Appearance
Ähtäri is a town in Southern Ostrobothnia.
Understand
Ähtäri, like Ranua in Northern Finland, is a town relatively off the largest thoroughfares that is famous for a large zoo.
Get in
By train
Local trains come in from Seinäjoki, there may be trains from Jyväskylä too. There's a railway station in central Ähtäri, and another one next to the zoo.
By car
Ähtäri is at the junction of highways 18 between Vaasa and Jyväskylä and 68 between Virrat and Jakobstad.
By bus
There are buses from Virrat, Seinäjoki and Alavus.
Get around
See
- 1 Ähtäri Zoo (Ähtärin eläinpuisto), Karhunkierros 150 (in the village Inha, 5 km east of the centre, near highway 18; two daily trains in each direction between Jyväskylä and Seinäjoki), ☏ +358 30-621-50, info@ahtarizoo.fi. 10:00–20:00. Wildlife, mostly species of the taiga, such as bears, wolves and wolverines, and at the rare end: snow leopards and two pandas (which have been an economic disaster). Restaurant (M–Sa), hotel, cabin (by the bears), camping (tent/RV/cabin). €36/21, €34/19 online, two days €46/29 (children: 3–14 years).
- 2 Pirkanpohja art gallery (Pirkanpohjan taidekeskus), Ähtärintie 36. Art gallery.
Do
- 1 Ähtäri Golf, Moksuntie 109. Golf course next to the zoo.
Buy
Eat
- 1 Oppo Pizzeria, Ostolantie 6. Pizza and other fast food.
- 2 Lounasravintola Hovitar, Sahakuja 2. Lunch restaurant.
Drink
Sleep
- 1 Hotelli Mesikämmen, Karhunkierros 149, ☏ +358 30 62150, reception@hotellimesikammen.fi. Hotel just next to the zoo, featuring a restaurant, spa, bowling alley and a night club.
- 2 Vanha Pappila Hetki, Kiertotie 4, ☏ +358 45 630 1399, info@vanhapappilahetki.fi. The old clergy house has been turned into a hotel.