Mikkeli

By plane

• Mikkeli airportIt is only used for charter/business flights. Suitably calm and ideally located, Mikkeli airport is also a home for active glider and parachute enthusiasts.

By train

Mikkeli railway station is in the city center, one block from the market square. The city is on the main Savonia track between Helsinki and Kuopio. Sometimes you may have to change trains in Kouvola. Typically, there are 7 daily connections from Helsinki to Mikkeli ranging from regular express trains to slightly better equipped InterCity 2 -trains. The fastest connection are the Pendolino trains, making the trip in 2 hours and 16 minutes.

By bus

Mikkeli has good bus connections to all main cities of Southern and Northern Finland. Buses leave from the Matkakeskus terminal integrated with the railway station.

By boat

Lake Saimaa can be reached from sea through the Saimaa Canal. Boats with high masts may have to moor at Kristiina, some 15 km south of the centre.

Mikkeli has a comprehensive public transport system (buses to e.g. Anttola and Otava almost every hour). Information about local transport you can find here. You can use route planner to seek local bus routes between given locations and addresses. One-way tickets for buses in the city area cost around €3, while fares for longer routes are distance based. Taxis are also available (tel. 0600 300 55) and fares start at €5 and climb up to €1.30/km during weekdays (typically depends on the amount of passengers).
Major car rental companies, such as Europcar and Hertz, are available in Mikkeli. During the summertime, one may also hop in a sightseeing bus or take a cruise in Saimaa from the Mikkeli harbor.

During World War II, Mikkeli was the headquarters of the Finnish Army, and quite a few sights from the period remain.

• Jalkaväkimuseo

  address: Jääkärinkatu 6-8
  War museum, exhibitions depicting Finnish infantry from the independence to today.

• Päämajamuseo

  address: Päämajankuja 1-3
  Mannerheim's headquarters during World War II.

• Viestikeskus Lokki

  address: Vuorikatu
  Mannerheim's headquarters' communications centre

• Suur-Savon museo

  address: Otavankatu 11
  Regional museum.

• Naisvuoren näkötorniAn observation tower overseeing the town of Mikkeli.

• Kenkävero

  address: Pursialankatu 6
  An old vicarage, a summer garden, restored buildings, handicrafts to buy.

• MikkelinpuistoSummer garden by the lake, formed by several exhibitors.

• Valokuvakeskus

  address: Puistokatu 3
  Photography exhibition and research centre.

• VisulahtiWater park, wax cabinet and camping.

• XON-puistoAdjacent to Visulahti Travel Centre. Motor park, paintball and some extreme amenities like catapult and bungee jumping!

• Urpolan luontokeskus

  address: Selännekatu 30
  A nature conservation zone right next to the town centre, popular for small treks.

• Mikkelin RavirataHorse racing track known for its fastness. Many trotting world records have been set in Mikkeli. St Michel Race-weekend arranged in Mid-July is one of the biggest yearly trotting events in Finland and a popular travel destination of horse racing fans.

• Hiihtomäen lava

  phone: +358 45-276-4230
  Dance pavillon.

• Rent a canoe at WildCanoe

  phone: +358 500 840 362
  address: Operates from a base in Anttola, next to Mikkeli
  Rent a canoe and or take a guided canooing tour on the pristine Saimaa lake system.

Festivals and happenings

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• StellaA Sokos department store with a large S-Market supermarket, smaller shops selling e.g. clothing, eating and services can be found right next to the market square. Also included to Stella is small market hall with small shops selling local food products.

• AkseliNeighboring shopping centre to Stella. Clothing stores, some wellness services, couple of restaurants and cafes.

• ToriThe largest and one of the busiest marketplaces in Eastern Finland. Cafes, terraces, local produce, flea markets on weekends and especially on "Mikkelinpäivä" (Michaelmas, 29th of September).

• Raijan Aitta

  phone: +358 15 416-440
  address: Kipparintie 2, Majavesi
  Handmade linen and flax products, plus raspberries and strawberries in summer and cottage accommodation from €30/person. The surrounding countryside and nearby lake are beautiful, but you'll need your own wheels to get here.

Mikkeli has quite a few restaurants given to the city's relatively small size, although many of them are generic chain restaurants. Fast food is available in the form of kebabs and pizzas. McDonald's and Hesburger have two restaurants each in Mikkeli. Almost all kebab restaurants stay open until the closing time of night clubs, and are thus seen as the preferred late-night eating options.
Some noteworthy restaurants:

• Anfora Kebab & Pizzeria

  phone: +358 15 222274
  address: Porrassalmenkatu 12
  Popular pizzeria situated close to the centre and nightclubs. A favourite especially with students and the late-night crowd. Good service and affordable prices.

• Ravintola Fernando

  address: Porrassalmenkatu 22
  Family run, Tex-Mex-influenced restaurant. Good sized portions. Good option, if you're getting bored with the always ubiquitous chain eateries.

• Tertin Kartano

  address: Kuopiontie 68
  Nice manor restaurant serving excellent lunch. Outside of town centre.

• Vilee Puoti ja Bistro

  address: Porrassalmenkatu 22
  Good quality food made from local ingredients. Not cheap, but very tasty. Daily changing menu. Sometimes crowded, so booking a table might be a good idea. Open only on office hours and Saturdays.

Mikkeli's nightlife is not perhaps one of the busiest in Finland, but has some nice pubs to visit. Surprisingly the live music scene is very active. Most of the bars are centered along Porrassalmenkatu, so exploring the night is very easy. In wintertime the city is quiet, but in summer many nice terraces open up troughout the centre.

• Keskus-Baari

  address: Porrassalmenkatu 12
  Nostalgic and small pub from 1960s. Very wide choice of music, cheap beer and welcoming atmosphere. In weekends very crowded. Local favourite for artists. Maybe the best Guinness pints of Mikkeli.

• Pub Päämaja

  address: Raatihuoneenkatu 4
  Nice and traditional pub serving beer brewed in Mikkeli. Sports on TV available. Nice pub burgers as well. Also popular place to eat lunch.

• Gastropub Eino

  address: Raatihuoneenkatu 4
  Tidy gastropub. Good selection of beers. Little bit pricey, but good pub food available.

• Parnell's

  address: Mikonkatu 9
  There is Irish-themed pub even in Mikkeli. Part of small chain. Offers nice environment.

• Pub Jälkipeli

  address: Mikonkatu 5
  Good pub with two sides: sports pub and rock bar. Sports on TV available. Good terraces on summer. Frequented by local football fans as the Urheilupuisto stadium is located next to the pub.

• Stoppari On The Rocks

  address: Porrassalmenkatu 16
  Stoppari is legendary name in Mikkeli. Legendary rock bar of past decades has returned to its roots. Rock themed night club playing all varieties of rock music "from rockabilly to black metal". Occasional gigs.

• Bar'n'Night Vaakuna

  address: Porrassalmenkatu 9
  Considered to be the classiest night club of Mikkeli with prices matching the status. Good place to find gigs. Open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

• Wilhelm Public House

  address: Porrassalmenkatu 10
  Pub-like night club. Sometimes very quiet, but still quite nice interior and good selection of beers. Live music quite often, mostly rock.

There are a few hotels in the town centre but not many hostels can be found. Camping is a good choice for cheaper accommodation.

Budget

• Gasthaus Mikkeli

  phone: +358 400 956290
  address: Nuijamiestenkatu 63

Camping

• Lakeistenrannan Leirintä

  phone: +358 15 660215
  address: Pitkälahdentie, Anttola

• Topjupek

  address: Kaura-Ahontie 11, Otava

Cottages

The area around Mikkeli is one of Finland's main centres for summer cottages (kesämökki). Most are inconveniently located unless you have your own car and primarily geared for families or groups who can bring all their own gear (bedding, food, etc,) and stay a week or longer, but a few cater also to short-stay visitors. Prices vary widely depending on the facilities: some places go for as little as €30/night, top-end facilities ten times that.

• Nopolan Lomamökit

  phone: +358 40 836 1199
  address: Nopolantie 37, Anttola
  Cottages available any season, Bed & Breakfast (1 single and 1 double room) open from 1 Jun through the summer. Sauna, rowing boat, grill and summer kitchen. Very pleasant family-run place. Really great breakfast with home-made bread.

Mid-range

• Hotel Cumulus Mikkeli

  phone: +358 15 20 511
  address: Mikonkatu 9

• Hotelli Uusikuu

  phone: +358 15 2215420
  address: Raviradantie 13

Splurge

• Sokos Hotel Vaakuna

  phone: +358 15 202 01
  address: Porrassalmenkatu 9

• Jyväskylä
• Kouvola
• Kuopio
• Pieksämäki
• Savonlinna — 100 km away by car
• Astuvansalmi rock paintings near Ristiina — 40 km by car