summer cottage in finland – 5 reasons to stay in Puumala

With the last snow melting in May, a new cottage season of the year can finally begin in Finland. People from across Finland and around the world come to Lake Saimaa region to spend their early summer through to the beginning of autumn by the stunning lake.

With the lively lake town Puumala being right at the heart of Lake Saimaa, there are many reasons why many rent a summer cottage or own a summer cottage in Puumala during your Saimaa holiday,

If you’re looking to rent a summer cottage in Finland, let us share with you 5 reasons why you should definitely consider spending your next holiday in a summer cottage in Puumala! You won’t regret!

Reason 1 – The perfect lakeside location for a Saimaa Holiday

Puumala is located in southeastern Finland, in the South Savo (Etelä-Savo) region, right in the heart of the Lake Saimaa district, which is Finland’s largest lake area. Puumala is a truly lakeside municipality with a highly fragmented shoreline, with hundreds of both small and big islands! And, many inland lakes!

Iconic scenes of Puumala’s nature include: the stunning sky reflected on the clear blue lake, an endless horizon filled with islands and forests, incredible sunsets in the west, and dark night skies glowing with countless bright stars — making you feel as if you were in space.

Picture: Finnish Lakeland district. A summer day in Puumala at Lake Saimaa. It is a very pleasent place to spend your Saimaa holiday here!

Many cottages in Puumala are located right by the lake. Within just a few steps, you can be at the water, ready to swim, fish, take a rowing boat out, or cool down after a relaxing and hot sauna session.

Puumala is easy to reach by car, and people from the cities love coming here to relax and to spend their summer holiday in Puumala. Puumala is located between Mikkeli and Savonlinna and is easily accessible: about 1 hour from Mikkeli, 3.5 hours from Helsinki, and 4 hours from Tampere.

Puumala on the Map - The perfect place to spend the summer holiday at the lake in Finland!

Reason 2 – Vibrant Puumala town with activities

Previously, we mentioned how beautiful and comfortable Puumala’s lakeside location is. But did you know that there are many activities organised in Puumala during the summer too? So many things take place that you will even need to choose what you will do every day! Many activities are suitable for families with young kids too.

The town centre of Puumala is very energetic and vibrant during the summer. From visiting the harbour market to buy fresh Finnish strawberries, joining a summer yoga class, listening to a top class classical piano concert, taking an archipelago canoeing trip, spotting the rare Saimaa seal, dining at the harbour restaurant, to dancing in a barn in Puumala at night— there are truly many things to do!

The Tourism Board of Puumala publishes every year an overview of the activities that happens each month, the overview you can find it here: Puumala Event Calendar.

Reason 3 – Daily authentic Finnish sauna sessions

An authentic Finnish sauna experience will feel the best in a traditional log cabin by the lake, where you can fully cool down after a session — especially when no one else is around.

Heating the sauna with firewood creates a hot, soft, and refreshing steam. Once you’ve experienced a lakeside sauna in an authentic wooden building with clean lake water, you’ll start craving it again and again. Staying in a summer cottage in Puumala will allow you to go to the sauna every day.

Are you a sauna lover? If so, we recommend the Etelä-Kalaton cottage in Puumala for an incredible and unforgettable cottage experience in Finland. This cottage, along with its private sauna, is located right on an inland lake, surrounded by a completely private forest and shoreline. With no neighbors nearby, it offers total privacy. The sauna experience at this cottage is truly wonderful.

Etelä-Kalaton is a very unique cottage at a location which has been previously described by one of our customers as “One of the most unique places on this planet. A completely private cottage and lake free of any neighbors. Hidden beautifully between ridges. Everything about this place was magical”.

Curious about Etelä-Kalaton? Check out the cottage and see its availability here:

Reason 4 – Endless activities for everyone to do

Staying at a summer cottage in Puumala gives you many pleasant options. Make relaxation by the lake your main focus, and enjoy the activities whenever the moment feels right. The activities are suitable for families, couples, solo travellers, Finnish locals, and international guests wanting to experience Finnish culture for the first time. What are some nice activities to do in the summer during your Saimaa holiday?

Fun activities to do at the cottage in the summer in Puumala:

Swim in the lake whenever you want: swimming in the lake feels just like being in your own private, gigantic swimming pool.
Take the rowing boat and explore the lake!
Improve your wood-chopping skills: grab some firewood from the cottage storage and start chopping wood for your next sauna session. The sauna will feel even more rewarding afterward.
Sauna, swim, sauna, swim: your body will thank you for the positive effects.
Berry picking: one of the best things about staying at a cottage in the summer is having easy access to many delicious berries. Gather blueberries for your morning yogurt or bake a cake with them.
Fish on the lake: Lake Saimaa is famous for its clear waters and delicious fish, such as “muikku” (vendace). People spend hours on the lake to fish.
Grill sausages on the BBQ and watch the sunset

We could go endlessly with what are some nicest things you can do at the cottage, but for now we will keep the list like this.

What about the activities to do outside of the cottage in Puumala center and in the surroundings of Puumala? Some of the most popular activities are:

Activities to do in Puumala

– Visiting the local market in Puumala town: local vendors sell delicious food, vegetables and fruits, souvenirs, artworks and more during this summer market. Make sure you don’t miss it!

– Go on the classic Steamship S/S Wenno for a cruise: built in 1907, the steamship Wenno operated as a boat transporting wood from Puumala. Now, it serves as a passenger boat and brings people on a tour for 1.5h across Lake Saimaa. Kind dogs are allowed on this boat.

– Go on a canoe trip and see the islands from the water:

– Try to spot the rare Saimaa seal!

For an overview of what you could do in and around Puumala, we recommend you to visit Visit Puumala webpage for a total overview.