Asikkala

Asikkala is a municipality in Päijänne Tavastia, Finland, by the lakes Vesijärvi and Päijänne. The Vääksy Canal crosses the isthmus between the lakes, through the main village Vääksy.

Understand


The municipality has two dozen villages spread around, mostly along the shores of the lakes. The main village is Vääksy, by the canal, while the parish village is Asikkala, 6 km to the north-west along the shore. Kalkkinen is to the north-east, with the outlet rapids of Päijänne – one of few major rapids in natural state in southern Finland – and a canal bypassing them.

Get in
The distance from Lahti is 25 km.

Former road 4, now road 24, comes from Lahti as Vesikansantie going north, changes names to Vanha nelostie and turns westward, and leads through Vääksy by the isthmus. From the north-west the road leaves Jämsä, 100 km to the north-northwest, as Lahdentie, changes names to Nelostie and leads via Padasjoki to Vääksy. Road 314 comes from Sysmä in the north, over Päijänne, via Asikkala to Vääksy.

By train
Lahti is on the Saint Petersburg–Helsinki line, with frequent trains from Helsinki (1 hr). Hämeenlinna in the south-west (70 km) is on the Helsinki–Tampere railway. Jämsä is on the Tampere–Jyväskylä railway.

By bus
Asikkala has coaches from Helsinki, Jyväskylä and Jämsä, see Matkahuolto.

Asikkala is part of the local transport network of Lahti.

By boat


There are boats from Lahti to Jyväskylä and Heinola and back, via Vääksy and Kalkkinen/Karisalmi.

By pleasure craft there are navigable waterways from Pielavesi, Viitasaari and Äänekoski in the north (via Jyväskylä), Kouvola in the east (since 2020; check how to pass Jyrängönkoski in Heinola), and from Lahti in the south. On some of the routes there are low bridges, in the Kimola Canal a 4.8 m tunnel and a 3.8 m bridge.

By bus
See Lahti#By bus

By taxi
See Päijänne Tavastia

See




Buy


Shops and workshops by Vääksy Canal

Sleep
There are a few holiday villages and a hotel.



Go next

 * Heinola or Jyväskylä by cruise, the former using the canal Kalkkisten kanava.
 * Päijänne National Park off Padasjoki