Lahti - It’s All About Culture


Lahti is a city of 100,000 residents and a centre for a region of 200,000 people. It 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. Lahti has the means to maintain internationally recognised cultural institutions yet it is also able to look after the grassroots — the third sector.

The approach that “it’s all about culture” is an inherent part of the everyday life of the residents of Lahti. In addition to developing the conventional cultural services and recreational opportunities, the modern urban scene also offers sports and street culture.

At its best, living in Lahti is all about coming and going; moving in, moving away and yet never really leaving. The city is a meeting place for a whole range of cultural feasts – from the local friendly sports league to the city’s symphony orchestra. The key to having such a spectrum of culture is the open-minded approach that Lahti applies both to providing everyday leisure activities and to organising major events.

In Lahti, the appreciation of everyday creativity makes a good basis for first class art. The city continues to develop the availability of cultural services and opportunities for exercising while nevertheless increasingly emphasising the role of the citizens, local businesses and the third sector in providing these services.