53
Re c r ea t i on
10.
Recreation
10.1 Culture
Åbo and Vasa offer a great variety of cultural
experiences that you can discover during your
stay. There are choirs, theatres, cinemas, dance
theatres and performances, museums, and
orchestras and bands who give concerts, as
well as festivals and other cultural events. If
you need help with finding events and things
to do, contact the tourist information offices or
have a look at their websites. You can also ask
around among your local friends or check with
the Student Union or your subject's student
association as they sometimes organise trips to
the theatre or cinema. The city of Åbo has rather
good information about cultural events and e.g.
museums on their website as well. The city of
Vasa's website offers some links to cultural events
to. It may also be a good idea to like the cities
on Facebook and get updates about upcoming
events that way.
Åbo:
Turku Touring:
Student Union ÅAS:
City of Åbo:
> Culture
City of Åbo:
Vasa:
City of Vasa:
> Leisure > Culture
Vaasan Seudun Matkailu Oy:
Student Union ÅAS:
City of Vasa:
> Leisure > Culture
City of Vasa
:
Remember to ask about student discounts!
Sometimes it's possible to get a discount by
showing your Finnish student card.
10.2 Sports
When it comes to sports, there are both local
teams and clubs you can join, and sport activities
organised by the student union that are open to
all its members. To be able to participate in the
sport activities organised by the student union
you need to pay the sports fee (22 euros). Most
activities are offered against a small fee that you
pay each time you participate (e.g. 2 euros/time).
For more information about the sport activities
organised by the student union/university, please
see
(choose Åbo
or Vasa in the menu to the left). The activities
include, for instance, Zumba, body pump,
capoeira, yoga, salsa, badminton, and football.
There are also gyms, both on campus and public
ones where students at Åbo Akademi University
can get a discount.
If you prefer to join a local team or club, have
a look at the websites of the city for more
information on what's available:
.
City of Åbo:
> Sports and
Outdoor Activities
.
City of Vasa:
> Leisure >
Sports
There are also jogging tracks (some with outdoor
exercise equipment) and fields and parks where
you can play football, volleyball etc. free of
charge. For more information on where you can
find these, visit the websites of the cities, or ask
for a map of them at the tourist information or
the city's sports office:
Åbo
Åbo City Sports Services Centre
(Åbo Stads Idrottsbyrå)
Blombergsplan 4/Hipposvägen 6
20720 Åbo
Vasa
Leisure Services Department
(Fritidsverket)
Vasaesplanaden 20 B, 3rd floor
65100 Vasa
10.3 Other Free Time Activities
There are plenty of other free time activities you
can do while in Finland. Again, check the website
of your city to see what they can offer, and ask
your tutor or other locals for tips. There are also
student associations for different activities, such
as choirs and folk dancing, which international
students are welcome to join. Have a look at the
student union's website for more information
about the student associations.
