Sortavala Urban Okrug district, Karelia, Russia

Places to visit near Sortavala

Sortavala is a town in Sortavala Urban Okrug district, Karelia, Russia, home to about 20,760 people. Within 50 km by road there are 137 places to visit — 41 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 26 beaches & coast, 17 rivers, islands & mangroves and 14 churches. The must-see places are The Runes' Singer (2 km), Karmalanjärvi (4 km) and Riekkalansaari Island (6 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Sortavala on the map

Sortavala, Karelia
Sortavala, Sortavala Urban Okrug district, Karelia, Russia. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Sortavala at a glance

Location
Sortavala Urban Okrug district, Karelia, Russia
Population
about 20,760
Coordinates
61.7123° N, 30.7095° E
Places within 50 km
137 (22 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to March for beaches & coast; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Sortavala

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Sortavala: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Sortavala, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Sortavala

107 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Sortavala. The closest is Airanne (3 km); the best-known is Karmalanjärvi (4 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Karelia →

Beaches & coast near Sortavala

35 beaches & coast within 100 km of Sortavala. The closest is Виссаринлахти (5 km). Best time: october to march.

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Rivers, islands & mangroves near Sortavala

32 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Sortavala. The closest is Riekkalansaari Island (6 km). Best time: september to february.

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Karelia →

Churches near Sortavala

18 churches within 100 km of Sortavala. The closest is Церковь Николая Чудотворца (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Sortavala

13 forts & heritage within 100 km of Sortavala. The closest is The Runes' Singer (2 km). Best time: october to february.

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Waterfalls near Sortavala

13 waterfalls within 100 km of Sortavala. The closest is Водопад на реке Тохмайоки (3 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Karelia →

A one-day trip from Sortavala

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 44 km on the road.

  1. Start in Sortavala
  2. 4 km Karmalanjärvi · lake, Sortavala Urban Okrug
  3. 3 km The Runes' Singer · heritage site, Sortavala Urban Okrug
  4. 15 km Khonkasalo Island · island, Sortavala Urban Okrug
  5. 8 km Tulolansaari Island · island, Sortavala Urban Okrug
  6. 8 km Riekkalansaari Island · island, Sortavala Urban Okrug
  7. 6 km Back to Sortavala

Plan a longer trip from Sortavala — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Sortavala

No traveller has reported from around Sortavala yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Sortavala

    All places near Sortavala by distance

    Within 15 km of Sortavala

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Sortavala by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs41107Airanne (3 km)
    Beaches & coast2635Виссаринлахти (5 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves1732Riekkalansaari Island (6 km)
    Churches1418Церковь Николая Чудотворца (1 km)
    Forts & heritage1213The Runes' Singer (2 km)
    Waterfalls1113Водопад на реке Тохмайоки (3 km)
    Museums57Выставочный зал К.А. Гоголева (2 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints56Опилки (29 km)
    Parks23Исторический парк «Бастионъ» (1 km)
    Caves33Hermit's Cave (31 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens11Ladoga Skerries National Park (33 km)
    Other attractions01Кирха Лумиваара (54 km)

    Sortavala: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Sortavala?

    The Runes' Singer (heritage site, about 2 km), Karmalanjärvi (lake, about 4 km), Riekkalansaari Island (island, about 6 km), Tulolansaari Island (island, about 13 km), Khonkasalo Island (island, about 15 km), Ранкиярви (lake, about 18 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Sortavala?

    137 places on Spotwander: 41 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 26 beaches & coast, 17 rivers, islands & mangroves, 14 churches, 12 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest lake to Sortavala?

    Airanne, about 3 km by road; Karmalanjärvi (4 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest beach to Sortavala?

    Виссаринлахти, about 5 km by road; Варалахти (8 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest river spot to Sortavala?

    Riekkalansaari Island, about 6 km by road; порог (11 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Sortavala?

    Start in Sortavala, visit Karmalanjärvi, then The Runes' Singer, then Khonkasalo Island, then Tulolansaari Island, then Riekkalansaari Island, and drive back — about 44 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Sortavala?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to March for beaches & coast; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Sortavala

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Sortavala’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Sortavala on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.