Welcome to nature-rich Ruokolahti!
See & explore
Ruokolahti [= Bay of Reeds] is a nature-lover's paradise. Ruokolahti is full of forests that are dotted with 500 lakes - including Saimaa, Finland’s largest lake. Hiking is a popular past-time, as well as fishing, kayaking and other water activities.
Perhaps you’d like to explore the 17 m high Myllykoski Falls, five Saimaa Geopark sites or the stunning scenery of Haukkavuori [Hawk Hill], or maybe you’d be interested in seeing our three lake Saimaa canals?
Or just sit back on a sauna porch and enjoy those peaceful lake views and the calm of a forest. Ruokolahti and its 1220 km² of peace has lots to offer.
Things to do
Our hiking & canoeing routes offer versatile recreation opportunities in diverse & beautiful locations. Depending on your preferences you can choose between waterways and forests - or why not visit both!?
We have numerous winter activities too, many in beautiful lacustrine settings. Take your pick.
Accommodation
In Ruokolahti you can choose between a wide range of accommodation. There is limited hotel-style accommodation, lakeside of course, but more selection you'll find in cottage accommodation, which spreads all over the municipality, most by a lake and many in total solitude. Farm-style accommodation can be found in Rasila and in Äitsaari.
Then there are two educational institutions near Rasila (= Ruokolahti center), which at school holiday times double as group accommodation. When available, they can also be booked for courses, seminars & meetings.
Shopping
Should you need the pharmacy, groceries, clothes or coffee, cakes & catering, their info can be found here, along with hints on where to find many other local goods and products sold in the municipality.
On Summer Fridays there’s the Summer Market - a popular place to meet people and to buy local produce from bread to potatoes, from baskets to Karelian pasties.
You’re most welcome to any or all of them, "tervetuloa".
Map of attractions
A municipality-wide map showing services and most significant attractions in Ruokolahti, along with some hiking routes and leisure-related destinations.
It is in Finnish only for now, but the map still helps visualize the bigger picture of Ruokolahti and its 1220 km².
