Padasjoki is a municipality in the Päijänne Tavastia region of Southern Finland. It is located on the western bank of Lake Päijänne.
Padasjoki parish is known from the 15th century. The Padasjoki river has been an important waterway since prehistoric times. There are hundreds of lakes in the municipality. Lake Vesijako is a bifurcation, its water flowing both via Kokemäenjoki to the Gulf of Bothnia and via Päijänne and Kymijoki to the Gulf of Finland.
Päijänne National Park and Evo National Hiking Area are partly in Padasjoki.
Padasjoki is on national road 24 from Lahti to Jämsä (former national road 4, "Vanha nelostie"). Road 53 leads to Hämeenlinna. Your options for getting in are car or bus (unless you opt for the waterways).
Buses between Helsinki and Jyväskylä pass Padasjoki mostly once an hour in daytime, via Lahti and Jämsä, where there are railway stations. Many buses stop 📍 near Vanha nelostie instead of at the bus station 📍.
Local bus line 42 of Lahti regional bus system (LSL) extends to Padasjoki.
The centre of Padasjoki is quite large, with points of interests in a few separate areas: by the bus station, by the shopping centre and by the church. There are commercial services also in Taulu near Vanha nelostie and (summertime) by the harbour (Laivaranta 📍).
Dial-a-ride service offers call based trips to villages and ruralside. Call +358 44 7533 596 for more information.
See Lahti#Get around for information about fares and tickets
There is the church 📍, some art exhibitions and a few local museums – and the natural views.
See also: Hiking in the Nordic countries
Yachting, boating, kayaking and hiking is by no means restricted to the developed areas, but they may be the easiest destinations, with little need of serious planning.
There are numerous cottages for rent in the municipality, some in connection to full-service tourist activities.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division