Lahti has the best of both worlds: the attractiveness, intimate cosiness and originality of a small town, yet the services, efficiency and logistics of a major city.

As a result of the persistent environmental work of the city, Lahti is the first city in Finland to be awarded the European Green Capital 2021.

Currently 99 % of household waste is recycled in Lahti. The persistent development of waste disposal in Lahti region is now generating next generation solutions for the circular economy. Environmental goals and business meet in the ecosystem of the Kujala waste management centre, which is a unique example of circular economy.

In Lahti everyone can participate in environmental work and city decision-making! During the Green Capital year citizens can receive funding for their ideas and events related to the city’s environmental goals.

Lahti is a new university city. A home for LUT-university, University of Helsinki and LAB University of Applied Sciences. The city has an excellent pool of skills and knowledge to boost the economy and come up with new innovations and solutions for the future.

Lahti hosts several international sporting events such as Lahti Ski Games and Ironman 70.3 triathlon. Lahti provides a world class sports infrastructure used by citizens and top athletes alike. Lahti is an excellent destination for hiking and skiing, since 74% of the area is covered by forest and there are over 120 kilometers of marked cross-country skiing tracks. The area hosts two Olympic Training Centre and one Paralympic Training Centre. Lahti is home to the Pelicans, an ice hockey team aiming to be the first carbon neutral ice hockey team in the world.

Lahti is the most interesting center of industrial design in Finland offering a meeting place for companies, products, designers as well as training and education in design. Thanks to the close cooperation between industry and education the local companies are renowned for their skills in industrial design.

The brand-new Lahti museum of visual arts Malva and its exhibitions open in Spring 2022. The museum will join under the same roof two popular museums, the Art Museum and the Poster Museum.

The Lahti Symphony Orchestra provides wide-ranging series of symphony concerts and other genres of music. The orchestra plays at the Sibelius Hall, one of the best concert halls in the world with fantastic acoustics.