Living in South Karelia
This page contains information about living in Finland and adapting to Finnish society. We guide to information and services offered by various authorities and other organizations. If you are a student, you can also get advice from your educational institution. As an employee, you may also get additional information from your employer.
The best way to get started and adapt is to first familiarize yourself with the basic facts about Finland.
Information about the municipalities belonging to South Karelia—Lappeenranta, Imatra, Luumäki, Lemi, Savitaipale, Taipalsaari, Ruokolahti, Rautjärvi, and Parikkala—can be found on the municipalities' own websites, which are compiled on the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities' website, among others.
- Etelä-Karjala | Kuntaliitto.fi (in Finnish)
Settling in with a family
General information about settling in as a family can be found on the website
If you move with children, your municipality guides you in matters related to child care and education. For example,
Health and well-being
Discover the services provided by the Wellbeing services county of South Karelia.
- Customers - Etelä-Karjalan hyvinvointialue (ekhva.fi/en)
- Omaperhe - South Karelia wellbeing services county (omaperhe.fi/en)
Everyday life and getting around
Settling in South Karelia is easier when you know how everyday life works.
Home
Finding a place to live is one of the first big steps when moving to a new place. In South Karelia, you can choose to rent, buy, or live in student housing, depending on your situation. For more information about housing arrangements in Finland:
You can search for rental apartments from private landlords or use one of the local services, such as your municipality's housing services.
Public transportation
Public transportation in South Karelia is safe and easy to use. You can travel between and within cities by bus. Public transport in the Lappeenranta region is responsible for public transport within Lappeenranta and Imatra, as well as between the cities.
Libraries, grocery stores, and postal services
Libraries are open to everyone and offer a wide range of services. Library cards are free of charge and available from any municipal library.
Most grocery stores are open every day of the week. Payment can be made by card, mobile app, or cash.
Postal services (Posti) are often available in grocery stores or kiosks.
Hobbies and free time
South Karelia is not only a beautiful place to live but also offers plenty to do. Whether you are interested in sports, culture, nature, or community events, there is something for everyone.
- South Karelia Events (tapahtumat.ekarjala.fi/en)
- Etelä-Karjalan harrastuskalenteri (harrastukset.ekarjala.fi) in Finnish
- South Karelia recreation routes and excursion spots (ekvas.fi/en)
- Easy to Join Exercise - Lappeenranta.fi
Check out the activities offered by associations and opportunities to participate.
Finnish language
Learning Finnish is extremely important. It opens doors to work, study, and a smooth everyday life in Finland. There are several organizations in South Karelia that offer opportunities to study Finnish, among other things.
- Adult education centre of South Karelia (ekko.fi)
- Joutsenon Opisto (joutsenonopisto.fi) in Finnish
- Saimaa Vocational Collage SAMPO (edusampo.fi)
- STEP Vocational Education (step.fi/en)
- Etelä-Karjalan kesäyliopisto (kesyli.fi) in Finnish
- Language studies | eLUT.fi/en
- Virta-opisto (uusi.opistopalvelut.fi/imatra/en)
- Search Finnish courses | Finnishcourses.fi