Lahti
Lahti specs
- Lahti has a population of 120,000
- 200,000 people live in the Lahti region
- 75% of the population lives within 5 km from the city centre
- Total area is 517.63 km²
- Green areas cover 75% and waterbodies cover 10% of Lahti’s surface area
- 250 m² of green space per citizen
- 7,000 companies and 51,000 jobs
- 1 million employees within an hour’s commute
- Hotel capacity 2,000 (2024) Lahti
- Distance from an international airport, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) 100 km (car 1 hour, train 1 hour)
About Lahti
The mid-sized city has the best of both worlds: the attractiveness, intimate cosiness and originality of a small town, yet the services, efficiency and logistics of a major city. The location, less than one hour travel time from the international Helsinki Airport, together with multiple connections, makes Lahti accessible as well as an environmentally friendly city.
The City of Lahti is built at the intersection of Salpausselkä ridge and Lake Vesijärvi, where nature and the urban environment merge. Residents appreciate their city’s wide range of amenities, convenience, and proximity to the great outdoors. Lahti is an interesting centre of industrial design in Finland, offering a meeting place for companies, products, designers, as well as training and education in design.
Lahti is Finland’s leading environmental city, European Green Capital for 2021, as well as a globally recognised sports city. For decades, the city has implemented impressive measures to promote sustainability, which makes it a paradise for challenge-seeking athletes, nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.
MORE ABOUT LAHTIInternational sport events
Lahti is the Host City for sports events all year round, from annual national and international events to major World Championships-level events. A city with a close connection to nature offers a great variety of possibilities for outdoor sports.
Lahti Ski Games
Lahti Ski Games is annual international Nordic skiing event with cross country, ski jumping and nordic combined FIS World Cup competitions. Lahti Ski Games has over 100 years old history; The first Lahti Ski Games was held 3–4 February 1923. Nordic skiing has a strong bond with soil in Lahti; Lahti has hosted FIS World Ski Championships for historical seven times.
Kuva: © Lahti Ski Games
Lahti Ski GamesIRONMAN 70.3
IRONMAN 70.3 Finland has become a firm favourite in the triathlon calendar, and with a special start time of 3:30 pm., this race features a finish under the spellbinding Nordic midnight sun. Lahti hosted the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in 2023 gathering over 5500 participants to compete in our clear water and unique nature routes.
IRONMAN 70.3FNLD GRVL & Falling Leaves
Lahti region offers scenic gravel roads surrounded by fields and forests, forest roads and more challenging trails. Competitive Gravel season will be open with inaugural FNLD GRVL founded by Valtteri Bottas and closed by Nordic Gravel Series Falling Leaves Lahti. Who would not like to cycle on the “The Happiest Gravel on Earth”?
FNLD GRVLFinlandia Ski Marathon
Finlandia-hiihto (Finlandia Ski Marathon) start and finish line is at the legendary Lahti Ski Stadium. The course wiggles over and around of the ridge Salpausselkä, in Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geaopark, thus making Finlandia-hiihto one of the most demanding ski courses in the world because of the height differences. Finlandia Ski Maraton is part of Worldloppet series.
Lahti Historic Rally
World’s best and most amazing gravel special stages are waiting in Finland to offer the most memorable experience for competitors in historic rallying at Lahti Historic Rally.
Kempower Easter Tournament
International Kempower Easter Tournament in basketball has almost 30-year-old history. Easter Tournament is one of the biggest junior basketball tournaments in Finland with almost 250 teams with 2500 players.
Sports venues
The Lahti Sports Center and Trade Fair
Internationally known Lahti Sports Center is the heart of sports as well as events in Lahti. Sports and Fair Center is in 5-10-min walking distance from the city centre. Lahti Sports Center includes outdoor arenas as a stadium for skiing and athletics, ski jumping towers, multiple sports halls for different disciplines, as well as an Ice Hall. The Sports Center is also the starting point for the huge network of tracks and trails.
Visiting the Sports Center is valuable when doing sports, but it might be the town’s most fascinating tourist attraction for the whole family with a ski museum, the observation deck at the top of Large Hill and an outdoor swimming pool in summer.
Lahti Harbour
The harbour, located only 10-15 minutes by foot from the city center, has become an attractive venue for sports events. Starting and finishing at the harbour offers spectacular views and atmosphere for the athletes as well as for the audience. In addition, cosy cafés, restaurants, the harbour Handicraft Shop and Sibelius Hall, a modern piece of wood architecture, complete the experience.
Sibelius Hall, the congress and concert center, offers experiences for all senses. Sibelius Hall was built in 2000, adjacent to an old factory building. The modern wooden architecture is combined with the old industrial history in the most interesting way.
Kisapuisto Sports Park
In 1952, Kisapuisto Sports Park was the arena for the Olympic football tournament. Since then, Kisapuisto Sports Park has been a meeting place for sports enthusiasts, located right in the heart of the city. Nowadays, the area offers something for everyone: beach volley and tennis courts, fields with artificial turf, a turf field, several volleyball courts, basketball courts and, in the wintertime, a large skating and hockey rink.
MORE ABOUT LAHTIList of sports events in Lahti
Annual international events
- Lahti Ski Games (FIS)
- Finlandia Ski Marathon (Worldloppet)
- Ultra X trail running
- SPARTAN obstacle race
- Gravel Earth Series
- UEC 2027 European Gravel Championships
- Historic Rally European Championship
Title events
- 2025 SPARTAN Obstacle Race European Championships
- 2025 World RX of Finland, KymiRing Finland
- 2025 Ringette World Championships
- 2027 UEC European Gravel Championships
- 2028 World Winter Masters Games
- 2029 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships
- 2030/2031 FIS Nordic Junior and U23 World Ski Championships