South Savo

The core of the Finnish Lakeland, whose biggest highlights are Lake Saimaa's thousand islands and the Olavinlinna Opera Festival in Savonlinna.

South Savo lies in Finland's eastern lake district, mostly covered by the Lake Saimaa waterways, with islands, peninsulas and forests interwoven. Olavinlinna Castle in Savonlinna was built in the 15th century, and the opera festival held in the castle each summer is internationally renowned; the capital, Mikkeli, is another lakeside city. Linnansaari National Park is a place to see the rare Saimaa ringed seal and is good for boating and lakeside camping. Summer is the best travel season, and autumn offers fall colors. You can take the train via Mikkeli or on to Savonlinna, and in summer lake cruises also connect various places.

Destinations

• Savonlinna

Itineraries

• Finnish Lakeland & North Karelia Self-Drive – A Lakeland loop starting from the southern shore of Lake Saimaa, passing through Savonlinna, Koli, Kuopio, and ending i…