Lahti between art, nature and winter sports

Lahti combines art and urban history with nature trails and a distinctive winter sports landscape. You can therefore choose different priorities when planning your trip: a stay focused on museums and architecture, time on trails around the city, or experiences at the sports centre and on the Salpausselkä ridges. Which holiday apartment makes the right base depends on what you are especially keen to discover in Lahti.

Art, architecture and urban history

Malva, a museum of art, design, posters and culture, is located in the centre of Lahti. The interactive artwork “Ahto” by Finnish collective Ekho is on display in the Light Gallery. It responds to the flow of visitors. Malva is a 15-minute walk from Lahti railway station and travel centre—a useful point of reference if you want to combine your arrival with a museum visit.

Sibelius Hall, a congress and concert centre, is located on Lake Vesijärvi. The building was constructed in 2000 next to an old factory building. Its modern wooden architecture connects with the industrial history of the site. Those interested in architecture will find a different way to experience Lahti here than in Malva’s art collections.

The Lahti Historical Museum is housed in the former Lahti Manor. The pink building was completed in 1898. The museum is within walking distance of the city centre and Lahti harbour. This makes it easy to combine a visit with time spent in these areas, without following a particular route.

City trails and nature at Salpausselkä

The approximately 13-kilometre Lehmusreitti is an urban nature trail around the centre of Lahti. It passes through city parks, viewpoints and places of cultural and historical interest. The route combines natural and cultural highlights in a single trail; you can take its length into account when planning your day.

The Salpausselkä area has approximately 25 kilometres of marked trails for walkers, runners and cyclists. The varied landscapes of Salpausselkä also begin at the Lahti Sports Centre, attracting walkers, mountain bikers and trail runners. These trails and the Lehmusreitti routes offer different settings for active days, but should not be considered one continuous route.

Another nature spot is Linnaistensuo, a short drive from the centre of Lahti. A boardwalk runs through the bog, with information boards explaining the landscape along the way. This offers a bog area as a separate excursion option alongside the city trails.

Winter sports and the sports centre

Lahti and the Salpausselkä ridges have around 180 kilometres of cross-country ski trails in total, 70 kilometres of which are lit. The Ski Museum is next to the Salpausselkä ski jumping hills. A network of several dozen kilometres of ski and walking trails starts right at the museum entrance. The stated length of the ski trails and this network refer to different offerings; plan for them as separate options.

Even when the weather does not allow outdoor activities, the interactive section of the Ski Museum offers a way to explore snow and winter sports. The large “Betoni” ski jump is another highlight at the sports centre. It was built in 1972 and is 80 metres high. The combination of the museum, ski jumps and trails makes the sports centre a possible focal point for travellers who want to discover Lahti primarily through winter sports.

Broadcasting technology and motor sports

The Mastola Radio and Television Museum offers learning activities about radio and television for children and adults. Exhibits include radios and televisions, broadcasting and studio equipment, amateur radio and DX listening equipment, devices for private audio recordings, radio valves and telephone equipment. Mastola is on Radiomäki, at the foot of Lahti’s 150-metre-high radio masts. Its themes range from broadcasting technology and private recordings to telephones and radio technology.

The Finnish Motorcycle Museum preserves up to 100 motorcycles, as well as other items related to motor sports. The same building houses the Ace Cafe Lahti restaurant, which serves burgers and fresh salads, among other things. This offers a clear focus for your day around motorcycles and motor sports; the restaurant adds a specific food offering to the venue.

If you would like to discover more destinations in the area, you can also find Nyystölä, Sysmä, Hollola, Asikkala, Auttoinen, Vierumäki, Orimattila and Hämeenkoski here.

For the broader travel overview: Päijät-Häme.