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From Wikitravel

Mikkeli (St. Michel in Swedish) [1] is a cozy town in South Savonia province, Eastern Finland with a population of 49,000. It is located 230km NE from Helsinki and 100km west from Savonlinna. It was founded in 1838 and the Finnish Army HQ under Marshal Mannerheim was situated there during WWII.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Mikkeli's small airport no longer has any scheduled service; take the train instead.

[edit] By train

Mikkeli is on the main Savonia line between Helsinki and Kuopio. On Pendolino expresses the trip from Helsinki takes 2.5 hours, although you may have to change trains in Kouvola along the way. The train station is near the city center, one block downhill from the market square.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Get around

Mikkeli has a comprehensive but rather costly public transport system (busses all the way to Anttola and Otava almost every hour). Taxis are available (tel. 0600 300 55), but pricy: fares start at €5 and climb up €1.30/km during weekdays.

[edit][add listing] See

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

• Jalkaväkimuseo [2] (Infantry Museum) - War museum, exhibitions depicting Finnish infantry from the independence to today.

• Päämajamuseo [3] (Headquarters Museum) - Mannerheim's Headquarters during WWII

• Viestikeskus Lokki ("Communications Centre Lokki") - Mannerheim's Headquarters' communications centre

• Suur-Savon museo [4] (Suur-Savo Museum) - Regional museum

• Naisvuoren näkötorni ("Naisvuori Observation Tower") - An Observation tower overseeing the town of Mikkeli

• Mikkelin taidemuseo [5] (Mikkeli Art Museum) - Art Gallery

[edit][add listing] Buy

The Akseli shopping mall [6] and a Sokos department store with a large S-Market supermarket can be found right next to the market square.

• Tori [7] (Marketplace) - The 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, Kipparintie 2, Majavesi (15 km south of Mikkeli), ☎ +358-15-416440. 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.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Visulahden matkailukeskus [8] (Visulahti Travel Centre) - water park, motor park, wax cabinet, vintage cars museum and camping

• Urpolan luontokeskus [9] ("Nature centre of Urpola") - A nature conservation zone right next to the town centre, popular for small treks

[edit][add listing] Sleep

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

[edit] Budget

• Gasthaus Mikkeli, Nuijamiestenkatu 63

Camping

• Lakeistenrannan Leirintä - Pitkälahdentie, Anttola (30km from town centre)

• Topjupek - Kaura-Ahontie 11, Otava (10km from towncentre)

• Visulahti Travel Centre - Visulahdenkatu 1 (10km from towncentre)

[edit] Splurge

• Hotelli Cumulus Mikkeli, Mikonkatu 9

• Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, Porrassalmenkatu 9

• Hotelli Uusikuu, Raviradantie 13

[edit] 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.

• Nopola cottages (Nopolan Lomamökit), Nopolantie 37, Anttola (While in Anttola, go down Pitkälahdentie about 8 km to the North. Then turn right on the last fork before Pitkälahti [10]. Nopola is about 200 m from there.), +358 40 836-1199 (E-mail: matti.noponen@nopola.inet.fi), [11]. Cottages available any season, Bed & Breakfast (1 single and 1 double room) open from 1.06 through the summer. Sauna, rowing boat, grill and summer kitchen. Very pleasant family-run place. Really great breakfast with home-made bread.

[edit] Get out

• Savonlinna — 100 km away by car

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