Provincial Finnish towns. Imatra. Open left Imatra menu Where to go for a walk in Imatra

Imatra is one of the young cities of Finland, which is located close to the Russian border in the region of South Karelia. In this place in the north of the Karelian Isthmus, the border of the two countries is separated by the Vuoksa River. In close proximity to Imatra, on the other side of the border, is the Russian city of Svetogorsk, and an hour's drive away is Vyborg. To get to this Finnish city from St. Petersburg, you need to travel a little over 200 km.

Despite the fact that Imatra gained urban status only in 1971, this place has attracted travelers since the last century. And the reason for the pilgrimage here was the Imatrankoski waterfall, which is formed when water is released from a hydroelectric power station; this is the first attraction that is shown to tourists here.

Many tourists come to Imatra purposefully - to see an unusual spectacle - powerful streams of Imatrankoski water falling from a twenty-meter height to the sounds of Sibelius’s music, harsh as the surrounding nature.

Once upon a time there was a natural waterfall here; Russian monarchs and their entourage came to admire it. At the beginning of the 20th century, after the construction of a hydroelectric power station, the dam blocked the natural flow of water. Now the water discharge is happening “on schedule”. Previously, this was between the end of June and August. Now you can admire this unusually beautiful spectacle in the summer only on Saturdays, from 18:00. But for this it is worth coming to Imatra to see the amazing power of water with light effects, to the amazing sounds of music by a Finnish composer. Light shows are traditionally held here.

The waterfall is located in a picturesque park Kruununpuisto, it is here, next to the bridge, that you can see a monument associated with the sad events that took place at this place. This is due to frequent cases of suicide, when young people lost their lives by throwing themselves from a bridge.

In memory of this, a sculpture was installed, called the Virgin of Imatra. According to the sculptor’s plan, the girl’s bronze body seems to lie above the water. And nearby on the stones are the names of people who died in this way.

It's amazing, but a wonderful reserve with wildlife, rocks and pine trees is located in the very center of Imatra. The park was laid out during the times of the Russian Empire and has been preserved in its original form to this day. No wonder its name translated from Finnish sounds like Crown Park.

Tourists are sure to come here to admire the unimaginably beautiful landscapes with canyons along the banks of the Vuoksa River. Here, in the park, rising on the steep bank of the river, the famous castle-hotel Valtionhotelli flaunts.

Location: Torkkelinkatu - 4.

The turrets of Valtionhotelli Castle, built in 1903 near the Imatrankoski waterfall, are visible from afar. This hotel, designed by the architect U. Nyström, is a real decoration of Imatra.

This upscale castle-hotel, created in the German Art Nouveau style, hosted royalty and members of the elite back in the early 20th century. The beauty of this architectural masterpiece is impressive. It survived wars and served as a hospital and headquarters. The building was restored to its original appearance in the mid-80s of the last century.

Location: Torkkelinkatu - 2.

The Church of the Three Crosses is a must for tourists to visit in Imatra. It is the creation of the famous architect Alvar Aalto; the temple was built in the late 1950s. An unusual altar in the shape of three crosses of Calvary, a large organ, an abundance of windows of different sizes, more than a hundred of them, original lighting inside, decoration from precious woods in combination with Italian marble make this church unique.

Location: Ruokolahdentie - 27.

It is also worth a look at the City Museum in the modern building of the cultural center. It is dedicated to the life of the city at different times.

Exhibitions here are updated and work constantly. They introduce tourists to both antiques and retro photographs dating back to the 19th century. There is no charge to visit the museum. Nearby, in the same building, there is the city's art museum.

Location: Virastokatu - 1.

You can enter this Orthodox church with wooden decorations and a green bell tower on your way from the Church of the Three Crosses. It attracts attention from a distance with its unusual architecture.

The temple is surrounded by picturesque terrain typical of the left bank of the Vuoksa River. It was built in the mid-50s of the last century as a chapel. 30 years later it became the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Services are held here in the national language.

Location: Vuoksenniskantie - 5.

Imatra is a border city. Therefore, the Border Guard Museum is very appropriate. It is curious that such a museum was created by public activists from among the border guards. It is located a few kilometers north of Imatra in the Immola area. Getting there is easy.

The museum is open only in the summer; it is located on territory belonging to the border guard of South Karelia. It occupies a considerable area of ​​a couple of hectares. The museum exhibits introduce the history of the Finnish border service and talk about historical events. A separate exhibition is dedicated to a border dog named Cesar, who served here in the last century. You can visit the museum for free.

Location: Niskapietiläntie - 32e.

This wonderful museum, opened about three decades ago, can be found almost in the center of Imatra on the banks of the Vuoksa. It is interesting because it presents authentic houses and life of South Karelian peasants of the 19th century.

This wonderful museum, as they say, is in the fresh air. “Karelian House” is open for viewing from May until the end of the summer season. The museum is surrounded by beautiful surroundings and is of interest to all lovers of patriarchal antiquity.

If your tourist route leads to Imatra, it would be a big mistake not to visit the world’s only unique museum of mystical sculptures in the town of Parikkala. To do this you need to drive a little over 40 km from the city.

Everyone who has visited here will forever remember this amazing place. After all, the park was created by the hands of the self-taught sculptor Veje Renkkenen and has half a thousand unusual sculptures. Bizarre figures of people and animals in the most unusual poses, as if merged with the surrounding nature.

Sometimes, looking at the sculptural compositions, it becomes creepy - the sculptor used real dental jaws for the human figures, which dentists supplied him with. Athletes, children, ballerinas, fairy-tale and epic characters, animals - the sculptor worked on their creation for 50 years. You can visit the park in Parikkala for free.

Location: Kuutostie - 611.

The Karelian Farmhouse Open Air Museum is located near the center of Imatra, in a picturesque location on the banks of the Vuoksa River. An amazing rural landscape of the late 19th century has been recreated right in the open air. with courtyards, original houses and other various attributes of Karelian life.

Various buildings are collected on the territory of the museum, the oldest of which date back to the mid-19th century. Inside you can see furniture, dishes of that time, as well as a large number of collected paintings that convey to the visitor sketches of the life of Karelian peasants of that time.

Open from May to August, from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays.

Waterfall in Imatra

The waterfall in Imatra is considered the main attraction of the city of Imatra. Once upon a time, the Great Empress Catherine II herself came to see this waterfall. Even at that time, the Empress ordered the construction of a hotel center on the banks of the Vuoksa River, exactly at the place where the river flows into the canyon, forming a waterfall. But in the late twenties, the Finns decided that the waterfall could be useful not just as a tourist attraction, but also as a source of energy components. Therefore, a hydroelectric power station was built on the waterfall. But this did not worsen tourism at all, but on the contrary began to attract even more tourists. Nowadays, during the celebration of all kinds of holidays, you can see the most beautiful fireworks. Also in the evening, the waterfall is illuminated by many colorful lights, which makes it a stunning place.

It is worth noting that the waterfall in Imatra is very popular in Finland; many tourists visit this wonderful waterfall with interest!

What sights of Imatra did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Imatrankoski Waterfall

This place was also loved by the Russian Empress Catherine II, whose court loved to visit these parts and “look at the threshold.” A lot of time has passed since then, but the flow of tourists wanting to see the “Finnish Niagara” does not dry up. Moreover, the places here are more than picturesque.

The oldest nature reserve in Finland, Kruununpuisto, is located in the vicinity of Vuoksa. Around the waterfall, avant-garde monuments are displayed, such as a turbine and power lines. Since the hydroelectric power station was built on Vuoksa, water from the reservoir has been released on schedule. This occurs daily at 19:00 and at 15:00 on Sundays during the summer months. The release of the water is a real spectacle: there are fireworks and musical performances, which can be watched from special viewing platforms.

The Church of the Three Crosses is an architectural structure that was built and designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1957. In 1958, the church was consecrated by Bishop Mikkeli Martti Simojoki. On the altar of this church there are three crosses, which mean the crosses standing on Mount Golgotha ​​and it is because of this that the church got its name of the Three Crosses.

The church itself is built of ordinary concrete, but inside the building everything is different, since Eastern Karelian wood species, linen trim, and Italian marble were used for the arrangement. And the most amazing thing about it is that out of a hundred windows it is possible to find only two similar windows, thanks to which the play of light and shadow becomes amazing. And lamps of amazing shape and size and installed at different heights add even more charm.

Imatrankoski waterfall canyon

The Imatrankoski waterfall canyon is located in the Crown Park in the city of Imatra, Finland. It is a deep chasm located among giant boulders and impresses tourists with its gigantic size. Until 1929, a waterfall raged at this place, which was formed 5-6 thousand years ago, when water from the deep Lake Saimaa broke through the amazing Salpausselkä ridge. Nowadays, most of the canyon is dry.

Since 1772, the great Russian Empress Catherine II introduced the tradition of coming to Imatra and admiring the canyon. A cable car was built here, from which daredevils could look at the seething waterfall. But this opportunity was provided only until 1929, until a hydroelectric power station was built on the Vuokse River.

The canyon is mainly dominated by granite rocks. Among the outstanding representatives of the flora are beech, hornbeam and oak, and prominent representatives of the fauna are the hedgehog, badger and roe deer. The air here is unusually clean, and hundreds of people come here every year to gain strength and enjoy the scenery.

Vaino House Museum

The Vaino House Museum is a veterans' house museum in the picturesque town of Imarta. It has been around for almost 10 years. During this time, this place managed to develop into a full-fledged museum. At the Vaino House Museum you can learn about the history of Finnish independence. In the room dedicated to the memory of war veterans, you will see many exhibits left over from the Winter and Great Patriotic Wars.

In the courtyard of the museum there is a memorial stone dedicated to the memory of all veterans of the last war. You can also see a Swedish anti-aircraft gun there, a gift from the children of the Ladoga group. The children raised money, ordered an anti-aircraft gun and then, at a festive ceremony, donated an exhibit to the museum so that the anti-aircraft gun would remind passers-by of the difficult times of the war. You can also see a real Russian cannon, which was decommissioned by the Finnish army and bought by Eila Ikävalko specifically for the house museum.

For the youngest visitors there are collections of a toy house and Barbie dolls.

Ski resort Konka ski

Konka Ski is one of the existing ski resorts in Finland. Adults, teenagers and children can relax and have fun here.

Konka Ski has three ski slopes, a children's sledding hill, cross-country skiing trails from simple to difficult, and a Konkalampi ski school. For beginners, instructors will be selected, and ski and snowboard rentals are available. For those who are cold, we invite you to visit the cafe. And if there are those who like to take part in competitions, then you will have such an opportunity, since they also organize team training there.

Opening hours of the Konka Ski ski resort: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 17.00 to 20.00, weekends from 12.00 to 18.00, team training takes place on Monday and Wednesday. Ticket price for two hours is 12 euros, for the whole day 25 euros.

The most popular attractions in Imatra with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Imatra on our website.

TOURISTS' ANSWERS:

This city is located in Finland in close proximity to the Russian border. The distance from Imatra to St. Petersburg is two hundred and ten kilometers. The founding date of the city of Imatra is 1948, but it received city status a little later, namely in 1971. As you already understand, Imatra is a young city, so the bulk of attractions and interesting places are of purely natural origin. If you allow me, I will allow myself to focus on some of them.

Imatrankoski Waterfall. Impressive place! This waterfall is also called Finnish Nagara. The places here are so picturesque that it is simply impossible to convey them in words. I think the fact that Empress Catherine the Second loved to be here will tell you much more.

Imatrankoski waterfall canyon. Primitive beauty and absolutely wild nature, this is how you can describe this canyon in a nutshell. Speaking in more detail, the canyon itself is a rather deep and fairly wide chasm, which is located in the middle of huge boulders. About five or six thousand years ago, a waterfall raged in this place, which was formed as a result of an unusual phenomenon - water from Lake Saimaa broke through the Salpausselkä ridge. There was a waterfall in this place right up to 1929, then it simply dried up and now today, most of this gorge is dry. These places were greatly loved by the Russian Empress Catherine II, who in 1772 introduced the tradition of visiting Imatra and admiring the local beauty. Among the entertainments for the especially daring, a cable car was built over the canyon, but it stood here only until 1929, since a hydroelectric power station was built in its place.

Valtionhotelli Castle Hotel building. This medieval-style building is located not far from the Imatrankoski waterfall. It was built in 1903, according to the design of the architect, very famous and respected in those days, Usko Nyström. It is noteworthy that the hotel building was the first stone structure in this city. The reason for this was the fact that previously there were also hotels here, but they burned down because they were built of wood. The hotel was very popular among the St. Petersburg nobility, and even Emperor Nicholas II himself stayed in this hotel. All rooms of the hotel have very high ceilings. In total, the hotel has ninety-two rooms for guests. Those who were lucky enough to visit the kitchen were forever impressed by its size.

Kruununpuisto Park. Literally translated, it sounds like “Crown Park”. The territory of the park is considered the oldest protected areas in Finland. The park is quite easy to find, since it is located in the very center of the city. The Crown Park was created in the nineteenth century, by order of Emperor Nicholas II, who loved to relax in these places. In fact, it is amazing how wild, primitive, absolutely untouched nature could be preserved in a modern city. Here you will find a Karelian pine forest and rocks with huge boulders that lie in their places, possibly since the ancient Ice Age. To better learn the history of these magical places, I advise you to visit Corona Park, accompanied by a guide who will tell you and the entire excursion group many interesting stories both from the past of this park and from the present.

SPA-Complex Imatran Kulpylä. You simply cannot find a better place to relax and recuperate. On the territory of the complex, there is everything your soul could desire in a certain period of time. It even has its own water park, although the building in which it is located is entirely made of glass, which may confuse some. If we talk in general about this complex and the style in which it is made, then I will say this - the complex was built in a traditional style using the most modern technologies. It is simply unrealistic to describe everything that is in this complex. Don't believe me? Then visit the Imatran Külpülä SPA Complex and see for yourself.

Vuoksa River. The length of the river is one hundred and fifty-six kilometers. The Vuoksa River originates from Lake Saimaa, and its branches flow into Lake Ladoga, which is located on the territory of Russia. Amazingly, the water in this river not only has all the qualities of drinking water, but it is also so clean and transparent that at its bottom you can see all the pebbles in the smallest detail. In the waters of this river there are valuable and quite rare fish such as whitefish, salmon and trout. From historical information, it becomes known that these places were a favorite place of the Russian nobility and on the banks of this river, the royal family repeatedly organized fishing competitions.

Angry Birds Amusement Park. This amusement park is for children, very young, since it was opened in 2013. Everything that is available in the park corresponds to its name as much as possible. In honor of these harmful birds, they not only named the park, but also kept all the internal contents in this spirit. The area of ​​the park is two thousand four hundred square meters. The first floor of the park is occupied by attractions and all kinds of entertainment for the youngest visitors, but on the second floor, both older children and adults can find entertainment to their liking.

Fountains in the central square. In the central square of the city of Imatra, there are beautiful fountains equipped with colored lighting. Two fountains, one of which is made in a traditional style, and the other is built in a cascade type, work right up to the onset of winter cold, until the first snow falls. The central square is the most popular place in this city. A wide variety of special events, concerts and performances by famous performers are held here. There are many restaurants and cafes on the square. The most important holiday is considered to be the city day, and on this day there are so many people in the central square that in the full sense of the word, “there is absolutely nowhere for an apple to fall.” This square is loved not only by locals, but also by tourists, as it is the heart of the city of Imatra.

Is the answer helpful?

The town of Imatra is located literally a stone's throw from the border with Russia, not far from Svetogorsk. A city with districts scattered along the banks of the Vuoksi River and lakes Saimaa and Immolanjärvi.

Next to Imatra there is a famous ski resort - perhaps this is what Imatra is most famous for.

It’s also great to come to Imatra for those who are fans of fishing, because the lakes in the city are a real find. However, it’s also great to stay here for simple camping – either with a tent or in a cottage. You can also rent a boat or bicycle and fishing equipment there.

And the town itself is also very beautiful and interesting. Visit open-air museum "Karelian House" (Karjalainen Kotitalo).
It stands on the bank of the Vuoksa, in principle, not far from the city center, at Kotipolku 1. In this museum you can admire the Karelian rural landscape of the 19th century - there are courtyards, 11 buildings and various attributes of Karelian life. This museum also contains paintings depicting the life of Karelian peasants of that era. This museum is one of the city's most popular attractions. As far as I know, it works from May to August, every day except Mondays, from 10.00 to 18.00. For adults, a ticket costs about 2 euros, for children and pensioners – 1 euro. Children under 5 are free.

Next, go to Art Museum (Kaupunginmuseo).
It has been working here since 1951, and this is the first such museum of its kind. It is located in the premises of the Cultural Center (at Virastokatu 1) and offers its guests about 1,400 works of art. For the most part, the museum's exhibits are works by Finnish artists of the 20th century. But there are also paintings by foreign artists of the 19th century, as well as engravings by Japanese masters of the 17th century.
Plus, this museum hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions. In summer, the museum is open from Monday to Friday from 10 to 19 hours (on Friday until 4 pm), and in other seasons - from Monday to Saturday from 10 to 19 hours (on Saturday until 3 pm). Admission for adults costs about 2 euros, and for children, students, and pensioners - 1 euro.

There is also a beautiful interesting temple in Imatra - Lutheran Church of Three Crosses (Kolmen Ristin Kirkko).
It was built a few years after the construction of the Church of St. Nicholas. True, unlike that temple, the Church of the Three Crosses is a very unusual structure. The concrete building is impressive both inside and out. Such a “multi-layered” (I don’t know how to put it differently) one-story house with white walls and a dark roof, and an unusual arrow-shaped bell tower with three bells. The inside of the building is quite laconic and modest.
White walls (a perfect iceberg!), a simple floor laid out with dark brown tiles, a simple altar, wooden benches (but from East Karelian trees), some trimmed with Italian marble. The way light and shadows play in the church is unique. And, perhaps, windows of different shapes (you can hardly find two identical ones) with stained glass. There are more than a hundred windows here! The place where the church stands is cozy, quiet, with the only noise coming from the pine and birch trees. Complete idyll! The church can accommodate up to 800 people in total. The church is open to the public, admission is free. Address: Ruokalahdentie 27.

Since I mentioned it Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Pyhan Nikolaoksen kirkko), which is located at Vuoksenniskantie 3, then it’s worth telling about her.
This is one of the existing churches in the city, which was built in the middle of the last century. At first it was a small chapel in the traditional Russian style, but a little later it was remodeled, expanded and re-consecrated as a church. The temple is small, austere, decorated with wood, white walls and green domes and roof. The church is located on the way to the Church of the Three Crosses.

If you are interested in the beauty of nature, then visit Imatra waterfall.
It is formed on the Vuoksa River, which by the way is quite stormy in some places, and is located in the Kruununpuisto National Park, one of the oldest nature reserves in the country. By the way, at that time this beautiful place was so popular that it was even called the “Finnish Niagara”, and at the end of the 18th century Empress Catherine II admired it. And by order of the empress, a hotel was erected in the area where the river flowed into a granite canyon and formed a waterfall.

In the 29th year of the last century, a hydroelectric power station was built on the river, and the waterfall began to operate on a schedule. This dam was built so beautifully that people began to attract even more people to this waterfall.

The free fall of water is held from the beginning of June to the end of August every day at 19.00, on Sundays at 15.00. In August, a special display is held when a raft with a bonfire is lowered down the waterfall. New Year's Eve is also actively celebrated here: the waterfall turns on, fireworks roar, etc. The waterfall is especially beautiful when it is illuminated.

By the way, you can not only look at the waterfall. You can rappel down over it, but this is entertainment for extreme sports enthusiasts, of course. Mere mortals simply admire.

Visit Museum of Workers' Life (Teollisuustyovaen Asuntomuseo) on Ritikanranta, on the river bank.
This museum has been operating since 1975 and is only open in the summer. This museum details the lives of workers since the end of the 19th century. By the way, the building itself was once an ordinary house for workers, a small one. The workers lived in apartments of 20-25 square meters, for an entire family. Something like a communal apartment, a cozy little cottage, but with its own sauna, laundry and bakery. The building then passed into the hands of the municipality, and the collections were made up of gifts from citizens. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance tickets are very inexpensive, also 1-2 euros.

In general, there are few attractions, but people still go there, mainly to just have a good rest, take a steam bath in the sauna, and go fishing. You can visit water center Imatra Kulpylä Spa, swim in the bass, warm up in the sauna and lie in the jacuzzi, and heal in herbal baths, take a course of massages and all that. Imatra is a great city in every sense and should definitely not be overlooked if you are planning a short trip to Finland.

Perhaps, among all the cities bordering Russia in Finland, Imatra is the most famous. The road to it does not take much time and is not expensive; there is something to do in your free time. This is a popular destination for many shopping trips and tours for people rolling back their visa, so to speak. And, as I personally believe, Imatra is the easiest place to start traveling throughout Finland.

I have been to Imatra many times and treat it with special warmth. At first the city seemed boring to me, even, one might say, gray. The more often I began to visit it, the more and more interesting things I discovered for myself: from natural beauty to historical attractions. But on my first visit, I considered it suitable exclusively for shopping!

Already in the vicinity of Imatra, you can spend time on the famous Finnish lakes (nearby is the country’s largest lake, Saimaa), camp in the forest, and enjoy relaxing in Finnish saunas. And Imatra itself is a pleasant city with a measured and calm pace of life.

Since the time when Catherine II fell in love with coming to the Imatra waterfalls back in the 18th century, the region has been considered a popular tourist destination. Moreover, the city itself was founded less than a century ago! In addition to the Empress, Alexandre Dumas and composer Richard Wagner visited Imatra.

How to get there

The location of Imatra is very convenient for Russians starting their journey from St. Petersburg. It is located just 6 km from the customs point. You can get to the city in various ways:

• by plane;
• by train;
• by bus;
• by car.

From the airport, you will first need to get to the city for 3 EUR on a regular bus or walk (3 km), and then take a bus, train or taxi to Imatra.

Helsinki Airport

Of course, you can also arrive at the airport and get there from there. Both many budget low-cost airlines and many other air carriers with higher ticket prices cooperate with the airport of the capital of Finland. Here the road from the airport is already 260 km. You can read more about how to get to Helsinki by plane.

From Helsinki Airport, the cheapest way to get to the capital is by bus. Bus 615 and 620 cost around 5 EUR and will take approximately 40 minutes. The bus will take you directly to the main train station, from where you can easily walk to either the bus station and take a bus to Imatra, or take the train. Buses also run at night, but quite rarely and a ticket costs 6 EUR. Of course, you can use a taxi. Prices start from 20 EUR at special counters at the airport. You can also rent a car at the airport and drive it.

Or you can take a plane ticket to Savonlinna and at the same time visit this wonderful city.

Savonlinna Airport

This airport is located 130 km from Imatra. There are flights there 2 times a day, 5 days a week from. You can read more about how to fly to Savonlinna. You will have to take a bus to Savonlinna for 3 EUR or take a taxi, and then take a train or bus to Imatra.

Personally, I think that it is more advisable to travel by land from St. Petersburg, especially if you live in Russia. In any case, after your arrival you will have to use the services of some local carriers in order to get to the city.

By train

Several trains leave daily from Helsinki to Imatra. But only two of them have the final station at Imatra itself, and the rest go with a stop in the town to Joensuu. I am amazed by the level of comfort in Finnish trains, as well as the speed with which they cover the distance. For example, the road from the capital to Imatra will take no more than 2.5 hours. The estimated cost of tickets is 30–40 EUR.

There are no trains from Russia directly to Imatra. The nearest railway station is in the city through which the Allegro high-speed train passes: - Helsinki. Ticket prices start from 18 EUR, but this is only to Kouvola. Then you need to take a ticket from Kouvola to Imatra - here prices start from 7 EUR, trains depart several times a day. You can purchase tickets on the website of the Finnish company VR. I was very pleased to discover that the site operates in Russian :).

I will tell you below in the “By Bus” section about how to get from the train station to the city center. Trains and buses in Imatra arrive at the same place.

By bus

In my opinion, the bus is the easiest and most logical way to get to Imatra.

From Saint-Petersburg

A lot of buses leave from St. Petersburg every day, heading to Imatra via Svetogorsk. The one way journey takes about 3-4 hours depending on the border crossing. The distance is approximately 200–210 km. It doesn’t matter what your goal is – just getting to a border town, having a shopping day in Finnish stores, or “getting a visa” – you can easily achieve this.

A significant advantage of organized shopping tours is that you will not spend a lot of time at the border - as a rule, each regular bus has its own time reserved at customs. The only exception is when one of the passengers has problems. One day my bus was delayed for 30 minutes until a passenger was transferred to the bus in the opposite direction.

You can read more about bus tours and all their nuances.

From cities in Finland (Helsinki, etc.)

If you start your trip from any other city in Finland, you can use the services of the main Finnish bus carrier Matkahuolto. They have their own website (in English, Swedish and Finnish) where you can book and pay for your bus ticket. The closer you buy your ticket to your departure date, the more expensive it is likely to be. On average, a ticket will cost you 23–35 EUR.

There is another option to use Expressbus services. You can buy a ticket for the trip at the bus station, on the bus itself, or 30 minutes before departure. For students, pensioners and children, there are a lot of discounts up to 50% of the initial cost.

Another bus carrier, Onnibus, also operates in the country. This is a budget carrier, but despite this, it provides conditions for very comfortable travel even over long distances.

The buses are equipped with a dry toilet, Wi-Fi and comfortable reclining seats. And if you are lucky enough to take a seat on the second floor above the driver, you will have an amazing panoramic view of the road. The first flight tickets are sold for 1 EUR, but you need to buy them well in advance. Once I was lucky enough to snatch such a ticket myself. You can purchase the coveted ticket on the website. Unfortunately, to confidently use this site you will need to demonstrate knowledge of the English language (or Finnish, of course).

You can also use these two resources to continue getting to know Finland.

How to get from Imatra bus station to the center

The bus station is located in the same building as the train station and a small shopping center. Walk approximately 3 kilometers along the embankment of the Vuoksa River - one of the city’s attractions, because the Imatra waterfall is located on it. You can also take the bus that goes to Imatrankoski (ask the driver) and you will travel comfortably to the center for 3 EUR. And if you are a lover of comfort, then many cars with the TAXI designation will be waiting for you nearby. As far as I know, the tariff starts from 9 EUR.

By car

From Saint-Petersburg

The road to Imatra from St. Petersburg lies on the A181 Scandinavia/E18 highway in Russia and on route 62 in Finland. Be careful when driving at night, as the road is mostly unlit except for a few populated areas and gas stations. The journey will take you from 3 hours depending on how quickly you cross the border and how often you stop.

There are no toll roads on the way, unless within St. Petersburg you decide to go around the city along the WHSD (you will spend 300 rubles). To understand how much money you need to spend on a one-way trip, calculate by mileage and gasoline consumption. We usually spend around 1000–1200 rubles on our small car.

Don't forget about green card costs. The cheapest option for a passenger car is a card for 15 days, and it costs approximately 2,200 rubles. The card may not be checked, depending on your luck. If they check you and you don’t have one, you will be turned away, you will go to the nearest booth with green cards (of which there are a lot on the highway), and then you will again stand in line at customs.

But for those who are especially economical, there is a little life hack. The Estonian green card costs slightly less than the Finnish one, but also applies to Finland :).

From Moscow

If you start your journey from Moscow, then your path will run along the M10 federal highway from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Further the road will be similar to that described earlier. You will also have to estimate the costs yourself, depending on how much gasoline is consumed, what kind of gasoline you fill up with, etc. Don’t forget to apply for a green card (I wrote more about it just above). If you decide to go around St. Petersburg along the WHSD, you will have to pay for the toll road gap.

My opinion: if you are coming from Moscow, it is easier to take a plane to and travel from there by train or bus. Most likely, it will be cheaper and faster than a long journey by car.

By ferry

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Imatra is located on the Vuoksa River, it is not possible to get here by watercraft due to the rapids.

Clue:

Imatra - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Ekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season? When is the best time to go

The season in Imatra lasts from approximately mid-May, when the temperature no longer drops below +10, and lasts until approximately mid-to-late September, when there are fewer sunny days than cloudy ones. However, in the off-season, Imatra is also an attractive place to visit, as it is replete with various entertainment that may interest tourists. If your goal is shopping, then I’m sure you won’t be bothered by weather conditions. In addition, during the off-season there are much fewer tourists in the city itself.

Imatra in summer

Most likely, this is the most popular season for visiting by foreign tourists, namely Russians. This is especially noticeable in the opening hours of churches and museums: some of them are open only in the summer. In my experience, at this time, as in all northern countries, the weather is the most comfortable - not hot and not cold, the temperature is stable at +15, and on sunny days the air warms up to +22. It is at this time of year that many people take vacations to visit the Imatra water park, have a shopping weekend and simply change their surroundings.

Imatra in autumn

Even though Imatra is relatively far from the sea, the weather at this time of year is very unstable, especially in October and November. There are already much fewer tourists in the city than in summer, but the weather is much less conducive to outdoor recreation. The temperature by the end of autumn can be +5..0 degrees. You will not be able to fully enjoy your outdoor recreation, but you will have much more time to devote to visiting museums and local attractions.

Imatra in spring

The mood in the city changes dramatically in spring. There are gradually more and more tourists. My favorite time to visit Imatra is at the end of April and until mid-May. The weather may still be cloudy, but you can already feel a spring, joyful mood, and on fine days the temperature can rise to +10. In May, you can already go out into nature and not be afraid that inclement winds will blow away on the lake, although the water in the lakes is not yet suitable for swimming.

Imatra in winter

With the onset of cold weather and the first snow falling, Imatra does not become less attractive for tourists. Winter sports are very popular in Finland. For example, in the vicinity of the famous spa center you can go skiing along specially laid paths in the forest. I really like skating on Lake Saimaa, but you need to be extremely careful and not go far from the shore.

The temperature rarely rises above +3..+5 degrees; as a rule, it is minus (down to -10). Imatra is not known for its severe frosts. The wind from Lake Saimaa can be quite piercing and cool, but this is not felt in the city center.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in winter the daylight hours in northern countries are quite short, from approximately 9–10 am to 4 pm.

One winter I was lucky enough to see the northern lights over the lake. This is simply unforgettable beauty. So don’t be afraid to visit Imatra again, perhaps you will be just as lucky.

Imatra - weather by month

Clue:

Imatra - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

What are the prices for holidays?

When crossing the Russia-Finland border, you can immediately notice how prices change significantly. It is traditionally believed that this is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, and this is true. Even the Finns themselves living in Imatra use their privileged rights (relative to other residents of their country) in order to cross the border and refuel their car in Svetogorsk or buy groceries. By the way, the price of gasoline in Imatra (January 2017) is on average 1.43 EUR per liter.

Many people carry a can of gasoline in the trunk of their car to save money. Be careful - Finnish legislation allows you to carry only 10 liters of gasoline in addition to what is in the car's gas tank. In this case, the fuel must be of the same brand, although practically no one checks this point anymore. We once hid a 20-liter canister, almost completely filled, in the trunk under a pile of things, but such “machinations” are at your own peril and risk.

Food

Regarding nutrition. Everything here is optional. Checks start from 7 EUR for a meal in fast food eateries and rise to 50 EUR and higher in restaurants.

As a student, I try in every possible way to save on my status and with the help of an ISIC card I sometimes manage to get myself a small discount. Yes, a little, but nice. In Finland, pensioners (senior in English) are respected and they are also given discounts in some places. The main thing is not to be shy to ask. This is unlikely to apply to any restaurants, but you can try your luck in fast food chains, museums and other such places.

Transport

Taxi fares depend on distance. The minimum tariff is 10.5 EUR for 3 km. In fact, the price depends on the time of day and traffic congestion, but I personally have never encountered traffic in Imatra.

Leisure

There are few museums in the city. Most of them have free entry. Where you have to pay, the prices are: 2–5 EUR per adult and 1–2 EUR per child.

Main attractions. What to see

Imatra is often called the first tourist city in Finland. In fact, it is amazing how much interesting things a small city with a population of 30 thousand people offers.

First of all, there is the most entertainment here for lovers of active recreation. But it cannot be denied: Imatra comes out on top among those who prefer to take one-day shopping tours to Finland.

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

In summer, the water in lakes Immalan and Saimaa warms up to +19–20 degrees, and on especially warm days off the coast it can be even higher. There are 5 beaches in total in Imatra.

My personal advice: don’t expect big waves and deep bottoms from Finnish lakes. The surface of the water is even and smooth, sometimes there are not even ripples - because of the forests surrounding the lake, the wind cannot disturb the water. What pleases me most about the beaches is their incomparable cleanliness.

1. Immalan lietteen uimaranta (Vesikatu 1, 55800 Imatra). This is a sandy beach. It is equipped with changing cabins, a public toilet
2. Immalan uimaranta (Netintie 52, 55910 Imatra). This is also a sandy beach. The bottom becomes deep gradually. Just like the previous one, it is equipped with cabins and a toilet. To get to it you will need to follow a path through a small forest park.
3. Lempukan uimaranta (Lempeenlietteentie 60, 55420 Imatra). Sandy beach, the bottom is shallow, I would even say shallow.
4. Ukoilinnan uimaranta (Kölikaari 6, 55420 Imatra). Long and shallow sandy beach. There are changing cabins, toilets and volleyball nets.
5. Varpasaaren uimaranta (Kotipolku 4, 55120 Imatra). This is the only beach on the Vuoksa River. It is located on the territory of the fishing park. If you want to swim with children, then I do not recommend this beach. Still, the water in the lake is much calmer than in the rivers.

On the map below I have marked all 5 beaches in the appropriate order.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are only 3 churches in the city; they are small, like the settlement itself. Each of them is special in its own way, with its own history:

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are only 6 museums in Imatra. All of them are unique in their own way and deserve a visit:

• Border Museum. A small exhibition tells the history of the Finnish border. You will be able to experience the life and everyday life of border guards during the period of the country's independence and during the war.
  Entrance fee: for free. Address: Niskapietiläntie 32e, 55910 Imatr.
  Operating mode: June 14 – August 20: Tue-Fri 14:00-17:00, Sat 12:00-18:00.

• Museum of the city of Imatra. The museum is located in the same building as the art museum, but it was founded 30 years later. In the museum you can get acquainted with the culture, history and way of life of the region, as well as the history of tourism itself. I found especially interesting the old photographs presented in the museum’s collection, dating back to the 19th century.
  Entrance fee: for free. Address: Virastokatu 1, 55100 Imatra.
  Operating mode:

• Summer season: Mon-Thu 9:00-19:00, Fri 9:00-16:00.
• Rest of the year: Fri-Fri 9:00-19:00, Sat 10:00-16:00.

Parks

There is only one park in Imatra, but it has very great historical significance. This Krunuunpuisto Park or Royal Park, which was founded by Nicholas I. And this is the first official natural park in Finland in principle! By order of the king, it was created around the Imatra waterfall.

The park covers an area of ​​20 hectares on both sides of the Vuoksa River. It is currently divided into four parts:

A walk around the area will take you approximately 1.5 hours. In addition to enjoying nature, you will definitely walk to the beautiful Valtion Hotel, which is also one of the city's landmarks.

The park is one of the most popular routes for hiking and race walking. Two routes of different lengths start right behind the hotel. I complete the first route in half an hour, or even forty minutes, despite the fact that its length is only 1 km. It's all about the abundance of natural beauty. The second route, 3 km long, goes further and deeper into the territory. If you're craving some fresh air but don't have much time to get out of the city and into the woods or lakes, I highly recommend taking a walk through the Royal Park.

Tourist streets

Perhaps there are only two streets in Imatra that are most often visited by tourists and around which most of the transport hubs and attractions are located. At the intersection of these streets, tourists arriving in groups of shopping tours are mainly dropped off.

• Street Tainionkoskentie starts almost from the source of the Vuoksa River in Lake Saimaa and smoothly turns into Helsingintie Street in the center. In addition, it passes by the bus and train stations. When I first arrived in Imatra with the goal of “rolling over my visa,” they dropped me off at the end of it in the center. Then I walked towards the train stations, and along the way I came across several of the main museums of the city.

• Helsingintie street. At the very center at the beginning of this street there are malls with clothing stores, restaurants, döners and the main attractions of the city, a waterfall and a castle hotel.

What to see in 1 day

• I would advise you to start your day in Imatra with a cup of coffee or tea in the city center near Tainionkoskentie street. You will be walking a lot, so you will need a lot of energy.
• I advise you to start exploring the city in the morning from the Imatra waterfall and the park that surrounds it - the walk will take you no more than an hour or two, depending on your pace. Be sure to go to the castle hotel and take a few photos as a souvenir. No matter what time of year it is, the photos will look magical.
• In close proximity to the park is the oldest church of Imatra. Next, take a walk along Tainionkoskentie street. Near it are some of the city's attractions, for example, the Karelian House Museum and the Vuoksa River Fishing Park. In any case, the road runs very close to the river, so in the warm season you will hear the river rushing through the rapids, and the air on the road is always fresh. Already when you approach the city bus station, you will come across a local history museum and an art museum (they will be located next to the river).

Most likely, by the time you finish exploring the main street, it will be time for lunch or dinner. Stop by for lunch at a cafe, and then optionally:

• Shopping. Most likely, if you only have one day in the city, then you came with an organized bus, which will leave in the evening back to Russia. Go to the intersection of Tainionkoskentie and Helsingintie streets, there you will see the Rosso restaurant and you can start your shopping tour from there.
• Go to Lake Saimaa. You need to walk to the Imatra bus/train station, and then take a bus that departs towards Imatran Kylpyla Spa, and from there you will walk on your feet to the coast. I'm sure if you want to be in nature, you can have a great time near a quiet lake.

Believe me, Imatra may be a small city, but it has a lot of places and activities that will keep you busy not just for a day, but for a whole week.

What to see in the area

I want to tell you about a very, very interesting place, which is located approximately V 60 km from Imatra. From my own experience, I can say that the journey will take you about an hour during daylight hours. This place - theme sculpture park in Parikkala(Parikkalan Patsaspuisto).

The park is strange and even scary in some ways, but definitely unique and worth a visit. It was created by Veijo Rönkkönen, who lived in this area. He created sculptures for no less than 50 years. Veillo interacted very little with the outside world and led a hermit's life. At a certain point, he began to make his friends and surroundings with his own hands. When asked for permission to use sculptures in exhibitions, he said that he “must ask their opinion.” The answer was always the same - no.

Among the more than 500 figures, a particularly large collection of 200 yoga masters stands out. Veijo was passionate about yoga and created many sculptures in various asanas and positions of this art.

The park is not for everyone, but I really liked it.

How to get there

The park is located 8 km from the town of Parikkala. Getting to the city is not difficult - the train runs through it from Helsinki to Joensuu. But from the city itself to the park you will have to take a taxi. The most comfortable way is to drive your own car. The path lies on route 6.

Entrance fee: donation (2–5 EUR). You can pay if you wish, but no one obliges you to do so. Keep in mind that the money you give will go towards caring for the sculptures.

Opening hours: 24/7. Do not overuse visiting at night. Your health is on your conscience :).

Address: Kuutostie 611, FI-59130 Koitsanlahti.

Food. What to try

It is unlikely that you will encounter problems finding a place to eat in Imatra - there is plenty of it in the city, especially in the center, where there are a lot of tourists. With my small budget, I was always able to find something to match, and it didn’t have to be, as you might think, fast food or a bagel from the grocery store. It was in Imatra that I first became acquainted with the famous trout cream soup and deer meat. I can tell you that the national cuisine of Finland deserves attention and sampling, and you can get to know traditional dishes better.

Of course, you shouldn’t expect that three meals a day in Imatra will cost you the same money as in Russia. The cheapest meal in the city will be at a kebab shop, and it will cost approximately 4-5 EUR, but such food will be very filling. Traditional Finnish cuisine will cost you at least 5 EUR for one dish, which you are unlikely to get enough of. Well, the price tag for gourmets is completely different, and there is probably no ceiling for it;).

Cooking your own food is the best option for those who want to go out of town and live in nature or who rent a place with a kitchen. Products can be purchased in stores such as Prisma and K-Citymarket. Of course, you can look for some “local” stores, but the prices are about the same everywhere.

I have a couple of favorite places in Imatra, which I can’t always afford to visit, but I advise you to definitely visit and appreciate them:

• Kulmahuone. Restaurant serving traditional Finnish cuisine. They have a great offer: lunch from 10:30 to 14:30. Depending on what you want in this lunch, it will cost from 7.50 EUR to 9.50 EUR. Address: Lappeentie 18, 55100 Imatra.

• Confectionery Konditoria Imatrankoski Oy. Pastry shop in close proximity to the waterfall. A great place to start the day with a great cup of coffee. I wouldn't call this place cheap, but the prices are well deserved! Address: Koskenparras 8, 55100 Imatra. Operating mode: Mon-Fri 9:00-16:00.

Budget

What do you think is the cheapest thing in Imatra? That's right, fast food! Perhaps you have some kind of prejudice about establishments, but I will tell you - you should not worry about your health as much as if you went to a similar place in Russia. This especially applies to online places:

• A classic of the genre - McDonald's. A Big Mac costs 4 EUR, lunch with it costs 7 EUR. A distinctive feature relative to “ours” is an unlimited amount of ketchup and mustard. There is Wi-Fi. Address: Tainionkoskentie 5, 55100 Imatra. Opening hours: 8:00-23:00 (Fri, Sat until 00:00).

• Euro kebab & pizzeria Address: Tainionkoskentie 68, 55120 Imatra. Opening hours: 10:30-21:00 (closed from 11:00)

• Ravintola Havana. Address: Lappeentie 12, 55100 Imatra. Opening hours: 10:30-21:00 (Fri, Sat until 22:00)

• Hesburger. Address: Tiedonkatu 2, 55420 Imatra; Karhumäentie 1, 55120 Imatra. Operating mode : first address – 10:00-24:00; second – 10:00-20:00, closed. 10:00-18:00

Mid-level

• Imatran Kalatalo Oy - traditional Finnish cuisine with an abundance of fish dishes in the very center, next to the waterfall. Also works as a store. Address: Tainionkoskentie 8, 55100 Imatra. Opening hours: Sun-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat 9:00-19:00.

• Rosso – chain restaurants serving Italian cuisine. Address: Koskenparras 1, 55100 Imatra. Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-21:00.

• Fishing Park of the Vuoksa River - I think you can understand by the name what dishes are offered here;). Address: Kotipolku 4, 55120 Imatra.

Expensive

• Buttenhoff is currently one of the best restaurants in Imatra. Located in the city center, top-level service, traditional cuisine. Address: Koskenparras 4, Imatra. Opening hours: weekdays 11:00-22:00, Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun - closed.

• Valtionhotellin Ravintola is a restaurant in the famous castle-hotel of Imatra. The price corresponds to the quality - expensive, tasty, chic and even a little pompous. Of course, a wide selection of national cuisine is available. Address: Torkkelinkatu 2, 55100 Imatra.

• Le Biff Restaurant is an excellent meat restaurant, but the cuisine is far from Finnish, but rather Central European. Address: Rauhanrinne 1 / Tiuruniementie 131, 55320 Rauha. Opening hours: Tue-Sat 18:00-23:00.

Holidays

There are practically no holidays in Imatra that are not considered national.

• Just like the whole country, they celebrate Christmas in a special way on December 25 for several days. It is this holiday that they spend with their family, paying special attention and meaning to it. But they celebrate the New Year not on such a grand scale as is customary in Russia. Many Finns already go to work on January 2–3. New Year is not a family holiday, but rather a good reason for a party.
• What was surprising to me was that they celebrate Maslenitsa - probably this is a consequence of the fact that this is the ancestral land of the Karelian people, who have always attached great importance to this holiday. It is usually celebrated around mid-February.
• All fairs (Maslenitsa, Easter, Christmas) take place on Kävelykatu Koskenparras street. The dates for these fairs are variable and different every year.
• The city periodically hosts various festivals, but depending on how many people attend them, the scope of the event, and the location for the event is chosen.
• Especially in Imatra, the fishing park of the Vuoksa River is of great importance. Here at the end of May, residents and guests open the summer season, and it is also the venue for some holidays.

Safety. What to watch out for

How many times have I visited Finland and Imatra as well, I have never encountered any problems regarding safety. You will not encounter fraud and deception here, because the prices for everything are fixed and written right in front of you.

The only ones who could pose any threat to your safety are immigrants from African and Arab countries (and even then very rarely, since they are unlikely to risk abusing their fragile status). There are very few of them in Imatra, you can count on your fingers how many times I have seen them there, which cannot be said about the capital, for example.

However, try to take certain precautions. Do not leave your bag unattended. Do not violate traffic rules, and if you do, do not offer a bribe. You will create an unpleasant situation, and the imperturbable Finn may be greatly offended. By the way, violating traffic rules also includes crossing the road in the wrong place.

Things to do

When I began to visit Imatra more and more often, I was faced with the fact that all the familiar sights had already been passed and studied far and wide. It’s so good that such a small city can surprise :). Imatra is best known as the main destination for shopping tours due to its close proximity to St. Petersburg, but there are many other activities that you can do here: for example, spend the day at a ski resort, sit in a bar in the evening, and have a blast at night in club.

Shopping and shops

If you came to Imatra for the purpose of shopping, then you can achieve what you want without any problems. Imatra has a lot of shops for every taste. Now I’ll tell you about three areas that will best meet your needs.

• If you want to buy groceries, then you need to head to the area that is located on the map below on the top right. There are several large supermarkets there, such as K-supermarket and Prisma. All of them are within walking distance from the train station.
• Those who come by bus on a shopping tour will most likely get off in the very center of Imatra - it's at the bottom right of the map. Most of the fast food establishments, restaurants and clothing stores are located there. There is a mall where you will find stores such as Seppala, H&M and other chain places. However, there are also exclusive shops where you will find products made from deerskin and sheep's wool.
• There is also a third area with several shops and supermarkets, and it is located on the map at the top left. Basically, it is designed for visitors to the Imatra spa center, which is literally a 10-15 minute walk from the Holiday Club mall.

Note! Many shops in Imatra may not be open on Sundays or work on a very short schedule and close at 16:00. This does not apply to supermarkets, although their working day is reduced by 2 hours. It all depends on the operating hours of a particular place.

Bars. Where to go

There are not many places to drink in Imatra, and most of them are in the tourist part - in the city center, in the waterfall area, and a few are in close proximity to the spa. But this is for those who stay there overnight.

Depending on the season, the main audience also changes. In the summer there are a lot of tourists, and you can often hear your native Russian speech. In winter, Finns visit bars mainly on weekends and most often the audience is aged 35+. Young people prefer to have fun differently in Finland, somewhere at home.

My personal recommendation for you is to visit a bar Vuoksenvahti at: Koskenparras 5, 55100 Imatra. This is an excellent pub with fairly reasonable prices by Finnish standards. In the evenings, football matches are often shown on TV there, and due to the fairly large area of ​​​​the premises, some festivals are held here, and live music sometimes plays.

Clubs and nightlife

There is only one nightclub in Imatra - Club G. It is small, matching the needs of the population, which leads a measured and quiet lifestyle, especially at night. In addition to the club territory, it is not customary to make noise on the street or at home at night; a fine may be issued for this.

The club has music and people dancing, but don't expect huge crowds. As I said, the Finnish nightlife takes place mostly at home, in bed. Parking at the club is paid. There is face control at the entrance and documents are checked. In order to get into the club, you must pass the 18+ mark.

The club regularly hosts themed parties. For example, I was there only once at a 90s-style party.

Opening hours: daily from 23:00 to 04:00.

Address: Helsingintie 1, 55100 Imatra.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

If we talk about gifts that I associate with Finland, then these will be Moomins, delicious red fish, caviar. You can read more about original Finnish souvenirs.

Many people go to Imatra for shopping, which is not surprising. Your loved ones will appreciate it if you bring them quality cosmetics or warm winter clothes made from good materials as gifts. Someone might even leave you a specific order if you ask.

My favorite whim is Finnish cheese. I have a certain prejudice regarding the quality of cheese that is sold in our supermarkets. My recommendation: buy cheese in Finland, where it will not contain as many chemicals as the one you see on our shelves. If you take several packages, so to speak, in reserve, you can put it in the freezer, where it will be stored for a long time without losing its properties. You can also buy it in supermarkets, and the price for excellent-tasting cheese will not exceed 7–8 EUR per kilogram. If you're lucky and you come across a promotion, buy it at half the price.

Pirkka has excellent cheese, which is sold in Prisma, K-Ruoka and most other hypermarkets. Another good cheese is Oltermanni, but it is no longer of Finnish origin, although it is just as tasty.

How to get around the city

In Imatra, the only public transport is buses, which are used by the entire local population and a few tourists. By our standards, the fare is simply an extortionate amount of 3 EUR. So if you want to save money and spend time in Imatra within the central attractions, then you will have to walk the walk. Fortunately, everything is within walking distance.

But if you, like me, are a lover and connoisseur of natural beauty, you will have to fork out for travel.

In addition to buses, you can use a taxi, but the most convenient type of transport is a car, which you can either drive to the city or rent directly on the spot.

But everything has its own nuances. I will tell you about them further.

Taxi. What features exist

There are a lot of taxis in Imatra. These are ordinary cars, most of them dark, with a bright yellow sign that says Taksi. In Finland, there are special stops for taxis, and it is not customary to catch them on the street - the streets are narrow, and a sudden stop by a taxi driver can cause some complications.

Prices

Machine delivery:

• weekdays from 06:00 to 20:00 and holidays and pre-holidays 06:00–16:00 – 5.90 EUR.
• other days – 9 EUR.

• 1–2 passengers – 1.52 EUR/km;
• 3–4 passengers – 1.83 EUR/km;
• 5–6 passengers – 1.98 EUR/km;
• more than 6 passengers – 2.13 EUR/km.

You can pay in cash or by card.

You can order a taxi by phone: +358 0200 16464.

Taxi rank addresses:

• Vuoksenniska, Torikatu, 55800 Imatra;
• Tainionkoski, Keskusasema, 55120 Imatra;
• Imatrankoski, Olavinkatu, 55100 Imatra;
• Koskikatu 1, 55120 Imatra.

Buses

Imatra has an excellent bus transportation system - in fact, it is the most inexpensive public transport in the city. The price for one trip for an adult will cost 3 EUR, for a child – 1.5 EUR, and for children under 7 years of age the journey is free. The main convenience is that the ticket is valid on all buses within the city for an hour. You can buy a ticket from the driver or at the main station of the city. By the way, at the station you can purchase discounted tickets for students and pensioners (you will need to present your ISIC and passport, respectively) and advantageous passes for several trips.

Please note that at some stops the bus may not stop if there are no people there or passengers do not indicate their desire to get off. I usually ask the driver to tell me where to get off, and I myself stand nearby. In my experience, they speak and understand English quite well, but there are times when I had to call out some Finnish names and explain myself with gestures.

Transport rental

Renting a car is an easy adventure in Imatra. There are several offices in the city that provide such services. The closer to your travel date you book transport, the more expensive it will cost you.

There is also this rule: the longer the rental period, the lower the daily cost. Car rental prices can be found here. You will need a passport, an international driver's license and some money. Some of these companies are international and some are Finnish, but in my opinion the prices are about the same. The price for January 2017 is around 1.43 EUR per liter - this is almost three times more expensive than in our homeland!

1. Scandia Rent. This is the largest Finnish car rental company. They present cars for both long and short term. Prices start from approximately 38 EUR per day.
   Address: Anssinkatu 8, 55100 Imatra.
   Telephone (24 hours): +358 20 789 0430
   Opening hours: Mon-Fri 07:30-17:00, Sat 09:00-14:00, Sun - closed.
2. Avis Imatra is an international company that provides fairly affordable car rental options. The company itself has many positive reviews.
   Address: Anssinkatu 20, 55100 Imatra.
   Phone: +358 5 5411273
   Working hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-16:30.
3. Europcar. Another international company, but in my experience I have found that their rates are a little higher than Avis.
   Address: Torkkelinkatu 2, 55100 Imatra.
   Phone (24 hours): +358 040 3062864

You may have already noticed from my article that in Finland prices in comparison with Russia are simply astronomical. Well, the fines are also very high, so following the driving rules is in your interests. Actually, this applies to all countries, but in Finland they strictly control the implementation of laws.

1. First of all, I’ll tell you about parking. When you leave your car in the parking lot, you simply must leave the parking clock under the glass. We once purchased these at a local gas station and keep them in the glove compartment of the car for convenience. How do they work? You should first check when parking is generally allowed and when it is free - this will be written on the sign. Then you must set the time when you left the car on this clock. Leave them under glass so that if something happens, the parking attendant can check them. If you leave your car during a paid time, then you are required to pay for parking in advance at the machine and leave the receipt under the windshield.
2. My second piece of advice to you is to never break the speed limit on the road. You don't know where the cameras are and where they aren't. Finns are generally decent people, but they don’t always place a camera where there is a corresponding warning sign.
3. You cannot avoid fines if you rented a car. When the company receives information about your violation, they will invoice you by email. If you try to evade payment, you may have problems in the future with obtaining a Finnish visa, for example, or with re-renting a car.

Imatra - holidays with children

The first thing that comes to my mind is a visit to the spa - the children really like it there. When I was there as a child, I was simply delighted. You don’t need much to be happy.

All of the entertainment listed below are located in close proximity to each other, literally within a 5-10 minute walk. How to get there? You need to catch a shuttle bus that goes to Holiday Club Imatra or Imatran Kylpyla Spa. Be sure to ask the driver when your stop will be.

Ski holiday

You don’t have to travel far from the border to enjoy excellent Finnish ski slopes. In the immediate vicinity of Imatra there are many ski resorts where you can have a great time, regardless of your level and skills.

Trails

Unfortunately, the Finns have not thought through how tourists can get to the resorts. From Imatra you will have to take either a taxi or drive your own car. Alternatively, you might consider hitchhiking; Finland is very hitchhiker friendly.

Myllymaki Resort.

Perhaps this is one of the best places in southern Finland for skiing, both beginners and those who are already confident on their feet can ski. There are 6 ski slopes, 4 ski lifts, a lift for children and a separate slope for them. The longest tracks are 600 meters. For tired athletes, the resort has restaurants, cafes and a sauna.

All booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

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While trying out the Finnish visa, we got a taste: the more I visit Finland, the more I fall in love with this country! After Lappenranta we set our sights on Imatra - a wonderful border town seven kilometers from Svetogorsk. Imatra captivated us with its nature! The main tourist attraction of the area is the water slide Imatrankoski on the Vuoksa River, 7 km from its outlet from Lake Saimaa. The height of the water fall is 18 m, the flow rate is approx. 600 cc m/s. In the 1920s, a hydroelectric power station was built, blocking the natural waterfall that previously existed here. Currently, water releases on the artificial water slide are carried out in the summer according to a schedule; water is discharged through the dam to the music of Sibelius and other Finnish musicians daily at 18:00.

In the painting by Fyodor Matveev from the collection of the Russian Museum you can see what this waterfall looked like in 1819 before the construction of the dam.

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The coat of arms of Imatra consists of three silver lightning bolts with gold tips on a red background, this symbolizes the hydroelectric power station on the Vuoksa River, to which the city owes its appearance. The village of Imatra was founded in 1948 as a result of the merger of several villages, and it received city rights only in 1971, so Imatra is a very young city!

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The coat of arms of Imatra is depicted on the railing of the bridge over Vuoksa.

In the city of Imatra, Finland // begemusja.livejournal.com

In the park not far from the water slide there is a monument to the suicide. Yes, yes, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the bridge near the waterfall became a favorite place for suicides! The number of people who committed suicide in this particular place has not been counted by anyone, but in 1909 there was a ban on the sale of one-way tickets from St. Petersburg to Imatra... This monument captures the moment of the fall and hitting the stones and is called “Imatran Impi”, The Finnish word "impi" refers to a drowned girl who received an afterlife by turning into a mermaid.

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Near the famous waterfall, the castle-hotel Valtionhotelli was built in 1902 - the first stone hotel in the city, designed by Usko Nyström in the style of national romanticism.

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So, there was plenty of time before the water was released, and we were taken to explore the surroundings...

This modern-looking white building is the Lutheran Church of the Three Crosses, built by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1957. The architect approached the issue of natural lighting in the interior of the church in a very original way: out of a hundred windows, only two have the same shape, which made it possible to achieve a remarkable play of light and shadow.

Lutheran Church of Three Crosses in Imatra, Finland // begemusja.livejournal.com

It is a real pleasure to be inside this church! There is nothing superfluous - harmony and peace reign here, and there is also a pleasant smell of fresh wood... Three crosses are placed on the altar, symbolizing the three crosses on Mount Golgotha, on which Christ and two thieves were crucified.

Church hill in Ruokolahti on the shore of Lake Saimaa, Finland // begemusja.livejournal.com

Our next stop was at Church Hill in Ruokolahti on the shores of Lake Saimaa. The church parish of Ruokolahti was formed in 1572, and since the first church was built on a reed-covered bank, the parish was named Ruokolax (ruoko - reed). The first three churches were built on the same place near the surviving wooden bell tower that belonged to the third church. This bell tower is one of the oldest buildings in Ruokolahti and the main attraction of the church hill. It was built by local carpenter Tuomas Ragvaldson Suikkanen in 1752 and is a masterpiece of Finnish wooden architecture.

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The door was open and I went upstairs!

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Work is currently being carried out there and everything is covered with green mesh, so it was not possible to photograph the views, but it is still terribly interesting to visit the inside of the ancient wooden bell tower!

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The stairs are very steep, it's dark and there's bird droppings all over it, so if you're afraid of getting dirty or falling or getting hit in the ears by the Finns, you shouldn't climb there!

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Near the bell tower there is an old cemetery; it arose around the first church. In the foreground are the graves of 90 Finnish soldiers who died in the Soviet-Finnish (Winter) War of 1939-1940.

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The fourth church was erected somewhat away from the site of the construction of the three previous churches; it was built in 1854 according to the design of the architect Ernst Lohrmann.

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And finally, we were taken to Rantalinna Castle - the former residence of Prince Alexander of Oldenburg, a member of the Romanov family. Now there is a hotel there, large tourist buses are not allowed inside for obvious reasons, and we walked around the surrounding area for half an hour - very picturesque places!

Rantalinna Castle, Finland // begemusja.livejournal.com

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Descent to the pier.

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We then returned to Imatra and had the opportunity to walk around the city on our own. The pedestrian street in the center is decorated with children's drawings.

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And this is a model of the Imatrankoski water slide with a hydroelectric power station from LEGO and the author of this very model is a wonderful Finn named Ismo Aavaharju, he worked for six months on creating the model, there are a million parts and this thing weighs 3000 kg! Here is a link to the site, but everything is in Finnish: http://www.palikkatakomo.org, I communicated with him in broken English, but in principle we understood each other =)

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And the time was gradually approaching 18 o’clock, and soon we had to see the release of the water with our own eyes, and while there was some time left, we took a walk through Kruununpuisto Park. The amazingly beautiful landscape of the Imatrankoski rapids and their surroundings was appreciated in the mid-19th century, when, on the initiative of the governor of the Vyborg province, the first attempt was made to legislatively protect the unique landscape, and in July 1842, Nicholas I accepted the proposal to preserve the area in the form of the Kruununpuisto park, which in translation means "Crown Park".