Jyväskylä - Lappeenranta

• Market square is the place to taste famous local delicacies.
• Myllysaari recreation area offers several activities for the whole family.
• Saimaa is the ideal area for cruises in the summer and ice skating in the winter.

Up next on our holiday in Finland, the city known for its hearty meat pasties and the Nordic noir series Sorjonen, Lappeenranta! This South Karelian city is the ideal destination for water-related activities thanks to the proximity of Lake Saimaa, but in a city of 73,000 inhabitants there are also other fascinating things to explore for adults and children alike.

The number one destination for families is Myllysaari beach and recreation area, where you will find plenty of activities for the whole day. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can play beach volleyball and street basketball in the area or test your own technique and balance on the parkour track. Climbing racks, a fitness area and the adventure climbing park Flow Park will test even the most serious fitness enthusiasts.

After working out a bit, it’s time to fill up the energy reserves. In Lappeenranta, the way to do that is by having a taste of local grill classics on the market square. Meat pasty, a permanent favorite of Finnish grill stalls, is served in Lappeenranta with locally tuned versions called atomi (atom) and vety (hydrogen). The atom is a meat pasty filled with either egg or ham, while the hydrogen contains both fillings. Finally, the hearty dish is finished with classic meat pasty toppings, mustard, ketchup, fresh onions, cucumber salad and mayonnaise. Not exactly diet food but who wants to count calories when travelling!

When the meal is done and it’s time move on from the market square, hopping on the little street train passing by might be a good idea. This really is the easiest way to explore the sights and landscapes of Lappeenranta. The train runs by the Kahilanniemi Golf Course and Lappeenranta Fortress, so you can conveniently combine the trip with both sports and history activities.

If you travel to Lappeenranta in the summer, you should take time to cruise in the magnificent lake scenery of Saimaa. Cruises to Saimaa canal and archipelago can be bought for roughly 20 euros, and for a little more you’ll also get to enjoy food and drinks on the side. There is also a cruise to Vyborg for those who feel like combining their trip with a visit to the Russian side.

For those who appreciate privacy above anything else, maybe the best way to experience Saimaa is on a sup board on a hot summer day. Travel and recreation area Rauha provides renting services for all the necessary equipment for a water adventure. In winter, skating and skiing on Lake Saimaa are unforgettable experiences for anyone visiting Lappeenranta.

Especially on a cold winter’s day, just a thought of the warmth of a good sauna is tempting. When that thought passes, it is worth visiting the spa hotel Holiday Club Saimaa, where the sauna area warms the chilly tourists all year round. The resort also offers shopping from clothes to cosmetics.

In Lappeenranta, you can enjoy a warm summer day as well as a winter trip.