is a good place to sample the local speciality,
kalakukk
o, a kind of fish and pork pie. Opposite stands the nineteenth-century City Hall and, around its side, the
tourist office
at Haapaniemenkatu 17 (June-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm; rest of year Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; tel 017/182584).
Bikes
can be rented at Puijon PyA¶rA¤piste, Kauppakatu 26 (tel 071/2633273).
The
youth hostel
A
Rauhalahti
is at Katiskaniementie 8 (tel 017/473473; A?10-15/$16-24/a?¬18-27), a thirty-minute walk or short bus-ride from the tourist office - here you'll also find what is claimed to be the
world's biggest wood smoke sauna
(a?¬8.50), an enormous unisex affair which can hold up to sixty people. Its size is such that it takes 24 hours just to heat up - consequently, it's only open on Tuesdays and Fridays. For about a?¬14.30 you can avail yourself of an inclusive deal combining sauna and a traditional Finnish feast - ask at the hostel for more details. Just 500m further south of the hostel is a
campsite
(tel 017/312 244; May-Aug). There is also a more central,
private hostel
-
Puijo Hovi
, Vuorikatu 35 (tel 017/2614943; A?15-20/$24-32/a?¬27-36), a short walk from the station. For more luxurious accommodation,
Puijonsarvi
, Minna Canthinkatu 16 (tel 017/170111; A?30-35/$48-56/a?¬54-63), boasts private saunas and lake views. Away from the harbour-side market,
food
is less exotic:
Pamukkale
beside the market square serves decent pizza whilst
Henry's Pub
, Kauppakatu 18, does cheapish lunches. During the summer you might also try the vibrant
Wanha Satma
, a mid-priced, outdoor place ideal for soaking up the bustling harbour atmosphere. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Finland,
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