Mäntyharju
as a destination

Hiking trails, culture and an authentic village atmosphere in the heart of lake nature.

Fun things to do all year round
200 km from Helsinki

Mäntyharju is one of Finland’s most popular holiday destinations, offering much more than just the well-known Art Centre Salmela and Repovesi National Park.

Here you’ll find, for example:

Award-winning hiking trails leading to Repovesi National Park
10 museums
Kino cinema
Nilkko Brewing microbrewery
4 frisbee golf courses
2 summer theatres
Vola-Golf
Käärmekallio petting zoo
Ryönänhovi garden
Motosport centre
Well-stocked grocery stores
Local boutiques
Lovely cafés
Several restaurants
Village markets
Hundreds of kilometres of gravel cycling routes
“Mailbox cycling” routes
Forest playground and children’s MTB track
Renovated Kisala multi-purpose hall
12 campfire shelters for day trips
Hundreds of geocaches

Near Unelma:

Art Centre Salmela – 3 km
Iso-Pappila museum and nature church – 3 km
Village centre, market square and restaurants – 750 m
Train station and Makasiini cafe&shop – 650 m
Nearest canoeing route – 650 m

Kisala sports hall and forest playground – 1 km
Nilkko Taproom microbrewery – 900 m
Nearest shop and gym – approx. 30 m
Kino cinema and library – 2 km
Repovesi National Park – 33+ km

Reasons to visit

Our location, surrounded by natural lakes and pine forests, offers the perfect setting for immersive nature experiences.

Here, you won’t find traffic jams, shopping centres or skyscrapers. Instead, you’ll discover clean lakes, flowing rapids, fresh pine forest air and nearly 500 lakes.

For things to do, places to visit and tips for families, couples and groups, visit our shared tourism website: visitmantyharju.fi https://www.visitmantyharju.fi/

New! You can also receive Unelma’s local tips directly by email: order your free pocket-sized travel guide

How to get here?

Mäntyharju is located in the Finnish Lakeland, in the South Savo region, about 2 hours and 200 kilometres from the capital, Helsinki. You can reach Mäntyharju by train, bus, or by car (own or rental). Several trains stop here daily. Highway 5 runs through the western part of Mäntyharju, and Highway 15 through the eastern part. Buses also operate daily, but express services run only along Highway 5.

Transport connections

By train

Mäntyharju has one long-distance train station, with several trains stopping daily from both southern and northern directions. The journey from Helsinki takes about 2 hours and does not require any transfers.

By bus

The Mäntyharju bus station is located in the town centre, in the yard of Mainio department store. Express buses and OnniBus stop along Highway 5 (Uutela and Vihantasalmi stops), about 13 kilometres from the centre. Please check the latest stop information directly with the bus operators.

Timetables, ticket options and prices can be found at matkahuolto.fi and onnibus.fi.

By car / rental car

Navigation services generally work well, and if there are any issues with directions, you will receive additional information in advance from your chosen accommodation. The nearest car rental services are located in nearby cities (Mikkeli, Lahti, Helsinki ext.). Electric vehicle charging points are available at S-Market and at Art Centre Salmela.

What our guests say

“A very clean and pleasant place to stay near the centre of Mäntyharju. It works perfectly as a base for a larger group planning short trips to Salmela or the surrounding area. Also great for a cycling trip to Repovesi—while still enjoying a good bed and fresh sheets at night.”

“The place was charming and matched the description perfectly. The apartment was spotlessly clean and very well equipped. The location was peaceful and also convenient for trips to Repovesi. Piia provided excellent tips for hiking in the area. Highly recommended!”

“Absolutely a top-notch place to stay! The location is excellent, within a short distance of everything. The apartment was very clean and beautifully, uniquely decorated. Everything had been thoughtfully considered—from spare wool socks to umbrellas! Piia, the host, provided great information both about Mäntyharju and the accommodation. I highly recommend this place!”