Welcome to Lake Saimaa Mikkeli Region
In the world’s happiest country, Lake Saimaa offers a slower, softer way to experience Nordic life. Here, everyday happiness is found in clean air, safe surroundings, peaceful forests and moments shared by the lake, from bright summer nights to star-filled winter skies and northern lights dancing above frozen waters.
Ready for your next escape? Dive into the highlights of Lake Saimaa and see what’s waiting for you today. Let these travel ideas spark your imagination.
The Saimaa ringed seal is one of the rarest seals in the world and lives only on Lake Saimaa. Having inhabited these waters since the Ice Age, it has survived near extinction and today represents the resilience, or “sisu”, of Finnish nature. Each seal is unique, with a fur pattern as individual as a fingerprint.
Read moreShaped by the Ice Age and defined by water, forests and silence, the Mikkeli region reveals one of Europe’s most distinctive lake landscapes. From ancient rock paintings and rare Saimaa ringed seals to culture and timeless cottage life, discover the story of Lake Saimaa as featured by National Geographic.
Read moreVast waters, endless forests and thousands of islands create a rare sense of space where silence and seasonal light define the experience.
Read moreSlow down and reconnect with what matters – in the Mikkeli region, life follows the rhythm of nature, not the clock.
Read moreDiscover the unique tastes of the Mikkeli region, where pure local ingredients, seasonal produce and Finnish food traditions come together.
Taste SaimaaDiscover the history of the Mikkeli region – from ancient rock paintings at Astuvansalmi to historic manors and the wartime headquarters at Muisti, all shaped by life around Lake Saimaa.
History & heritage