national park
Koli National Park
Home to Finland's most celebrated landscape, where Ukko-Koli hill offers sweeping views over Lake Pielinen that inspired Finland's national romantic art.
54 km · about 65 min drive
EuropeFinlandNorth Karelia
Joensuu
North Karelia, Finland · Europe
About Joensuu
Joensuu sits on the route: 20 minutes from Kontiolahti, 54km from Koli National Park.
Joensuu is in North Karelia, Finland, with about 78,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Kontiolahti, about 18 km away.
Joensuu (Finnish: [ˈjoensuː] ; Karelian: Jovensuu, lit. 'river's mouth') is a city in Finland and the regional capital of North Karelia. It is located in the eastern interior of the country and in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Joensuu is approximately 79,000, while the sub-region has a population ofRead more
approximately 128,000. It is the 11th-most populous municipality in Finland, and the 9th-most populous urban area in the country.
Joensuu was founded in 1848 by the Russian Emperor Nicholas I during Grand Duchy of Finland period. The city is located on the northern shore of Lake Pyhäselkä, the northern part of Lake Saimaa, at the mouth of the River Pielinen. The nearest major city, Kuopio in North Savo, is located 136 kilometres (85 mi) to the west. From Joensuu, the distance to Lappeenranta, the capital of South Karelia, is 233 kilometres (145 mi) along Highway 6.
As is typical of cities in Eastern Finland, Joensuu is monolingually Finnish. Along with Kuopio, Joensuu is one of the major urban, economic, and cultural hubs of Eastern Finland. Joensuu is a student city with a subsidiary of the University of Eastern Finland and the Karelia University of Applied Sciences.
Where to Stay in Joensuu
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Joensuu.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Joensuu.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Joensuu?
Within an hour or so of Joensuu: Koli National Park (54 km).
Where is Joensuu?
Joensuu is in North Karelia, Finland, about 18 km from Kontiolahti.
Road trip
Drive to Joensuu
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Joensuu. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 78,398
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Finland
- Region
- North Karelia
- Timezone
- Europe/Helsinki
- Coordinates
- 62.6012, 29.7632
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for FinlandTags
Worth the detour from Joensuu
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Joensuu.
Plan a trip around Joensuu
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Joensuu.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.