Mikkeli

Mikkeli seen from the water tower 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 110km NW from Lappeenranta. It was founded in 1838 and the Finnish Army HQ under Marshal Mannerheim was situated there during WWII. Get in By plane Mikkeli airport (IATA: MIK, ICAO: EFMI) is located in the city area roughly three (3) kilometers West from the city center. Currently, the airport is only used for charter/business flights - therefore lacking scheduled flights. Suitably calm and ideally located, Mikkeli airport is also a home for active glider and parachute enthusiasts. By train The City of Mikkeli is located on the main Savonia track between Helsinki and Kuopio. Typically, there are 8 daily connections from Helsinki to Mikkeli ranging from regular express trains to slightly better equipped InterCity 2 -trains. The fastest connection from Helsinki to Mikkeli are the Pendolino trains, that take 2 hours and 16 minutes to Mikkeli from Helsinki. Coming by traing, one may have to change trains in Kouvola. Mikkeli train station is located in the city center, just one block from the market square. 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. You can check low-cost offers from Matkahuolto [2], Pohjolan Liikenne [3] and Onnibus [4]. Get around Mikkeli has a comprehensive public transport system (buses to eg Anttola and Otava almost every hour). One-way tickets for buses in the city area cost around €3, while fares for longer routes are measured in traveled kilometers. 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 Avis, 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. See During World War II, Mikkeli was the headquarters of the Finnish Army, and quite a few sights from the period remain. Jalkaväkimuseo [5] (Infantry Museum) - War museum, exhibitions depicting Finnish infantry from the independence to today. Päämajamuseo [6] (Headquarters Museum) - Mannerheim's Headquarters during WWII Viestikeskus Lokki ("Communications Centre Lokki") - Mannerheim's Headquarters' communications centre Suur-Savon museo [7] (Suur-Savo Museum) - Regional museum Naisvuoren näkötorni ("Naisvuori Observation Tower") - An Observation tower overseeing the town of Mikkeli Mikkelin taidemuseo [8] (Mikkeli Art Museum) - Art Gallery Kenkävero [9] An old vicarage, a summer garden, restored buildings, handicrafts to buy Mikkelipuisto [10] ("Mikkeli Park") - Summer garden by the lake, formed by several exhibitors Valokuvakeskus [11] ("Mikkeli Centre of Photograpy") - Photography exhibition and research centre Buy The Akseli shopping mall [12] and a Sokos department store with a large S-Market supermarket can be found right next to the market square. Tori [13] (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 Do Visulahden matkailukeskus [14] (Visulahti Travel Centre) - water park, motor park, wax cabinet, vintage cars museum and camping Urpolan luontokeskus [15] ("Nature centre of Urpola") - A nature conservation zone right next to the town centre, popular for small treks Sleep There are a few hotels in the towncentre but not many hostels can be found. Camping is a good choise for cheaper accommodation. 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) Splurge Hotelli Cumulus Mikkeli, Mikonkatu 9 Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, Porrassalmenkatu 9 Hotelli Uusikuu, Raviradantie 13 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. Nopola is about 200 m from there.), +358 40 836-1199 (E-mail: matti.noponen@nopola.inet.fi), [16]. 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. Get out Helsinki — 230 km away by car. Kuopio — 160 km away by car. Lappeenranta — 110 km away by car. St. Petersburg — 320 km by car. Trains are also available. This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!