Welcome to North Karelia!
North Karelia in Eastern Finland is a place where you can travel safely and enjoy pure nature with all your senses. We have here a lot to see and do! Discover our top attractions like Koli National Park and Valamo Monastery, spend a comfortable holiday in a cottage by a lake, book memorable experiences and activities online and taste traditional and delicious flavors of Karelian cuisine. Enjoy your summer 2023 in North Karelia, Finland!
Top attractions
North Karelia is a province of over 2000 lakes and 24 000 holiday cottages. Come here to explore the beautiful nature destinations and wide forests, to enjoy delicious flavors of Karelian cuisine and to learn more about traditional Karelian culture.
Just to name few, our top attractions are Koli National Park, Valamo Monastery, Parppeinvaara Rune Singer’s Village, Bomba Karelian Village, and city of Joensuu. In addition, we have three other National Parks – Petkeljärvi, Patvinsuo and Kolovesi. Discover the must-see attractions but also our hidden gems.
Cottage holiday by the lake
In North Karelia you can overnight for instance in cottages and in holiday resorts. Do you prefer staying in city center or want to experience unique Finnish nature and lakes in the middle of forests and countryside? We have alternatives for everyone, find your favorite!
National Parks in North Karelia
Pure nature, thousands of lakes, tranquility and countless hiking trails make North Karelia as a dream destination for hikers. In North Karelia we have four unique national parks – Koli, Patvinsuo, Petkeljärvi and Kolovesi. In addition, Ruunaa hiking area provides great circumstances for hiking, fishing and rafting.
Caravan and camping
Do you prefer staying in the heart of the cities or want to explore the real nature of North Karelia? Here we have different alternatives for caravans and campers but also something for them, who likes glamping with all facilities.
Biking trails in North Karelia
Here we have great opportunities for mountain biking and chilly Sunday cycling. North Karelia has over 200 km long contiguous path network and also several other biking trails around the province. Get on your bike and ride through North Karelia!
Experience Finnish Sauna
To get truly inside the Finnish culture, we recommend you to try the Finnish sauna at least once while you are in Finland. Sauna relieves stress and also has several positive impacts on your health. Read more about our sauna culture and experience the Finnish sauna hype yourself.
Book activities online
Find experiences and activities in North Karelia region online! Have you always wanted to try Finnish sauna, take a fishing tour on a lake, or explore National Parks together with local guide? Now you can easily find and book activities and enjoy holidays alone or together with your friends and family.
Karelian cuisine
Have you already tasted Karelian pasties or other traditional pies and pasties with natural flavors? Karelian food tradition has strong roots in the nature of North Karelia. Karelia à la carte combines the best aspects of traditional cuisine with more modern tastes and seasonal ingredients.
Shopping in North Karelia
Interested in some souvenirs or your own memory from your trip in the beautiful North Karelia? There are various local boutiques and food item producers in the area.
