Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Standing immense and haughty, 15th-century Olavinlinna is one of the most spectacularly
situated castles in northern Europe and, as well as being an imposing fortification, is also
the stunning venue for the month-long Savonlinna Opera Festival. The castle's been heav-
ily restored, but is still seriously impressive, not least in the way it's built directly on a
rock in the middle of the lake. To visit the upper part of the interior, including the towers
and chapel, you must join a guided tour (around 45 minutes).
Tours are multilingual depending on demand and depart on the hour. Guides are good at
bringing the castle to life and furnish you with some interesting stories: the soldiers, for in-
stance, were partly paid in beer - 5L a day and 7L on Sundays, which makes the castle's
frequent changes of hands more understandable.
Savonlinna Maakuntamuseo
MUSEUM
10am-5pm daily, closed Mon Sep-May)
The town's provincial museum, in an old Russian warehouse near Olavinlinna Castle, tells
of local history and the importance of water transport. There are old photographs, models
and a changing art exhibition. Here also is
Nestori
, a national parks information centre,
and a selection of
museum ships
,
open from mid-May to mid-September during the same
hours as the museum (included in ticket or €3 alone).
Activities
From June to August, Savonlinna
passenger harbour
is buzzing with dozens of daily
scenic cruises that last an hour to 90 minutes and cost around €12 to €20. Boats anchor
alongside the kauppatori (market square) and you can soon see which is the next departure.
There are also many boats available for charter.
SS Heinävesi
CRUISE
This centenarian steamship runs daily to Punkaharju, giving you 2½ hours there. It didn't
run the last summer we visited, so check if service has resumed.
M/S Puijo
CRUISE
