The world is reopening to tourism, and we can finally go visit the destinations we've been holding off on since the beginning of the pandemic. With its lakes, sauna, and stunning natural landscapes, you’re thinking Finland is the place you’re going to on a trip! Here’s a list of the 10 best places to visit in Finland to make the most out of your Finnish trip.
Helsinki
One of the most bucket-list capitals in Scandinavia, Helsinki, Finland’s capital, is the most popular tourist attraction in Finland and one you won't want to miss when visiting the country. The Lutheran Cathedral, the Church in the Rock, and the Uspenski Cathedral are three of the most notable churches in Helsinki today. The art deco architecture of the Parliament House, as well as the stadium that hosted the 1952 Olympics, are also worth seeing. If you visit Helsinki, do not miss the chance of interacting with Helsinki's residents that are incredibly creative and edgy, with their design studios and hipster cafes, art at the Ateneum, architectural wonders, and a sophisticated nightlife culture to match. Surely you will love not just the place, but the people too!
Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland
Rovaniemi is located in the heart of a wide natural environment with flowing rivers wherein you can enjoy canoeing, swimming, or fishing, as well as hiking and cycling routes. The fact that Rovaniemi is the official Finnish residence of Santa Claus is surely its highlight among tourists and visitors. You may want to visit Rovaniemi to try eating substantial reindeer steaks and cloudberry preserves, visit Santa Claus in his ancestral house, ski the treeless hills, meet the Sami people and their picturesque town steads, walk the harsh Swedish borderlands, and see ancient timber churches dotting the northern wilds.
Levi, Finnish Lapland
If you are a skier and other snow and ice sports enthusiast, the Arctic region is a winter wonderland for you! Because Levi is Finland's leading winter resort, it is surely a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts. If you are up for odd but fun activities make sure to try visiting Sami settlements on dogsled safaris and riding across frozen lakes. You can even learn to operate your own reindeer sled, cross-country ski, or snowshoe for miles. The lovely village comes alive in the evening, with its pine-clad sauna spas and reindeer farms illuminated by the Northern Lights.
Aland Archipelago
The Aland Islands (or Aland) are a self-governing archipelago located between Sweden and Finland. It's a jumble of islets, cays, sandbanks, coastal rocks, and lands. Because shipping and trade have traditionally been the islands' principal industries, the Maritime Museum, the Museum Ship Pommern, and the Maritime Quarter in Mariehamn are all worth visiting if you want to learn more about the islands' interesting maritime heritage.
Tampere
Though it is Finland’s third largest town, Tampere lacks the sense of a large town. Tampere is wedged between the two massive lakes of Pyhajarvi and Nasijarvi, both of which offer infinite boating, hiking, and cross-country skiing activities in the winter. The Vapriikki, a museum complex that includes the Natural History Museum and the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, is a good place you can visit to start learning about Tampere's history and heritage.
Porvoo
Porvoo is the second-oldest town in Finland. It rises from a lovely tangle of old alleyways and ochre-colored wooden dwellings along a picturesque riverside bordered with small red wooden structures. The beautiful Porvoo Cathedral is located at the heart of the city. There are two museums worth seeing at Market Square. The Edelfelt-Vallgren Museum, which contains exhibitions on local history, while the other, the Edelfelt-Vallgren Museum, which is a must-see for anybody interested in the Art Nouveau style. If museums are not your preference, you can join where the locals gather in the marketplace, drinking coffee and watching the day away.
Turku
Turku, located on the southern coast of Finland, was the country's capital for much of the nineteenth century and is believed to be the country's oldest city. Turku is located where the Swedish Vikings' descendants landed in the 12th century to capture what is now Finland. The huge bulwarks and subterranean dungeons of Turku Castle to the square-cut tower of the mighty Turku Cathedral shows that Turku enjoyed several centuries of being Finland's most strategic and active town. Visiting Turku is like witnessing a medieval boom that is exhibited in the great abundance of historical structures.
Finnish Lakeland
Finnish Lakeland, as the name implies, is a region of Finland with a large number of lakes (about 55,000). Lake Saimaa is the district's largest lake, where you can swim, boat, or simply wander the perimeter and take in the scenery. You can also visit the university town of Jyväskylä or the medieval St. Olaf's Castle while in Finnish Lakeland.
Lemmenjoki National Park
If you are looking for a taste of the Arctic wilderness, then Lemmenjoki National Park is ideal for you. With a total area of approximately 2,589 square kilometers, the tract of boreal forest is Finland's largest park and one of Europe's largest swaths of wilderness. If you are fond of trekking and hiking, hundreds of kilometers of defined paths, as well as free and open wilderness shelters and more sophisticated rented huts with saunas and campfire areas are waiting for you. Brown bears, wolves, and wild golden eagles, as well as moose and reindeer, can all be found here. When visiting, you may opt to rent a boat or join a trip. If going into wild adventures is not your cup of tea, you may come to observe the gold-digging locals or to visit the Sami people's native homeland, whose rustic timber towns exude the traditions of a bygone era.
Vaasa
Do not forget to wear your sunscreen when roaming around Vaasa for you will surely soak up some sunshine in Finland's sunniest town! When traveling around the town, you will find national landmarks in the downtown area, as well as revitalized mill houses with lecture rooms that discuss technology and innovation. What is especially pertinent in this town is that it is where the upheaval of Russian invasions was felt much more than anywhere else. The lovely Market Square is the pulsing center of Vaasa's life, while the waterfront promenade and Gothic Revivalism of the city's stern maritime buildings lend weight to the city's age-old link with the sea. The Ostrobothnian Museum, the Terranova Kvarken Nature Center, the Tikanoja Art Museum, and the Vaasa Maritime Museum are among the other attractions you might love around town. If you are fond of cultural events, then Vaasa is the perfect place for you since it hosts notable cultural events such as The Night of the Arts, one of the most well-known chamber music festivals, and the Vaasa Choir Festiva.
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