The Finnish lake country with its 187 000 lakes is the perfect summer destination. There are lakes to suit all tastes – small and big, narrow and wide – and on calm days they all reflect like a mirror.
I was boating on Lake Näsijärvi, the 16th of the lakes in size and made this photo gallery to show you the extraordinary beauty of the Finnish summer.
I was using my own boat but there are cruises that follow the same itinerary, and on other lakes you can find more cruises. Or why not rent a lakeside cottage and get the views to your own porch?
Lake Näsijärvi waterway: Virrat boat sheds
This post will show you Lake Näsijärvi in Western Finland. It’s my favorite lake to boat on. The Näsijärvi boating season is from May to September and something I really look forward to, year after year.
Lake Näsijärvi on the Map
So this is the southern and central part of Finland and I marked Lake Näsijärvi on the map. To get a closer look at the lake zoom in the map and you will see the long, winding waterway more in detail.
Näsijärvi has the city of Tampere at its south end and proceeding towards north there are the small communities of Ruovesi, Vilppula and Virrat. The waterway of Näsijärvi is 120 km long in all.
Boating on Lake Näsijärvi: Tampere to Virrat
In Tampere: walking on the pier and getting ready for a boat trip
I can see the Näsinneula tower upside down in the dark water
Old wooden ferries parked in Mustalahti harbor, Tampere
One of them was given the same name as the lake.
Amusement park full of life beyond the bay.
But let’s take the boat and set off.
What is it like on the lake and where should we go?
Next stop: Aunessilta stone bridge, the gateway to the 10 km long Paarlahti fjord.
The lake is like a mirror. This is what summertime in Finland is made of!
Meeting other boats along the way
Boating on Finnish lakes is easy, just follow the marked routes.
Drive on – and look at the reflections!
This is the tiny Mustalahti bay in the north of the waterway.
It’s just one of the beautiful bays and a nice side trip. Imagine staying in this farmhouse…
…or in this little cottage located right by the lake!
Reflection of the biggest of the boats, S/S Tarjanne
After hundreds of bends and turns…
Virrat Boat Sheds
… Virrat harbor and its old red wooden boat sheds.
… and the reflections of these boat sheds!
Time to step ashore, have a meal – and look at the sheds from the park.
Some of them are leaning but all of them are still in use.
Old or new, they all look so good…
Sun and Storm on the Lake
… even in a thunderstorm that makes us leave the harbor.
The northern waterway has some high bridges.
White swans raise their families in sea grass.
The lake cruiser S/S Tarjanne: still going strong after more than 100 years in traffic.
View from my boat window in a summer storm.
Ruovesi boat harbor has good guest piers and dining options – a great place for a stop.
S/S Tarjanne entering Ruovesi.
Entering Murole Canal
Waiting my turn to enter the Murole canal
Time to enter!
Hold the ropes, they are raising the water level
If there is route traffic you’ll have to let them go first.
Lake Näsijärvi is a dream destination for photographers…
… at least where there are rock paintings.
These rocks don’t have any paintings, this is one of our favorite picnic islands.
Evening in the Finnish Lake Country
Island hopping on Lake Näsijärvi
For us, camping on small islands means real luxury.
Sunset seen from our tent door. It’s almost midnight.
Time to start preparing for the night: mosquito nets on all doors and windows.
After the sunset there are different shades.
I think the time after sunset is even more beautiful than the sunset itself.
The midnight lake really reflects everything…
… until night mist comes.
Later at night it gets all blue.
Can you see how blue everything is?
It’s the blue and white colors of Finland!
More Information on Lake Näsijärvi
What is Lake Näsijärvi like in winter?
More on Finland Travel
- This post was about lake travel. What about traveling Finland in a campervan:
- Here you will find all Routes and Trips posts on Finland.
What a great article, thanks for this!