Useful information and links to get you started with basic shopping in Lappeenranta
Shopping in Lappeenranta for the first time? Need a mattress or bed stuff? You have several options, and not all of them are crazy expensive!
Furniture and Household Stuff
Finland has a strong and well-respected culture of re-using things – so Kontti only accepts and sells items in good condition. If you’re moving as a family and need to furnish your apartment from scratch (like we had to!), go to Hyötyhalli for really good prices and quality. Buying used things is nothing to be ashamed of in Finland – everyone does it – and it’s great for the environment and your wallet!
Jysk ($), Prisma ($$), Finlayson ($$$) are the main choices for new mattresses, duvets, pillows, and bed linen. There are other, bigger shops near Gigantti (bus no. 4 will take you there), some cheap (Biltema) and some rather expensive (Asko and Sotka).
Clas Ohlson in the IsoKriistina mall is quite useful for small electronics (including kettle, coffee pot etc.) and other house stuff like storage boxes, bulbs and lamps etc. My favorite thing to buy there is the 4 EUR-reusable bag made from recycled plastic, they’re strong and they last forever!
There is no IKEA in Lappeenranta (yet!) but you can order from them to your nearest Post office/Parcel point; paying that 8.99-EUR postage fee often works out cheaper than buying pricey stuff from Prisma. They also have home delivery (49-79 EUR), which could be useful if you are ordering big heavy stuff like a sofa or a bed, or sharing the price with a friend.
Kitchen and Food
The Facebook group Buy&Sell in Lappeenranta often has people selling kitchen things that you will need. Kontti (in the city center) and Hyötyhalli (buses 2 & 3 go there) are great, most of my cookware is from there!
You can buy new cutlery, plates, and pans from Prisma, Raja Market, Clas Ohlson etc. They aren’t cheap (or if they’re cheap like from Raja Market or Tokmanni, they are not very good quality!) so be prepared to spend a bit. Puuilo is a bit farther, but reachable by bus no. 4, and can have good prices on basic home stuff.
There are a few ethnic food shops in Lappeenranta, including Mama Africa and Rara Supermarket for South Asian groceries and African cooking essentials. They have frozen items as well as fresh veggies and herbs (but only on specific days of the week!). For Thai and South East Asian staples, head to Raan Thai in the city centre or Roi Laan near Pallo S-market, a short walk from the harbor.
Clothes and Footwear
Normal store options with “normal” Finnish prices are H&M, Luhta, Top Sport and so on. The Halonen Pop-up outlet often has good deals, but it’s very much about luck. Kontti is great for shopping for winter jackets on a really tight budget. Remember that wool is your friend for winter, especially merino wool. Acrylic and mixed materials are cheaper, but they won’t really keep you warm.
For shoes/boots, definitely buy something with Goretex / waterproof material, so that your feet stay dry and warm. And before winter, remember to buy slip-on spikes from Tokmanni or Prisma so you don’t fall on icy roads!