Asikkala is a municipality in Päijänne Tavastia, Finland, by the lakes Vesijärvi and Päijänne. The Vääksy Canal crosses the isthmus between the lakes, through the main village Vääksy.

Understand

Vääksynjoki

The municipality has two dozen villages spread around, mostly along the shores of the lakes. The main village is Vääksy, by the canal, while the parish village is Asikkala, 6 km to the north-west along the shore. Kalkkinen is to the north-east, with the outlet rapids of Päijänne – one of few major rapids in natural state in southern Finland – and a canal bypassing them.

Get in

The distance from Lahti is 25 km.

Former road 4, now road 24, comes from Lahti as Vesikansantie going north, changes names to Vanha nelostie and turns westward, and leads through Vääksy by the isthmus. From the north-west the road leaves Jämsä, 100 km to the north-northwest, as Lahdentie, changes names to Nelostie and leads via Padasjoki to Vääksy. Road 314 comes from Sysmä in the north, over Päijänne, via Asikkala to Vääksy.

By train

Lahti is on the Saint Petersburg–Helsinki line, with frequent trains from Helsinki (1 hr). Hämeenlinna in the south-west (70 km) is on the Helsinki–Tampere railway. Jämsä is on the Tampere–Jyväskylä railway.

By bus

Asikkala has coaches from Helsinki, Jyväskylä and Jämsä, see Matkahuolto.

Asikkala is part of the local transport network of Lahti.

By boat

See also: Boating in Finland#Keitele–Päijänne–Vesijärvi

Vääksy canal

There are boats from Lahti to Jyväskylä and Heinola and back, via Vääksy and Kalkkinen/Karisalmi.

• Päijänne-risteily Hildén, ☏ +358 10-320-8820, info@paijanne-risteilythilden.fi. Restaurant on board. Accessible by manual wheelchair, make reservation. From Jyväskylä/Padasjoki/Lahti to Vääksy: €66/32/22, children half price. 

By pleasure craft there are navigable waterways from Pielavesi, Viitasaari and Äänekoski in the north (via Jyväskylä), Kouvola in the east (since 2020; check how to pass Jyrängönkoski in Heinola), and from Lahti in the south. On some of the routes there are low bridges, in the Kimola Canal a 4.8 m tunnel and a 3.8 m bridge.

Get around

By bus

See Lahti#By bus

By taxi

See Päijänne Tavastia#By taxi

See

The manor museum in Urajärvi

• 1 Asikkala church, Kirkkotie 42 (in the Asikkala village). 8 June–6 August 2021: M–F, Su 12:00–17:00; services most Sundays at 10:00. Parish church, built 1880 to replace a former one from the 17th century. 
• 2 Kalkkinen Church (Kalkkisten kirkko), Haikealantie 5 (Kalkkinen). Service about once a month at 13:00. Built on initiative of the villagers in 1909–1910, to a large degree with volunteer work. It was handed over to the parish in 1951. 
• Local history museum, Kirkkotie 42, Asikkala (by the Asikkala church). 
• 3 Kalkkinen rapids (Kalkkistenkoski) (4.5 km north-west from Asikkala along Asikkalantie, then 5 km south along Kanavankulmantie and Patosaarentie, the latter after the canal). One of few major rapids in natural state in southern Finland. The best views are probably from the island at the end of Patosaarentie. If you have the time you might want to start by visiting Kotasaari a little downstream (take Kotasaarentie from the canal). Much of the shore and several islands in the rapids form the Kalkkistenkoski nature reserve. 

Do

• 1 Lehmonkärki, Lehmonkärjentie 180 (in the bay north-west of Asikkala, some 15 km from Vääksy), ☏ +358 3 766-6330. Rowing boats, watercraft, pulpit boats and outboard motors for rent. (updated May 2021)

Buy

The Majakkapaviljonki harbour

Shops and workshops by Vääksy Canal

• Keramiikkapaja Koiruuksia, Melakuja 1, Vääksy, ☏ +358 40-569-1738. Ceramics. (updated Jun 2021)
• Lieska Design, Meijeritie 1, Vääksy (Kanavan Panimon lähituotemyymälä, Päijännetalo). Handicraft glass jewellery. Workshop elsewhere. 
• Lauran kauppa (in the canal area), ☏ +358 50-381-5556. Clothes, design, second hand. 

Eat

• Kanavakunkku, Kanavatie 17, Vääksy, ☏ +358 50-595-3771. M–Th 11:00–20:00, F–Sa 12:00–20:00, Su closed. €16–30, children €13. 
• Majakkapaviljonki, Ämmäläntie 20 (by the guest harbour in the canal bay), ☏ +358 50-527-9313 (harbour), +358 3 766-2008, +358 40-502-1940, info@majakkapaviljonki.fi. Harbour fee includes showers, electricity and bike borrowing. Fuel and septic tank emptying. Pizza €13, salad €11; harbour fee €12. 

Sleep

There are a few holiday villages and a hotel.

• 1 Hotelli Tallukka, Tallukantie 1, ☏ +358 3 888-81, sales@tallukka.fi. Hotel and restaurant. Breakfast and sauna included. €100. 
• 2 Motelli Körri (along the Highway 24), ☏ +358 50 344 9923. A motel. 

Go next

• Heinola or Jyväskylä by cruise, the former using the canal Kalkkisten kanava.
• Päijänne National Park off Padasjoki