September 24, 2025, 6:37 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Which regions in Europe are still true hidden gems? And which area is particularly suitable for a vacation? TRAVELBOOK recently had its readers vote on this, and the results were announced at this year’s TRAVELBOOK Award 2025. Among the nominees was the Saimaa Lake District in Finland. Few have had this spot on their radar—until now. We show why a trip to the Saimaa Lake District is worthwhile.
Overview
The Saimaa Lake District in Finland
In southeastern Finland, not far from the Russian border, lies the Saimaa Lake District. The Saimaa Lake itself, covering 4,377 square kilometers, is the largest lake in the country and, according to Statista, the sixth-largest lake in Europe. The coastline stretches over more than 14,500 kilometers and is part of the Finnish Lakeland.
The lake landscape itself is a labyrinth of small and larger bodies of water connected by straits, along with more than 13,700 islands. There are also beaches and rocky shorelines, mystical swamp areas, and hilly meadows.
According to the information site “Visit Lake Saimaa,” the largest lakes in the lake district are Suur-Saimaa (translated as Great Saimaa), Pihlajavesi, Haukivesi, and Pyhäselkä. Other popular lakes include Puruvesi, Kolovesi, and Luonteri. The water in the Saimaa Lake District is clear. And it’s so clean that not only can you swim in it, but according to the Saimaa information site, you can even drink from it.
What to Do in the Saimaa Lake District?
Finland’s Saimaa Lake District is one of the most popular vacation regions in Finland (and thus no longer a hidden gem within Finland itself). The Saimaa information site even states: “Alongside the capital region and Lapland, the Saimaa Lakeland is one of the most important and beautiful travel areas in the country.”
Many Finns have their summer homes here. And that’s exactly what the Saimaa Lake District promises: a classic cabin vacation in Finland. This often means minimalist living, but above all, plenty of nature and relaxation by the water. There are also numerous nature and water activities, such as hiking, swimming, boating, kayaking, cycling, golfing, and horseback riding. And, of course, you can enjoy a classic Finnish sauna vacation in the picturesque Saimaa Lake District.
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When Is the Best Time to Visit the Saimaa Lake District in Finland?
When we think of lake and cabin vacations, summer seems to be the ideal travel time. However, according to the Saimaa information site, there is no such thing as the best travel time at Saimaa. Rather, it seems to depend on the purpose or type of trip, as is the case in many other places.
According to Visit Saimaa, all four seasons in Finland’s Saimaa Lake District are apparently so pronounced that everything from a classic summer beach vacation to a winter vacation with ice skating is possible. For summer, the information site clearly recommends a beach vacation combined with various water sports, camping, and perhaps even fishing. The Saimaa Lake is home to the country’s most prized fish, the small whitefish. Hobby anglers can catch it right on site and throw it on the grill.
Those who visit the lake district in the fall can look forward to beautiful, colorful autumn landscapes. This season is particularly suitable for those who enjoy hiking, as well as berry and mushroom picking, such as chanterelles. Romantics and snow enthusiasts come to the Saimaa Lake District in winter. It is then bathed in a sometimes dim light, but it never gets completely dark here in southern Finland, even in winter. The lake freezes solidly in the winter months, allowing for ice skating. You can also go cross-country skiing and ice swimming. Spring in the lake district apparently only shows briefly, but according to the information site, it is “Finland’s best travel time for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, or boating tours.”
Methodology for the TRAVELBOOK AWARD
We say it every year: All nominated regions, countries, and more for the TRAVELBOOK Awards are already winners, even if they didn’t achieve overall victory. This also applies to the Saimaa Lake District in Finland. Because: Every country has already made it onto the shortlist in advance, meaning it was selected from a large number of contenders in a category.
The TRAVELBOOK editorial team asked the community on Facebook and Instagram for help and consulted experts from the travel industry to create the shortlist. TRAVELBOOK readers then cast nearly 150,000 votes and chose their trend travel destinations for 2026.