Two easy day trips stand out from Savonlinna. The Punkaharju ridge runs between two lakes about 25 km south-east of the town and is one of the classic Finnish landscapes — narrow, pine-clad, with water on both sides. The Kerimäki Church, 30 km east, is the largest wooden church in the world and a striking sight on a country road. Both are easy half-day excursions.
A longer trip is a steamboat cruise across Lake Saimaa to Punkaharju (3 hours each way) or further afield — Saimaa is the fourth-largest lake in Europe and the boat is genuinely the best way to see it.