Ilomantsi

Ilomantsi is a town and municipality in North Karelia, making up the very easternmost part of Finland.

Get in

By car

Highway 74 comes in from downtown Joensuu, regional road 514 from the direction of Eno and Uimaharju, and regional road 522 from Lieksa, following the Russian border at a distance of about 10 km.

By bus

There are buses from Joensuu.

See

• 1 Virmajärvi border point (a 57-km drive: 38 km north along Hatuntie (road 522) to Hattuvaara, turn right to Polvikoskentie and continue left along it at the Y-junction after 3.7 km; after 10 km more, continue straight and then left at the Y-turn to Lahnajärventie; after 1.5 km turn left to Virmajärventie; after 2.4 km a 150-m marked trail leads from the parking to the lake shore). The easternmost point in Finland, the Schengen Area and mainland EU is a border marker on a tiny island in lake Virmajärvi. You can see it from the lakeshore. When going here, you'll be surrounded by the border zone, meaning if you don't have a special permit you must only stay on the road, parking lot and the path to the viewpoint. Drones are prohibited, but you may take photos or video by hand. See the Border Guard instructions. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Church of Saint Prophet Elijah (Ilomantsin pyhän profeetta Elian kirkko). Wooden Orthodox church, the largest of its kind in Finland. 17% of the inhabitants in Ilomantsi are members of the Orthodox church, the highest number in the otherwise generally Lutheran or secular country. (updated Aug 2023)

Do

Petkeljärvi

• 1 Petkeljärvi National Park. Eskers, pine woods and lakes. The Petkeljärvi-Putkelanharju nature reserve is adjacent. Free.  

The Petkeljärvi-Putkelanharju nature reserve is just east of Ilomantsi and reaches the national park in the south-east. An 18-km trail leads from Ilomantsi centre through the nature reserve to the park. You could also walk along Taitajan taival or Susitaival, from some suitable trailhead, to the park.

Eat

• 1 Ilomantsin Leipomo, Kalevalantie 10. Café, bakery, pizzeria and lunch restaurant. (updated Aug 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Hotelli Pogostan Hovi, Kalevalantie 12, ☏ + 358 40 196 4496, hotelli@hotellipogostanhovi.fi. Hotel. (updated Aug 2023)