Charming accommodation, cafés and more in Lakeland

HÄMEENLINNA

Finland’s oldest inland city, Hämeenlinna, is also the birthplace of renowned composer Jean Sibelius. Just an hour’s drive or train ride north of the capital, it’s the perfect start to exploring Lakeland.

Hämeenlinna offers some of Finland’s finest country-estate accommodation. The beautiful Hahkiala Manor has seven rooms – each named after a former president of Finland – as well as several guest houses and apartments. Vanajan Linna has been named as the best golf hotel in Finland, and the Inkala Manor is famous for the local ingredients used in its country-style kitchen.

Today, there are hundreds of microbreweries in Finland, but Lammin Sahti is the oldest. Founded in 1985, the brewery is known for its signature Sahti: a malty beer flavoured with juniper branches.

TAMPERE

Known as the “Manchester of Finland” due to its industrial history, Tampere is the biggest city in central Finland. It’s less than two hours by train from Helsinki, with departures every 30 minutes during peak hours.

Stop for coffee, pastries and old-time lemonade at Café Amurin Helmi in Tampere’s Museum of Workers’ Housing. Grab a doughnut (considered to be the best in Finland) at the Pyynikki observation tower, or a waffle at the Ojakatu Waffle Café.

If you’re looking for a hotel with charm, the Lillan Hotel Café Butik is an old wooden house with beautifully-decorated rooms and a restaurant.

For country-estate accommodation close to the city, look to the family-owned Vaihmalan Hovi, with its apple orchards and berry groves.

LAHTI

The city of Lahti (which means “Bay”) is about 100 kilometres north-east of Helsinki on the shores of Lake Vesijärvi. Lahti is a gateway to Lake Päijänne, the second largest lake in Finland and home to the Päijänne National Park – popular with kayakers. The train ride from Helsinki to Lahti takes 1 hour.

Olavi is a small city-centre restaurant serving good food, coffee from a local roastery, and a selection of beer, cider, whiskey and wine. A short drive from Lahti you can find the vineyard of Pihamaa, known for its award-winning berry wines, and Kinnarin Tila, a farm with a cosy café and a shop offering small gifts and items for the home.

For travellers looking for some antique luxury, Töyrylä Manor Hotel lies just 30 kilometres outside the city in a restored 19th century building.

The Virtaa Manor is another gem close to Lahti, offering accommodation in both its main house and several cottages.

MIKKELI

Located near the shores of Lake Saimaa, the city of Mikkeli served as the headquarters to the Finnish armed forces during World War II. Like many other Lakeland cities, Mikkeli is also a home to a traditional Finnish “tori” (meaning: market square), popular with locals and visitors alike during the summer. A train from Helsinki to Mikkeli takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Truffle fans should visit the Juva Truffle Center, an organization that helps people from around the world to establish their own truffle farms. Tea connoisseurs will appreciate the TeaHouse of Wehmais, a specialist in British tea culture that aims to serve you the perfect brew.

There is a protected ancient burial site in the courtyard of the Kyyhkylä Manor, located in an area that has been home to people since the Iron Age. Raijan Aitta is a berry farm with cottages for rent, and Ollinmäki Winery is the place to find quality berry wine and bed & breakfast accommodation.

JYVÄSKYLÄ

Finnish designer and architect Alvar Aalto began his career in Jyväskylä – in the heart of Lakeland – where dozens of examples of his work can be seen. There is also an Alvar Aalto museum in the city. From Helsinki, the train ride to Jyväskylä takes 3.5 hours. There are also summer boat cruises from the city of Lahti to Jyväskylä.

If you’re interested in Finnish history and culture, visit Café Meijerinliiteri, a unique, family owned summer café. For some vintage and artisan shopping in boutiques, head to the quaint Toivolan Vanha Piha.

For a wilderness experience in the area, try Nukula on the shores of Lake Päijänne.

Or visit the Revontuli resort, where you can stay in a glass igloo perfect for viewing the Northern Lights in winter and the Midnight Sun in the summer.

KUOPIO

The city of Kuopio is built on the shores and islands of Lake Kallavesi. It’s easy to explore on foot or by bike, as every second street is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists only.

Kuopio is famous for the annual summer wine festival as well as the Kuopio Dance Festival, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019. The train from Helsinki to Kuopio takes 4.5 hours.

Wuoksi is a hotel ship in the city’s harbour offering accommodation all year round. To stay just outside the city, try Sawohouse – a boutique hotel with a sauna, lounge bar and café. Or visit, Koivumäen Kartano, a manor house with a restaurant that’s been open since 1792.

VARKAUS

Visitors who want to get deep into Finland’s forests should head to Varkaus, located on a strait in Lake Saimaa.

Cafe Piirakkapaja is the place to find pies and pastries made from local ingredients. Or try Morton for quality burgers, salads and gooseberry lemonade. To get up high for a view, check out the Torni Terrace Cafe – a water tower with a restaurant that serves great waffles.

Accommodation can be found just outside town in the Warkaus Apartments, or at the Niemilomat resort.

LAPPEENRANTA & IMATRA

The city of Lappeenranta is situated on the southern shores of Lake Saimaa – Finland’s largest lake. Less than 40 kilometres away is the town of Imatra, where one can cross the border into Russia. The train from Helsinki to Lappeenranta takes 2 hours, with another half an hour to reach Imatra.

The castle-style Scandic Imatran Valtionhotelli prides itself on having one of the best locations in the city of Imatra. For something different, check out Pulsan Asema – a boutique, café and B&B in an old countryside railway station.

Summer Café Kaiku is a Karelian cabin serving coffee and pastries in the summer months.

SAVONLINNA

There is no shortage of places to stay in Savonlinna, which draws people from around the world for its summertime opera festival in the Olavinlinna Castle.

The train from Helsinki to Savonlinna takes 4.5 hours.

One of Finland’s first female architects, Olivia Lönn, designed the 1930-era building that is now the Hotel Hospitz. The Lossiranta Lodge is a quality boutique hotel with just five rooms, a wood heated sauna and an outdoor hot tub. Visitors looking for a spa and wellness hotel should try Kruununpuisto.

For a view of one of the most famous and iconic Finnish landscapes, head to the nearby town of Punkaharju and the famous Punkaharju ridge – home of the pink-hued boutique hotel Punkaharju. The local train to Savonlinna also stops at the quaint Punkaharju and Retretti train stops, the latter marked by Olavi Lanu’s colossal statue “Siirtolohkare” (meaning: a large glacial rock).

For places to eat in Savonlinna, we suggest Lettukahvila Kalliolinna for crepes and coffee, or Herkku Pekka for freshly-baked bread and pastries. Beer lovers should visit Black Brook Brewery, a haven for ales, porters and IPAs.

JOENSUU

The popular student city of Joensuu is located in the region of North Karelia on the eastern shore of Lake Saimaa. Joensuu was founded by Czar Nicholas I of Russia in 1848.

Taitokortteli is a craft centre and café that draws people together in the city. Café Rosé is also good for coffee and cake.

Puustilan Maisematila immerses its guests in the Finnish farm experience, with cooking classes and guided walks through meadows and fields. For true Karelian dining – as well as bed & breakfast accommodation – visit Puukarin Pysäkki.

KAINUU, VUOKATTI, KUHMO & SUOMUSSALMI

These areas in the northern part of Finnish Lakeland, close to Lapland, are the gateway to the perfect wilderness experience.

In the summer months, Arola Bear offers bear watching safaris, as well as fishing and hiking trips. Taiga Spirit also offers nature and wildlife adventures, including spotting wild forest reindeer, brown bears and even wolves. Another good place for a nature experience is Hossan Lomakeskus, where you can stay in log cottages or a hotel while exploring the Hossa National Park.

Visitors looking for classic-style accommodation should head to Karolineburg, Finland’s northernmost manor house. War historians will want to visit the Raatteen Portti Winter War Museum with its indoor and outdoor exhibits.

For meals like salmon burgers and pulled pork, Kultainen Kukko is the restaurant to visit. For a taste of farm-made Finnish ice cream and sorbet, check out Huuskolan Jäätelö.