The city of Lahti in Finland: description of attractions, photos of Lahti, festivals, nature, ski marathon. What can you see in Lahti? Lahti where
An hour's journey from Helsinki and the land of blue lakes, hilly surroundings, and lush greenery of the resort town of Lahti opens up to your eyes. A place with this name has been mentioned in documents since 1445, a small village at the intersection of water canals and land roads.
Well-established transport links made it possible to transform a small village into a developed tourist health center. The city gained recognition among travelers thanks to its clean air. Industrial enterprises are located outside the sports campus.
The city is rich in parks, architectural monuments, numerous museums, and theaters. Due to the peculiarities of the mountainous terrain, Lahti is considered the host of the world championships in winter sports.
A universal resort with active recreation and a varied entertainment infrastructure, it will be of interest to art lovers and tourists with various hobbies and needs.
Dates from 1983. A brick building with two floors, erected at the beginning of the 20th century. Photographs, books, instruments tell the history of the medical service from the Second World War to the present day. Scenes with soldiers, nurses, and attributes of antiquity describe episodes from the distant war years.
Located in a former estate, designed in 1898. The owner of the estate until 1919 was a Russian officer. The massive building with a spire changed its purpose at different times. It housed schools, a warehouse, and a hospital. In the mid-60s it became the property of the authorities. Spacious premises introduce visitors to ethnological materials and the cultural heritage of the region.
On the last tier there is a permanent exhibition about the patriot of the homeland, resistance fighter Klaus Halm. The exhibits are characterized by the distinctive features of the ethnography of the settlement. Traditional Finnish clothing reflects the bright colors of costumes from past periods.
Location: Lahdenkatu - 4.
It occupies the central part of the city and dates back more than a hundred years ago. Absorbs with its lively atmosphere. The market is in full swing with trade, mass sporting events, and festivals take place at any time of the year.
Colorful fairs offer a rich assortment of products from local and visiting artisans. In the shops you can buy handmade jewelry, items made of wool with a characteristic pattern, and memorable souvenirs.
The famous congress hall, built in 2000 on the shore of a reservoir surrounded by pristine nature. The architectural appearance is the clearest example of wooden architecture.
The huge wooden building is protected from precipitation by a glass dome. Performers and music lovers from all over the world are amazed by the unique acoustics. Concerts of organ and jazz music are held here, classical works are performed, and theatrical performances are performed.
Location: Ankkurikatu - 7.
The Jesuit Church, the pride of the inhabitants of Lahti - Ristinkirkko Church, was founded in 1978 instead of a small church. The temple is in its original design. From the outside one can see an expressive structure with strict forms. 52 square type windows display a cross.
A 40-meter-high concrete bell tower rises above the entrance. The interior walls are painted in light colors. The sound of the organ accompanies prayer services. Parishioners and foreigners come to pray and find peace.
Location: Kirkkokatu - 4.
The largest theater in the country. More than 100 thousand theatergoers visit each year. The presence of three halls allows for several events to be held simultaneously. Performances, musicals, comedy plays, and productions for children are held with success. Natives of all Finnish cities strive to plunge into creative life.
Location: Kirkkokatu - 14.
On the territory of the picturesque forest park, an area of 20 hectares, along with rare plants, you can see popular sculptures of human silhouettes by Professor Olavi Lanu. The sculptor used stone blocks and trees to create his masterly creations.
Unusual compositions are inseparably combined with the landscape of the forest area. Walking along the well-groomed paths, you can get a closer look at each figure.
A place for romantic dates and a starting point for traveling by water. Ancient ships amaze with their grandeur. The cafe will be greeted with coziness and will delight you with its location, overlooking the water area. Floating restaurants with an excellent fish menu are very popular among residents and guests of the city. Evening walks along the harbor will leave an unforgettable experience.
A well-known sports complex where world competitions are held. Three unparalleled descents will captivate you with their scale. The view of the area from the observation deck is breathtaking. The semicircle is formed by stands for spectators. Winter equipment rental centers will provide everything necessary for those wishing to ski from the heights. A first-class place for lovers of cross-country skiing, jumping and snowboarding to try their hand. Experienced instructors will help beginners master their first skills.
On the shore of the lake there is a unique musical source. A fascinating spectacle with rhythmic splashes and illumination for 15-20 minutes is accompanied by the playback of live music of world hits and melodies from films.
How to get to Lahti? Where to stay? What to see in one or two days? Where to eat and how to book a walk on the lake? Do they understand Russian in Lahti? These questions concern many tourists who are going to this Finnish city.
Lahti is already interesting because this is not a border region, but “real Finland,” although it is located 350 km from St. Petersburg. A city convenient for both living and relaxing: green, spacious, bright. Enterprises have been moved from the center outside the city, so it’s easy to breathe.
As they say local residents, the problem now is that there is only one higher education institution in the city that produces designers, tourism specialists, nurses and economists. Young people leave to study in Helsinki and Jyväskylä and often do not return.
There are many Russians in Lahti, and tourists, and those who have settled down and live permanently. Sometimes it seems that Russian is spoken here as often as Finnish. When, during the intermission between performances of Russian ballet stars in the Sibelius Hall (the festival takes place in August), I went out into the foyer, Russian speech completely dominated.
However, this impression It’s deceptive and you shouldn’t expect that everyone here understands Russian. Although, indeed, employees who know not only English, but also Russian have long been given preference when applying for jobs in hotels, restaurants, museums and travel agencies.
Soft but expensive
From St. Petersburg to Lahti The fastest and most comfortable way to get there is by the Allegro high-speed train, which departs 4 times a day. Travel time is less than three hours. A one-way ticket in economy class costs from 40 to 100 euros (depending on the time of departure, day of the week, etc.). There are no discounts when purchasing round-trip tickets. You can buy tickets online by selecting a carriage and seat, or at the box office. Each carriage has a cooler with drinking water, two toilets, and space for luggage. The chairs are wide and soft. But wifi works intermittently.
You can also get there to Lahti by bus going to Tampere. And the cheapest option is with shopping tours, the cost of the trip is from 800 rubles round trip. Disadvantages - you can stand at the border for a long time.
From Moscow to Lahti You can get by train or plane to Helsinki-Vantaa, and then by train or car.
Train Station in Lahti it is quite small. There is free wifi here and the reception is very good. Automatic storage rooms, from 3 euros per day. The station has a small shop, restaurant and bistro. Toilet is paid. Travel on public transport costs 2.60 euros. But from the railway station to the center 5-10 minutes walk. It's much easier than taking the bus around.
Bus station, from which you can get to Jyväskyla, Kotka, etc., is located in the city center, about 2 km from the railway station, but plans to move it have already been approved. In a few years it will be next to the train station.
Time to drink cider
There are many restaurants in Lahti, including national cuisine - Italian, Chinese, Thai, etc. There is no restaurant with Russian cuisine in Lahti yet, and traditional Finnish cuisine is mainly represented by pastries.
On restaurant menus with European cuisine - dishes from pork, salmon, potatoes, and other establishments offer game, venison, etc. A hot meal in the city center will cost from 10 euros. During lunch, many restaurants in the center offer a salad bar from 10 euros. Special praise goes to the desserts. For example, in Trattoria Seurahuone, the restaurant at the Sokos Hotel, I recommend trying the basil ice cream.
Eat as a vegetarian It can be difficult in Lahti - the cuisine is predominantly meat or fish. You can, for example, try to find rice with vegetables in Thai restaurants. Or buy fruits and vegetables in supermarkets, for example, in S-market on the ground floor in Sokos.
Shops are open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Siwa chain, this is worth remembering, since it is not easy to find a working supermarket on a Sunday. One of them is located in the center at Vesijärvenkatu 25. There is “Siva” at Huovilankatu 1 (behind the railway station towards the Citymarket and Prizma stores), and at Hollolankatu 7 (in the center, on the way to the sports center) . In Siwa stores, only light alcohol is sold and on the same schedule as in regular stores.
In the warm season You can eat in summer restaurants and cafes. Many cafes and restaurants, including floating ones, are concentrated in the Harbor.
In the former's premises The railway station is located at the homely, cozy cafe Kariranta (coffee from 2 euros, homemade cakes from 4 euros). Nearby there is a shop with interesting non-standard souvenirs; you can even buy postage stamps with the inscription I Vesijarve. The cafe and shop are open all year round.
Within walking distance from the Harbor on Jalkarannantie 19 there is a cafe Lokki (“Seagull”). The selection of baked goods here is very small, but there are not many people and it’s nice to sit at a table right by the water.
Main party
The main place for summer hangouts for tourists and locals - this is, of course, the Harbor (on the map it is marked as Matkustajasatama - passenger port). It is especially pleasant in the Harbor early in the morning. There are still few people, the cafes are closed and you can calmly walk around the port, admire the clouds reflected in the glass walls of the famous Sibelius Hall.
On a summer day around noon The Harbor is already crowded and noisy. There are even queues at some cafes.
In one of the wooden buildings (to the left of the Kariranta cafe, if you stand with your back to the water) there is a free public toilet.
There is a park adjacent to the port Pikku-Vesijärvenpuisto. It is located around a small lake with a fishing pier and “Singing Fountains” - the largest in Northern Europe. From the park there is a path to Kariniemi Hill, where the Lanu sculpture park is located, created by painting professor Olavi Lanu.
On a green hill Opposite the port and further along Jalkaranntie you can see the houses of wealthy Finns. Here, for example, live the owners of companies such as Luhta (clothing production, etc.) and Oilan (heat pump manufacturer, etc.). Many cottages belong to Russians. The cost of houses is from 1 million euros. However, do not expect any special luxury: as a rule, these are 2-story mansions, often wooden, with a total area of hardly more than 350 m2.
If you walk along the left bank Vesijärvi, then in about twenty minutes you can walk to Myllysaari (Myllysaari) - this is about 2 km from the Harbor. The tiny island, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge, is considered the most romantic place in Lahti. In the center there is a wooden restaurant, which is open by reservation only.
White motor ship
Boat trip on the lake- another entertainment, especially in good weather. A regular boat departs from the port several times a day to Messilä and makes a stop on the island of Enonsaari. There is a cafe on the island in the summer, you can cook over a fire, fish, swim or just enjoy the silence, the main thing is not to be late for the last boat to Lahti.
Another variant- boat trips along Paijanne, one of the largest water systems in Finland, stretching for almost a hundred kilometers. There is a restaurant on the ship, and meals - a buffet with salmon, salads, ice cream, etc. - are included in the price of the trip. An evening 4-hour boat trip costs 43 euros per adult. Departure from Lahti passenger port. Details on the website: www.paijanneristeilythilden.fi
And the most exotic A way to relax on the lake is to take a walk in a floating sauna, that is, you take a steam bath and go out on the deck to cool off. But diving into the lake is not allowed. This sauna can be rented with a captain for several hours or even a day. You can steam with a group of up to 12-20 people.
On the other side of the road
Vesijärvi is not the only place rest in the city. With children it is worth going to Laune Central Park (Kaarikatu 26, from the center on the other side of the railway) - there is a children's velodrome, various slides, a flying saucer field and even an almost real fortress.
For adults - path bowling alley and a minigolf center with two courses. In the park you can remember the distant ice age - the rocky ridge of Salpausselkä remains from it. Next to Laune Park there is a free farm-museum Yli-Marola 4H, which is open all summer.
Among the attractions you can visit the Lahti History Museum (located near the Harbor in the old mansion of one of the city's first industrialists), the Radio and Television Museum (near the train station), the Poster Museum (in the city center), etc. And climb the steps up the hill on which the into the sky, the Lutheran Church Ristin Kirkko with 52 windows is the creation of the famous Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto.
And on the other hill- the Town Hall building, built in 1912. Until 1939, it housed, among other things, a police station and a small prison attached to it, which now houses the cafeteria of the city hall - another landmark of the city of Lahti.
Where to stay
In and around Lahti quite a lot of hotels. Although room rates are quite high, they are still lower than in Helsinki. So there is a reason to stay in Lahti, and, if necessary, go to Helsinki by train or bus.
Hotels in the city center
Sokos Hotel Lahden Seurahuone is perhaps the most new comfortable hotel Lahti. Completely renovated in 2013. Located in the very center opposite the Sokos shopping center (using the hotel's electronic key you can get a 10% discount on many products in Sokos). The cost of a single room is from 130 euros. Wifi is quite good, but you have to enter your login and password every time you are away from the hotel. The room has a kettle and tea-coffee, iron, etc.
Scandic Lahti is located near the train station. The cost of a single room is from 115 euros. Parking - 8 euros. The windows don't open and it gets stuffy in the summer. Wifi works well on all floors.
Kauppahotelli Grand- a good hotel for budget accommodation. Located in the city center, on a fairly quiet street. The cost of a single room is from 75 euros. Very friendly staff. For breakfast - sausages, omelet, cheese, sausage, pastries, porridge with water. The hotel features the city's popular Paratiisi restaurant and the Grand Dancing nightclub.
Hotel Musta Kissa(“Black Cat”) is located in the very center, the cost of a single room is from 90 euros. Underground parking under the hotel - 8 euros.
Cumulus Lahti located next to the Trio shopping complex. The cost of a single room is from 100 euros. You have to pay for parking at the reception, but it's more expensive at the payment machine. There is a kettle in the room, but the supply of tea and coffee is only for one time.
Omena Hotel Lahti- the most budget hotel in Lahti; during the season you need to book a room here in advance. The hotel is automated, there is no check-in desk: after booking a room, you receive an SMS with door and room codes. The cost of a single room is from 53 euros. The rooms have coffee, tea, microwave and kettle. The windows in the hotel do not open.
There are also many apartments in Lahti, they are beneficial for those who come with a group. A good example is Capitano (from 160 euros per day), on the very shore of Lake Vesijärvi, and Pinjakoti (from 110 euros), near the Laune Perhepuisto children's park.
For those who love outdoor recreation, there are many options. For example, 7 km from Lahti there is the Messilä manor. A single room with amenities costs from 115 euros, a double room – from 125. You can rent a log cabin for a group of 4 or more people. There are also saunas and a small swimming pool. By the way, you can come here with a dog.
30 km from Lahti you can stay in Vaaksi at the Tallukka Hotel. The hotel is located in a picturesque location - on a ridge between lakes Vesijärvi and Päijänne. The balconies offer beautiful views. The hotel has a wellness center. The cost of a single room is from 70 euros. You are allowed to bring your dog with you.
Where to go shopping
Shopping in Lahti is possible not as exciting as in Helsinki, there are fewer shops here, the assortment is simpler. But this is good: there is no bustle of the capital, running from store to store in search of something better, and you can buy everything in Lahti, from clothes and shoes to electronics and designer jewelry. The shopping streets of Lahti are Aleksanterinkatu and Vapaudenkatu, as well as Rautatienkatu and Mariankatu.
On the Market Square, where the market with local goods was located, renovation is currently underway - an underground, fully automated parking lot is being built here. The renovation of the area will be completed in June 2014. For now, the market has been moved to the square in front of the city theater (Kirkkokatu 14).
Trio- the largest shopping center in Lahti - Trio. Local residents recommend this particular shopping center if there is no time to go to those located outside the city. In Trio you can find both large chain stores and small boutiques. There is also a post office and several cafes or restaurants. On Saturday the center is open until 16:00 and closed on Sunday. Aleksanterinkatu, 20
Department store Sokos is a two minute walk from Trio. Downstairs there is an S-market supermarket. On Sunday Sokos is open from 12 to 18 hours. Aleksanterinkatu 19-21
Shopping mall Karisma is located 10 minutes by car from the center of Lahti. There are clothing boutiques, sports, interior, and specialty stores here. Open daily. Kauppiaankatu 2, Lahti
Kärkkäinen- a fairly large shopping center - it occupies 32 thousand sq. m. Here you can buy clothes, sports and children's goods, interior items, etc. Pasaasi 2, Lahti
Megamyyntiareena- the largest Fashion Outlet in Finland. Located 30 km from Lahti. The café is open during all sales periods. Kankaantie 13, Orimattila
Help and advice on holidays in the Lahti region in Russian are provided by Lahti region Oy www.lahtiregion.fi
The Sibelius Hall is one of the main attractions of Lahti.
The supports of the huge hall in Sibelius are made in the form of trees.
Musical evenings are held in two halls of Sibelius- from classical to rock.
In summer, all life revolves around the Harbor.
Cafe Kariranta is located in the former railway station.
In the Historical Museum you can feel like you are visiting the wealthy Finns of the late 19th century.
Here, in the Historical Museum, there is an interesting collection of paintings.
These few houses are the tallest in Lahti (12 floors).
Nice evening meal by the lake
Boat trips on Vesijärvi are very popular in summer.
Rocky shores are a legacy of the Ice Age.
Myllysaari is an island that is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
Sunrises and sunsets are best seen at Lake Vesijärvi.
How delightful are the evenings under Lahti.
Lahti(Finnish Lahti - “ bay", Swedish Lahtis) is a city and commune in Finland, the administrative center of the province of Southern Finland. It is located on the shore of a bay in the southern part of Lake Vesijärvi, part of the Päijänne lake system.
Story
Lahti was first mentioned in documents in 1445 as a village in the Hollola parish. It was located on the trade route of that time - the Upper Vyborg Road (Finnish: Ylinen Viipurintie), connecting Hämeenlinna and Vyborg. The Häme land register from 1558 mentions that there are 24 houses in the village of Lahti.
Lahti received city status in 1905, when the city had less than three thousand inhabitants.
In the historical part of the city called Metsä-Hennala (Finnish: Metsä-Hennala) there is a Russian chapel, preserved from the founding of the city and built in 1910-1912 during the construction of the military garrison of Hennala to house the Imperial cavalry regiments of the Russian army. The graveyard and grave of the Russian officer N. G. Pushkarev, 1914, have been preserved. These chapels were lost due to the events of the Russian revolutions of 1917 (February and October) and the Finnish civil war of 1918, which most affected Southern Finland, including the city of Lahti.
Geography
The climate of Lahti is temperate continental with a strong maritime influence. Winters are long and cold (but mild for their latitude), with an average temperature of −5 to −8 °C, while summers are short but very warm - 16-19 °C. Record values reach −38 °C in winter and 35 °C in summer.
Culture
Lahti annually hosts international festivals of organ and jazz music, poster exhibitions, and seminars for poets and writers. The city festival “Lahden Yöt” (“Nights of Lahti”) has been taking place in July for several years now.
Since 2003, the city has hosted the Summer Up hip-hop and reggae music festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors.
The city orchestra “Lahti Symphony” under the direction of conductor Osmo Vänskä is widely known, including abroad.
Sibeliustalo
Lahti has the largest wooden concert hall and congress hall in Northern Europe - Sibelius Hall(Finnish Sibeliustalo, architect Raimo Räsanen). The Lahti City Symphony Orchestra (Finnish: Sinfonia Lahti) plays there regularly. In October 2006, an informal Russia-EU summit was held there.
Museums
- City History Museum (Finnish: Lahden historiallinen museo).
- Lahti Art Museum (Finnish: Lahden taidemuseo). The Poster Museum (Finnish: Julistemuseo) works together with it, where the International Poster Biennale is held every two years.
- Ski Museum (Finnish: Hiihtomuseo).
- Museum of Radio and Television (Finnish: Radio-ja tv-museo).
- Museums of military music and military medicine.
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 Väaksyu canal to Lake Päijänne, the second largest body of water in Finland. In addition, tourists are attracted to Lahti by a well-equipped sports center, with wonderful springboards and everything you need for winter sports.
Lake Päijänne is one of the natural attractions of Finland. This is the deepest reservoir in the entire country and is located within a nature conservation zone. It is believed that the water from the center can even be drunk. Päijänne National Park, located on the lake’s numerous islands, of which there are almost two thousand, is best explored by pleasure boat, taking a short cruise from Lahti. However, you can get there in another way, along a road connecting the islands using 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 this moment there was a small village here. The first mentions in documents date back to the mid-15th century. The geographical location determined the entire development of Lahti, which gradually turned, thanks to waterways and roads, into a large trading settlement, and later into a city.
At the same time, the area itself, in which the modern industrial center is located, has been inhabited by people since ancient times. According to archaeological data, the first settlers appeared here about nine thousand years ago. The ancient tools found also testify to the thousand-year history of the region.
How to get to Lahti
Since Lahti is located near the Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, the most convenient way is to fly to Helsinki, and then from the Finnish capital by any type of transport to your destination.
There are regular buses (ExpressBus) from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport 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. During the day, buses run every half hour to hour. 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 purchasing a ticket on the website, the price is significantly lower, from 8 EUR per person. More information about travel costs and schedules can be found at www.matkahuolto.fi.
Prices on the page are for April 2019.
If you buy a round trip ticket right away, you will save 2-3 EUR.
Search for flights to Helsinki (closest airport to Lahti)
By car
From Helsinki, Lahti can be reached via motorway No. 4, which connects the two cities. Travel time is about an hour.
By train
Cuisine and restaurants
Since Lahti is located on the shores of a picturesque lake, fresh fish dishes are the best thing to try here. Floating restaurants or small cafes in former warehouses in the port will offer a variety of menus to choose from. In addition to traditional Finnish dishes, tasty attractions include local rye bread baked over medium heat and homemade beer.
Weather in Lahti
Shopping and shops
The largest shopping center in Lahti is considered to be the Trio mall between Aleksanterinkatu and Vapaudenkatu streets, where you can find a variety of shops for every taste. Also 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 houses a traditional Finnish market offering fresh goods.
In addition to Aleksanterinkatu and Vapaudenkatu, shopping streets include Rautatienkatu and Mariankatu.
Popular hotels in Lahti
Entertainment and attractions
Unfortunately, there are no ancient churches or ancient manors in Lahti. However, there is something to see here too. First of all, this is the park of wooden architecture 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 local residents.
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 from such a seemingly fragile material. The picturesque view of Lake Vesijärvi adds to its charm.
To understand what a modern Finnish church is, it’s worth going to the Alvar Aalto Temple, built in the late 70s of the 20th century.
Natural attractions include numerous nature reserves in Lahti, which contain not only sculptures, but also “Singing Fountains”, a sound and light show in Piku-Vesijärvi Park, between the port of Teivas and the Sports Park.
Museums Lahti
The Lahti Art Museum and the Poster Museum will delight art lovers. The Historical Museum, the Ski Museum and the Radio and Television Museum will demonstrate the modern approach to display. In particular, at the Ski Museum you can try your hand at ski jumping. A special simulator was invented for this purpose.