Villas in Punkaharju
Punkaharju suits sauna holidays by a narrow glacial ridge, with clear Puruvesi water and Savonlinna's island castle in the same town. The homes are scattered over a wide area, so plan on a car and shop ahead.
- Villas
- 35
- From, per week
- £629
About Punkaharju
Punkaharju was a municipality until it merged into Savonlinna in 2013. The ridge that made it famous is an esker about 7.5 km long and in places only 10 m wide, with a road along the top and the lakes Puruvesi and Pihlajavesi either side. Our homes are scattered across the wider area, so the distance to the ridge varies. Puruvesi is known for unusually clear water, with visibility of 6 to 10 m on calm, sunny days. Nearly every home has a sauna and most have a fireplace, usually sleeping around five. The ridge has walking and cycling paths and a water tower with an observation deck, and Punkasalmi village has supermarkets and basic services.
Is Punkaharju right for you?
- Best for
- Walkers, cyclists and swimmers wanting clear lake water
- Not for you if
- You want shops and cafés within walking distance, because the homes are spread across a large area.
Near Punkaharju
Savonlinna
Home to Olavinlinna, a 15th-century castle on an island, where the annual Opera Festival is staged.
Lusto
The Finnish Forest Museum, in Punkaharju beside the Finnish Forest Research Institute; check opening times before you go.
Punkaharju research forest
A park of over 50 tree species, including pines around 40 m high, open to visitors.
Salpa Line
Second World War fortifications built between 1940 and 1944, which can be seen in Punkaharju.
Getting to Punkaharju
Savonlinna Airport has flights to Helsinki taking 40 to 60 minutes, and Helsinki is about 335 km from Savonlinna by road. Local trains and buses between Parikkala and Savonlinna stop at Punkaharju, but with homes scattered around, a car is the practical choice.
When to go to Punkaharju
This is a summer place: walking and cycling are popular in summer, and cafés such as Café Rantakivi open for the summer season. Harjun Portti rents kayaks, bikes and boats, and summer bookings are advised. Local trains call only a couple of times a day. Outside the season expect cafés and rentals to be closed or limited, so check opening times before you travel.
Villas in Punkaharju
3-star property
Mäntyranta 1
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
2
1
0
BBQDishwasherMicrowave+6 more
from£95
per night
5-star property
Tyssinniemi
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
8
4
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+10 more
from£163
per night
4-star property
Siika
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
8
3
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+9 more
from£193
per night
3-star property
3-star property
2-star property
3-star property
Palkinniemi
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
6
1
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+10 more
from£90
per night
4-star property
Päivärinne
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
6
2
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+8 more
from£146
per night
5-star property
Kuutti
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
6
3
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+8 more
from£173
per night
5-star property
Nestori
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
6
3
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+8 more
from£158
per night
3-star property
Hirsiniemi
Punkaharju, Southern Savonia, Finland
4
2
0
BBQFireplaceMicrowave+4 more
from£99
per nightPunkaharju villa holidays: questions answered
How long is the Punkaharju ridge?
About 7.5 km. It is an esker left by the ice age, and at its narrowest only about 10 m wide, with lakes on both sides and a road along the top.
Is the water at Punkaharju clear?
Yes, Puruvesi is known for unusually good underwater visibility for a Finnish lake, 6 to 10 m on calm, sunny days. It lies on one side of the ridge, so it suits swimmers.
Can you reach Punkaharju by train?
Yes. Local trains between Parikkala and Savonlinna stop at Punkaharju a couple of times a day, and buses on the same route stop there too.
What can you do in Punkaharju besides walk the ridge?
Visit the Lusto forest museum, climb the water tower for views, walk the research forest or hire a kayak, bike or boat at Harjun Portti, which advises booking in summer.
Is Punkaharju near Savonlinna?
Yes. Punkaharju became part of Savonlinna municipality in 2013, and National Road 14 runs between Savonlinna and Särkisalmi across the ridge.
Nearby towns to Punkaharju
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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