Things to do in Imatra
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Rapids Shows
These days, the water is allowed to flow free only for the 20-minute Rapids Shows from May to September. There's a nightly show at 01:00 from early May to early July. Check the tourist office's information website for other shows between May and September (it's on, for example, at 22:00 every Saturday in August, and 21:00 every Saturday in September). There's an accompanying sound-and-light show.
It's undeniably spectacular and definitely worth seeing if you're in town that day, but not quite memorable enough to structure your trip around.
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Vuoksen Kalastuspuisto
Vuoksen Kalastuspuisto is a stocked salmon pond on Varpasaari in Mansikkala. As well as the guaranteed catch of pike or salmon from the ponds, you can also purchase licences (per day/week €6/10) for the surrounding waters as fish suitable for smoking can be caught in the river here. They also rent bikes (per day €12), row boats and kayaks (per day 30), plus there’s a good traditional sauna (per group €115). Accommodation is comfy camping for fisherfolk with basic tent sites and good-sized cabins.
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Imatran Taidemuseo
Just south of the bus and train stations, in the same building as the library, the town art gallery is worthwhile. Most of the space is taken up with good temporary exhibitions, but the permanent collection includes a pensive young violinist by Eero Järnefelt, and a Gallen-Kallela watercolour of the rapids in 1893, which gives an idea of what they were once like.
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Vuoksi River
The highlight in Imatra is the 3km stroll along the mighty Vuoksi River from the bus and train station in Mansikkala to the power station in Imatrankoski. In spring and summer it's a haven of nesting geese, gulls and terns. Until the hydroelectric power station was built and the river dammed in 1929, Imatra's rapids were one of the highest waterfalls in Finland.
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Imatran Taidemuseo
Imatran Taidemuseo is the town art gallery and has a strong collection of Finnish modernism including works by Wäinö Aaltonen. Temporary exhibitions take up much of the space, but it’s worth seeking out the Gallen-Kallela watercolour of the rapids during their heyday in 1893, especially if you’re visiting outside of the rapids show season.
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Karjalainen Kotitalo
Signposted as 'Ulkomuseo', Karjalainen Kotitalo is an open-air museum with a dozen traditional Karelian buildings, moved here from other locations. They are typical of the region, with overlapping corner joints and overhanging eaves. The granary and the main house are particularly atmospheric; there are even real sheep in the barn.
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Woodoo
Running with the slogan ‘Helping people get more sex since 2003’, this larrikin place is the alternative hang-out in Imatra, attracting a younger crowd to its terrace. The club out the back does hard beats, while the bar is a pleasant spot for a drink or game of pool. You can find your own dark corner in its large interior.
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Buttenhoff
Serving up Burgundy escargot and blini with caviar, this is definitely the best place in town. The menu wanders across the border with Russian favourites given a decidedly French treatment, such as the pan-fried perch à la Russe. Their three-course set menu is always a quality meal.
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Karjalainen Kotitalo
Signposted as ‘Ulkomuseo’, Karjalainen Kotitalo is an open-air museum with a dozen traditional Karelian buildings moved here from other locations. The houses are typical of the region, with overlapping corner joints, overhanging eaves and a rustic log-cabin design.
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Kolmen Ristin Kirkko
As you approach you can tell by the clean white lines and soaring narrow tower that Kolmen Ristin Kirkko was designed by Alvar Aalto, in 1957. For architecture fans it’s a must, though there are better examples of his work in Finland. Take bus 1.
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Kolmen Ristin Kirkko
Kolmen Ristin Kirkko in Vuoksenniska was designed in 1957 by Alvar Aalto; its clean white lines and soaring narrow tower are typical of the man. As an interesting detail, only two of the 103 windows of the church are identical.
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Café Prego
This excellent Italian coffee spot also does good salads, rolls and light meals, and has a lovely little terrace out the front. It’s the best java in town, and has cakes and cookies that will have you lingering.
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Ravintola Vuoksenlahti
This trusty boozer draws in locals with its basic pub grub and pool tables for after dinner. The terrace buzzes even on summer’s more doubtful days, as it’s the perfect place to watch the town pass by.
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Power Station Exhibition Room
To work out the engineering of hydroelectricity make for the Power Station Exhibition Room, which has several slick displays on how the dam works.
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Café Milli
Opposite Valtionhotelli, Milli is a good spot for coffee and it sells local produce and handicrafts.
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Parnell's Irish Bar
This Irish chain pub, also on the pedestrian strip, is the pick of the pubs along here.
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Café Julia
Located below Buttenhoff, this eatery makes tempting cakes and espresso coffee.
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