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a skier jumping on a slope, with a snowy lake in the background

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.

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a lion greeting you at Kummakivi hill

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.

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a person throwing frisbee at Huuha beach

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.

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A hotel room bed

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".

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Flowers at Ruokolahti summer market

Traditions

Some Ruokolahti traditions - the local museum and our national costume.

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A painting called Ruokolahden eukkoja kirkonmäellä

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.

To map
a ruokolahti map of attractions