Lahti, Finland

Lahti is a modern industrial city located 100 km from Helsinki, an hour’s drive from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport. It is located in the southern part of Lake Vesijärvi and is a kind of “gateway” to the wonderful world of Finnish lakes. This is where many tourist water cruises start. The fact is that Vesijärvi is connected via the Väaksü Canal to Lake Päijänne, the second largest body of water in Finland. In addition, tourists in Lahti are attracted by a well-equipped sports center, with wonderful ski jumps and everything you need for winter sports. See citypopulationreview.com for weather information.

Lake Päijänne is one of Finland’s natural attractions. This is the deepest body of water in the entire country, located within the boundaries of a nature protection zone. It is believed that the water from the center is even drinkable. The Päijänne National Park, located on the numerous islands of the lake, of which there are almost two thousand, is best viewed on a pleasure boat, starting from Lahti on a short cruise. However, you can get there in another way, along the road connecting the islands with the help of bridges.

History and culture

Lahti cannot boast of an eventful history and what is commonly called the “Old Town”. This settlement was founded relatively recently, in 1905. Until that moment, there was a small village here. The first mentions in documents date back to the middle of the 15th century. The geographical position determined the entire development of Lahti, gradually turning, thanks to waterways and roads, into a large trading settlement, and later – a city.

At the same time, the area itself, in which the modern industrial center is located, has been inhabited since ancient times. According to archaeological data, the first settlers appeared here about nine thousand years ago. The found ancient tools of labor also testify in favor of the thousand-year history of the region.

Since Lahti is located on the shores of a picturesque lake, fresh fish dishes are the best you can try here.

How to get to Lahti

Since Lahti is located near Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, the most convenient way is to fly to Helsinki, and then from the Finnish capital by any mode of transport to your destination.

From Helsinki-Vantaa Airport there are regular buses (ExpressBus) to Lahti. Sometimes this is the final route, sometimes it is one of the stops on the way to other cities. Buses depart from special platforms located outside the terminals. For Lahti, these are platforms No. 13 and No. 14. Transport arrives either at the bus station or at the Market Square. Travel time varies from a little over an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the route. Buses run every half hour to an hour during the day. In the early morning and late evening, the interval increases, up to two hours of waiting. The cost of a one-way trip for an adult is 15-17 EUR. For children from 16 to 4 years old – 10-12 EUR. Younger children are free. When buying a ticket on the website, the price is much lower, from 8 EURfrom a person. For more information on travel costs and timetables, please visit www.matkahuolto.fi.

If you immediately buy a round trip ticket, you get a savings of 2-3 EUR.

By car

From Helsinki to Lahti, you can drive along motorway number 4, which connects the two cities. Travel time is about an hour.

By train

Another way to get from Helsinki to Lahti is by train. Travel time, degree of comfort and price depends on the type of train. Usually, during the day, with an interval of 10-20 minutes, trains of three companies leave. The most expensive and fastest trip (48 minutes on the way) is a trip with the Pendolino company. The ticket will cost from 45 EUR. The second most expensive company is Intercity. Travel time is 54 minutes. Ticket price – 30-42. A third company, Commuter, offers inexpensive but long trips. Travel time is from a little over an hour to two hours, depending on the route. Ticket price – 25-30 EUR. More information can be found on the Finnish Railways website.

Cuisine and restaurants

Since Lahti is located on the shores of a picturesque lake, fresh fish dishes are the best you can try here. Floating restaurants or small cafes in the former warehouses in the port will offer different menus to choose from. Delicious attractions, in addition to traditional Finnish cuisine, include local rye bread baked over medium heat and homemade beer.

Shopping and stores

The largest shopping center in Lahti is Trio Mall between Aleksanterinkatu and Vapaudenkatu streets, where you can find a set of all kinds of shops for every taste. Also located in the city center is one of the branches of the Sokos department store chain, with goods ranging from cosmetics and clothing to groceries. The Market Square is home to a traditional Finnish market offering fresh produce.

In addition to Aleksanterinkatu and Vapaudenkatu streets, Rautatienkatu and Mariankatu are shopping streets.

Entertainment and attractions

Unfortunately, there are no ancient churches or old estates in Lahti. However, there is something to see here too. First of all, it is a wooden architecture park in the Passenger Port, and in particular, its Piano Pavilion. Nearby is the famous building of the Sibelius Hall concert hall, converted from a former carpentry factory – the architectural pride of the locals.

The wooden “Sibelius Hall” is widely known not only for its acoustics, but also for the fact that it is the largest building in Northern Europe made of seemingly fragile material. The picturesque view of Lake Vesijärvi adds to its charm.

To understand what a modern Finnish church is, you should go to the Alvar Aalto Temple, built in the late 70s of the 20th century.

Natural attractions include numerous Lahti nature reserves, on the territory of which there are not only sculptural compositions, but also “Singing Fountains”, a sound and light show in the Pico-Vesijärvi park, between the Teivas port and the Sports Park.

Museums in Lahti

The Lahti Art Museum, the Poster Museum will delight art lovers. The Museum of History, the Museum of Skiing and the Museum of Radio and Television will demonstrate what a modern approach to exhibiting is. In particular, in the Museum of Skiing you can try yourself in ski jumping. For this, a special simulator was invented.

Lahti, Finland

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