'''Savonlinna''' is a small city in Eastern Finland, close to the Russian border.

Get in

Finnair offers daily flights from Helsinki to Savonlinna in the summer, especially during the Opera Festival. These are notoriously expensive, but there is no quicker way to get between the two cities.

There are 3-4 trains in day from Savonlinna to Helsinki or Joensuu offered by VR. The price is reasonable especially for students, seniors and juniors. It takes about 4 and half hour to Helsinki by train.

Long-distance buses are also an option.

Get around

See

  • Medieval '''St. Olaf's Castle''' (''Olavinlinna'', literally ''Olavi's Castle''), built in 1475, is the main attraction.
  • Lake Saimaa, extremely luckily also a Saimaa Ringed Seal.
  • Do

  • The city is renowned for its yearly '''Opera Festival''' [http://www.operafestival.fi/In_English.iw3], organized within St. Olaf's Castle. There is also a Ballet Festival at the same place earlier in the year.
  • Visit Kylpyla Hotelli Casino [http://www.lomaliitto.fi/index.asp?resid=5]. It is situated on an island in the city centre. It offers swimming pools, massaging showers, a jacuzzi, a children's pool, Finnish saunas and Turkish saunas (steam rooms) also for day visitors.
  • Buy

    Eat

  • '''Medieval Restaurant Hilpea Munkki''', [http://www.jarvisydan.com].
  • '''Piatta''', Kauppatori 4-6, [http://www.savonhotellit.fi/finnish/piatta.htm].
  • '''Majakka''', Satamakatu 11.
  • '''Keisarin Puisto''', Olavinkatu 33. Chinese food.
  • '''Pizzeria Capero''', Olavinkatu 51.
  • '''Uskudar Kebap''', Pilkkakoskenkatu 3.
  • '''Hesburger''', Olavinkatu 39. The ubiquitous Finnish fast food chain.
  • Drink

  • '''Happytime Bar''', [http://www.happytimebaari.fi/].
  • '''Sillansuu''', [http://www.sillansuu.net/].
  • '''Tamino''', in the Seurahuone hotel, [http://www.savonhotellit.fi/].
  • '''Juanita''', Olavinkatu 44.
  • '''Polte''', [http://www.baaripolte.fi/].
  • '''Rocks''', [http://www.therocks.fi].
  • Sleep

  • '''Kylpyla Hotelli Casino''', [http://www.lomaliitto.fi/index.asp?resid=5]. Offers nice rooms in beautiful surroundings, on an island in the city centre.
  • '''Perhehotelli Hospitz''', [http://www.hospitz.com/english/]. Next to the Olavinlinna Castle.
  • '''Savonlinnan Seurahuone''', [http://www.savonhotellit.fi/]. The traditional wing of Hotel Seurahuone was built in 1956, and it was renovated in 1989 when the new wing was completed. The hotel has 80 high-quality rooms - most of them with a view over the lake. 51 of the rooms are non-smoking and a few designed especially for women.
  • '''Pietari Kylliainen''', [http://www.lomaliitto.fi/index.asp?resid=31]. City hotel located close to both service and nature.
  • '''Holiday Centre Jarvisydan''', [http://www.jarvisydan.com]. 30 min. drive from Savonlinna, in the village of Rantasalmi, right next to Linnansaari National Park, offering excellent surroundings for nature activities all year around. Summer cottages and luxury villas. Medieval style restaurant Piikatytto.
  • Ilola Inn. lokallionkatu 13. ww.madeinlove.fi. Small, artistic Inn situated 2,5 km from the centre of Savonlinna.

    Get out