Museum & Cultural Tour
Discover urban culture
Start your day with a museum visit at the Culture House Virta. The Art Museum’s collection consists of 1,600 works owned by the City of Imatra and the local Art Association. The nationally significant Sihtola Collection includes around 400 works of modernist art from Finland and across Europe.
No need to leave the building – you can continue straight to the City Museum, which offers insight into the region’s industrialization and its impacts. You'll also learn about the history of tourism in Imatra, shaped by the town’s location along the border and beside the Vuoksi River.
In the Gallery Corridor, rotating exhibitions add vibrant color year-round.
Experience history on-site
Take a guided walk around Imatrankoski, Finland’s oldest tourist attraction, and the surrounding Crown Park (Kruununpuisto). The area features rare giant’s kettles and historical signatures carved into the cliffs. Even Empress Catherine the Great of Russia visited in 1772.
Next, admire the iconic Church of the Three Crosses designed by Alvar Aalto – a gem of Finnish modernist architecture known for its unique structure and light.
Wrap up your cultural tour with a stay at the majestic Imatra State Hotel (Valtionhotelli), an Art Nouveau castle hotel completed in 1903, repeatedly voted the most beautiful building in Finland.
The National Wonder by bike
Cyclist’s Ukonniemi
Hop off the train and cycle straight into Ukonniemi. This lakeside paradise on the shores of Lake Saimaa is one of Finland’s most beautiful travel areas and ideal for active holidays. The multi-use trails offer something for both off-road and road cyclists.
Pumptrack thrills
After exploring the trails, sharpen your skills at the Karhumäki Pumptrack. With seven separate sections, this track suits all skill levels. Ride the flow with any bike or try it with a skateboard or scooter.
After a day of adventure, unwind at Holiday Club Saimaa, just a short bike ride away. Enjoy its restaurants, spa pools and services to recharge for your next ride.
From Waterscape to Waterscape
Drifting along the Vuoksi
Gather your friends and enjoy a relaxing sauna ride aboard the Imatra Sauna Raft on the Vuoksi River. The river stays unfrozen year-round, allowing for sauna cruises in every season. In winter, try floating in icy water before warming up in the sauna’s comforting steam.
Afterwards, continue your river relaxation with a cruise aboard Vuoksetar, a scenic one-hour tour offering unique perspectives and stories from the river – sights you’d never see from land.
Open waters of Lake Saimaa
Dedicate a whole day to sailing the vast Saimaa. Board the Sauna Ship Emma from Imatra Harbour and let years of local experience take you to the best spots. Swim, sunbathe, enjoy the sauna, and savor tasty picnic bites under the spring sun.
Stories from the borderlands
War History at the Border
For those interested in wartime history, the first stop is the Veteran Museum, located in the center of Imatrankoski. Here, you can immerse yourself in the history of Finland’s wars of independence as well as the Winter and Continuation Wars. The museum holds memories from the early days of Finnish independence, including relics from both the German and Soviet armies.
From Imatrankoski, the journey continues to Imatra’s Immola district. On this historical garrison site, you'll find the Border Guard Museum, which presents the history of Finland’s Border Guard. The museum showcases the monitoring of Finland’s land borders, as well as the history of aviation, rescue operations, and border troops during wartime.
To fully absorb the spirit of history, consider staying at Neitsytniemi Manor, a charming estate by the Vuoksi River in a historically rich landscape. With excellent transport connections and a timeless setting, the manor exudes stories and atmosphere from Imatra’s elegant past.
Kalastajan kierros
Vuoksi River on a rowboat
Book a fishing guide and traditional wooden boat from Fishing & Trips Imatra for a day on the Vuoksi River. From the handcrafted boat, your expert guide will take you to the best spots for trolling or casting. The Vuoksi’s native fish population includes both migratory and local species, offering excellent variety for recreational fishing. Popular catches include trout, grayling, whitefish, vendace, salmon, perch, zander, pike, and rainbow trout — so there’s no shortage of possibilities for your next great catch.
Just a stone’s throw away lies the Greater Saimaa area, with its pristine waters and island scenery. Enjoy fishing for perch, zander, or pike surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Lake Saimaa’s archipelago.
Best fishing spots on Lake Saimaa
After exploring the Vuoksi, it’s time to cast your line into the open waters of Saimaa. With Blue Saimaa, you can choose from a wide range of experiences such as casting, trolling, jig fishing, crayfish safaris, or traditional angling.
If you’ve already had your share of lure action, you can instead join a trip to learn how Finland’s famous vendace are caught with trawls or observe how our lakes’ commercial fish are harvested for market — a fascinating peek behind the scenes of Finnish food culture.
After a perfect fishing day, enjoy a delicious bowl of fish soup and rest by the Vuoksi’s gentle flow. Both can be easily found at Vuoksi Fishing Park, where good food and calm waters await.