Getting around in the Savonlinna region
The easiest way to move around in the Savonlinna region is by car, but public transport to the most important sights is also available. There is a train service between Savonlinna and Punkaharju, and local buses take you to other destinations.
Local and long distance buses
Local buses in Savonlinna run on four routes, which you can check on the map. Buses use a flat fare which for adults is 3.30€ and for children under 12 years old 1.70€ regardless of the distance travelled. Two under 4-year-olds can travel for free with an adult. You can also bring a children’s pram or a buggy for free on the buses. War veterans travel for free. With your bus ticket you can change the bus within an hour without an extra charge.
From the beginning of 2023, all local connections will be driven by electric buses.
Check here for long distance buses.
By train from Savonlinna to Punkaharju
It is easy to hop on a local train from the Savonlinna marketplace and let it take you through a scenic route to Punkaharju in a flash. In Punkaharju, you can visit many interesting locations such as Johanna Oras Art Manor, fun and water park Kesämaa, Lusto – the Finnish Forest Museum, and of course the amazing esker scenery. For timetables please check www.vr.fi. The fare is €3-€6/one way per person.
Experience Savonlinna from Lake Saimaa
The most natural way of moving around in Savonlinna is of course boating. During the high season, dozens of cruises depart from the passenger harbour daily. There is also route traffic from Savonlinna to Punkaharju and Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän in Rantasalmi.
More information on cruises
Rent a car, ride a bike or walk around
If you wish to travel on your own schedule, we recommend renting a car or a bicycle or walking. A bicycle is a splendid way to move around in our little city, and a more experienced cyclist can venture even further to nearby locations. With the new bypass road, Savonlinna also got a great lakefront cycling and walking path.
Experience various walking and cycling routes in Savonlinna region.
Parking in the centre of Savonlinna
In the city centre, the time allotted for parking is controlled by parking discs. In summer, (1.7. – 16.8.) you have to pay to park in the city centre. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines situated close to parking areas. Parking is chargeable Monday to Friday between 8am-5pm and on Saturdays 8am-3pm. During the high season, it is advisable to park your car outside the immediate area of the marketplace and the city centre.
For RVs and caravans there are two allocated parking areas for short time stays in Savonlinna. When coming from Mikkeli, one is by the indoor ice rink (max 48 hours) and the other is in Viiskulma in the city centre on Punkaharjuntie. For motorbikes, there are free parking spots by the marketplace.
In the maps below, the areas in the city centre with free parking are marked in green, those with time-limited parking using a parking disc are marked in blue and those with parking meters are marked in red.
