Imatra

A peaceful gem by the river

Imatra is a small town in Finland’s Eastern Lapland region, known for its quiet lakes and forests. The area has long been home to the Sámi people, whose traditions still shape daily life here. Visitors can walk along clear waterways or explore pine-covered hills that rise gently toward the sky. Local markets sell handmade crafts and fresh fish caught in nearby waters. In winter, snow covers trails and makes cross-country skiing popular. Summer brings long daylight hours and opportunities for berry picking. The town’s pace encourages relaxation and a close connection to nature.

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Town in Finland

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.7

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	10

Read details

4/5

Most locals can communicate well in English, especially in tourist areas. You'll find that English is commonly spoken in hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Imatra Summary

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Good for river scenery and outdoor relaxation. Walk forest trails, watch rapids flowing through the gorge, visit parks and enjoy quiet nature.

Place score

7.4

Best at:

Spotless

Rivers

Lakes

Natural sites

Waterfalls

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Finland – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are very common, and even small transactions are typically cashless. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary, but rounding up the bill or leaving a small amount is appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is regulated and often prohibited outside designated areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in public spaces and near entrances.

Midsummer (June)	Public celebrations occur nationwide.
Independence Day (December)	Cultural events and commemorations happen.
Christmas (December)	Festive markets and closures.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Saunas are an essential part of Finnish culture. Winter can be extreme, so pack accordingly.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Imatra, Finland

🌨️

Jan

🌨️

Feb

🌨️

Mar

☁️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

☁️

Sep

☁️

Oct

❄️

Nov

🌨️

Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Imatrankoski rapids spill shows on selected summer evenings, usually June to August

Midsummer weekend in late June: many shops and restaurants close

Land border crossing to Russia at Imatra has been closed since late 2023

Don't miss

🌊 Visit the breathtaking Imatrankoski Rapids
⛪ Explore the Church of the Three Crosses
🌳 Relax in Finland’s oldest Kruununpuisto Park
🏛️ Discover history at the Imatra Veteran’s Museum
🚴‍♂️ Cycle or hike along Lake Saimaa’s scenic trails

You've been here?

Why travel to Imatra?

Imatra is perfect for travelers who want to experience Finland's wild beauty without the crowds. The Imatra Rapids, local forests and nearby lakes offer serene environments for outdoor activities. If you're into photography or fishing, this is the place. The town is small but charming, offering a perfect blend of nature and culture.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Saimaa Canal
2 Imatran valtionhotelli

🎡Places for activities

1 Imatra Golf

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Imatrankoski rapids' dam
2 Vuoksi
3 Kivijärvi
4 Kalliosaari
5 Kruununpuisto Nature Reserve
6 Imatra

🎈Events

Imatra Festival
Saimaa Music Festival
Imatra Christmas Market
Lappeenranta Winter Festival
Punkaharju Nature Days
Imatra Fishing Contest
Imatra Airshow
Imatra Folk Music Festival
Lappeenranta Christmas Lights
Saimaa Sailing Week

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Knowledge before you go

Time your visit for the Imatrankoski rapids water-release show.
Imatra sits by Lake Saimaa and the Vuoksi River, so pack layers for breezy waterfront walks.
The center is easy on foot or by bike, but buses help reach scattered nature spots.
Stay or at least photograph the castle-like Imatran Valtionhotelli beside the rapids – best around blue hour.

How to travel to Imatra

The closest major airport is Lappeenranta Airport, about 40 minutes away by car. From there, you can take a bus or rent a car to reach Imatra. Alternatively, you can travel by train from Helsinki to Lappeenranta and then take a bus to Imatra.

Access summary

From Lappeenranta Airport: bus or train via Lappeenranta, about 1 hour.
From Helsinki: direct InterCity trains about 2.5–3 hours from city.
From Lappeenranta: frequent regional trains or buses, roughly 30–60 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Imatra

Imatra offers a variety of accommodation options, including lakeside hotels, cozy cottages and guesthouses. For a relaxing stay, consider booking a room in a spa hotel, where you can unwind after a day of outdoor adventures.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Holiday Club Saimaa

8.4

Villa Viktoriya

Imatran Kylpyla Spa Apartments

8.4

Scandic Imatran Valtionhotelli

9.0

Saimaa Life Apartments

9.2

Imatra Spa Sport Camp

SResort Sauna Villas

Saimaa Life & Light

Kiurun Villas

Imatra Spa Sport Camp

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Imatra

Imatra is small and the best way to explore it is by foot or bike. Public buses connect the city to nearby towns, including Lappeenranta, where you can find further transport connections. Taxis and rental cars are also available.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-3 %

Daily expenses in Imatra are around 3% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£65	£134	£369
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£60	£135
🍝 Food per day	£28	£64	£207
🚕 Transportation per day	£11	£11	£27

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£23
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£9
🍟 Fast food combo	£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£3.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£14
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£65
🤧 Cold medication	£8.50
💇 Basic haircut	£17

Safety information overview

General safety

Imatra is generally very safe, with low crime rates. However, as in any area, always stay aware of your surroundings, especially in more secluded natural spots.

Health & Medical

Imatra has good healthcare facilities with a hospital and pharmacies. It's advisable to have travel insurance to cover potential emergencies.

Accessibility

Imatra is fairly accessible, though some natural sites may have uneven terrain, so be cautious if you have mobility concerns. Public transport is reliable, but renting a car is recommended for ease of access to remote areas.

Tap water

The tap water in Imatra is of excellent quality and safe to drink, with public drinking water fountains available in several locations.