natural wonder
Lake Saimaa
Finland's largest lake and Europe's fourth-largest, a labyrinth of islands and channels home to the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal.
27 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeFinlandSouth Karelia
Lappeenranta
South Karelia, Finland · Europe
About Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta is worth a stop: 27km from Lake Saimaa.
Lappeenranta is in South Karelia, Finland, with about 73,000 people. You drive on the right here.
Lappeenranta (Finnish: [ˈlɑpːeːnˌrɑntɑ]; Swedish: Villmanstrand) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of South Karelia. It is located in the southeastern interior of the country and in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Lappeenranta is approximately 73,000, while the sub-region has a population ofRead more
approximately 88,000. It is the 13th most populous municipality in Finland, and the 11th most populous urban area in the country.
Lappeenranta is located on the shore of Lake Saimaa, 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the Russian border and 64 kilometres (40 mi) from the city of Vyborg. Lappeenranta is one of the most important urban centres in the entire Saimaa region, together with the cities of Imatra, Mikkeli and Savonlinna. Lappeenranta incorporated the late municipalities of Lappee and Lauritsala in 1967, Nuijamaa in 1989, Joutseno in 2009 and Ylämaa in 2010.
Lappeenranta, the region's tourism centre, is the second most visited city in Finland by Russian tourists after Helsinki and competes with Helsinki for the largest share of tax-free sales in Finland. Lappeenranta is a model for renewable energy and a clean living environment. Lappeenranta was the only Finnish city among the 14 finalists of the international Earth Hour City Challenge 2014 organised by WWF. In 2009, Lappeenranta was ranked fourth in the comparison of the largest Finnish cities, while in the 2008 survey the city was ranked fifth. In a survey conducted among business representatives in 2011, Lappeenranta was ranked 17th among Finnish cities in terms of image.
Lappeenranta Airport, opened in 1918 and located in the city centre, is Finland's oldest operating airport.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Lappeenranta?
Within an hour or so of Lappeenranta: Lake Saimaa (27 km), Imatrankoski (34 km).
Where is Lappeenranta?
Lappeenranta is in South Karelia, Finland.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 72,909
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Finland
- Region
- South Karelia
- Timezone
- Europe/Helsinki
- Coordinates
- 61.0587, 28.1887
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for FinlandTags
Worth the detour from Lappeenranta
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Imatrankoski
Once the Niagara of Finland and the country's first tourist attraction, the Vuoksi rapids now roar to life at scheduled dam releases on summer evenings, set to music below the castle-like 1903 Imatran Valtionhotelli.
34 km · about 40 min drive
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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