Finnish Lakeland
Old Porvoo, the lake castle at Savonlinna, the Punkaharju ridge and Kuopio’s harbour.
- Distance
- 586 km (364 mi)
- Driving
- 8 h 05 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 6
- Countries
- Finland
- Updated
- May 30, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 586 km (364 mi) with 6 stops, from Helsinki to Kuopio. About 8 h 05 min of driving in total.
Route description
Leave Helsinki eastwards to Porvoo, a small town with a cobbled old town, a stone cathedral and red wooden storehouses along the river. From there the route heads north-east through forest and farmland into the lake district.
Savonlinna lies on islands between two lakes, and Olavinlinna Castle stands on its own islet, reached by a floating bridge. Every July the castle courtyard hosts an opera festival, so book accommodation early for that month.
South-east of Savonlinna, the road runs along the Punkaharju ridge, a narrow gravel ridge covered in pine trees with lakes on both sides. Walking trails follow the crest if you want to leave the car for an hour.
Continue north through the lake landscape to Kuopio, with its lakeside harbour, market square and the Puijo tower above the town. Summer is the natural season for this route; distances are long, and mosquitoes are common near the water, so bring repellent.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Helsinki
Finland - 259 km
Porvoo
Finland - 3298 km
Savonlinna
Finland - 41 km
Olavinlinna Castle
HistorySavonlinna, FinlandA 15th-century castle on a lake island, reached by a floating bridge. Home of a summer opera festival.
- 535 km
Punkaharju ridge
NaturePunkaharju, FinlandA pine-covered gravel ridge left by the Ice Age, with lakes on both sides of the road.
- 6193 km
Kuopio
Finland
