Living in Jyväskylä, Finland, as a Finn. Not Erasmus.

What is it like to live in Jyväskylä? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Living is easy and organized. The town is not that big and you become familiar with it quickly. If you live in the student village (Kortepohja) or Roninmäki, where many Erasmus students head, get a bicycle.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Jyväskylä?

It's a very student oriented town so there are many events targeting the students. The student organizations are more or less active.

How much does it cost to live in Jyväskylä?

Finland is quite expensive in terms of living, but at least the rents are lower here than in Helsinki for example. The public transport is expensive, a single ticket costing €3, 30. A flat in student village is between €250-350 with all costs included. A hearty dish in student cafeteria is €2, 60, half a litre of beer in a pub is about €6 and a hamburger in a restaurant is about €16. Learn to cook yourself to save some money!

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Jyväskylä? Is there any advice you can give?

Student village usually has decent flats for everyone if you are willing to share a kitchen and a bathroom. It's a good choice though if you want to socialize! If you want a studio or a two-room apartment, then it gets more difficult.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Finnish food is generally not the tastiest experience. International students use a lot of tabasco and other spices to make the food served by campus cafeterias more tasty. People eat a lot of pizza, kebab and so on and authentic Finnish food has become a bit rare. Dishes like karjalanpaisti (stew), pyttipannu (Finnish hash) and peasoup can still be found on the menus of the cafeterias however and then there are karelian pasties, one of the few successful finnish food inventions, that can be found in every grocery store. If you visit a local "greasy spoon" you can try the finnish meatpie or "taksari", a dish of french fries and cheap deep fried sausage.

What places would you recommend visiting in Jyväskylä?

Go see the local football team JJK if the season is on. There is not much to see in the town itself.

Is it good to eat out in Jyväskylä? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

You can get a decent and probably healthy meal from campus restaurants for 2, 60e, but it's more of fuel than a tasty culinary experience. If you want cheap food, there is McDonalds, Subway and a huge amount of places offering pizza and kebab. The fancier restaurants are usually very expensive compared to the quality. In Soppabaari you can get nice soups and pastas for relatively cheap. Figaro is one of the splurge places that also offer quality.

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Is the nightlife good in Jyväskylä? Where is good to go?

It's mostly just binge drinking in Finnish fashion. If you are not used to that, take care.

Night clubs: the youngest ones usually go to Escape or Freetime while Ruma tries to be more of an alternative place. London is for cougars and others of that age.

Pubs: Vakiopaine is a bit more laid-back hipster place stereotypically a favourite for those who study human sciences. Vihreä haltiatar and Harry's offer a praiseworthy selection of brews. The latter is usually filled with drunk middle aged people in weekends however and is probably not the best place for students.

What advice would you give future students headed to Jyväskylä?

Prepare for the weather. Don't be afraid of the people.