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What natural landscapes can travelers explore in Finland?
- Way up north in Scandinavia, Finland awaits with its jagged lakes, Arctic fells, and forested hills.
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What countries and bodies of water border Finland?
- This northern country shares its borders with the countries of Russia, Norway, and Sweden, as well as the Baltic Sea, and it is a perfect holiday destination for skiers and nature lovers.
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What winter sports activities can visitors enjoy in Finland?
- Cross-country skiing in one of Finland's national parks, like Koli National Park with its long trails and windswept fells, or Alpine skiing on mountains like at the Levi Resort in Kittilä, are both wonderful ways to see the Finnish countryside.
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What makes Finland’s night sky special?
- After the sun sets, the Northern Lights fill the sky in Finnish Lapland and offer an even more spectacular view.
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1. Helsinki
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is located on the country's southern coast on a small peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Visitors to Helsinki can take a stroll down the Mannerheimintie, the city's main street, which is lined with many cultural and fun attractions. There's the Finnish Parliament House, the National Museum, where guests can learn about Finland's history as far back as the Stone Age, and the Kiasma, a modern art museum. In Helsinki, visitors can also find Uspenski Cathedral, a red brick structure that was built in the 19th century and sits at the edge of the city's harbor. Helsinki is a great home base for a holiday in Finland, with many other towns and cities in easy distance for a day trip.
2. Espoo
Although it might seem small by the standards of other big cities, Espoo is actually the second largest city in Finland. Located near the south of the country, only about a 20-minute drive from Helsinki, Espoo offers a heavy dose of culture with its monuments, museums, shopping, and restaurants, but still manages to stay very close to nature. Espoo is very conveniently located to Nuuksio National Park, a massive natural space with scenic forests and lakes, and Espoo is also only a few miles from the coast of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea.
3. Hameenlinna
Located in southern Finland, Hameenlinna is a city on the shores of Lake Vanajevesi. This beautifully historic destination features an iconic medieval castle made of red brick called Häme Castle, where guests can explore the 13th century stone structure and its idyllic setting alongside the lake. Visitors can also spend a day at Torronsuo National Park, a natural swampland known for the diversity and prevalence of bird life, or check out one of Hämeenlinna's museums, like the Artillery Museum of Finland or the Skogster Museum. Hämeenlinna also offers many beautiful historic houses to tour, like Palander House or the home where famous composer Jean Sibelius was born.
4. Imatra
In eastern Finland near the Russian border, travelers may find Imatra, a town that is known for its proximity to the Vuoksi River as well as Lake Saimaa. The powerfully stunning Imatrankoski Rapids are the largest river rapids in Europe and are a popular attraction for tourists visiting the area. Kruununpuisto Park, the oldest national park in all of Finland, also offers a beautiful peek into nature right in the center of the city. Multiple museums in Imatra, as well as the thriving Cultural Center, and many historical homes and buildings available for tourists to explore make Imatra an exciting and attraction filled place to visit.
5. Jyvaskyla
Jyvaskyla is a city in central Finnish Lakeland. There is a lot of beautiful architecture in Jyväskylä, especially works done by famous architect Alvar Aalto, who designed many of its buildings. Jyväskylä is home to two sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Petäjävesi Old Church, a unique and beautiful wooden Lutheran church that was built during the mid 18th century, and a 19th century research station called the Oravivuori Triangulation Tower, which was set up in the mid-1800s to try and determine the size and curvature of the Earth, but now makes for a beautifully scenic overlook.
6. Kemi
Kemi is located at the northern end of Bothnian Bay, in Finnish Lapland. This Arctic town is a winter wonderland and is home to the Snow Castle, a beautiful seasonal attraction open from January through April and featuring beautiful tunnels, rooms, walkways, and sculptures, all made entirely from ice. There is a snow restaurant, an icy chapel where people come from all over the world to get married, and even an ice hotel where brave guests can spend the night in sub-zero temperatures. Kemi is also home to the icebreaker Sampo, a gigantic ship designed to smash through the thick ice of the polar seas, and visitors can take a cruise on Bothnian Bay in this leviathan of a ship.
7. Kittila
North of the Arctic Circle in the vast wilderness of Finnish Lapland lies Kittila, a popular resort town. At Levi Resort, visitors can ski or snowboard on impressive mountain slopes, and in the evenings from September until April they can catch a stunning glimpse of the beautiful and unearthly phenomenon of the aurora borealis, shimmering in shades of green, pink, yellow, and violet in the night sky. Levi also hosts an educational exhibit about the Sami people, who are indigenous to the region, with photos, artifacts, and even buildings that reflect their culture. Elsewhere in Kittilä, visitors can explore Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, which features high and barren arctic fells, beautiful forests, and boggy mires.
8. Koli National Park
Year round, Koli National Park offers its guests a breathtaking look at Scandinavian nature. Depending on the season, visitors can hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski through vast, open fields, snow-dusted fells, forested hills, and even beaches. There are many short and scenic trails perfect for a day trip as well as others like the Lake Herajärvi Trail, which is 18-40 miles long and takes several days of hiking to complete the route. Lake Pielinen offers a great option for those interested in canoeing or kayaking, and other attractions in the park include caves, waterfalls and, in the warmer months, fields full of beautiful wildflowers.
9. Kotka
The city of Kotka in southern Finland is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, about 30 miles from the Russian border. In Kotka, visitors can check out the Maritime Museum of Finland as well as the Maretarium, an aquarium that showcases species of fish found in Finland. Kotka is truly a fishing enthusiast's paradise as the Kymijoki River, which runs through the city, has some of the best salmon fishing opportunities in the country, and Langinkoski, a rapid on the river, has an old building that was once an imperial Russian fishing lodge. Those who aren't looking to go fishing but would still like to enjoy the scenery can go kayaking or whitewater rafting on the rushing waters of the Langinkoski Rapids.
10. Kuopio
Kuopio is a city that lies amidst the many lakes of central Finland in the region of Northern Savonia. Finnish Lakeland is the single largest lake district in all of Europe, with a sparse population and a jaw-dropping number of lakes to create some beautiful scenery. In Kuopio, visitors can explore some of these lakes by foot or even by steamboat, or they can climb the Puijo observation tower for a view overlooking the lakes. In the city of Kuopio, visitors will find a city rife with markets, restaurants, shopping, and a rich culture that even has its own distinct dialect.
Plan Your Trip
Table of Contents:
- 1. Helsinki
- 2. Espoo
- 3. Hameenlinna
- 4. Imatra
- 5. Jyvaskyla
- 6. Kemi
- 7. Kittila
- 8. Koli National Park
- 9. Kotka
- 10. Kuopio