Discover Saarijärvi: Culture, Slopes and Lakes

There are several ways to plan a stay in Saarijärvi: winter sports, insights into the Stone Age and Finnish art, or activities on the water. If you’re looking for a hotel in Saarijärvi, it may help to consider what you’d like to do during your trip. The options vary by theme—from ski slopes and a sledding hill to the canoe route and cultural attractions.

Winter at Kusiaismäki

Paavonrinteet in Kusiaismäki has five illuminated slopes for skiing and snowboarding. There are two ski lifts, including a free lift on the children’s slope. There is also a sledding hill. The options vary by activity: the slopes are the main attraction for skiing and snowboarding, while the sledding hill offers a separate option. The cost information applies to the lift on the children’s slope.

Discover the Stone Age

Kivikauden kylä depicts a life-size Stone Age village. Visitors can learn about Stone Age life through its dwellings, objects and tools. A dedicated area built to a child’s scale gives children the chance to explore Stone Age life through play. Two ways of learning come together here: an insight into the village, its dwellings and everyday objects, and playful exploration in an area designed for children.

Finnish art and changing exhibitions

Toivi Järvisen taidekoti displays the house’s complete furnishings, as well as a Finnish art collection assembled by Toivi and Osmo Järvinen. The works span the 1880s to the 1980s. The house’s furnishings are thus presented alongside a selection of Finnish art spanning several decades. The Saarijärvi Museum has a different focus: its main building hosts changing special exhibitions throughout the year. Those interested in culture can therefore choose between the collection at the art house and the museum’s changing special exhibitions.

Activities on the water

Puuhapuisto Veijari offers a range of activities on land and water. Options include canoeing, boat trips and swimming. There is a choice of water activities: you can paddle yourself, take a boat trip or go swimming. This makes it a separate destination for travellers who want to include water activities in their stay.

The Seven Lakes Canoe Route

The Seven Lakes Canoe Route offers a different perspective, taking you around the centre of Saarijärvi. It runs across the lakes Saarijärvi, Kallinjärvi, Summasjärvi, Kiimasjärvi, Pyhäjärvi, Iso-Lumperoinen and Pieni-Lumperoinen. There are several rest stops along the route, as well as rest shelters where you can stay overnight. When planning your trip, both the sequence of lakes and the places to pause or spend the night are relevant. For overnight stays, you’ll need to decide whether to look for a hotel in Saarijärvi or include a rest shelter along the canoe route.

An annual Midsummer tradition

Every year on the eve of Midsummer, Saarijärven Paavo is announced at the foot of the Paavo statue. If you’d like to plan your trip around this tradition, check the programme for the year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Kinkomaa, Muurame, Vahanka, Kinnula, Äänekoski, Muhola, Multia, Jyväskylä

For the broader travel overview: Central Finland.