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Voykit pocket guide · Finland
Sulkava
Visit Sulkava for a day in summer to see the rowing races or the lake scenery; add a night if you want to stay at the Art Deco Hotel.
Sulkava is a small lakeside town in South Savonia, famous for the July Sulkava Rowing Race and easy access to Lake Saimaa. Most attractions are within walking distance, so a day covers the main sights; a night lets you enjoy the marina and a summer‑only hotel.
- Country
- Finland
- Best months
- June–August
- Avoid
- November–March (many services closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–110 excl. bed · High €110+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU roaming applies.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112 · Medical helpline 116 117
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected; round up for great service.; Café and bar: Nothing.; Taxi: Nothing expected.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent.
- Toilets
- Free in libraries, malls and many stations; some charge €1 by card.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at lakeside café | €2–3 |
| Beer (draft) | €3–5 |
| Taxi (first km) | €5–7 |
| Boat rental (hour) | €10–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VRK · Varkaus Airport
- About 70 km (43 mi) north; limited flights. Check.About 43 mi (70 km) north; limited flights. Check.
- SVL · Savonlinna Airport
- About 35 km (22 mi) south; seasonal flights. Check.About 22 mi (35 km) south; seasonal flights. Check.
Typical fares
- Savonlinna → Sulkava (taxi)
- ≈ €15, 30 min
- Boat hire (hour)
- ≈ €12
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk in town centre; rent a boat from the marina (hourly rates). Taxis are available (Juvan Taksiauto, Taksi Rolf.Kurki). Regional road 14 connects to Savonlinna (30 min drive).
See and do
Known for
- Sulkava Rowing Race
- Lake Saimaa marina
- Vekaransalmi Bridge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Savonlinna | Drive north on highway 14, about 30 km (19 mi), 30 minDrive north on highway 14, about 19 mi (30 km), 30 min | ≈30 min |
| Vekaransalmi Bridge | Drive or bike on regional road 438, 5 km (3.1 mi) from centreDrive or bike on regional road 438, 3.1 mi (5 km) from centre | ≈10 min |
Sleep
- Art Deco Hotel and Restaurant
- Summertime only, lakeside, near marina
- Tiittala Manor B&B
- Rural manor, check availability
Language
Finnish is unrelated to Swedish or Norwegian and famously hard, but almost all Finns under 60 speak good English. About 5% speak Swedish as a first language, and signs are bilingual in the south and west. 'Kiitos' (thanks) and 'moi' (hi) go a long way.
- Silence is comfortable in Finland: a quiet conversation partner is not a rude one.
- In Åland, Swedish is the only official language.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake, eye contact, short and direct; avoid: Hugs and long small talk with strangers
- Silence: Let pauses be pauses; avoid: Filling every quiet moment
- Sauna: Shower first, ask before throwing water on the stones; avoid: Swimsuits in nude-only saunas, or nudity in mixed ones marked otherwise
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or pastries; avoid: Keeping shoes on indoors
- Personal space: Keep a metre's distance in queues; avoid: Sitting next to a stranger when other seats are free
- Promises: Mean what you say; Finns will; avoid: Polite 'let's meet sometime' you do not intend
Scams and watch-outs
- Most shops close outside the summer season; plan meals ahead in winter.
- Rowing race tickets and boat rentals fill quickly; book early if you want to participate.
Sulkava is safe; low crime. In winter, roads can be icy—use winter tyres.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sulkava yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sulkava Rowing Race
- Lake Saimaa marina
- Vekaransalmi Bridge
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sulkava official site: sulkava.fi/en/
- Visit Sulkava tourism page: visitsulkava.fi/en
- Sulkava Rowing Race: www.suursoudut.fi
- Wikivoyage: Sulkava, revision 5084073 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5084073
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sulkava). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.