Lahti
Lahti is the eighth-largest city in Finland and has plenty of sights to keep you busy. Nature lovers will find a lot to like here too.
Key facts
- Population: 119,984 (as of December 31, 2021)
- Area: 519.21 km²
- Location: 100 kilometers north of Helsinki in the Päijät-Häme region; 60° 58' N, 25° 40' E
- Currency: euro
- Costs: around 25% higher than in Germany
- Weather:
| Month | Average temperature |
|---|---|
| January | -10°C to -4°C |
| February | -10°C to -4°C |
| March | -6°C to 1°C |
| April | -1°C to 8°C |
| May | 5°C to 15°C |
| June | 9°C to 19°C |
| July | 12°C to 22°C |
| August | 10°C to 20°C |
| September | 6°C to 14°C |
| October | 2°C to 7°C |
| November | -3°C to 1°C |
| December | -8°C to -2°C |
- Drinking water quality: high
History of Lahti
Lahti was first mentioned back in 1443, yet it only received town rights in 1905. The city grew rapidly in the 20th century, driven by the construction of the railway from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and the arrival of refugees during the Winter War.
The Lahti Ski Games have been held here since 1923 and are widely known. Until 1993, Lahti was also home to the Lahti longwave radio transmitter. In 2016, Nastola became part of Lahti, which considerably increased the city's area.
Top 10 things to do and sights
Lahti has quite a bit going on. Whether you want to get active or dig into the culture and history of the area, you'll find something here.
The 3 best museums
Lahti has numerous museums covering all sorts of subjects. Three of them stand out.
Radio and Television Museum, Mastola
Lahti's radio and television museum sits next to the 150-meter radio masts that serve as the city's landmark. In the museum you can look at old television sets and radios and learn about the history of broadcasting.
More information is available at Radio- ja tv-museo Mastola (lahdenmastola.fi).
Lahti Ski Museum, Hiihtomuseo
At the ski museum in Lahti, visitors learn all about the history of skiing in the north. Admission is free for children. The museum has a "ski jump simulator", and you can try laser biathlon and plenty of other activities.
More information is available at Hiihtomuseo.
Finnish Motorcycle Museum, Suomen Moottoripyörämuseo
The motorcycle museum in Lahti is the only museum of its kind in Finland. More than 100 exhibits are on display. The exhibitions change every year, and the museum has a restaurant where you can get snacks or a burger.
Find out more at Museum in english | Moottoripyörämuseo (moottoripyoramuseo.fi).
Top 7 places for sport & entertainment
If it's action you're after, Lahti is the right place. There is no shortage of sports and entertainment.
Lahti Sports Center, Lahden Urheilukeskus
The Lahti Sports Center is a sports complex with a wide range of outdoor and indoor activities. Mountain biking, martial arts and skiing are just some of the sports you can do here.
DiscGolfPark, Mukkula
Disc golf is a popular sport in Finland. At the Mukkula DiscGolfPark you can get to know the sport and, of course, try it yourself. There are 22 baskets to play.
Möysän Musaklubi, Mössö
The Möysän Musaklubi hosts concerts and private events. It is 650 meters from the railway station. In 2017 the club was awarded the silver medal for its cultural work at the SuomiRock Gala.
Escape rooms Lahti, Pakohuonepeli
The escape rooms in Lahti offer four different rooms. You get locked into one of them and have 60 minutes to solve puzzles and get out. Logical thinking, alertness and teamwork are what count here. Adrenaline junkies and puzzle fans shouldn't miss this one.
You can book at Escaperooms Bucht :: LahtiEscape. (The site is only available in Finnish.)
Virtual Reality Arcade, Kvantti
Kvantti is Lahti's first VR arcade. There are more than 30 different games on offer, and up to three people can play at the same time.
One hour costs 30 euros. Students and children under 12 pay 25 euros per hour. There is also a group deal, recommended especially for birthdays and bachelor parties.
You can book a session at Quantum, Virtual Reality Arcade (kvanttivr.fi). (The site is only available in Finnish.)
Bowling alley, Lahden Hohtokeila
This bowling alley in Lahti is a bit different: you can play "glow bowling" here. It's also possible to rent the entire hall.
You can book at Lahti Glow Bowling (hohtokeila.fi). (The site is only available in Finnish.)
Sibelius Hall, Sibeliustalo
Sibelius Hall in Lahti is a concert and congress hall on the shore of Lake Vesijärvi. The hall is known for its impressive architecture, and guided tours of the building are offered in Finnish and English.
More information about Sibelius Hall is available at Frontpage, Sibeliustalo.
Getting around Lahti
If you're heading to Lahti, you'll want to know how to get around once you're there. Buses and trains cover most of it, but there are alternatives.
Bus and train
Trains from Lahti's railway station serve many different destinations, and buses make it easy to get around within the city.
Train routes are listed at Lahti railway station, VR.
E-scooters
You can also use e-scooters in Lahti. The TIER e-scooters are easy to use with the Whim app; details on how the scooters work can be found at Using TIER e-scooters in Finland, Service and Support (whimapp.com).
Taxi
There are numerous taxi companies operating in and around Lahti. These include:
- Lahden Aluetaksi (English, Aluetaksi.fi (lahdenaluetaksi.fi))
Contact: 0601 100 01
- Lahden Taksi (Taxi Lahti | Book a taxi in Lahti region | Lahen Taksi)
Contact: 0600 555 805
- Petax Taksit (Petax Taksit Lahti, Lahden Taksi | Petax Lahti)
Contact: 029 1700 248
Your own car or a rental car
Getting around Lahti by car is straightforward. If you don't have your own, you can rent a car in Lahti. Companies with a branch in Lahti include:
- Europcar (Autovermietung, Auto, Transporter & LKW weltweit | Europcar)
- Sixt (Sixt, Car rental in Finland and abroad)
- Hertz (Car Hire & Van Hire, Europe & Worldwide, Hertz Car Rental)
Where to stay in Lahti
Finding vacation accommodation in Lahti is a bit trickier than elsewhere. The number of vacation rentals and hotels is limited, and prices are mostly on the high side. Still, it's possible to find a nice hotel room or apartment. If you come up empty in Lahti, it's worth looking in the nearest larger towns, Kouvola and Hämeenlinna.
Restaurants, cafés and bars
Lahti has no shortage of restaurants, cafés and bars. A few of them stand out and are well worth a visit.
Viikinkiravintola Harald
Besides Lahti, the "Viking restaurant" Harald has seven other locations in Finland. The restaurant serves Scandinavian dishes; lactose-free and vegan options are on the menu too. The whole place is furnished and decorated in Viking style, and guests can wear a Viking helmet while they eat to make the experience as real as possible.
To book a table or find out more, go to Restaurant Harald | Viikinkiravintola Harald.
Ace Café Lahti
The Ace Café in Lahti is the first Ace Café outside London. It serves burgers and salads. What makes the burgers special are the black burger buns. You can also order lactose-free and gluten-free dishes.
The Ace Café Lahti is located inside the Finnish Motorcycle Museum.
More information is available at Ace_en | Ace Cafe Lahti.
Taivaanranta Lahti
At this restaurant, the food impresses, but so does the unusual decor. Large parts of the walls are lined with wooden barrels, and the stone arches give the place a character all its own.
The dishes are prepared with local ingredients, and there are lactose-free, gluten-free and vegan options.
More information is available at Taivaanranta > fi > Home. (The site is only available in Finnish.)
Tripla Bar
At the Tripla Bar in Lahti, guests can expect live music, dancing and karaoke. There are also board games, billiards and table football. Hard to be bored here.
The happy hours run from 10 am to 2 pm in the mornings and from 4 pm to 8 pm Monday to Thursday.
More at www.triplabar.fi. (The site is only available in Finnish.)
Shopping and services in Lahti
For shopping, head to the Syke, Valo, Maili or Karisma shopping centers.
Grocery stores can be found almost everywhere in Lahti.
If you need medical care, you'll get it at Terveystalo Lahti, and there are several pharmacies in town, including Yliopiston Apteekki, Ilves Apteekki, Lahden Keskusapteekki and Lahden Helmi Apotek.
Nature in Lahti
Finland's nature is one of a kind, and for many travelers it's the main reason to come. In Lahti you can experience it up close.
Vesijärvi
Finland is the land of a thousand lakes, and Lahti sits right on one of them: the city lies on the shore of Vesijärvi (literally "water lake"). Vesijärvi covers almost 108 km² and is home to the island of Enonsaari.
Päijänne National Park, Päijänteen kansallispuisto
Päijänne National Park is a dream for nature lovers. It consists of numerous islands and lakes and covers 14 km². You can watch fine sunsets here or explore the waters by boat.
Laune Central Park, Launeen keskuspuisto
In Laune Central Park you'll find two ponds and more than 500 different plant species.
The park is open year-round and free to enter. Children can play on the spider climbing frame and at the water playground.
There are other activities in the park too, or you can simply enjoy the scenery.
Lahti harbor
Lahti's harbor is close to the city center. You'll find restaurants, cafés and shops there, but the most impressive thing about the harbor is the view out over the water.
Language
Finland's official languages are Finnish and Swedish, though Swedish is spoken by only about 5% of the population.
Most Finns speak English, so you'll get by fine with it. Even so, it helps to know a few basics in Finnish.
| Hello! | Hei!/Moi!/Terve! |
| Bye! | Heippa!/Hei hei!/Moi moi! |
| Thank you! | Kiitos! |
| You're welcome! | Ole hyvä! |
| Yes | Kyllä/Joo |
| No | Ei |
| One coffee, please. | Yksi kahvi, kiitos. |
| Where is the toilet? | Missä vessa on? |
| I don't speak Finnish. | Minä en puhu suomea. |
| Can you* say that in German/English? | Voitko sanoa sen saksaksi/englanniksi? |
* In Finnish, everyone is addressed with the informal "you".
Conclusion
Lahti is Finland's eighth-largest city and has plenty to show for it: distinctive museums, sports, entertainment and restaurants.
And if it's Finnish nature you're after, Lahti delivers on that too.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce "Lahti"?
"Lahti" is pronounced pretty much the way it's written. Just note that in Finnish the "h" is pronounced clearly and audibly before the "t".
Is there snow in Lahti in winter?
Yes, there is usually snow in Lahti in winter, though the amount naturally varies from year to year.
What is the best way to travel from Germany to Lahti?
The easiest option is probably to fly to Helsinki-Vantaa airport (for example from Frankfurt International or Berlin Brandenburg) and take the train from Helsinki to Lahti. Trains run directly from the Helsinki airport toward Lahti.
More Lahti articles:
More cities in Finland
Sergej Gerber
I am an absolute Scandinavia fan and have been traveling to the beautiful Scandinavian countries for over 12 years. Here I share my experiences and tips about the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic Sea region.