Lahti is a city located in southern Finland, on the shores of Lake Vesijärvi and next to the esker Salpausselkä. The city is internationally known for sports, especially skiing and ski jumping.
Lahti currently has more than 100,000 inhabitants, making it the eighth-largest city in Finland in terms of population.
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Things to see and do in Lahti
Although traditionally regarded as an unattractive industrial city, Lahti has made an effort in recent decades to improve its reputation.
The renovated city centre and its new harbour area with outdoor cafés and bars have made Lahti a recommended destination if you travel to Finland, especially to the southern part of the country.
Sibelius Hall
Sibelius Hall, or Sibeliustalo in Finnish, is the largest wooden building built in Finland in the last century, making it an example of modern construction.
The building has four distinct parts. First, there is the former carpentry factory, the oldest industrial building in Lahti, which was built in 1907 and has now been renovated and incorporated into the building.
The main hall hosts the most important concerts and events, as it has wonderful acoustics. The congress centre and the Forest Hall complete the ensemble.
Lahti Ski Museum
The Lahti Ski Museum is a sports museum that specialises in winter sports, especially skiing.
In the museum, you can discover the history of the main Nordic skiing sports. You will also find information about Finland’s most famous skiers and jumpers.
The museum is located very close to the Lahti sports centre and the Salpausselkä ski jumping centre, where a famous international ski jumping tournament is held every year.
Päijänne National Park
Päijänne National Park, situated by Lake Päijänne, consists of about 50 islands. Part of the park is occupied by the 8-kilometre-long Pulkkilanharju mountain range, which is made up of esker islands and underwater ridges.
The islands of the national park are connected to each other by bridges. The esker across the lake is considered part of an area of national scenic value and is used as a bird-watching site.
Lake Vesijärvi
Lake Vesijärvi is located next to the city of Lahti. Here, you can enjoy a pleasant summer day by using one of the small boats to sail on the lake.
The harbour area has been renovated, so you can find some outdoor cafés and ice-cream parlours during the summer months.
Radio and Television Museum
The Lahti Radio and Television Museum, also known as Mastola, has a collection of receiving and transmitting equipment from the 1920s to the present day.
Lahti is one of the key places in the development of radio and television in Finland, and it is possible to visit the city’s main radio station. The radio masts, built in the 1920s, still stand next to the station.
How to get to Lahti
The fastest and most comfortable way to get to Lahti is by train. The train journey from Helsinki to Lahti takes about an hour. From the train station, it takes less than 10 minutes to reach the city centre.
Buses are another alternative way to get to Lahti. There are numerous routes to Helsinki and other major cities in the area. If you prefer, you can hire a car to get around. Lahti is 104 kilometres from Helsinki, so the journey will take about an hour.
Finally, you can fly to Lahti. The nearest airport is Helsinki Airport, so you’ll need to choose one of the above options to get to the city.
How to get around the city
Lahti has a good public transport system, so you won’t have any problems getting around the city.
Kauppatori is the hub of the city’s public transport system, so many of the bus routes start and end at this station.
However, the city is not very large, so you may not need to use public transport at all and can get around on foot.
Where to stay in Lahti
In Lahti, you’ll find plenty of accommodation options to relax during your trip, with hotels and hostels being the most recommended options.
Close to the city centre and the market square, there are several hotels to suit all budgets: some are more basic and inexpensive, while others are a little more expensive and offer additional services.
Where to eat in Lahti
Lahti has cafés and restaurants of all kinds. In the city centre, you will find a number of Finnish restaurants where you can try typical Finnish dishes. If you prefer, there are also numerous Italian, Spanish, Mexican and Asian restaurants.
We hope our Lahti travel guide will help you prepare for your trip to Lahti. We invite you to share this article on social media using the buttons below. And if you have any questions, you can use the comments section to ask them.
Images by Visit Lahti Photo Library and Lahti Region Oy.