Imatra

Imatra (population ca. 30,000) is an industrial town in South Karelia. It is dominated by Lake Saimaa, the River Vuoksi and the Finnish-Russian border. Imatra’s over 300-year-old history of busy tourism is greatly attributed to the attraction of the spectacular rapids of the river, which have enticed many illustrious personas to visit the area throughout the ages. Visitors have included such people as Russian Empress Catherine II, Alexander Dumas Senior and Richard Wagner.

The municipality of Ruokolahti, 10 km to the north towards Puumala is also handled in this article.

Imatra's rise to prominence can be traced back to the late 19th century when it attracted Russian aristocrats and wealthy visitors who were drawn to its stunning natural beauty. One of the main attractions for these visitors was the Imatrankoski Rapids, which were considered one of the most impressive natural wonders in the region. To accommodate the influx of tourists, the town built several hotels and other amenities, including the Imatran Valtionhotelli, which was completed in 1903 and quickly became one of the most famous hotels in Finland. The hotel's beautiful architecture and breathtaking views of the rapids made it a popular destination for famous guests like Russian Tsar Nicholas II and Finnish President Urho Kekkonen.

However, in the early 20th century, Finland gained independence from Russia, and the flow of Russian tourists to Imatra decreased, leading to a decline in the town's fortunes. Nevertheless, Imatra continued to be a popular destination for domestic tourists and grew and developed in the years that followed.

Today, Imatra is well-known for the Imatrankoski Rapids, which are a series of rapids on the Vuoksi River that flow through the town. The rapids attract both tourists and locals, and the area features several viewing platforms and walking trails. However, a hydroelectric dam was built and, since 1929, the rapids flow freely only at regular shows and on special occasions.

Apart from natural beauty and historic landmarks, Imatra is also a hub for sports and outdoor activities. The town boasts hiking and biking trails, a golf course, and water sports opportunities, making it an ideal destination for those who love the outdoors.

Ruokolahti markets itself – tongue-in-cheek – as the Lion Parish, as several people claimed to have seen a lion there in the summer of 1992 and the news media, with little else to report, got wild and Ruokolahden leijona became a well-known meme. It has its fair share of beautiful landscapes and some natural and cultural attractions.

• Imatra, Tainionkoskentie 14, ☏ +358 20-617-111 (exchange). Municipal office. 
• Visit Ruokolahti, Virastotie 3, ☏ +358 5 26911.  
• GoSaimaa. All information about the region: what to do, what to see, where to stay, etc. 

	Visa restrictions: In response to Russia's war in Ukraine, Russians are banned from entering Finland for tourism. All land borders remain closed as of February 2024.
	(Information last updated Aug 2026)

Imatra is about 250 km north-east from Helsinki and the voyage takes about three hours, varying somewhat between routes, the most straight-forward of which is to drive along highway 7 (E18) to Koskenkylä of Loviisa, from where highway 6 leads to Imatra.

Highway 62 comes in from Puumala in the north-west, through Ruokolahti. Regional road 438 from Sulkava in the north merges into highway 62 in the countryside of Ruokolahti.

The town is near the Russian border; highway 62 leads from Imatra towards Svetogorsk just 7 km away – but the border is closed as of 2026.

Scheduled flights to the nearby Lappeenranta Airport (LPP ^IATA) have been on and off at various times, so you may need to check its webpage for the current situation. There is also the historically significant Immola Airfield (ICAO EFIM) in the northern part of the town. Your best bet, though, is bus or train.

Trains between Helsinki and Joensuu stop at Imatra. The duration of the trip is about three hours and there are about ten daily departures.

• 61.1959128.776021 Imatra railway station (Imatran rautatieasema), Koskikatu 1 (In Mansikkala, about 1 km north of Imatra's main shopping area). Waiting room daily 04:45-21:00. The station has a waiting room, toilets, raised platforms and accessible boarding onto low-floor trains. There is no staffed ticket office or luggage storage. The station is part of Imatra's central transport hub, which also serves local and regional buses.  (updated Nov 2026)

In 2026, there are bus services only from nearby municipalities. Timetables can be found at Matkahuolto.

Regional bus lines 100 and 101 have frequent traffic between Imatra and Lappeenranta. See timetables.

Lake Saimaa can be reached from sea through the Saimaa Canal, but it is closed for small craft as of the mid-2020s, because of the Russian war on Ukraine.

The centres can be covered by foot or bike. The other alternatives are car and taxi.

The city has a small public bus network of six lines, see Jouko for bus locations and timetables for stops. lappeenranta.digitransit.fi includes local transport in Imatra.

There is a bike sharing system using bluetooth and the Donkey Republic about €1.50/1 hr, €4/5 hr, €12/24 hr. For longer stays becoming a member is cheaper: €9 or €18/month covers all trips of less than 1 hr respectively 12 hr, also in other towns using Donkey Republic – but you need to register as member in the country of your card (available: most countries in western Europe and USA). Customer service info@kaakau.fi, ☏ +358 44 716 0644 daily 09:00–21:00. Several towns in south-east Finland use the same system, which is in use also elsewhere in Finland and abroad.

• Taksi Imatra (Imatran Taksi Oy), Olavinkatu 4, 55100 Imatra (Office in central Imatra.), ☏ +358 200 164 64 ( €1.08/call + €1.01/min ). Taxi dispatch 24/7. Local taxi dispatch service operating in Imatra and the surrounding area. Taxis can be booked by phone or through the app. 
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

• 61.166828.77181 Imatrankoski Rapids. Jul–Aug Wed–Sun 18:00. These rapids are Finland's first ever tourist attraction. The Russian Empress Catherine the Great and her retinue visited the rapids in 1772. Next to the rapids is Imatran Valtionhotelli, a castle-like hotel.  
• 61.167228.77882 Kruununpuisto Park. The oldest nature park in Finland, occupying the area around the Imatrankoski Rapids, was founded in 1842 by order of Tsar Nicholas I.  
• 61.4935528.429223 Kummakivi (in Syyspohja, near the border of Puumala). The 7-metre-long (23 ft) boulder is a glacial erratic that lies on a convex bedrock surface with such a small footprint that it almost appears to be moving, but so firmly that it cannot be rocked with human force.  
• 61.236628.85614 Church of the Three Crosses (Kolmen ristin kirkko) (in Vuoksenniska district). Open: 1 Sep - 31 May daily 10:00-15:00, 1 Jun - 31 Aug daily 09:00-20:00. Designed by Alvar Aalto and part of the Aalto Works UNESCO World Heritage Site.  
• 61.2844428.829865 Ruokolahti Church (Ruokolahden kirkko), Ukonsalmentie 5. A Gothic Revival wooden church from 1854, designed by Ernst Lohrmann. Finnish military sniper Simo Häyhä, known better by his epithet "The White Death," is buried in the graveyard.  

• Cross-country skiing. Ruokolahti has some 165 km of maintained cross-country tracks, of which 16 km have lights. They are spread out over a dozen or so locations. Free. 
• 61.292228.78971 Freeski, Lomatie 16 (Ruokolahti), ☏ +358 400-889-851, info@freeski.fi. Downhill skiing and downhill biking. 2 hr €21/18/12 (+€5?), equipment €14; 1 day €27/24/20 (+€5?), €22.  
• Hiking. There are several hiking trails in Ruokolahti, with the option of overnighting in a lean-to or in your tent. Free. 
• 61.334628.402772 Huuhanranta Beach, Kietäväläntie 257-365 (about 30 km from Ruokolahti and about 50 km from Imatra). A popular beach on the shores of Lake Saimaa featured in The Times with mention of the "Saimaa Riviera" nickname.  
• Imatra Big Band Festival. A big band festival that offers, in addition to different genres of Jazz music, also music from blues to funk and from rock to soul.  
• 61.17783328.791253 Imatranajo. A motorcycle racing competition on the street track, organized by the Imatra Motorcycle Club.   ^{[dead link]}
• Rock to the River. Rock festival. 

You can find all sorts of small shops in the 61.170628.771 Pedestrian area (along and next to Koskenparras street). If you prefer shopping malls, head to the 61.18828.76782 Mansikkala district, where you can find Rajamarket, Lidl, Citymarket and a new (as of December, 2018) Prisma.

Imatra has restaurants in the town centre, cafés along the pedestrian street Koskenparras, and lakeside dining around Saimaa. Local specialities include vendace, salmon and other fish dishes. For lunch menus, see Luncher Imatra.

• 61.170728.77081 Buttenhoff, Koskenparras 4 (In the town centre, on the pedestrian street.), ☏ +358 5 4761433, ravintola@buttenhoff.fi. Mon-Fri 11:00-22:00, Sat 12:00-22:00. Traditional restaurant serving Finnish, French and Russian-inspired dishes, with a business lunch on weekdays. Café Julia is on the ground floor. €€.  
• 61.17128.76972 Café Julia, Koskenparras 4 (In the centre of Imatra, on the pedestrian street Koskenparras.), ☏ +358 5 476 1433. Café serving sweet and savoury pastries made in its own kitchen, along with specialty coffee and tea. Wine is also available. Outdoor seating is available in summer, overlooking the pedestrian street. The café is located on the ground floor, while Restaurant Buttenhoff occupies the upper floor.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 61.171828.77383 Ravintola Xiangfu, Tainionkoskentie 10, ☏ +358 5 4368090. Tue 11:00-20:00, Wed-Fri 11:00-21:00, Sat 12:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-20:00; closed Mon. Chinese restaurant serving a lunch buffet and a variety of Chinese dishes. €.  
• 61.171328.7694 Kent Ravintola Steakhouse (Kent Pizza & Steakhouse), Koskenparras 7 (On the pedestrian street.), ☏ +358 5 488898. Mon-Thu 10:30-21:00, Fri-Sat 10:30-22:30, Sun 10:30-21:00. Casual restaurant serving pizzas, steaks, kebabs and grilled dishes. Takeaway and online ordering are available. €-€€.  
• 61.165828.79635 Patsaan Grilli (Rajapatsaan Grilli), Imatrankoskentie 32, ☏ +358 50 5283081. Tue-Sun 18:00-23:00; closed Mon. Grill kiosk serving burgers and other filling fast food. €.  
• 61.17081628.7711676 Rosso Imatra, Koskenparras 1 (In the town centre, near the rapids.). Italian-style chain restaurant serving pizza, pasta and other familiar dishes. €€.  
• 61.210328.7237 Ravintola Nuotta, Satamalaiturintie 13 (At the passenger harbour on Lake Saimaa, near Imatra Spa.), ☏ +358 40 1961007, asiakaspalvelu.imatra@ravintolanuotta.fi. Seasonal; check the website. Summer restaurant specialising in fish from Lake Saimaa, smoked fish, blinis, burgers and meat dishes. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available. €€.  
• 61.170928.77048 Konditoria Imatrankoski, Koskenparras 8 (In the pedestrian zone in the town centre.). Café and patisserie serving pastries, breakfast and weekday lunch with soup and salads. €.  
• 61.189828.77559 Konnichiwa Imatra, Karhumäenkatu 6, ☏ +358 44 2419586. Mon-Fri 10:30-20:00, Sat 11:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-19:00. Sushi buffet with Japanese sushi, sashimi, soup and hot Asian dishes. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available. €€.  
• 61.170428.769710 Restaurant Cascade, Torkkelinkatu 2 (At Imatran Valtionhotelli, by Imatrankoski.). Hotel restaurant offering refined dining inspired by local ingredients and the history of Imatra. €€€.  
• 61.2118728.7251911 Restaurant Pistaasi, Purjekuja 2 (At Imatra Spa, by Lake Saimaa.), ☏ +358 20 7100500. Buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with Finnish dishes and seasonal specialities. €€.  
• 61.2118728.7251912 Restaurant Kastanja, Purjekuja 2 (At Imatra Spa.), ☏ +358 20 7100500. À la carte restaurant at Imatra Spa. €€€.  
• 61.18764728.78036713 Café-restaurant Wanha Virveli, Varpasaarenpolku 12 (At Vuoksi Fishing Park, by the river.), ☏ +358 400 612100, info@vuoksenkalastuspuisto.fi. Seasonal; during winter, by reservation and catering orders. Riverside café-restaurant serving salmon dishes, locally raised rainbow trout, fish soup, salads and hamburgers. The restaurant also has a café and catering service. €€.  

• 61.224728.87251 Gasthaus Patruuna, Kaunolankuja 1 (In Vuoksenniska, about 7 km northeast of central Imatra), ☏ +358 40 128 5294, info@gasthauspatruuna.fi. Affordable hotel offering rooms for one to six guests, some with kitchen facilities. The hotel also has a pub, sauna and parking. Suitable for budget travellers and longer stays.  
• 61.233528.8612 Hotelli Immalanjärvi (Hotel Immalanjärvi), Niskapietiläntie 27 (In the Immola district, about 10 km northeast of central Imatra). Budget-friendly hotel in a quiet area near Lake Immalanjärvi and outdoor recreation trails. Rooms have shared shower facilities, and guests can use a communal kitchen, washing machine and drying cabinet. Suitable for longer stays and travellers looking for simple accommodation close to nature.  
• 61.2055628.723393 Hostel Ukonlinna, Ukonlinnanpolku 7 (In Ukonniemi, about 7 km from central Imatra, on the shore of Lake Saimaa), ☏ +358 50 347 3668, info@metsaterapiakeskus.fi. Check-in: 15:00-18:00. A small hostel in a protected wooden building near the lake and Ukonlinna beach. The hostel has mostly double rooms and a family room, a communal kitchen and a TV room. Bed linen and towels are included. Sauna facilities and a café are also available. Open year-round; late arrivals should be arranged in advance.  

• 61.211928.72544 Imatran Kylpylä Spa Hotel, Purjekuja 2 (In Ukonniemi, on the shore of Lake Saimaa, about 5 km from central Imatra), ☏ +358 20 710 0500, fax: +358 20 7100 519, myynti@imatrankylpyla.fi. Spa hotel offering accommodation in hotel rooms, chalet suites, holiday apartments and villas. The spa department, Taikametsä, has swimming pools, saunas, whirlpools and a water slide. The resort also has restaurants, sports facilities and family activities. The Promenade Hotel has spacious rooms suitable for families.  
• 61.199928.72995 Hotelli Aava (Aava Hotel), Kohonkankaantie 98 (In the Ukonniemi sports and recreation area, about 4 km from central Imatra), ☏ +358 44 901 0349, info@aavahotel.fi. A family-owned log hotel in the Ukonniemi recreation area. Breakfast and use of the sauna are included in the room price. The hotel is close to ski trails, the ice hall and other sports facilities. Free parking is available. Rooms from €89.  
• 61.2090928.787636 Neitsytniemen Kartano (Neitsytniemi Manor), Neitsytniemenkuja 12 (On the banks of the Vuoksi, about 2 km from Imatra railway station), ☏ +358 45 658 1900, info@neitsytniemenkartano.fi. Historic manor hotel in a peaceful riverside setting. The manor has individually decorated rooms with private bathrooms, as well as apartment-style accommodation for groups. A wood-heated outdoor sauna is available to guests. The property also hosts events and celebrations. Open by arrangement; book in advance.  
• 61.20017828.7307617 Saimaa Life & Light (Saimaa Life Apartments), Kohonkankaantie 95 (In the Ukonniemi area, about 4 km from central Imatra), ☏ +358 50 433 5480. Holiday apartments in a forested setting near Lake Saimaa. The apartments range from one-bedroom units to larger two-storey homes and have private saunas and fully equipped kitchens. Suitable for families and groups seeking self-catering accommodation close to outdoor activities.  
• 61.200528.73028 Igloo Glamping LakeLand Camp, Kohonkankaantie 94 (In Ukonniemi, about 5 km from central Imatra). Glamping accommodation in panoramic igloos overlooking the surrounding forest. Each igloo has a terrace, a double bed, a fireplace, a fridge and a bio-toilet. Breakfast is delivered to the igloo, and bicycles and kayaks are available for guests. Sauna can be booked for an additional fee.  

• 61.168928.7719 Imatran Valtionhotelli (Imatra State Hotel), Torkkelinkatu 2 (In central Imatra, beside the Imatrankoski rapids), ☏ +358 10 230 5700, info@imatranvaltionhotelli.fi. The name hides a wealth of history: this castle-like hotel by the Imatrankoski rapids was built in 1903 for Russian nobility. Its original name was Grand Hôtel Cascade d'Imatra. The hotel offers rooms in the historic main building and spacious family rooms in a modern park-side building. Facilities include a restaurant, sauna, swimming pool and gym. Even if you do not stay overnight, the building is worth seeing from the outside.  

• 61.1874728.780710 Vuoksen Kalastuspuisto (Vuoksi Fishing Park), Varpasaarenpolku 12 (On Varpasaari island, close to central Imatra and the Vuoksi river), ☏ +358 400 612 100, info@vuoksenkalastuspuisto.fi. Year-round campsite beside the Vuoksi river, with electrical pitches for caravans and motorhomes, tent pitches and rental cabins. Facilities include showers, toilets, a kitchen, laundry facilities and a sauna. The site also has a café-restaurant and fishing services. The campsite is close to Imatra's town centre and public transport.  

• Lappeenranta – Imatra's bigger cousin with a fortress and better shopping.
• Punkaharju – The ridge bisecting Lake Saimaa is one of the most famous Finnish landscapes.
• Savonlinna – A medieval castle, an opera festival and freshly fried fish.
• Russia – If you have a valid visa (or if you don't need one), Svetogorsk is close by.

Kouvola ← Joutseno ←

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