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Karelia

If you’re looking for wilderness, powerful history and even the Finnish soul, your search starts here.

Densely forested and gloriously remote, the region is a paradise for nature lovers. Bears, wolverines and wolves roam freely across the Russian frontier, and animal hides allow visitors a close encounter. Opportunities to get active abound: the landscape is threaded by hiking routes, white-water rapids and waterways navigable by canoe, and lakes offer idyllic kayaking and boating. In winter, outdoor pursuits include fantastic skiing, dog-sledding, snowshoeing and ice fishing.

Karelia straddles both sides of the Finnish–Russian border, and has a distinct culture, language, religion, cuisine, music and architecture. In Finland's Karelian regions, lakeside Lappeenranta is still strongly connected to its sister cities that have been part of Russia since WWII. Once-battle-scarred Joensuu is now a vibrant university town, and Imatra still recalls its 18th-century golden age as a Russian aristocracy playground.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Karelia.

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Linnoitus
Standing guard above the harbour, this hulking hilltop fortification was begun by the Swedes and finished by the Russians in the late 18th century. Today it contains galleries, craft workshops and fascinating museums, including the history-focused South Karelian Museum and Cavalry Museum, and the Lappeenranta Art Museum. Its Orthodox Church, Finland’s oldest church, was completed in 1785 by Russian soldiers. Pick up the tourist office's free walking guide The Fortress of Lappeenranta, or download its free app.
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Imatra Rapids
The 1929 construction of Imatra's hydroelectric complex (Finland’s largest) dammed the river, but the watery wonder lives on with the spectacular 20-minute Rapids Show, when the dam is opened to a rousing son et lumière. If your inner daredevil wants to get involved, Imatra Express runs a flying fox over the gushing waters. Both attractions were closed in 2017 due to construction works, but are expected to be back up and running by summer 2018.
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Hiekkalinna
Every summer, around 30 sand artists from Finland and abroad gather to build the Hiekkalinna, a giant themed ‘sandcastle’ made from some 3 million kg of sand. Previous themes have included dinosaurs, a Wild West scene incorporating a gigantic steam train, and 'outer space' featuring ET and Darth Vader. Kids' entertainment here includes small carousel-style rides.
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Parppeinvaara
Karelian traditions are celebrated at this little village 2km south of Ilomantsi. It's named for bard and kantele player Jaakko Parppei (1792–1885), whose songs inspired the Kalevala epic. Listen to the harpsichord-like sounds of this local stringed instrument at the small cultural museum on the hour from noon. Parppeinpirtti does a wonderfully authentic Karelian buffet. The Mesikkä Animal Museum explores the relationship between Karelians and nature; there's a fascinating exhibition on the war years in the Border General’s Cabin. The cabin served as headquarters for Major General Erkki Raappana, a local hero who was decorated by Mannerheim for his achievements, and contains many of his personal effects, plus a case of Finnish and Russian weaponry from Uzis to homemade bombs.
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Taistelijan Talo
The striking wooden Taistelijan Talo was designed by Joensuu architect Erkki Helasvuo in 1988 to symbolise the meeting of East and West. On the ground floor, the restaurant (buffet €19) offers an excellent all-day Karelian buffet. The WWII museum downstairs has multimedia exhibits, photo exhibitions and weaponry displays relating chiefly to the Winter and Continuation Wars fought along the nearby border. Outside are artillery and vehicles as well as a Big Hat sculpture (the town’s name translates as Hat Mountain).
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Cavalry Museum
The cavalry are honoured as Lappeenranta’s greatest heroes and the 1772-built former garrison (the town’s oldest building) at the Linnoitus fortress tells how this band of red-trousered warriors began as the finest mounted forces in the Russian Empire and throughout the 1920s and ‘30s became Finland’s national heroes. The skeleton jackets, weapons and implements for castrating horses give a small but intriguing glimpse into that lost world. Following repairs, it's expected to re-open in early 2018.
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Bomba Village
The centrepiece of this recreated Karelian 'village' encompassing the Sokos Hotel Bomba is the imposing Bomba Talo, with its high roof and ornate wooden trim. It's a replica of a typical 19th-century Karelian family house and was completed in 1978. It now houses the Bomban Talo restaurant and eating here is the only way to see inside. Outside are craft studios and a summertime market. Activities company Bomba Action is also located on the grounds.
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Pielisen Museo
More than 70 Karelian buildings and open-air exhibits at this outdoor museum are organised by century or trade (such as farming, milling and fire-fighting). A fascinating insight into the forestry industry includes a look at a logging camp and floating rafts and machinery used for harvest and transport. In winter the only section open is the indoor museum featuring photographs and displays on Karelian history.
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Karelia Aviation Museum
Backing onto the runway of Lappeenranta airport (Finland's oldest still in operation), this extraordinary museum has three exhibition halls housed in hangars with helicopters, aeroplanes (including a supersonic MiG-21, a Saab 35 Draken and Saab 91 Safir, and a Nieuport 17 biplane), engines (among them a Fokker CX), scale models and other Finnish aviation memorabilia including air force medals. Reserve ahead to ensure someone's around to let you in.