natural wonder
Finnish Lakeland
Europe's largest lake district with over 55,000 lakes, endless forests, and quintessential Finnish summer cottage culture.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeFinlandSouth Savo
Mikkeli
South Savo, Finland · Europe
About Mikkeli
Mikkeli is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Ristiina, 1km from Finnish Lakeland.
Mikkeli is in South Savo, Finland, with about 52,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Ristiina, about 20 km away.
Mikkeli (Finnish: [ˈmikːeli]; Swedish: S:t Michel) is a city in, and the regional capital of, South Savo, Finland, located in the Finnish Lakeland. The population is approximately 52,000, while the Mikkeli sub-region of South Savo has a population of approximately 68,000. Mikkeli is the 18th most-populous municipalityRead more
of Finland and the 19th most-populous urban area in the country.
Mikkeli is located on the shores of Lake Saimaa, the largest lake in the country, and Europe's fourth largest. Prior to being located within South Savo, the city was in Mikkeli Province (until 1997), before becoming part of Eastern Finland Province (1997-2009). The city covers an area of 3,229.57 square kilometres (1,246.94 sq mi), of which 424.7 km2 (164.0 sq mi) is water. Mikkeli is one of the largest towns in the South Savo region, and one of the main hubs in the region's hospital districts, along with Savonlinna.
During World War II, Mikkeli served as the headquarters for the Finnish Defence Forces, thus the town's coat of arms features a pair of crossed Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim batons in honour of the armed forces. The town was awarded the Cross of Liberty, 4th Class, which is displayed alongside the coat of arms.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Mikkeli?
Within an hour or so of Mikkeli: Finnish Lakeland (1 km).
Where is Mikkeli?
Mikkeli is in South Savo, Finland, about 20 km from Ristiina.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 51,661
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Finland
- Region
- South Savo
- Timezone
- Europe/Helsinki
- Coordinates
- 61.6886, 27.2723
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for FinlandTags
Worth the detour from Mikkeli
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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