Padasjoki

Padasjoki (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈpɑdɑsˌjoki]) is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is 53 kilometres (33 mi) from Padasjoki to Lahti and 65 kilometres (40 mi) to Heinola. The municipality has a population of 2,670 (30 June 2025)^[2] and covers an area of 729.85 square kilometres (281.80 sq mi) of which 206.68 km² (79.80 sq mi) is water.^[1] The population density is 5.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (13/sq mi).

Padasjoki
Municipality
Padasjoen kunta Padasjoki kommun
Coat of arms
Location of Padasjoki in Finland
Coordinates: 61°21′N 025°16.5′E
Country	Finland
Region	Päijänne Tavastia
Sub-region	Lahti
Charter	1442
Municipality	1865
Government
• Municipal manager	Juha Rehula
Area  (2018-01-01)[1]
• Total	729.85 km2 (281.80 sq mi)
• Land	523.09 km2 (201.97 sq mi)
• Water	206.68 km2 (79.80 sq mi)
• Rank	167th largest in Finland
Population  (2025-06-30)[2]
• Total	2,670
• Rank	226th largest in Finland
• Density	5.1/km2 (13/sq mi)
Population by native language [2]
• Finnish	97% (official)
• Others	3%
Population by age [3]
• 0 to 14	10%
• 15 to 64	48.7%
• 65 or older	41.3%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website	www.padasjoki.fi

The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

Padasjoki is known as a summer cottage municipality. By number, it has more holiday homes than permanent residents.

History

The earliest information on the administrative parish of Padasjoki is from 1442. Most of the villages of Padasjoki were established during the Middle Ages, being mentioned in sources from the 15th century.^[4]

In 2020, Padasjoki was the setting of a video and choral tribute by the YL Male Voice Choir to the song Pohjois-Karjala, by Leevi and the Leavings and Gösta Sundqvist.^[5] The video, seen over 100,000 times in a single day, credits the city of Padasjoki as well as some local businesses and features several rural views including a farm, swamps, a wooden bus stop, a barber shop and a Matkahuolto station with a visible "Padasjoki" sign.^[6]

Sights and events

In February, Padasjoki hosts 7.5 km long annual full moon skiing event and competition on the frozen Lake Päijänne. In March there is another skiing event on Lake Päijänne called Postihiihto. Week before midsummer it is time for annual nude run event Nakukymppi held in Vesijako village. During the first weekend of July Sahtimarkkinat a home-brewed beer market is held in Padasjoki village centre. The Padasjoki Marina also loans itself every second year as the starting point for a sailing competition (Päijännepurjehdus).

Museums

• Enni Ids Cabin
• The Granary Museum
• The Palsa Mill Museum
• The Torittu Village Smithy Museum

Art

• Gallery Pikantti
• Ala-Savi’s Art
• Ars Arrakoski
• Ars Auttoinen

Nature

Tuomastornit observation towers

• Päijänne National Park
• Evo Hiking Area
• Tuomastornit observation towers