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city in the region of Southern Ostrobothnia in Finland
(Redirected from Alvar Aalto Center)
Europe > Nordic countries > Finland > West Coast (Finland) > Southern Ostrobothnia > Seinäjoki

Seinäjoki is a city in Southern Ostrobothnia. Seinäjoki is the biggest city and the centre of the Region of South Ostrobothnia, in western Finland. It is in the junction of five railways and at the intersection of several main roads. Peräseinäjoki, Ylistaro and Nurmo have been merged into Seinäjoki. The municipality of Isokyrö (Storkyro) is handled in this article too.

Understand

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At the beginning of the 1900s, a railway connection was established to Seinäjoki, which meant rapid development of the area. Seinäjoki railway station became an important railway hub.

In the early 1900s, several factories were also established in Seinäjoki. With the factories, industry in Seinäjoki grew rapidly and the town became a major industrial city.

In the urbanisation of the 1960s, Seinäjoki grew dramatically. Seinäjoki became the centre of the region, with a wide range of services and good job opportunities. In 1960 Seinäjoki became a trading town and in 1967 a city.

Get in

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By train

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The easiest way to come to Seinäjoki is by train. If you take the fastest Pendolino trains the trip takes roughly three hours from Helsinki or Oulu and just over one hour from Tampere.

By bus

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There are coach connections from Helsinki via Tampere (mostly Onnibus), from Vaasa (several companies) and from Pori. See Matkahuolto for timetables.

By plane

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Seinäjoki Airport, located in the Ilmajoki municipality, is nowadays used only for some charter flights. The nearest airport with regular flights is in Vaasa VAA IATA.

There are daily regular flights to Vaasa airport from Helsinki (Finnair) and Stockholm, Sweden (SAS). An on-demand airport shuttle bus of Pahkakankaan Liikenne operates between Vaasa airport and Seinäjoki railway station. The shuttle bus can be pre-ordered at latest two days before arrival or departure (phone +358 45-645-3811, also SMS and e-mail orders are accepted, e-mail posti@pahkakangas.fi. The ride from Vaasa airport to Seinäjoki railway station costs €19 per traveller.

By car

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Roads come in from all directions, as Seinäjoki is one of Western Finland's most important road junctions. Seinäjoki is about one hour's drive from Vaasa, and two and a half hours from both Tampere and Jyväskylä.

Isokyrö and Ylistaro are on the road from Vaasa, Peräseinäjoki to the south, Nurmo just north-east of the centre.

Get around

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By foot

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Seinäjoki is small enough that most of the things to see are easily reached by foot. When you exit the railway station, you will be facing the centre.

By bus

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Härmän Liikenne offers local bus connections on weekdays and Saturdays but on Sundays there is no traffic. Route planner is available. The Routes and Tickets app may also be usable.

City of Seinäjoki operates on-demand minibus in Seinäjoki city and nearby region M-F 08:00–17:00.

Coaches can also be used; on Sundays they are the only form of public transport available. To go west you can use coaches to Teuva, Kauhajoki and Närpiö, and to go east, coaches to Karstula, Vimpeli and Kuortane.

By electric kick scooter

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See also: Finland#By motorised scooter

German Tier rents electric kick scooters for use in the centre.

By taxi

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By bike

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Easybike[dead link] offers city bikes for rent.

Other

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Lakeuden risti ("The cross on the plains") church tower
Valtionkatu street in central Seinäjoki
  • 1 Alvar Aalto Centre, Kauppakatu 17, ☏ +358 6 416-2734. 15 May–31 Aug: W 12:00–18:00, Th-Su 12:00–16:00; 1 Sep–14 May: W 12:00–18:00, Th F Su 12:00–16:00. This centre is the administrative and cultural centre of Seinäjoki. The centre was designed by Alvar Aalto, a renowned Finnish architect and designer of the 20th century and one of the most important architects in the world. His work includes outstanding architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware. The Aalto Centre is composed of six buildings which were mainly completed between 1960 and 1968. The first building created was the church, Lakeuden Risti ("Cross on the Plain") and the last one, the theatre, in 1987. Aalto Center (Q4250273) on Wikidata Aalto Centre, Seinäjoki on Wikipedia 
    • 2 Lakeuden Risti Church and Parish Centre (Cross of the Plain), Koulukatu 24, ☏ +358 6 418-4111. M–F 14:00–18:00; summer: daily 10:00–20:00. There was a competition for the design of Seinäjoki church which took place in 1951. There was no agreement because Aalto’s design did not follow some patterns required. Finally the construction took place until 1957–1960. The adjacent congregational centre was constructed in 1965–1966. The church seats 1200 people, the gallery another 124 and the small chapel 50 people. Everything, even in the interior, was designed by Alvar Aalto. It is absolutely a fascinating and impressive to see how perfect the measurements and details in the inside are. As part of the church there is a cross bell tower, which is 65 m, Seinäjoki’s highest building, which can be visited as well. There is an elevator and 36 more steps to get to the top of the tower; if you ask one of the church wardens you can ride the elevator to the top of the church tower for €1. Lakeuden Risti Church (Q11874486) on Wikidata Lakeuden Risti Church on Wikipedia 
    • 3 City Hall, Kirkkokatu 6, ☏ +358 6 416-2111. M–F 09:00–15:00. The competition for the City Hall design took place in 1958–1959. It was constructed in 1961–1962. The Council's meeting chamber is also used for concerts. The façade of the City Hall is clad with special blue porcelain rods. The whole interior of the building is characterized with Aalto’s singular style and design. 
    • 4 City Library, Koulukatu 21, ☏ +358 6 416-2326, . M–F 10:00–19:00, Sa 11:00–15:00; summer: M–Th 10:00–19:00, F 10:00–17:00, Sa closed. The City Library - Regional Library, the architectural pearl of the Aalto Centre, was constructed in 1964–1965. The open book shaped building is a very unique design. There is free Wi-Fi and computers with scanner/printer connection. Check also in the bookmobiles if you happen to stumble upon them. 
    • 5 State Office Building, Alvar Aallonkatu 12. This building constructed in 1966–1968 holds many city and state offices in Seinäjoki. Its most significant feature in the interior is the court room. 
    • 6 City Theatre, Alvar Aallonkatu 12, ☏ +358 6 416-2600. Alvar Aalto presented his plans for the theatre building as early as 1969, but its construction was not carried out until 1986–1987 under Elissa Aalto's supervision. The theatre seats 429 people and the small stage 120. In the lobby there are famous wooden reliefs and Aalto’s biggest glass designs exhibition. Seinäjoki City Theatre (Q17383823) on Wikidata Seinäjoki City Theatre on Wikipedia 
  • 7 Isokyrö old church, Museotie (in Isokyrö centre, by the local museum). Church built 1513–1533. Wall paintings from 1560. 
  • 8 Isokyrö local museum, Museotie, ☏ +358 400-947-275. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 9 Kyrkösjärvi. One of the few artificial lakes in Finland. Kyrkösjärvi (Q11874013) on Wikidata 
  • 10 Törnävä Church (Törnävän kirkko). The old, idyllic church of Seinäjoki. 
  • 11 Törnävä mansion area (Törnävän kartano). Old mansion built in 1806. Features a beautiful old garden. Törnävä Manor (Q11899279) on Wikidata 
  • 12 Wanha Markki - Animal nursing home (Wanha Markki - Eläinten vanhainkoti), Lapuantie 511 (along Highway 16 from Ylistaro about 4.5 km towards Lapua (Jyväskylä)), ☏ +358 50 357 2432, . More than a hundred animals such as alpacas, sheep, bunnies, horses, goats, various birds, mini-pigs, boars, cats and dogs. €8. (updated Jun 2021)
  • 1 Pukkilansaari, Pohjankyröntie 115 (Isokyrö; ferry connection to the island across the river), ☏ +358 40-507-0290, +358 40-737-9820, . F 19:00–01:00 (or irregularly?). Dance pavilion. Also other events. Café which also serves alcohol, thus 18 years age limit. Unguarded cloakroom. Run by the sports club. 
  • Football: SJK (Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho) play soccer in Veikkausliiga the top tier. Their home ground OmaSP Stadion (capacity 5800) is 1.5 km west of town centre.

Festivals

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  • 1 Provinssirock: . One of the biggest rock festivals in Finland. Takes place in late June in Törnävä village, about 5 km south of downtown. 3-day ticket from €159 (2022). Provinssirock on Wikipedia Q3736047 on Wikidata (date needs fixing)
  • Vauhtiajot Race & Rock: . Motorsport and rock festival in mid-August. Q11900664 on Wikidata (date needs fixing)
  • Solar Sound Festival: August. An urban and electronic music festival in Seinäjoki in late July. Q17152608 on Wikidata (date needs updating)

Tangomarkkinat

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Seinäjoki Tango Festival (Tangomarkkinat): July annually, ☏ +358 06 420-1111, . Forty-year anniversary 11–14 July 2024. A "dance camp" with dance courses (all levels, taking individual lessons possible) starts already on Tuesday. Tangomarkkinat on Wikipedia Q2343646 on Wikidata

The Tango Festival gathers a huge crowd of over 100,000 people every year. There are several tango dance floors around the festival area – either in front of the stages or in some karaoke bars – as well as several events to please different kinds of tastes. There is even a “Tango-free Zone”, with rock and jazz concerts. People can enjoy the daily Tango parade, the Tango Street, and tango shows in the theatre and in the Seinäjoki Arena. It pays to schedule what you want to experience.

The event takes place every year since 1985, during the month of July, usually from Wednesday to Sunday. This is the Tango event with the most tickets sold worldwide. It is incredible to see thousands of people dancing in the streets, especially at the Tango Street (Tangokatu). Most of them start dancing at around 17:00 until 03:00.

The coronation of the Tango King and Queen is one of the most important and emotional parts of the event. These figures receive much domestic media attention and often recording contracts as well and they also perform their own shows at the tango Festival the following years. They will be fully booked to dance pavilions and other stages through the rest of the summer, and for some time onwards.

Besides the opportunity for dancing and the Tango Royalty contest, another purpose of this festival is to show new ways to do tango and to erase the idea that Tango has to be in the traditional style. There are many innovations, such us combining Finnish folk and tango, or jazz and tango, electronic tango and so on.

Many artists from around the world come to perform in this festival, including Argentinean tango artists.

It is a great experience to be in the Tango Street and feel the excitement of people. They are dancing from 17:00 until 03:00. Couples have the chance to be reunited, beginners to learn and practice the basic steps and friends to have a lot of fun. It is even hard to get tired because even the sun goes down after 23:00, the day light stay all night long, so before you know it is 02:00 or 03:00 in the morning. There are rock and jazz shows in bars and nightclubs, especially popular with the youth.

You have the choice of staying at one of the hotels or, as the majority does, bring a camper and park at the camping sites near the centre and just enjoy the spectacle from morning to late night.

  • 1 Musiikki Järvenpää, Alvar Aallon katu 1. Music store with guitars, drums, other instruments and accessories. 
  • 2 Ideapark. Shopping mall. (updated Aug 2023)

Drink

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  • 1 Karma, Kauppatori 3. Rock bar and nightclub. 
  • 2 Cafe & Bar Palaveri, Koulukatu 22. Located downtown, has a fairly decent beer selection. 
  • 3 Minibaari, Torikatu 9. Located opposite to the church, sells locally brewed beer "Mallaskoski" on tap. 
  • 4 Bar 15 (Warttibaari), Kauppakatu 15. Features cheap beer and heavy music. 

Sleep

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Camping

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Budget

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Mid-range

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Splurge

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Go next

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From Seinäjoki there are easy train connections to the rest of Finland.

This city travel guide to Seinäjoki is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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