Saimaa lake landscape

In the southeast of Finland, surrounded by forests, meadows and mystical marshlands, lies the Saimaa Lakeland. Unique in its shape and impressive, it offers a popular place to relax and get active on Finnish waters.

The lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland forms the largest lake in Finland and the fourth largest natural lake in Europe with an area of about 4400 square kilometers. It consists of numerous partial lakes and offers the longest coastline in Europe with a length of 14,580 km. There are also more than 13700 islands in the waters. The Saimaa measures 85 meters deep at its deepest point, but with all its sub-lakes it is only 7 meters deep on average. Along the lake there are national parks, rock paintings, ruins and Saimaa ringed seals to admire. The Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) is a subspecies of ringed seal that lives in freshwater. There are estimated to be 260 animals left. Due to the various conditions, the lake area was designated in 2021 by the UNESCO has been designated a nature reserve (global geopark). Not for nothing it belongs to the most beautiful lakes in Finland.

There are several ways to spend your free time at Saimaa. Thus, the water is certainly suitable for simply relaxing and enjoying nature. However, if you want to do something more, you will also find various options here. How about a canoe trip across the lake or a bike ride along the coast? With a steamboat trip or a visit to an opera festival? Canoes can be rented in many places along the coast, sometimes they are already included in the accommodation. The Savonlinna Opera Festival takes place on the island castle of Olavinlinna for several weeks every year and attracts thousands of guests to the castle. With a bike tour you have the opportunity to admire the nature along the coast as well as the many different towns located along the lake. On to note is that in Finland the "Everyman's Law" applies. According to the law, in most areas it is allowed to just pitch your tent. So, pack your backpack, get on your bike or in a canoe and enjoy the evenings on the shore of one of the largest lakes in Europe. However, if you are no longer interested in the outdoors, then a passenger ship can help you take advantage of a visa-free trip to Russia.

To get to Saimaa, there are several daily bus connections from Helsinki. Whether to Savonlinna, Mikkeli, or Varkaus, the journey is in any case uncomplicated.