Things to do in Lahti
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Sports Centre
At Lahti’s Sports Centre, a 10-minute walk west of town, things are dominated by three imposing ski jumps, the biggest standing 73m high and stretching 116m. You’ll often see high-level jumpers training here in summer. There’s a whole complex here, including the football stadium, a summer swimming pool, ski tracks and the delightful Ski Museum. A history of skis includes excavated examples from 2000 years ago, and Lahti’s proud record as a winter sports centre is given plenty of treatment. The fun starts in the next room: frustrate yourself on the ski-jump simulator, then try the biathlon and skiing on Velcro before nailing five bullseyes with your rifle. A combined…
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Lahti Historical Museum
Lahti Historical Museum is in a beautiful old manor house by the bus station. The ground and top floors hold changing exhibitions on aspects of Lahti’s history (a little English information is usually available), while the middle floor is mostly devoted to the collection of Klaus Holma, a 20th-century Finnish diplomat. It’s a treasury of French and Italian religious art, rococo furniture and fine porcelain, and an excellent series of interactive computer screens allows you to access detailed information (also in English) on every piece.
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Ski Museum
A history of skis includes some excavated examples from 2000 years ago, and Lahti's proud record as a winter sports centre is given plenty of treatment. In the next room the fun starts; frustrate yourself on the ski-jump simulator, then try the biathlon, skiing on Velcro before nailing five bullseyes with your rifle. A combined ticket will let you take the chairlift up to the observation terrace at the top of the ski-jump; great if there's someone practising, and good for the views in any event.
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Sibeliustalo
Sibeliustalo, by the harbour on Vesijärvi, is a spectacular concert hall in glass and wood and the home of the top-notch Lahti Symphony Orchestra, which is responsible for some of the best Sibelius recordings of recent years. The hall is wonderfully lit at night and has excellent acoustics. Guided tours (€10) run at 2pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays during July; phone to arrange tours at other times.
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Ristinkirkko
Striking Ristinkirkko was designed by Alvar Aalto and finished in 1978. The brick exterior and concrete steeple give little clue as to the interior, a white and airy space with wooden benches echoing the organ’s pipes. Structural lines angle towards the simple wooden cross behind the altar or perhaps emanating from it like rays.
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Teerenpeli
A real Lahti success story, this popular pub sells its own tasty beers and ciders (try the blueberry one) and even distils a single-malt whisky. It’s got quite an upmarket interior these days, with white walls, plush stools, miniquiches and a tapas menu, and is always humming with chatter or live jazz. There’s a summer branch at the harbour.
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MS Suometar
As well as the longer lake trips, in summer there are several daily 1½-hour return cruises from the passenger harbour, as well as evening 3½-hour cruises to the Vääksy Canal and back on the MS Suometar. Contact the tourist office for times and bookings.
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Taivaanranta
This place was closed for holidays when we visited, but our Lahti underworld informers rate it as one of the city’s most interesting eating choices. A short but hearty menu includes a sausage pan with beer- and whisky-flavoured bangers, and wild mushroom risotto.
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Radio & TV Museum
The Radio & TV Museum, on a hill just south of the centre, has a collection of old radios and a working broadcasting studio from the 1950s. You can create your own TV broadcast or radio program – a guaranteed hit with the kids.
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Jonel Thai
Lahti has quite a few Thai restaurants and this is still the best. Friendly service complements the enticing aromas and satisfying flavours of the dishes. Takeaway prices are substantially cheaper, and the lunch special for €7.50 is a bargain.
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Art Museum & Poster Museum
Located in a modern office building, the Art Museum & Poster Museum has temporary exhibitions of sculpture and paintings, and an offbeat collection of advertising posters from yesteryear.
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Spaghetteria Mamma Maria
With a range of risottos, chicken, pastas and pizzas, this Italian eatery on the kauppatori is a firm Lahti favourite. Quantities are generous and the food’s tasty enough, particularly the homemade gelati.
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Café Sinuhe
Half a block from the kauppatori, this is Lahti’s best central cafe, with folk streaming in at all hours to sip mellow coffee, fork-up salads bursting with fresh things or buy a loaf of crusty bread.
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Sante Fé
The colourful terrace of this popular Tex-Mex bar occupies a corner of the kauppatori in summer and always seems to be full. The 1st-floor restaurant features nachos, fajitas, steaks and pastas.
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Mukkula
There's plenty to do out at Mukkula in summer. The lakefront location, 5km from Lahti, has boat and canoe hire, tennis, mini-golf, beach volleyball and bicycles for rent.
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Kaupungintalo
The art nouveau Kaupungintalo was designed by the famous Finnish architect, Eliel Saarinen. Phone ahead to arrange a guided tour.
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Kauppahalli
The kauppahalli is a cosy spot for a coffee or snack; in fact it seems to have more cafes than stalls.
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Sibelius Hall
Sibelius Hall, near the harbour on Vesijärvi, is a huge new concert-hall creation made from wood and glass.
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Ilves
Lahti's main cinema has five screens and is very central. During the week, it's evening screenings only.
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Molly Malone's
This is a laid-back Irish pub with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
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