WELCOME TO LAHTI

First time in the city? We’ve gathered some tips for you to discover Lahti and its natural surroundings. Experience the European Green Capital of 2021.

Lahti is a growing, vibrant city of 120,000 inhabitants. It is Finland’s eighth largest city by population and the capital of the Päijät-Häme region. Lahti has magnificent lake scenery and diverse nature. The tiniest lakes are kettle ponds created by long-gone ice age glaciers, and the biggest ones offer excellent opportunities for fishing and swimming and for skiing and ice skating during the winter.

People who love city holidays will find the city of Lahti highly convenient. You can walk and bike easily across town, and at the end of the day you can book a room at a sustainable hotel.

If you want to enjoy nature from within the city, why not have it served to you on a plate? Local restaurants and food manufacturers create delicious and memorable dishes and beverages from fresh seasonal produce and the purest water in Finland.

If you are feeling sporty, look to the locals for inspiration. People in Lahti love the outdoors. There are many great routes for running, biking and cross-country skiing. If you want to have a quick dip in the lake, there are great beaches – even close by the city centre. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed all year round in Lahti.

EXPERIENCE PURE AND DIVERSE NATURE. There are lots of ways of getting out and about enjoying the local natural forests and lakes. Everyman’s rights are practiced in Finland: the freedom to roam means that anyone may walk, ski, cycle, pick berries and mushrooms, and ice fish freely in the countryside. You can pick bilberries in the forest in summer or skate on the frozen lake in winter. Guided outdoor activities are also available; you can learn to walk in snowshoes for example! The Päijänne National Park and Linnaistensuo Nature Reserve are great places to visit. If you have children you can walk the Lehmusreitti nature trail, which is perfect for families. For a unique nature experience close to the city head to Lanupuisto, which features a series of big and outlandish sculptures by Olavi Lanu.

DISCOVER THE WALKABLE CITY. Walking and cycling are the best ways to get around thanks to short distances and well-maintained pedestrian and cycling routes. The harbour on Lake Vesijärvi is just a short walk from the city. There you can visit Sibelius Hall, with its world renowned acoustics and remarkable wooden architecture. Lanupuisto park is also next to the harbour, where you can go for a short nature walk and take in some local art. Afterwards you might want to grab a coffee at Café Kariranta or head to Piano Paviljonki for lunch with gorgeous views across the lake and harbour. For those who love biking there are many routes to explore, including an 85 kilometre route around the lake.

If the weather is against you, take a low emission bus ride wherever you are headed or grab a low emission taxi. Did you know that Lahti is the first city in the world to provide its residents with an app to trade personal carbon emissions?

Sustainable accommodation: Some hotels in Lahti have environmental certificates. These hotels take extra care of sustainable waste management and water and energy efficiency. You can book a night at the Green Key certified Solo Sokos Hotel Lahden Seurahuone, or stay at the lovely GreenStar Hotel Lahti.

EAT AND DRINK. Local cuisine is famed for its fish, berries and mushrooms. Lahti boasts local bakeries, farmers’ markets and breweries. Visit the market square, the market hall or local bakeries for fresh produce and seasonal treats. For a real taste of Lahti, try the Vellamomenu served in restaurants Hollolan Hirvi, Lehmonkärki, Ravintola Roux, Lahden Seurahuone, Mukkulan kartano and Ravintola Tyrmä. The main ingredients of the Vellamomenu are always fresh and locally produced and the provenance of all products used is known and traceable.

One of the key components of the local flavours is the fresh and clean water of Lahti’s many natural springs. The local groundwater is naturally filtered through glacial ridges and provides pure, premium-quality drinking water, which is an important resource for the brewing and food industry. The Lahti region is home to the famous Hartwall brewery as well as several microbreweries. Finnish berries are prominent in the wines of Ainoa Winery and the wines, ciders and soft drinks of Pihamaa. The best artisan beers can be found at the Kanavan Panimo brewery. For coffee, head to the roastery Kahiwa in Malski – their coffee is sustainably and ethically sourced.

SPORTS ALL YEAR ROUND. Lahti is famous for its winter sports events. In the annual Lahti Ski Games athletes compete in cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined. The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 took place in Lahti and the event received the EcoCompass certificate for sustainability. There are various ski routes throughout the area. Lahti also has the largest ski centre in Southern Finland: in Messilä you can go downhill skiing on slopes generated from recycled lake water – the city uses lake water and green energy to make artificial snow and maintain the Salpausselkä ski tracks during low snow periods.

If you don’t feel quite up to hitting the ski tracks, you can always have a go on the ski jump simulator in the Lahti Ski Museum!

During summertime, the Lahti sport centre has a unique public outdoor swimming pool located at the foot of the ski jump. The outdoor pool is a summer favourite among local children. Vierumäki and Pajulahti also have great offers for sports enthusiasts.

For more activities: visitlahti.fi