Saimaa Canal & Mälkiä Lock
Saimaan kanava
A canal opened in 1856 linking Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland. Take a cruise through the locks or visit the canal museum.
The Saimaa Canal runs about 43 km from Lappeenranta to Vyborg Bay and has eight locks. Near the Mälkiä Lock on the Finnish side is the Saimaa Canal Museum, which explains the history of the canal's construction and lets you watch ships being raised and lowered up close. In summer, canal cruises leave from Lappeenranta harbour and sail the Finnish section, passing through locks and forested waterways in about 2–3 hours. The visa-free Vyborg cruises that ran in the past have been suspended since 2022. You can also cycle or walk along the canal's paths, where the scenery is peaceful.
Opening hours
Cruises several times daily in summer; museum open in summer
Nearby sights
- Myllysaari Beach & Winter Swimming
- Lappeenranta Water Tower
- Lappeenranta Harbour
- Wolkoff House Museum
- Lappeenranta Sandcastle
- Lappeenranta Orthodox Church
- South Karelia Museum
- Lappeenranta Fortress