Winter in the Mikkeli region offers endless opportunities for activities and entertainment. Here are six top recommendations for a delightful winter day out:
Kenkävero, just a stone's throw from the city centre, is a charming destination for a winter stroll. Enjoy traditional local cuisine at Pappilaravintola restaurant and café, along with freshly baked pastries from the bakery, available for purchase at the bakery shop. The Kenkävero Shop is a treasure trove for lovers of Finnish crafts, design, and local food, featuring D.O. Saimaa-branded food products, home decor, jewelry, handicraft materials, and unique high-quality clothing and accessories. Don't miss Pauliina Rundgren's Handicrafts Shop & Studio in the barn, showcasing the designer's stunning, personalized jewelry, home furnishings, and gift ideas.
About 8 kilometres from the centre of Mikkeli, Tertti Manor is a picturesque family manor with charming courtyards. A visit to the internationally renowned Tertti Manor Restaurant is a feast for the senses. The pink manor’s halls serve a sumptuous 50-course culinary delight, featuring delicacies from the manor’s own garden and local producers. The grounds also boast unique hotel rooms in the traditional, red storehouse, a lunch café, and a delicatessen.
Mikkeli's museums offer a captivating journey through peasant culture, the city's history, and contemporary art. The Suur-Savo Museum, housed in an 1848 stone building, presents the peasant culture of South Savo with antique costumes and numerous artefacts related to the city’s history. The Infantry Museum in an old wooden fort area tells the story of infantry from the times under Swedish rule to today. The Headquarters Museum displays the wartime headquarters's activities, including Marshal Mannerheim's study. Muisti Centre for War and Peace, located in the same building, uses modern virtual technology to provide an immersive experience in the lives of both soldiers and civilians during war. Don’t forget to visit the Art Museum in the Akseli Shopping Centre, offering changing exhibitions for all ages.
Located in Kalevankangas, the recreational area a couple of kilometres from the city centre, Saimaa Stadiumi is an all-weather indoor activity park for the whole family. Enjoy a day of climbing walls or playing ball games. For more fun, SuperCorner amusement park at Saimaa Stadiumi is ideal for various activities, including jumping on trampolines, skateboarding, and playful games.
Experience the winter scenery from the heights of Neitvuori in Anttola, Mikkeli. Just over a hundred metres from the surface of Lake Saimaa, the summit offers breathtaking views of the labyrinthine Luonteri archipelago. In winter, reach Neitvuori on foot, by skiing, or snowshoeing. Follow the Hiijje silimukka trail from Hiidenmaa farm to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. You can continue the trail all the way to Juva. If you want to witness the history of our ancestors, visit the the 5,000-year-old rock painting site in Astuvansalmi, Ristiina. The rock's impressive face profile is worth seeing from a distance. In winter, you can reach the site by skiing or snowshoeing on ice, ice conditions permitting. You can also take a guided hike to Astuvansalmi with Uhkua.
Mikkelipuisto’s floating KAIHU Sauna world offers a year-round sauna experience in a, Scandinavian-style wooden building near the city centre, close to Kenkävero. It features two saunas with dressing and washing rooms, plus a lounge & bar for refreshing drinks. In winter, enjoy an open-air dip in the lake. The Sauna world can also be booked for larger groups. Restaurant Greeneri in Mikkelipuisto provides delicious snacks for sauna lovers. The model gardens of Mikkelipuisto park are free to be explored also in winter. Sahanlahti Resort’s saunas on Lake Saimaa in Puumala provide authentic sauna experiences year-round, including a unique ice sauna built of large blocks of ice sawn from the frozen lake. Try the smoke sauna and the traditional wood-heated sauna and top it off with a refreshing dip in Saimaa. For a good night's sleep, the adjacent Saha Hotel or the luxury villas of Elsanranta are excellent choices.