A favourite beauty spot of ours in the Helsinki/ Espoo region is Luukki. Getting there without a car is relatively easy by taking bus no. 345 from outside the Central Railway Station, journey time being 45 minutes with buses running every hour. Shortly after passing a Shell petrol station you will see a blue sign and just after that is where you need to alight from the bus.
On the same side of the road as the bus stop you will notice signposts to several marked trails, we like to take the loop trail that goes around the beautiful Kaitalampi Lake. To guide you on your way, look out for the coloured ribbons tied to the tree trunks to follow your chosen trail. It’s a very scenic and tranquil walk, the air is so fresh, and it’s unusual to meet many other hikers along the way. We paused to watch a couple of people swimming in the crystal clear lake which had been formed during the ice age. The lake is long and narrow and one of the deepest in the area measuring up to 42 metres in places. We clambered onto some rocks and relaxed in the sun awhile taking in the splendid views. The path is gently undulating and the trail quite easy, taking about one hour to complete the circuit excluding stops.
There are a few picnic tables beside the lake and we chose one in an idyllic spot to sit and eat our packed lunch before completing the trail. At two other picnic spots there are open fireplaces where you can bring your own sausages to cook on the grill as firewood is provided. Across the main road you will find another path through the fields which leads to the delightful old Manor House painted in a bright, sunny yellow colour. Inside the Manor House there is an attractive cafe called Ravintola Laguna which has seating both indoors and outside on the front terrace overlooking the long, sweeping lawns. The cafe is open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm each day during the summertime and we enjoyed drinks and ice creams sitting outside in the warm sunshine.
Leading down from the lawns lies a gorgeous sandy beach beside another lake and the water is crystal clear and shallow, just perfect for young children. Shoals of small fish are visible near the surface of the water and are fun to watch as you take a paddle in the lake. Close to the beach are some cold water showers and changing rooms but if you require more sophisticated facilities then these can be found just behind the Manor House where there is also a sauna.
Not far from the lake on a slight incline is a large communal barbecue under a shelter where you can grill your own tasty snacks then sit on the grassy banks or at one of the picnic tables to enjoy your meal.
If you are arriving by car it’s 23 km from Helsinki and there is a large car park, a campsite and a golf course – in fact it’s a perfect summer day out for when the sun is shining!
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This looks like a good place to enjoy an outing with family. Hiking, swimming or just plain lounging in an all too short Northern summer. Allan
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The weather was scorching when we visited Luukki and everyone was making the best of the weather. It’s such a pretty spot with a Manor House that’s now a cafe come restaurant.
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Thank you, I’ll bank this for my next trip to Helsinki. Your post has so much detail. Can’t wait to go back to Finland.
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It looks so beautiful and how great that you can get there easily by bus. The idea of bringing a picnic, having a stroll in the woods and then popping down to the water when you feel like it is so appealing.
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It’s such a beautiful place Joy and there didn’t even seem to be any mosquitoes either.
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Sounds like a wonderful day trip
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Thank you, it’s definitely a great place to visit and not so far from the city.
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Thanks for the reminder. Everyone says it’s worth a visit but I still haven’t gotten around… one day!
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Do try and fit it in on a warm, sunny day. Take a picnic and a towel and just enjoy the scenery and the lake! The cafe is pretty and quite reasonably priced.
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May have to wait till next summer for the warmth and sun…! But yeah, every time we’ve plannrd to go there the weather has turned grey or rainy. But picnic would be my cup of tea!
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Such a cute place, I’m not sure if I’ve ever been there for a swim. I’m quite sure I’ve been trekking around there 🙂 Will have to keep Luukki in mind! xx
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We love this little peace of heaven and heard about it some years ago from a Finnish lady sitting next to me on a flight into Helsnki. I, in turn gave recommended she visit Manchester!!
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I’ve been to Helsinki a few times with work, I usually just wander around the city centre but if I was to get up early enough I’d hopefully be able to go if I get another trip 🙂
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It would be a good plan, buses are very reliable and traffic is light so you shouldn’t encounter any delays! Thanks for your positive thoughts!
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Marion, I love your main photo with all the people on the beach – looks like a scene from years ago for some reason.
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Do you know Sue, that’s what I thought, with the rubber rings, types of towel and the way people are stood by the water but it was taken last month!! Who needs to go to the south of France when you can enjoy 25 degrees at a Finnish lake!!
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Excellent attention to detail, especially the little pointers about public transport. Well done.
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Thank you! It’s a bit out of the way but easily accessible so hopefully some more readers might have an opportunity to visit this hidden gem now!
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Thanks for this post! 🙂 I like learning about new places around Helsinki.
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It’s a pleasure. and visiting here on a hot, sunny day is so wonderful. Thanks for reading and responding to the post it makes me very happy.
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Good Morning.
This is quite unknown for those who visit Helsinki and have no idea about what there is very near and easy to explore. Luukki is the place where I have been many times and found it very cool place for a visit. Let us hope that more Helsinki visitor will find Luukki and are inspired by Your post and photos. Thank You presenting Luukki. There is very near another place which also my favorite. We have made biking tours to there. It is called Kaitalampi.
Lake Kaitalampi.
We love walking tour there around the lake.
Happy Thursday!
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Hi Matti, so lovely to wake up to your interesting feedback on my post. I thought you would have visited Luukki yourselves too. It really is a hidden gem, yet very easily accessible from the city. Do you know that we first found out about it back in 2008 when talking to a Finnish lady sitting next to me on a flight into Helsinki. She said she loved to take her children there for walks and it was easy to get to, so we followed her advice and have taken the bus almost every summer since then. It’s amazing what one can learn from fellow bloggers and travellers isn’t it. I hope you also have a pleasant Thursday, the weather here is wonderful and warm and we have a bank holiday weekend coming up so fingers crossed it will stay like this, and for you, too!! Best wishes, M.
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Yes, Marion, we have been there, but many years ago. There is a walking possibility, which passes thru forests, small lakes with good path. If I remember correct is length was about 7 km, which means easy to walk. Enjoying surrounding nature is wonderful. Matti.
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