  
We have flights to Lappeenranta From:
Aalesund, Amsterdam, Athens, Baku, Barcelona, Bari, Bergen, Berlin, Billund, Brussels, Budapest, Chisinau, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Istanbul, Kaliningrad, Kiev, London, Milan, Minsk, Moscow, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Paris, Riga, Rome, Simferopol, St Petersburg, Stavanger, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tbilisi, Tel Aviv, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw, Zurich
Geography
The city of Lappeenranta was officially founded in 1649 by Queen Christina of Sweden, but the tale of this town begins much earlier in the Middle Ages, when a bustling market place grew up around its central fortress. Located between East and West, Lappeenranta has since become a vibrant international university city, surrounded by stunning nature and Lake Saimaa. Today, Lappeenranta is the commercial centre of South-East Finland and the meeting point of the EU and Russia, some 215 km away from both Helsinki and St. Petersburg. Lappeenranta, home to approximately 72,000 residents, has a sociable atmosphere with plenty of versatile opportunities for work and education due especially to the visionary role that Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) has played in distributed and renewable energy solutions. Lappeenranta offers possibilities for various leisure activities for lovers of sport, exercise and cultural activities alike. Plan your next city-break in this wonderful setting with cheap tickets from airBaltic, proud to provide low fare flights to Lappeenranta’s International Airport, located directly in the heart of the city.
Languages
Hei! (Hello!) The main language spoken in Lappeenranta is Finnish, the "finished" product of the Finno-Ugric language group which includes Estonian and Hungarian. Thanks to a shared history with Sweden, the second official language there is Swedish. Don’t worry so much about which one is easier to learn, since travel to Finland won’t require a language course - most locals speak excellent English and love to help out a wondering tourist. There are also many services available in Swedish and Russian, if you need. Nonetheless, in the hotel or at the restaurant sampling the local flavour, if you would like to impress a Finn, just end any request with a simple Kiitos! (Thank you!).
See and Do
Lappeenranta is the second most popular travel destination after Helsinki and a hub of lakeside tourism along the shores of Lake Saimaa, Europe’s fourth largest lake. The Fortress, with its museums, craftsmen’s shops and cafes is absolutely steeped in rich history. During the summer and fall, several ships depart from the harbour, heading for the labyrinth of islands on Lake Saimaa or through the Saimaa Canal. You can visit the Russian city of Vyborg without a visa on a canal cruise. An amazing port area provides fun both day and night or, alternatively, visitors may choose to rent a quiet cabin on the lake shore outside the city. Definitely don’t forget to visit the largest Sand Castle in Scandinavia, a favourite for families with children – with over 3 million kilos of sand, it’s no wonder why! Cultural life in Lappeenranta has always been active and varied. The city theatre and the 100-year-old city orchestra offer nights to remember and incredible experiences through both lighter entertainment and more serious art. This versatile cultural life is complemented by the museums, events and the many art exhibitions hosted by the Fortress. Complete the package with an excellent array of shopping venues, local delicacies, a relaxing afternoon at the spa or a round at Finland’s most beautiful golf course. If your city-break happens to be during the winter, the snowy surface of Lake Saimaa provides a plenitude of outdoor activities such as skiing, skating, snowshoeing and ice fishing. You can also try exciting off road and snowmobile safaris, canoeing, rope descending, archery or take a ride on a sleigh pulled by a team of huskies! Enjoy the silence in the breathtaking nature all about – and hear the whisper of the wild in your ears. For a convenient day trip during your city-break, you can even visit Helsinki or St. Petersburg from Lappeenranta and be back home at nightfall. |
