When planning to visit a new place, one thing always comes first to mind - what does this place have to offer? To make the search easier for you, we have compiled the specialties of the Mikkeli region into a nice and tidy list:
Mikkeli is a part of the Finnish Lake District, and when thinking of the Lake District, the first thing to come to mind is, well, lakes. Mikkeli is located between a few big lakes - Lake Puula, Lake Kyyvesi, and of course, Lake Saimaa. Lake Saimaa is the largest lake in Finland, and the fourth largest in Europe. It spreads accross Eastern Finland in small, crooked straits and larger open water areas. It's unique shape makes for a fascinating landscape of rocky islands and hills. It is also the home of the Saimaa ringed seal (saimaannorppa in Finnish), an endangered species of freshwater seal that can only be found in Lake Saimaa. . You can explore the vast lakes in Mikkeli area by paddling, chartering a boat, aboard a cruise ship, or SUP-boarding in summertime, and by skiing, skating, or snowshoeing in wintertime.
Holiday cottages and sauna are a vital part of Finnish culture and leisure time. During the best holiday seasons you can see city centres deserted, as all the Finnish holiday-makers have retreated to their cottages and second homes in the countryside. A cottage is preferably by a lake, and it always has its own sauna, where Finns can enjoy their hot and steamy löyly (can't live without it!). Mikkeli region is near the top when it comes to the number of holiday cottages and second homes in Finland, and aside from private cottages there is also a wide selection of rental cottages and villas available in the area.
Finns tend to have a strong bond with nature and nature has always played a big part of Finnish culture and history. Recreational activities like fishing are seen as a tool for relaxation by many, and annual berry and mushroom picking trips to the forest are a natural part of the Finnish way of life. Berries and mushrooms can be found almost everywhere, and everyone is free to pick them regardless of land ownership, thanks to the Finnish Every Person's Rights set of rules. Just make sure to leave some for others as well! Hiking and camping are also great ways to enjoy and explore the wonderful Finnish nature, so why not make a trip to Neitvuori Hill or Repovesi National Park, or visit the historic rock art paintings at Astuvansalmi.
Considering fishing and berry and mushroom picking are important parts of the local lifestyle, it is of course natural that this is also reflected in the local cuisine. Local food is one of Mikkeli's fortés and especially recently many new restaurants specialising in local ingredients and natural flavours have opened their doors in the region. Some of our must-visit places include Bistro Holvi in adjacent to Mikkeli Theatre and Sahanlahti Resort's restaurant Koskivahti.
During the Second World War Mikkeli operated as the headquarters city of Finland. Thus all military activity in Finland was centered in Mikkeli. In the city Headquartes museum one can walk around the original office of Field Marshal Mannerheim, the commander-in-chief of the Finnish army and later the sixth president of Finland. Having the headquarters left its mark on the landscape and cultural life of Mikkeli and even today one can find many signs of the era just by casually looking around. Visitors can get to know Headquarters Mikkeli via our many museums and landmarks, alternatively explore Mikkeli's history on various guided tours.
Traditional manor houses have for a long time been one of the defining features of Finnish countryside. Many of these old manor houses have been a part of the Finnish scenery for hundreds of years, with some dating back as far as the 14th century. In Mikkeli region, many authentic manor houses still remain, such as Tertti Manor, Kyyhkylä Manor, and Kenkävero in Mikkeli, Löytö Manor in Ristiina and Kuninkaankartano Manor in Juva. Nowadays visitors can get a glimpse into historic Finnish country life while enjoying the many services and offerings available at these manors, such as local food, accommodation, regional products and handicrafts and all sorts of different activities. Gardens are also an important part of a manor's milieu and many manors in Mikkeli have their own beautiful gardens that are open to the public. Mikkeli region offers also many other attractions for travellers interested in gardening, for example the model gardens at Mikkelipuisto and the heritage garden of Pirtin Perinnepuisto with its vast collection of flowers and herbs indigenous to the area.
Finland is famous for being enthusiastic about winter sports, and the most popular sport in the country is of course ice hockey. The local Mikkeli hockey team Jukurit has been a part of the city's sports scene for more than 50 years and they currently play in top Finnish ice hockey league Liiga. Mikkeli also has a successful bandy team Mikkelin Kampparit and both ice hockey and bandy games are held in Mikkeli throughout the winter season. In summertime, the biggest sports events are the trotting races, the biggest of which is the St. Michel trotting race. St Michel trotting race is also the largest annual event in Mikkeli and the second largest in the entire Souther Savo, with participants from all over Europe. Come and see for yourself what all the bustle is about!
Open air dances are an exclusively Finnish phenomenon. Summer nights are the best time to head for a dance pavilion and have a try on classical dances such as valse, tango, foxtrot and Finnish humppa, as well as rock 'n swing dances, such as jive or boogie. Almost every town or village has their own dance pavilion, so you can try it wherever you're staying. Another great music event in Mikkeli is the Mikkeli Music Festival. It features almost a full week of concerts by international top soloists, ensembles and orchestras. Local bands have gigs in pubs and bars around the year, so do go and check them out.
→ Part of South Savo region
→ 79 906 regular residents
→ 29 311 holiday residences
→ 7 municipalities
→ 2 067 lakes
→ 330 000 travellers/year (71 % Finnish, 21 % Russians and 2 % Germans)