Mikkeli is located in the Lake region in the eastern part of Finland. This region is famous for the fact that there are a large number of holiday cottages in which city residents like to spend their summer vacation. The houses are usually located in picturesque places, on the shores of lakes or on islands. Among the people renting these cottages, there are a lot of foreign tourists.
Mikkeli is the administrative center of the Etelä-Savo province (South Savo). The city is home to about 64.5 thousand people. The city is located about 85 kilometers north of the city of Lappeenranta.
Distance from Mikkeli to some cities: Helsinki - 230 kilometers, Turku - 340 kilometers, St. Petersburg - 300 kilometers.
See location on the map.
The center of Mikkeli is the “Mikkelin tori” square. There are pedestrian streets, shopping centers and several cafes and restaurants near the square. The square hosts various events, which are visited by both local residents and tourists. The square is located about 200 meters from the railway and bus stations. The square is limited by the streets Hallituskatu, Maaherrankatu, Raatihuoneenkatu and Porrassalmenkatu.
What attracts tourists to Mikkeli
The unique nature of the Lake Region of Finland is the main feature that attracts tourists here. In the region there are more than two thousand lakes, some of which are parts of Lake Saimaa. In the region there are about thirty thousand cottages that are used by their owners or are rented.
Most tourists come to the region in the summer. More than half of the tourists coming here are residents of the cities of Finland. As a rule, they rent a cottage on the shore of the lake to spend one or two weeks of their summer vacation in it.
Russians were the largest part of foreign tourists in this region until recently. Among foreigners who come to Mikkeli there are also many citizens of Germany, Estonia, Sweden and France. Inhabitants of more distant countries (Japan, China, USA) do not come much.
Foreigners are attracted in the lake region of Finland by the same as the local residents. This is an opportunity to spend a vacation away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life of big cities. In other European countries there are few places left with such a quiet, calm nature. Moreover, in the summer it is not so hot here as at popular European and Asian resorts. In summer you can go fishing, swimming, hiking and take boat trips. Cruises on boats are also popular on Lake Saimaa.
The Jurassic Rock Festival is one of the most famous annual events in the city. The festival is held in the second weekend of August at the address: Pursialankatu 6, 50100 Mikkeli.
Places to Visit
Museum of the General Staff
During the civil war of 1918 and during the Second World War, the headquarters of the Finnish army was located in Mikkeli. Dedicated to Marshal Mannerheim museum was opened in the city in 1974. Expositions devoted to the history of the last wars and army headquarters were also opened in the museum.
Address: Päämajankuja 1-3, 50100 Mikkeli.
The observation deck
The observation deck is located on the water tower, on the Naisvuori hill. You can see the city and the lake from the observation deck. The observation deck was opened in 1912. There is a cafe nearby. The tower is located about 400 meters north of the central square.
Sacristy in Savilahti
The Savilahden kivisakasti is the oldest building in the province of Etelä-Savo. The building is located approximately in the middle of the street Porrassalmenkatu, about 700 meters north of the central square of the city. The sacristy was built in the 15th or 16th century. It was part of a wooden church. The church was built in 1320 and was dismantled in 1769.
Address: Porrassalmenkatu 32 A, Mikkeli, Finland.
Cathedral
The Mikkeli cathedral (Mikkelin tuomiokirkko) was built in 1896-1897. The maximum height of the cathedral is 64 meters. This is one of the most famous buildings in the city. The cathedral is located near the central square.
Visulahti
As part of the Visulahti amusement park there are: a children's adventure park "Dinosauria", a playground for children "Hyperdino", a wax museum, XON extreme entertainment park, mini golf, tennis, volleyball, beach football. The amusement park is located about 4 kilometers northeast of the city center (on highway 5).
Address: Visulahdentie 1, 50180 Mikkeli, Finland.
Ski Center
Ski Tornimäki is the closest ski resort to the city of Mikkeli. The winter sports center Ski Tornimäki is located about 10 kilometers from the center of Mikkeli. Here you can go skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing or just spending time outdoors.
Address: Metsä-Sairilantie, 4, Mikkeli.
Accommodation
In the city of Mikkeli and next to it there are enough places where you can rent a room, apartment or cottage. Below you will find information about some accommodation places for tourists.
Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna
The Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is located near the central square of Mikkeli. The train station is located about 600 meters from the hotel. The hotel belongs to the Sokos Hotels chain.
Address: Porrassalmenkatu 9, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland.
You can book a hotel room in Mikkeli online.
Scandic City Mikkeli
The Scandic hotel is located in the center of Mikkeli, next to the Mikkelintori square. The train station can be reached on foot in a few minutes from the hotel. Near the hotel there are shops and cafes.
Address: Mikonkatu 9, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland.
Anttolanhovi
Anttolanhovi Hotel is located on the shore of Lake Saimaa, near the Anttola village. The hotel is located about 25 kilometers southeast of the city of Mikkeli (on the road 62).
The hotel has meeting facilities, two restaurants, cottages, hotel rooms and apartments. In the recreation center there are also saunas, swimming pools and a sports hall. The tourists have the opportunity to make boat trips on the lake in the summer.
Address: Anttolanhovi, Hovintie 224, 52100 Anttola, Finland.
Visulahti
There is several cottages in the territory of the amusement park Visulahti. Cottages are located next to the shore of Lake Saimaa, about 4 kilometers from the center of Mikkeli. You can book a room or a cottage online.
Address: Visulahdentie 1, 50180 Mikkeli, Finland.
Lakeistenranta Camping
Camping Lakeistenranta is located in a picturesque place, near the shore of Lake Saimaa, near the village of Anttola. The distance is about 27 kilometers from the city of Mikkeli. In addition to places for tents and caravans, there are small cottages in the campsite. The campsite has everything you need for a comfortable living (toilets, showers and kitchens, cafes). Nearby there is a sandy beach.
The address: Pitkalahdentie 215, Anttola, Finland.
Cottages
In the lake region of Finland, there is large number of summer cottages of different sizes and levels of comfort. Such houses are usually located on the shore of the lake, and have everything you need for a comfortable holiday. City residents like to spend in these houses part of their summer vacation.
You can rent a house in the Etelä-Savo region by using one of the international reservation services.
How to get to Mikkeli
The city of Mikkeli can be reached by car, bus or train. Mikkeli's transport center (railway and bus stations, Mikkelin matkakeskus) is located near the city center.
InterCity and Pendolino trains follow from Helsinki to Mikkeli several times a day. The journey takes about 2.5 hours.
Mikkeli has regular bus service to the cities of Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta and Savonlinna.
To drive to Mikkeli by car from Helsinki, you can take the E75 motorway and then the 5th road.
From St. Petersburg (Russia): get to Lappeenranta and then by road 13.
The airport of Mikkeli is located about 3 kilometers from the city center. Regular flights to this airport are not currently being made.