Sysmä

Sysmä is a municipality in Päijänne Tavastia, Finland. By the shore of Päijänne, it is a popular place to spend summer vacations, with associated events.

Understand


The first settlers in the area came from Sääksmäki (in modern Valkeakoski); later the Tavastian population was mostly replaced by Savonians. According to historians, the word sysmä means either a "dark forest" or an "uninhabited wilderness." The oldest known mention of Sysmä is from 1442, when it was already a separate parish. Sysmä was a large parish, though most of its northern lands lacked a permanent population. Many parishes and, later, municipalities, have been formed partly or wholly in the area of former Sysmä, such as Jämsä and Hartola.

Today, Sysmä is well known for its many alternative homes, used principally as holiday homes.

Get in
Sysmä centre is 16 km west of Highway 4, 165 km north-north-east from Helsinki. By road it is 175 km east of Tampere, 100 km south of Jyväskylä and 65 km north of Lahti.

By train
The nearest railway station, in Lahti, has good train connections, especially from Helsinki.

By bus
In winter, there are one or two connections from Lahti in weekdays, none in Saturdays, one in Sunday evenings. The many coaches along Highway 4 stop in Hartola, 20 km away.

By boat
The waterways via Päijänne extend from North Savonia to Kymenlaakso. Päijänne itself is Finland's second largest lake, at plus 330 km2 of islands, 2,800 km of shoreline,  end to end. Across Päijänne to the west is Padasjoki, which shares Päijänne National Park with Sysmä. Cruises between Lahti and Jyväskylä often stop at Kalkkinen, 7 km south of the border to Sysmä, 30 km from the centre.

Get around
Bus timetables can be found from LSL. Meitin Enerkia has a summer service from Lahti. Dial-a-ride service is available in Sysmä, see timetables and routes.

By taxi
See Päijänne Tavastia

Go next

 * Asikkala
 * Hartola
 * Heinola
 * Luhanka