Karstula is a municipality in Central Finland.

Understand

Riuttasalmi Bridge in Karstula

The center of the municipality is on the shore of Lake Pääjärvi, about 100 km northwest of Jyväskylä. The village center is especially known for the Battle of Karstula on August 21, 1808, which took place during the Finnish War.

• 1 Karstula Tourist Information (Karstulan turisti-info), Humpintie 67. 

Get in

The most important main road connection is road 58, between Kangasala and Kärsämäki, which runs through the municipality and the village centre. Much larger Highway 13, from Kokkola via Jyväskylä and from the Nuijamaa border crossing via Lappeenranta and Mikkeli, runs through the eastern part of the municipality.

By bus

Coaches connect Karstula to Jyväskylä. See Matkahuolto.

Get around

By taxi

See Central Finland#By taxi

See

Karstula Church

Kirkkovuori Observation Tower

• 1 Karstula Church (Karstulan kirkko), Tapulilahdentie 2. Wooden church built 1851–1853. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Kirkkovuori Observation Tower (Kirkkovuoren näköalatorni), Kirkkovuorentie. More than 20 m-high observation tower, generally considered to be the world's tallest log-framed building. A 350 m-long nature trail leads to the tower. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Karstula Local History Museum (Karstulan kotiseutumuseo), Museotie 10, ☏ +358 44 406 2080. (updated Apr 2023)

Do

• 1 Mörkömaa, Pääjärvenmäentie 19 (near the Kirkkovuori Observation Tower). A family-friendly excursion site where you can admire the rugged rocks shaped by the Ice Age - the future habitats of the bugbears, to which the name of the place refers (Mörkömaa = "Bugbear Land"). The sharpest-eyed lucky ones might even spot signs of bugbears in the terrain. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Lossi Beach (Lossin uimaranta), Meijeritie 5 (on the shores of Lake Pääjärvi, southwest of centre). (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Karstula Discgolf Track (Karstulan frisbeegolfrata), Kuntotie 90 (on the shores of Lake Pääjärvi; northwest of centre). (updated Apr 2023)

Buy

• 1 S-Market Karstula, Keskustie 2. M-Sa 07:00-22:00, Su 09:00-22:00. A grocery store. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 K-Market Mansikka, Virastotie 5. M-Sa 08:00-21:00, Su 10:00-18:00. A grocery store. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Karstulan Kimara, Hämeenpurontie 1, ☏ +358 40 562 6533. Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-15:00. A flea market. (updated Apr 2023)

Eat

• 1 Ravintola NättiJussi, Koulutie 12, ☏ +358 14 461216, myynti@nattijussi.fi. M-W 10:30-17:00, Th 10:30-18:00, F 10:30-02:00, Sa 12:00-02:00. A local restaurant with delicious food and good service; named after Nätti-Jussi ("Pretty John"), a legendary Finnish lumberjack who was born in the locality. Karaoke on weekends. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Lounas-Kahvila Hertta, Pylkönmäentie 1, ☏ +358 45 359 9005, lounaskahvilahertta@gmail.com. M-Th 10:00-15:00, F 10:00-20:00. A café restaurant. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Firat Kebab Pizzeria, Karstulantie 5, ☏ +358 14 461100. M-Th 10:30-21:00, F 10:30-22:00, Sa 11:00-22:00, Su 12:00-21:00. A kebab-restaurant. (updated Apr 2023)
• 4 Topsa-Grilli, Heikkilänmäentie 32 (along the Road 58, eastern part of the village centre), ☏ +358 40 352 3933. M-Th 10:00-18:00, F 10:00-00:00, Sa 12:00-00:00. A grill kiosk. (updated Apr 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Myllyjoki Camping (Wanhat Wehkeet Camping), Erämäentie 368 (northern part of municipality), ☏ +358 40 054 2029, wanhatwehkeetkarstula@gmail.com. A campsite. Cabins: 1-2 people €80/night, 3 people €95/night, 4-5 people €110/night. (updated Apr 2023)

Connect

Internet

Many places of business may have Wi-Fi for customers (although it's usually called "WLAN"); ask the staff for details.

For free Wi-Fi and internet terminals, check the 2 Karstula Library.

Go next

• Saarijärvi
• Kyyjärvi

Routes through Karstula

Kangasala ← Multia ←	S  N	→ Kinnula → Kärsämäki
Kokkola ← Kaustinen ← Kyyjärvi ←	NW  SW	→ Saarijärvi → Jyväskylä → Lappeenranta