FINLAND TRAVEL GUIDE
Finland - the easternmost of the Scandinavian countries - faces Russia side on and also shares borders with Sweden and Norway. It has stunning landscapes, including the wilderness Lapland region in the north, and is most popular with outdoor enthusiasts as forests, lakes and mountains provide excellent trekking and boating opportunities. It only has 5 million people spread across a huge land and nature dominates this country.
Finland has a very high standard of living and is thus very expensive; this includes everything from hotels to food and drink, although fortunately it is of an undeniable quality. Helsinki is the capital and buzzes with shopping and nightlife, while interesting ancient towns and villages and a huge number of inland islands provide lots of further appeal.
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FINLAND WEATHER - When To Go
Finland has extremes in temperature from north to south and from season to season. Helsinki sees some of the most agreeable weather in Finland and it is actually quite pleasant in the summer (June to August), with highs of up to about 22°C. Winters are long and harsh in the north, especially in the Lapland region, while spring and autumn can net you an off-season bargain. Also worth bearing in mind is that summers get a lot of daylight hours, while winters are the opposite (more so than the UK).
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FINLAND HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Helsinki: the Finnish capital is the largest and most happening city in Finland. It is located right down in the south of the country on the Baltic and thus sees some of the best weather. Helsinki is the main cultural hub and is pretty lively, with a great café culture, several world class museums and a pumping nightlife. As far as attractions go, Suomenlinna Island is one of the main tourist draws to the capital. Accessible by ferry from Helsinki, it is quite beautiful and boasts ancient fortress ruins. Back in the city, the Ateneum Museum is renowned, while the Rock Church is one of the more quirky sights in town. Be sure to also see the Museum Sea Life Helsinki, one of Scandinavia’s foremost sea life centres, and the Kauppatori, a thriving market square. The National Museum gives a good overview of the history of Finland.
- Turku: located a couple of hours west of Helsinki on the Finnish southwest coast, Turku is the country's oldest city and also its former capital. It is a pleasant city and still features a medieval quarter (Luostarinmäki) despite being ravaged by fires numerous times. Old wooden houses are all around and the oldest building of all is the 13th century Turku Castle, with its opulent period rooms and interesting museum. Turku Cathedral is another major highlight while the town square hosts the bustling Medieval Market.
- Rauma: situated on Finland’s west coast and a little up from Turku, Rauma is the best-preserved wooden town in the region. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and features artisans working in small studios throughout the town. Naturally, Rauma is loaded with museums and also has a 15th century Franciscan church and an ancient market square. Rauma is an hour north of Turku and three from Helsinki.
- Åland: situated midway between Finland and Sweden in the Gulf of Bothnia, the islands of Åland are an autonomous province and a popular getaway for locals and tourists alike. There are interesting towns and villages scattered throughout the islands and loads of must-see sights. Of these, the 16th century Kastelholm Castle in Sund and the Bomarsund Fortress ruins are particularly popular. The climate in this part of Finland is lovely and daily flights come in from Helsinki, Turku and Stockholm.
- Finnish Lapland: Santa Claus-land lies right up in the north of Finland, far from anywhere. It experiences almost perpetual dark in the winter and constant light in the height of summer. The entire area is stunningly beautiful and is an outdoor lover’s dream, with its great swathes of open area and that untouched look.
Inari is one of the main settlements up here, displaying traditional Sami culture and boasting a must-see open-air museum. Ukko Island is another popular attraction in Lapland, while Lemmenjoki National Park has that idyllic wilderness look that most people associate with Lapland; delectable arctic landscapes, thundering waterfalls and deeply forested areas are all around. Ravadasköngäs waterfall is the main highlight in the park and it also offers excellent trekking opportunities. Visitors can fly into Rovaniemi but ardent travellers can also get here by bus and train.
- Savonlinna Lakes: this fantastic region of Finland in the southeast of the country is one of lakes and waterways. It is perfect for those into boating and you can hire a yacht and take in the numerous inland islands and discover pristine ecosystems. The other big attraction in this area is the small town of Savonlinna which lies on an isthmus of land flanked by water on both sides. Olavinlinna Castle is the main attraction in Savonlinna, built in the 15th century to protect the Swedish-Finnish empire. Savonlinna also hosts the popular annual Opera Festival. It’s best to fly here as train and bus travel typically means several changes.
- Tampere: very much like the town of Savonlinna in that it’s located between two bodies of water, Tampere in western Finland makes a great base for hikers visiting this fantastic region. There are miles of walking trails in the area, some of which start from within the town. Shopping options here are also good; Hämeenkatu is the main shopping street. Restaurants and hotels inhabit the city centre along with the many shops and there are also loads of museums to discern. Black sausage with lingonberry jam is the best taste of the city.
- Other Finnish Highlights: the bustling university town of Jyväskylä in central Finland; the Swedish-influenced city of Vaasa; the UNESCO world natural site of the Kvarken Archipelago; and Levi Ski Resort.
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FINLAND HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: Finnish cuisine is not the most distinct in the world, featuring overtones of Scandinavian and Russian styles. Staple Finnish dishes are heavy on potatoes and bread, while eating out is also heavy, price-wise. Italian food and Asian food are particularly well represented in busy towns and cities, and Indian, Chinese and Thai are making headway. Finnish dishes to try include: karelian stew, Finnish meatballs (lihapullat), and smoked fish dishes.
- Entertainment and Nightlife: all towns and cities in Finland have decent nightlife as many of them are university-based. The nightlife ranges from vodka bars to traditional pubs and pumping nightclubs, which typically stay open very late. Wednesdays are known as 'little Saturday' to liven things up during the week. Be aware that prices for beer in Finland are on par with the food - expensive.
- Accommodation: Helsinki easily has Finland’s best and most expensive hotels. You will find the likes of Hilton and Best Western chains here in the thick of it, as well as expensive mid-range hotels and cheaper youth hostels. Although expensive, the quality is invariably assured while the ‘every man’s right’ rule allows you to go camping on uncultivated land.
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FINLAND FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
Flights to Helsinki are available from London airports via Easyjet, BA / British Airways , Blue1 and Finnair.
Tampere flights are available from London Stansted with Ryanair.
Seasonal charter flights to Lapland and northern Finland are available around Christmas time.
It is also worth trying travel sites such as Expedia.co.uk or ebookers for flight deals to Finland from the UK, possibly even stopping off in Holland (KLM) or Germany (Lufthansa) to get the the cheapest flight deal.
One other option is flying to Tallinn (in Estonia) and getting a 3-hour ferry crossing over to Helsinki.
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