Activities and Programme Services

The varied waterways of the Varkaus region offer excellent opportunities for hiking.

Offered kayaking trips are organised by Freefinns Ltd, Kiira Adventures and SeastarEvents Ltd.

See more: https://freefinns.fi/

See more: http://kiiraadventures.fi/, https://www.facebook.com/KiiraAdventures
See more: www.seastarevents.fi

Good route options for those interested in canoeing include:

Kolovesi National Park
This wilderness national park offers a pleasant environment for canoeing or rowing in the midst of natural tranquillity. The tranquil atmosphere of Kolovesi is made up of silence, filled only with the sounds of nature itself.
www.luontoon.fi/kolovesi

Linnansaari National Park
The park is a water hiker's paradise with its rainforest islands and large ridges.

www.luontoon.fi/linnansaari

Iisvesi-Unnukka canoeing route
A self-paddling route in the Varkaus, Leppävirta and Suonenjoki area for the reasonably experienced paddler.
Marked landing places in Varkaus: Honkakoski (barbecue shelter, wood shed/refuse shed, latrine, swimming shelter), Turjanvirta (campfire site), Häyrilä (campfire site) and Lehtoniemi (kayak dock)

Soisalo loop
The Soisalo loop is about 245 km long and is best suited for experienced paddlers. The tour includes open water sections where windy weather makes paddling a challenge. There is no separate route map for the Soisalo circumnavigation and there are few marked camping and landing sites (shelters and barbecue sites). However, it is possible to go ashore in places where it is deemed appropriate, in accordance with the rights of the common man.
The place marked on the maps is Kuntoranta (kayak landing stage) Jokamiehenoikeudet - Luontoon.fi

VARKAUDEN RATSASTUSKESKUS
Varkauden Ratsastuskeskus offers riding lessons from beginner courses to competition training. The stable also organises camps and competitions, and offers home-cooked meals and accommodation in the summer.
Distance from the centre of Varkaus is about 10 km and the manege is 1000 m2. Varkauden Ratsastuskeskus is the home track of the Varkauden Urheiluratsastajat ry.

Contact information
Jäppiläntie 743, 78850 Varkaus
tel. 044 731 31 54
satu@varkaudenratsastuskeskus.eu
www.varkaudenratsastuskeskus.eu
Facebook / Varkaus Riding Centre

LEKO-TALLI
Leko-Talli offers riding lessons and courses, but also other services related to horses and their care, such as full boarding facilities.
Leko-Talli is located in Kopolanniemi, Varkaus, about 7 km from the city centre.

Contact information
Kopolanniementie 79, 78310 Varkaus
Riding lessons, riding services, clipping and courses:
riina.am.sallinen@gmail.com
tel. 040 774 1689
Shoeing and grooming services:
paivi.lehtikoski@pp.inet.fi
tel. 040 576 2370
Facebook/ Leko-Talli

VANTUNMÄEN RATSUTILA
Vantunmäen Ratsutila is a small and cosy riding school located in Kurola, Vantunmäki, about 8km from the centre of Varkaus. Vantunmäen Ratsutila offers individual riding instruction and competition training in small group lessons.

Contact information
Vantunmäentie 90, 78500 Varkaus 
Tel. 050 0376 208 
emmi.lintunen@vantunmaenratsutila.fi
vantunmäenratsutila.fi
Facebook/Vantunmäen Ratsutila

FREEFINNS OY
Freefinns ranch is located in Kuvansi on the shores of the beautiful Mulajärvi lake. Freefinns offers Icelandic horse tours and riding lessons in small groups.

Contact
Freefinns Ltd
Ratatie 143, 78880 Kuvansi (Joroinen)
tel. 010 517 7760
info@freefinns.fi
freefinns.fi
Facebook/Freefinns Oy

Beautiful and fishable waters await you in the region of Varkaus, and you can fish on your own or use the services of a guide on guided fishing trips.

• Fishing trips, AhvenAntin kalasafarit Oy
• Fishing trips, SeastarEvents Ltd
• Fishing trips, programme company Hooked Saimaa

Pirtinvirta is a great fishing spot in the middle of the town's amenities.

The stream is stocked with rainbow trout and anglers can also hook

pike, pike, perch and lake trout.

It is also possible to order a fishing guide and hire a boat.

Fishing permits: Minnan Vapa ja Viehe and ABC-liikenneasema

The joint permit areas of the Northern Haukvesi and Unnukka in the vicinity of the town of Varkaus cover a total of approximately 15,000 hectares. The boat launching sites are in Taipale, Kommila, Luttila and Käärmeniemi. Click on the links below for information on fishing permits and maps of the surrounding waters.

Northern Fishing Area of Haukvesi www.haukivesi.fi

Unnukka Fishing Area www.muikkusuomi.fi/Pohjois-Savo

Joroinen Fishing Area www.kalapaikka.net

Ämmäkoski is a stream fishing site where fishing is only allowed for members of the Varkaus Sport Fishermen's Association.

Tennis has a long tradition in Varkaus, as A. Ahlström Ltd. employees "brought" the sport to Varkaus already in the early 1920s.

Warkauden tennisklubi is responsible for tennis activities in Varkaus, which runs junior activities, organises tennis courses and rents courts. In winter, tennis can be played in the Kisapuisto domed hall in Varkaus and in summer on the Kosulanniemi mass courts or on the outdoor court next to the Kisapuisto domed hall.

Bookings are made through the booking system of the Warkuden tennisklubi ry. You can access the booking system here.

UIMAHALLI ILOPISARA
Located in the centre of Varkaus, Uimahalli Ilopisara offers activities for fitness enthusiasts and holidaymakers of all ages. Uimahalli Ilopisara has a cosy pool area, a well-equipped gym and a relaxing sauna area. Ilopisara also organises aqua gym classes and courses.

The pool
Fitness Swimmer's Oasis - 25 m pool
Teaching pool - neck and shoulder massage points
Family section - family pool, jacuzzi and cold water pool
Water slide - 25 m

Top floor pool and sauna area
Hot water pool
Conventional saunas, steam room and fireplace

Fitness and gym

Cafeteria and cabinets
The cafeteria offers refreshments and snacks at the end of your swimming trip.
The swimming pool's cabinet and club room can be booked for meetings and conferences

Contact information
Ahlströminkatu 11, 78250 Varkaus
tel. 044 444 2270
uimahalli.ilopisara@varkaus.fi
The website of the Uimahalli Ilopisara

BEACHES
Varkaus also has many beaches to swim from, as there are 13 beaches in Varkaus. Popular beaches include Hertunranta in the centre of Varkaus and Kankunharju on the other side of town. For sun worshippers, Käpykangas´ Hanhenkaulan beach is great for tanning and its grassy area for playing ball while swimming.

Map of beaches in Varkaus

WINTER SWIMMING
The Varkaus open-air swimming area is located in Tyyskä, on the road leading to the Vaaputtajien maja. Varkauden Latu ry is responsible for the management of the open-air swimming area.

Kunnonsali 
Liikuntakeskus Kunnonsali offers a wide range of sports services in Päiviönsaari. Members can work out 24/7.

Ahlströminkatu 23, 78250 Varkaus
tel. (017) 552 3322
vastaanotto@kunnonsali.fi
kunnonsali.fi

Ole.Fit
Ole.Fit offers a versatile gym environment in the centre of Varkaus, as well as group exercise classes on site and virtually. You can access the fitness centre 24/7 in the form of online one-off visits and weekly passes. Finland's first SKILLROW indoor rowing studio.

Laivalinnankatu 19, 78200 Varkaus
puh. 044 980 8552
varkaus@ole.fit
varkaus.ole.fit

GYM Anytime
GYM Anytime is a modern and versatile 24/7 gym in the centre of Varkaus on the ground floor of the Forum shopping centre.

Pirnankatu 4, 78200 Varkaus
hello@gymanytime.fi
varkaus.gymanytime.fi

Naisten sali
Naisten sali in the centre of Varkaus, downstairs of the Forum shopping centre. Gym, massage, physiotherapy, InBody body composition measurement and guidance and coaching services.

Pirnankatu 4, 78200 Varkaus
tel. 040 535 2013, 040 564 3557
asiakaspalvelu@nsali.fi
nsali.fi

Bronx Gym
A new gym specialising in powerlifting, weightlifting and powerlifting located at Taulumäentori.

Kauppakatu 62, 78200 Varkaus
tel. 040 3634500
teambronxry@gmail.com
Facebook / Bronx GYM

Kuntokeskus Liikku Varkaus
Kuntokeskus Liikku is a spacious and fresh gym in a central location close to major shops.

Käsityökatu 21-27, 78200 Varkaus
tel. 045 271 9177
kunnonpt@gmail.com
www.liikku.fi/kuntosali/varkaus/

Valmennuskeskus Varkaus
Valmennuskeskus Varkaus offers weightlifting coaching and functional training. Classes are led by a trained coach who makes sure that the movements are safe and effective.

Käsityökatu 34-36 B, 78210 Varkaus
tel. 044 355 2925
lotta@valmennuskeskusvarkaus.fi
valmennuskeskusvarkaus.fi

Hertunranta Local Exercise Area
There is a versatile outdoor exercise area near the beach at Hertunranta, where you can find exercise bikes and fixed weights, among other things.

Wellbeing Park for the Elderly
There is a wellbeing park for the elderly at the end of Rajakatu, next to the Rantatori. The park's equipment is ideal for exercising balance and coordination.

Gym of Uimahalli Ilopisara
There is a gym on the ground floor of the Ilopisara swimming pool.

Ahlströminkatu 11, 78250 Varkaus
044 4442270

Varkauden Liikuntatalo
There is a gym in the basement of the Varkaus Liikuntatalo.

Järvelänkatu 12, 78210 Varkaus
040 7718700

Geocaching is a worldwide known outdoor activity that involves hiding boxes called geocaches in nature or the built environment. Inside these boxes you put a logbook and a pencil, and possibly some small change.

The location of the caches is posted on the internet in coordinates, so other geocachers can use a GPS locator, for example, to find the caches. However, the coordinates of a geocache are not always given directly and finding the cache may also require solving a puzzle or a task.

See here Varkaus geocaches!

There are 22 playgrounds in the city.

See the playgrounds on the map!

Skate Park Tehtaan parkki
Savontie 4, 78300 Varkaus

Tehtaan parkki is located in the yard of the Tehtaan koulu. The place is open to all skateboarders, scooters and other sports enthusiasts, regardless of age and free of charge.

There are two frisbee golf courses in Varkaus.

Lemmensillanpuisto frisbee golf course, Lemmensillantie 6, 78200 Varkaus

• A park-like 12-hole course
• suitable for beginners
• course map
• course descriptions

Vattuvuori DiscGolfPark, Opiskelijankatu 7, 78210 Varkaus

• Full 18-hole forest course
• high elevation differences on the course
• track map
• track descriptions

The use of the tracks is free of charge.