Welcome to Lake Saimaa Mikkeli region!
In the world’s happiest country, Lake Saimaa offers a slower, softer way to experience Nordic life. Here, everyday happiness is found in clean air, safe surroundings, peaceful forests and moments shared by the lake, from bright summer nights to star-filled winter skies and northern lights dancing above frozen waters.
Ready for your next escape? Dive into the highlights of Lake Saimaa and see what’s waiting for you today. Let these travel ideas spark your imagination.
The Saimaa ringed seal is one of the rarest seals in the world and lives only on Lake Saimaa. Having inhabited these waters since the Ice Age, it has survived near extinction and today represents the resilience, or “sisu”, of Finnish nature. Each seal is unique, with a fur pattern as individual as a fingerprint.
Read moreExperience Lake Saimaa responsibly – where protected nature, local traditions and certified services create a sustainable travel destination.
Read moreEncounter rare wildlife and experience true silence on Lake Saimaa – from the unique Saimaa ringed seal to birds and life shaped by water, forests and space.
Read moreSlow down and reconnect with what matters – in the Mikkeli region, life follows the rhythm of nature, not the clock.
Read moreDiscover the unique tastes of the Mikkeli region, where pure local ingredients, seasonal produce and Finnish food traditions come together.
Taste SaimaaDiscover the history of the Mikkeli region – from ancient rock paintings at Astuvansalmi to historic manors and the wartime headquarters at Muisti, all shaped by life around Lake Saimaa.
History & heritage