South Karelia, Finland · Europe
Ruokolahti is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Imatra, 13km from Imatrankoski.
Ruokolahti is a town located in South Karelia, Finland. With a population of 4,721, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Ruokolahti sits in Finland, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Helsinki time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Ruokolahti to your route.
Ruokolahti (Finnish: [ˈruo̯koˌlɑhti]; Swedish: Ruokolax; literally translated the "Reed Bay") is a municipality of Finland, situated in south-eastern Finland, in the region of South Karelia. Neighbouring municipalities are Imatra, Lappeenranta, Taipalsaari, Puumala, Sulkava, Punkaharju, Parikkala and Rautjärvi.Read more
Ruokolahti covers an area of 1,219.85 square kilometres (470.99 sq mi) of which 23% is water.
The municipality has 4,679 inhabitants
(31 December 2025), but the population doubles in summer as holidaymakers occupy the 3,000 summer cottages in the region.
Ruokolahti is known for its natural environment, for example Kummakivi is a balancing rock located at 61° 29' 36.4596" N, 28° 25' 45.5016" E in Ruokolahti and is protected. In the west there is the Lake Saimaa and in the east there are hundreds of smaller lakes. The Salpausselkä ridges run through the area. In 2025, The Times highlights the Huuhanranta beach on the shores of Lake Saimaa among the attractions of Ruokolahti, referring it as the "Saimaa Riviera".
The famous sniper Simo Häyhä, also knows as nickname the "White Death", lived in Ruokolahti for 57 years after the 1939–40 Winter War. He is buried there in the graveyard of Ruokolahti Church.
The municipal coat of arms of Ruokolahti is a canting arms that directly refers to the name of the municipality, including reeds appearing in it. Wave line is usually used to describe a local body of water. The coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers and was confirmed for use on September 11, 1951.
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Ruokolahti offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Ruokolahti is located in South Karelia, Finland, Europe. The coordinates are 61.2833 latitude, 28.8333 longitude.
Ruokolahti has a population of approximately 4,721 people, making it a town in Finland.
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Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for Finland2 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Once the Niagara of Finland and the country's first tourist attraction, the Vuoksi rapids now roar to life at scheduled dam releases on summer evenings, set to music below the castle-like 1903 Imatran Valtionhotelli.
13 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Finland's largest lake and Europe's fourth-largest, a labyrinth of islands and channels home to the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal.
29 km · about 35 min drive
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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