Ähtäri (Swedish: Etseri) is a town in Southern Ostrobothnia.

Understand

Ähtäri, like Ranua in Northern Finland, is a town 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.

See

Ähtäri Zoo

• 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 (the two pandas are on display for the last day on 21 October 2024; they will leave for China before New Year). 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. (updated Aug 2023)

Do

• 1 Ähtäri Golf, Moksuntie 109. Golf course next to the zoo. (updated Aug 2023)

Eat

• 1 Oppo Pizzeria, Ostolantie 6. Pizza and other fast food. (updated Aug 2023)

• 2 Lounasravintola Hovitar, Sahakuja 2. Lunch restaurant. (updated Aug 2023)

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. (updated Aug 2023)

• 2 Vanha Pappila Hetki, Kiertotie 4, ☏ +358 45 630 1399, info@vanhapappilahetki.fi. The old clergy house has been turned into a hotel. (updated Aug 2023)