Mikkeli

Mikkeli is a destination in Etelä-Savo, Finland. It offers visitors a range of attractions and experiences in a distinctive setting.

By Plane

Mikkeli airport

( MIK

)

( in the city area roughly 3 km west from the city centre ).

The airport is only used for charter and business flights. Suitably calm, Mikkeli airport is also a home for active glider and parachute enthusiasts.

By train

Mikkeli railway station is in the centre, one block from the market square. The city is on the main Savonia railway between

By Train

Mikkeli railway station is in the centre, one block from the market square. The city is on the main Savonia railway between

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 the Digitransit route planner to find 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. The

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

Jalkaväkimuseo

( Infantry museum ),

Jääkärinkatu 6-8 .

War museum, exhibitions depicting Finnish infantry from the independence to today.

Mannerheim's Salon Carriage ,

Mannerheimintie 1

( at the railway station; a discrete lone wooden railway carriage ),

+358 40-129-5090 (M–F 09:00–15:00) ,

[email protected] .

4 June 10:00–17:00 .

The carriage, with salon, five sleeper cabins, kitchen and toilet, was used by Marshal Mannerheim in 1939–1946, on its own in a civil train or as part of the headquarter train. Can be viewed from the outside year round. Virtual tour available.

Astuvansalmi — one of the biggest rock painting sites in the Nordic countries, 42 km southeast of Mikkeli. The paintings on a cliff next to a lake are thought to be 4,500–5,000 years old, depicting elk, human figures, hands, animal tracks, and boats. Reachable by a 3-km walking path from Ristiina.

Visulahti Travel Centre — a couple of kilometres towards Kuopio. Water park, wax cabinet and camping area.

Urpolan luontokeskus (Nature Centre of Urpola), Selännekatu 30 — a nature conservation zone next to the town centre, popular for small treks.

Mikkelin Ravirata (Mikkeli Racetrack) — horse racing track known for its fastness. The St Michel Race-weekend in mid-July is one of the biggest yearly trotting events in Finland.

Wild Canoe, Lotjasaarentie 5 (Anttola) — canoe and kayak rental, introduction and guided tours on Lake Saimaa.

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.

Anfora Kebab & Pizzeria, Porrassalmenkatu 12, +358 15 222-274 — popular pizzeria close to the centre and nightclubs. Good service and affordable prices.

Ravintola Fernando, Porrassalmenkatu 22 — family-run, Tex-Mex-influenced restaurant with good-sized portions.

Tertin Kartano, Kuopiontie 68 (some 8 km east of the centre) — manor restaurant serving excellent lunch.

Vilee Puoti ja Bistro, Porrassalmenkatu 22 — good quality food made from local ingredients. Daily changing menu.

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 centred along Porrassalmenkatu, so exploring the night is very easy. In wintertime the city is quiet, but in summer many nice terraces open up throughout the centre.

Keskus-Baari (KB), Porrassalmenkatu 12 — nostalgic small pub from the 1960s. Very wide choice of music, cheap beer and welcoming atmosphere.

Pub Päämaja, Raatihuoneenkatu 4 — nice traditional pub serving beer brewed in Mikkeli. Sports on TV available. Nice pub burgers as well. Also popular place to eat lunch. (updated Jun 2017)

Gastropub Eino, Raatihuoneenkatu 4 — tidy gastropub with good selection of drinks.

Hotelli Mikkelä, Porrassalmenkatu 29-31, +358 15 210 0100 — central hotel with sauna and breakfast.

Hotelli Cumulus Mikkeli, Mikonkatu 9 — city centre hotel with restaurant and meeting facilities.

Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Mikkeli, Porrassalmenkatu 9 — centrally located hotel with restaurant and spa facilities.

Summer cottages are available for rent around Lake Saimaa and the surrounding countryside.

Stella — a Sokos department store with a large S-Market supermarket, smaller shops selling clothing, and a small market hall with local food products, right next to the market square.

Akseli — neighbouring shopping centre with clothing stores, wellness services, restaurants and cafés.

Market Square (Tori) — the largest and one of the busiest marketplaces in Eastern Finland. Cafés, terraces, local produce, flea markets on weekends and especially on Mikkelinpäivä (Michaelmas, 29 September).

Raijan Aitta, Kipparintie 2, Majavesi (15 km south of Mikkeli) — handmade linen and flax products, plus raspberries and strawberries in summer.

• Berlin — Germany's capital city, reachable by regional train
• Nearby towns in Etelä-Savo — explore the surrounding region