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Bridges of Savonlinna – city-centre paddling circuit (Lake Saimaa)

5.0•Kayaking Routes

2.1 km

Siltojen Savonlinna - souturetki kaupungin ympäri | Savonlinna | Saimaa - Kayaking

Route

Description

Visit Savonlinna – Siltojen Savonlinna theme routes+

Description

Siltojen Savonlinna is a themed paddling and rowing route around Savonlinna’s island-built city centre on Lake Saimaa in South Savo. The mapped centreline is about 2.1 km; Visit Savonlinna’s partner route materials describe a fuller sightseeing circuit of roughly 4 km and about two hours when you complete the water loop with time for landmarks and short stops. For planning, Visit Savonlinna’s Siltojen Savonlinna hub introduces the same “bridges” concept for walking and cycling and notes free city rowing boats plus hire options for boats, kayaks, and SUP boards. The Melonta Saimaalla section groups Savonlinna with longer regional trips—national parks, Punkaharju, and equipment partners—when you want to extend beyond the urban shoreline. Equipment listings from Activity Maker complement city-centre pick-up for canoes and SUP boards when you need a paid day rental, and free rowing boats are coordinated through Sääminki-seura’s city-boat page with registration rules for loans from the centre and Riihisaari. From the water you move between islands and under bridges with views toward the market area, passenger harbour, museum ships, Saimaan luontokeskus Riihisaari, and Olavinlinna; Visit Saimaa presents the castle and Riihisaari together as the core historic pair in the cityscape. Published route notes highlight Sulosaari for the summer café at Lettukahvila Kalliolinna and small rocky islets nearby for picnics, and mention Uuraanpää camping harbour as another possible landing. They also stress safety in a busy cruise port: watch larger traffic, avoid cutting through main harbour basins, and treat Kyrönsalmi and the narrow passages near Olavinlinna and the Tallisaari pedestrian bridge as places where current can run strongly—life jackets are essential. On land, the same theme family includes Siltojen Savonlinna pyöräilykierros and Siltojen Savonlinna kävelykierros if you want to pair a short paddle with a bike or walking loop around the same bridges.

Length & route

The mapped paddling line is about 2.1 km as one continuous centreline. Visit Savonlinna’s published route description rounds a full city sightseeing circuit to roughly 4.1 km with about two hours’ paddling time when you treat it as a complete themed loop with stops—use that figure when comparing schedules to partner guides. Expect mixed urban harbour water, narrow sounds, and bridge passages rather than open-lake crossings.

Getting there

Put in where your craft and wind forecast suit the urban shoreline—common launch areas used with Savonlinna city paddling include beaches and harbours within walking distance of the centre. Visit Savonlinna lists free city rowing boats operated with Sääminki-seura, with borrowing arranged from the city centre and Riihisaari area; registration and loan rules are on Sääminki-seura’s city-boat page. For paid canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards, Activity Maker rents equipment from Wanha asema in Savonlinna, including canoes for two paddlers and SUP boards with pick-up there. National-park-focused rentals and guided trips are linked from the Melonta Saimaalla section if you continue beyond town.

Good to know

Allow extra time in summer for sightseeing landings at Riihisaari or Olavinlinna ticketed visits if you combine paddling with museums. In the strait zone, give way to larger vessels and stay out of cruise manoeuvring areas. Fishing on Saimaa may require the national fisheries management fee and local rules—check current regulations before fishing from a kayak. Free city rowing boats have limited loan windows; if you plan the full themed circuit with long stops, a paid day rental may fit better than a short free loan.

History

Olavinlinna’s fortress history and Riihisaari’s former role as a naval yard beside the castle are central to Savonlinna’s waterfront story; the museum island now houses Saimaa-focused exhibitions and museum ships alongside Olavinlinna’s medieval silhouette.

Where to rent kayaks

Activity Maker (Wanha asema, Savonlinna) rents open canoes for two paddlers and SUP boards; equipment is collected from the station, with delivery mentioned as an option for some items. Visit Savonlinna’s Melonta Saimaalla section lists additional regional partners such as SaimaaHoliday Oravi and Harjun Portti for longer lake and national-park paddling. Free city rowing boats are managed via Sääminki-seura with borrowing from the centre and Riihisaari.

Managed by

Savonlinna

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Guides note that going with the current under some bridges is easier than rowing straight upstream; in brisk weather many paddlers plan direction so that difficult passages align with favourable flow.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Archipelago

Lake

Open / Good Condition

Visit Savonlinna – Siltojen Savonlinna water route (route description)

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

2.1 km

Distance

Partner route text suggests about two hours for the full city circuit without long stops, or up to three hours with a Sulosaari café or picnic break.

Est. Time

Lake Paddling

Water type

Visit Savonlinna – Siltojen Savonlinna water route (route description)

Location

61.86773°N, 28.88261°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

South SavoRegion

SavonlinnaCity

Kayaking RoutesCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Savonlinna, and other trusted sources, in March 2026. Our route / place GPX data comes from Metsähallitus / Lipas, last updated March 2026. Always check their official website for safety-critical updates.

Finland South Savo Savonlinna Kayaking RoutesBridges of Savonlinna – city-centre paddling circuit (Lake Saimaa)