North Karelia at the Matka Travel Fair 2025

Familiarize yourself with the North Karelia Matka Travel Fair stand!

North Karelia is spectacularly present at the Matka Travel Fair 2025 from the 17th of January until the 19th of January at the Helsinki Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. From this page you will find more information about our unique attractions, local companies and other regional tourism destinations. Emma’s Matka Boutique is filled with delicious tastes from North Karelia and wonderful natural products, that you can purchase from the Matka Travel Fair as a souvenir to take with you.

Come meet the representatives and tourism entrepreneurs of our region – you will find us from the two stands 6D2 and 6F2 that are next to each other!

Program & guests

At the North Karelia fair stand events take place every hour! A more specific program and the guests at the stand will be confirmed during January.

Accommodation

At our stand you can find a vast variety of the different accommodation options in North Karelia. Charming guest houses, close to nature cabins, hidden small gems and the unique hotels offer the grounds for easygoing vacations without rush.

Sustainable choice

Boutique Aparthotel Lietsu

Hotel | Joensuu

Lietsu is a new cozy aparthotel located in the center of Joensuu. Here you will find apartments, decorated in traditional Karelian spirit. Each apartment has a private kitchen, a dishwasher and a washing machine. Lietsu is also suitable for long vacations and remote work, and some of the apartments can be combined into a larger facility, for example, for families with children.

Karelia Cottages

Cottage | Rääkkylä

Karelia cottages is a good choice, if you dream of a vacation in the Saimaa archipelago. Each cottage is located in a secluded area and has its own exit to the shore. You can choose either a fully equipped cottage or a cottage without electricity. Karelia Cottages offers its clients a wide range of entertainment: skiing, fishing, hiking.

Leveälahti Cottages

COTTAGE | LIPERI

Leveälahti Cottages have a tranquil location and all of them are by the lake in Liperi, North Karelia. The cottages provide a safe and relaxed holiday for the whole family and there are lots of opportunities for water activities. There is a private beach, rowing boat and sauna.

Maatilamatkailu Jänisvaara

Cottages | Koli

Maatilamatkailu Jänisvaara is located in the wilderness of Koli, on the shores of Pielinen and Savijärvi lakes, next to the infrastructure of Koli. One of the cottages is suitable for people with disabilities. You can order fresh takeaway food from the delightful Jänisvaara bakery.

Mantan Majatalo

Cottage | ILOMANTSI

The cottages are quietly located by the river in the village of Möhkö, 21 km from Ilomantsi. The interiors of the cottage convey the atmosphere of old Finnish wooden houses. The cottages have their own kitchen, shower and toilet. If you wish, you can order a sauna. Mantan Majatalo Cottages is a 10-minute drive from Petkeljärvi National Park.

Paksuniemen Majatalo

Camping | Rääkkylä

Paksuniemen Majatalo offers rooms with views of Lake Saimaa. Free WiFi is provided, as well as restaurant with terrace located by the harbour. Each individually decorated room at Paksuniemen Majatalo has a wardrobe and access to a shared bathroom in the hallway. Bicycle rentals, BBQ equipment and 2 bookable saunas are also available at Paksuniemi.

Petkeljärvi Center

Camping | Ilomantsi

Petkeljärvi Center is located in the center of the Petkeljärvi National Park. The center offers accommodation in rooms and in a caravan park from the beginning of May to the end of October. The natural attractions of the National Park, many places to visit in Ilomantsi and, for example, Finland's easternmost village, Möhkö, are close by.

Venejoen Piilo

OUTDOOR HOTEL | KONTIOLAHTI

Venejoen Piilo offers unique accommodation in the wilderness of North Karelia. The cabins' huge windows ensure that you'll wake up fresh and can start new day with great views. Koli National Park is only 30 km drive away from Piilo.

Restaurants and cafés

Description of restaurants and cafés in North Karelia who are at Matka.

Karelian culture and the Orthodox monasteries

What is Karelian culture? Many people consider it to be connected to the Karelian way of living, the national epic Kalevala, tasty traditional foods, happiness and kindness as well as the pride in the own culture. Being Karelian can be seen as a mindset, which can be heard in the distinctive dialect, tasted in Karelian pies and heard in the touching notes of the Finnish zither. In addition to the traditions being Karelian is also connected in a modern way to the tourism services in North Karelia. For people interested in culture Nort Karelia is the home of endless stories where you can meet the Eastern culture at the dining table or museum visits as well as the accommodation options.

Rune Singer’s Village in Parppeinvaara

Museums and exhibitions | Ilomantsi

Rune Singer’s Village in Parppeinvaara, Ilomantsi presents Karelian culture and old local traditions. War history, Karelian cuisine, nature, and traditions of poem singing are showed in various exhibitions. At Parppeinvaara you will also find a collection of old historic buildings with traditional Karelian style.

Valamo Monastery

Monastery | Heinävesi

Valamo Monastery in Heinävesi is an active centre of the Orthodox religious life and culture in Finland. It is open all year around and provides a place to enjoy peaceful atmosphere and tranquility. Several events, exhibitions and courses are arranged in Valamo. In addition, there is accommodation, restaurant and own winery.

Unique Karelian culture attractions

North Karelia is filled with wonderful culture attractions and hidden gems in tourism. Familiairize yourself with the attractions!

A Nightwish Story exhibition

Museums and exhibitions | Kitee

A Nightwish Story exhibition in Kitee presents the history and story of internationally famous symphonic metal band, Nightwish. Exhibition is changing and has both interactive and virtual elements, so there is a lot to see around the whole year. There is also a fan shop with Nightwish products.

The Old Mine

Museums and exhibitions | Outokumpu

The Old Mine in Outokumpu is a popular attraction in North Karelia and provides adventures for the whole family. Get into the historical museums tunnels and learn more about the history of the copper mine in Mining museums. There is also Children Mine and a restaurant.

Botania

Garden | Joensuu

Botania in Joensuu is the world's northernmost private botanical garden with colorful butterflies. Indoor garden has tropical plants and outdoor garden has over 1 500 plant species in 4,5 ha area. Botania has also different live events as Visual Festival and Wintergarden with snow and ice statues. There is also a cafe in the garden.

Möhkö Ironworks

Art and culture | Ilomantsi

Möhkö Ironworks is locating in the most eastern village of Finland, in Möhkö, Ilomantsi. Ironworks is suitable for the whole family and gets you to know better the history of ironworks and war events of Eastern Finland. In the same area you can also visit an old housebout Möhkön Manta, which is nowadays working as a café.

Nature destinations and activities

Our four unique national parks, numerous hiking destinations and the extensive trail network make it possible to go outside and enjoy the nature in various ways throughout the year. In North Karelia it is possible to have unforgettable experiences surrounded by nature every day. You can for example go on a cruise, a fishing trip, enjoy the Finnish sauna or go relax by the elements of water.

Skiing Center Pääskyvuori

Skiing and downhill skiing | Heinävesi

Pääskyvuori is a Skiing center in Heinävesi. There are four slopes and a Snowpark, which are suitable both for beginners and kids and also for professionals. In the area of Pääskyvuori are also good opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Sisu Fishing

Fishing | Kontiolahti

Sisu Fishing in Kontiolahti offers various guided fishing tours, island trips and fishing courses around the year. Outdoor dining with local ingredients is also possible to arrange together with fishing trips. Services are suitable for all ages and skill levels.

Koli National Park

National park | Koli

Koli National Park is one of the must-see destinations in Finland and the top attraction in North Karelia. Koli is our unique national landscape full of great hiking and skiing routes and various services and activities. National Park is open year around.

Petkeljärvi National Park

National park | Ilomantsi

Petkeljärvi National Park in Ilomantsi is the smallest national park in Finland and has around 10 km of marked hiking trails. In Petkeljärvi you have possibility to familiarize yourself with the history of World War 2 and enjoy pure Finnish nature and lakes.

Patvinsuo National Park

National park | Ilomantsi ja Lieksa

Patvinsuo National Park is locating in the areas of Lieksa and Ilomantsi. In total there are 80 km marked hiking routes with different lengths. Open marshes, sandy shore and old forests are the most typical landmarks of Patvinsuo. If you are lucky, you might see bears in the area.

Kolovesi National Park

National park | Heinävesi

Kolovesi National Park locates in Heinävesi and has amazing surroundings for kayaking and paddling. There are also couple hiking routes. In Kolovesi you can also spot some historical rock paintings and if you are lucky, you might also see rare Saimaa ringed seals.

Ruunaa Hiking Area

Hiking destination | Lieksa

Ruunaa Hiking Area in Lieksa provides great opportunities for hiking, fishing, and rafting. In total there are around 50 kilometers of marked hiking trails and various white waters to admire and to benefit within water activities. In the Ruunaa area are also available accommodation and restaurant services.

War history in North Karelia

Finnish war history is present at many destinations in North Karelia.

Description of war history museums.

Events happen throughout the year in North Karelia!

Folk music festival Kihaus Folk 27. – 29.6. in Rääkkylä
Biathlon World Cup 3. – 8.3.2026 in Kontiolahti

You can find all the unique and wonderful events in North Karelia from:

Event calendar of North Karelia!

Emma’s Matka boutique

Emma’s Matka Boutique is the heart of our stand, where you can find the tasty treats and souvenirs to bring home with you. At the fair you have the possibility to get to know the products better by tasting. You can also find natural cosmetics here! You are warmly welcome! ♥