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 Vuoksi, 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.

Understand


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.

By car
Imatra is about 250 km north-east from Helsinki and the voyage takes about three hours, varying somewhat between routes. The town is near the Russian border and you can cross the border at Svetogorsk just 7 km from Imatra.

By plane
Scheduled flights to the nearby Lappeenranta Airport 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, would be to fly into Helsinki and travel from there by bus or train.

By 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.

By bus
Imatra has direct coach connections with Helsinki, Kouvola, Joensuu, Mikkeli and Savonlinna. Timetablescan be found at Matkahuolto.

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

A minibus route from Saint Petersburg is provided by Transgold.

By boat
Lake Saimaa can be reached from sea through the Saimaa Canal.

Get around
The centre can be covered by foot or bike. The other alternatives are car and taxi.

By bus
The city has a small public bus network of six lines, see Ridango for bus locations and timetables for stops. Google Maps and matka.fi include local transport in Imatra.

By bike
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@undefined, 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.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

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

Eat
There is a list of lunch offers for each day.



Go next

 * 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.