By air
Helsinki (HEL), ~4 h by train to Savonlinna
Europe · Finland
Lake Saimaa, Finland
Finland's lakeland of islands
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to August — summer
Don't miss
Olavinlinna Castle
Savonlinna
Linnansaari National Park
The Punkaharju ridge
Things to do
Canoeing
Lakeside cottages and saunas
Olavinlinna castle
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Adrián Pérez from Helsinki, Finland · CC BY-SA 2.0
What to pack
Swimwear, insect repellent
A quieter corner
Spotting the rare Saimaa ringed seal
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Lake Saimaa from Helsinki?
Fly into Helsinki (HEL), then it is about 4 h by train to Savonlinna.
When is the lake season at Saimaa?
June to August, in the summer. Pack swimwear and insect repellent.
What is there to do around Lake Saimaa?
Go canoeing, stay in a lakeside cottage, take a sauna, and visit Olavinlinna Castle and Savonlinna. Linnansaari National Park and the Punkaharju ridge are worth the time, too.
Can I see wildlife at Lake Saimaa?
With luck, the rare Saimaa ringed seal. And try muikku (vendace) fish.
About Lake Saimaa
- Lakeside
- Forest
Where it is
Saimaa is the largest lake in Finland, a vast maze of open water, channels and islands in the south-east of the country, around towns such as Savonlinna, Lappeenranta and Mikkeli.
History
The lake was formed by melting glaciers at the end of the last ice age. In 1475 the Swedes founded Olavinlinna castle at Savonlinna to guard their eastern border, and in the mid-19th century the Saimaa Canal linked the lake with the Gulf of Finland at Vyborg.
People
The Saimaa region is the heart of Finland's lakeland, where many Finns keep a summer cottage with its own sauna by the water. Local food includes vendace, small lake fish fried whole, and kalakukko, a rye loaf baked around fish and pork.
Known for
- Olavinlinna Castle and the Savonlinna Opera Festival
- The rare Saimaa ringed seal
- Lakeside cottages and saunas
- Canoeing and steamboat cruises
- The Punkaharju ridge
Did you know?
The Saimaa ringed seal, one of the world's few freshwater seals, lives only in Lake Saimaa, and only a few hundred remain.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.