Lakeland Finland is an eldorado for sports enthusiasts and active holidaymakers all year around. Here you will find excellent conditions for a wide range of outdoor sports and activities. Whether it’s hiking, running, cycling and swimming in summer or ice bathing, skiing and cross-country skiing in winter – you decide what you want to do. Sports-minded people gather in Lakeland Finland also for various top sports events – visit as a fan or challenge yourself as a participant!
Jyväskylä as Finland’s sports capital
The enthusiasm for sports of all kinds can be felt throughout Lakeland Finland. Jyväskylä and Lahti, which are connected by water, are considered the sports capitals of Finland. Jyväskylä, the lively university town by Lake Jyväsjärvi is home to Finland’s only Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. The Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport (KIHU) is based in Jyväskylä.
It cannot be a coincidence that numerous companies from the sports and wellness industry are also based in Jyväskylä. One of them is Firstbeat, a leading company in the field of physiological analysis for well-being and sports. In Jyväskylä you will find Finland’s largest outdoor gym. Several outdoor workout stations await you along the “Rantaraitti”, the recreational path that circles Lake Jyväsjärvi’.
Lahti – sports destination created by water
At the end of the Ice Age, the glacial meltwater streams carried and deposited enormous amounts of sand and gravel, creating an outstanding geological wonder, the Salpausselkä ridge, which is nowadays known as an exceptional destination for outdoor sports in Lahti. For a hundred years, the world’s best athletes have competed in the lush forests and steep slopes of Salpausselkä.
The unique lake nature of the region inspires people to pursue wellness as well as to test their limits in tough competitions such as Lahti Ski Games, a FIS Nordic World Cup Competition, RedBull 400, Ironman 70.3, Finlandia Ski Marathon or FNLD GRVL. Although Lahti is internationally known as a winter sports centre, the city and its surroundings also offer excellent conditions for summer sports activities. The open-air swimming pool at the foot of the ski jump offers spectacular urban views while you are swimming.
Water sports in Lakeland Finland
Lakeland Finland is the perfect region if you want to enjoy all kinds of water sports. The lakes are large and calm, with clear water for swimming and water sports. You can explore the area around your holiday home by rowing boat or book a sailing course. Tours of various lengths through the fascinating islands are possible by kayak. Or do you fancy a round of stand-up paddling? You can rent boats, kayaks and SUP boards as well as the necessary equipment in many places. After a day on the lake, the sauna is the best place for heavenly relaxation.
Paddling & rafting experiences
Hiking and running on well-maintained routes
For those who like to explore the beautiful nature on foot in a sportive way, Lakeland Finland offers an ever-expanding network of well-maintained routes for hiking and running. Whether around Lake Jyväsjärvi in Jyväskylä, at Salpausselkä in Lahti, in the countryside near Tampere or in the Aulanko Nature Reserve in Hämeenlinna, there is a destination to suit every taste. The city of Joensuu and the surrounding area offer you a connected network of trails with a total length of more than 200 kilometres. Trail running in the forests of Lakeland Finland is also becoming increasingly popular.
Running & trailrunning experiences
Varied trails for cycling
Whether mountain bike, downhill, e-fatbike or gravel bike – Lakeland Finland offers an increasing number of well-developed and varied trails for cycling enthusiasts. Examples include the Leivonmäki mountain bike route, the Laajis downhill centre and the Häähninmäki mountain bike route in the Jyväskylä Region. A brand new network of gravel bike routes (more than 1400 kilometres) also invites you to be active there. The Lahti region is also a hot spot for gravel biking, offering hundreds of kilometres world-class gravel roads. Both destinations are linked together in the Nordic Gravel Series event.
If your focus is more on cycling through fields and quiet villages, you can take the Ox Road of Häme. You will get to know the local culture along the way. The Lakeland Lake Trails take you through the most beautiful corners of Lakeland Finland in the Tampere area. Choose from five scenic routes of different lengths.
Cycling and mountain biking experiences
Lakeland Finland as a golf destination
Are you in the mood for a game of golf? There are seven golf courses serving you in the Häme region only, including Linna Golf, Finland’s only course that is part of the PGA European Tour. In the Lahti region you will find six golf courses. Lakeland Finland in the Jyväskylä Region also invites you to play a game of golf at several locations.
Home of winter sports
When winter comes to Lakeland Finland, the heart of all winter sports enthusiasts beats faster. Lahti Sports Centre at Salpausselkä with its extensive network of tracks offers excellent conditions for cross-country skiing as well as exploring winter trails in running or by bike. In Jyväskylä, the ski centre is called Laajavuori and is located only about 20 minutes outside the city centre.
For those who like downhill skiing, Himos winter sports centre is the place to be. Himos was awarded Ski Resort of the Year 2022 and has the largest ski slopes in Southern and Central Finland. Or visit Messilä, within one hour’s drive from Helsinki, which is the biggest ski centre of Southern Finland. Kontiolahti in North Karelia is the internationally renowned biathlon centre. Other winter sports destinations in Lakeland Finland include Messilä, Sappee, Koli, Kalpalinna, Ellivuori, Purnu, Häkärinteet and Riihivuori.
The biggest sports events in Lakeland Finland
Visitors from all over the world regularly head to the biggest sports events in Lakeland Finland. Legendary is the Secto Rally Finland, part of the World Rally Championship, which is held in Jyväskylä and on the region’s gravel roads during the summer. The event is so exemplary in its commitment to sustainability that it has been awarded the Sustainable Travel Finland label.
At the end of February or beginning of March, all friends of Nordic skiing gather for the World Cup event Lahti Ski Games (Salpausselän Kisat in Finnish), which have been held since 1923. The highlight is ski jumping from the Salpausselkä Large Hill. If you’re interested in biathlon, don’t miss the World Cup competitions held at the Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium.
Extra tip: An excellent idea for sports enthusiasts is a stay in the destinations Vierumäki and Pajulahti in the Lahti region or Eerikkilä Sport & Outdoor Resort near Forssa. They offer sports and leisure activities for the whole family combined with a variety of accommodation and healthy, seasonal food.
