Places to visit in Finland

Finland’s dynamic capital, Helsinki has an Eastern European touch if compared to the other Scandinavian capitals. Finland is a coastal city and radiates from the busy harbour, which itself is a treat – take a stroll in the area and marvel at the impressive ships passing in and out. Take a boat out to Suomenlinna, an island just off the coast. The main attraction is the fortress, which was built by the Swedes in 1748 and later seized by the Russians. During the summer the island is a popular escape with locals as a getaway from city life and you’ll find many picnicking under the sun. More things to do in Helsinki

For those in search of dramatic Finnish castles should go to Savolinna in the south of the country and visit Olavinlinna castle. The fourteenth-century fortress lies within stunning lake scenery. Each summer the enchanting Savonlinna Opera Festival is held within the Medieval walls. For a typically Finnish experience visit a traditional wood-heated chimneyless smoke sauna. One of the best (and the largest in the world) is Jätkänkämppä sauna in Kuopio – lay back and enjoy the heat. To cool down take a dip in the lake and then enjoy a nice cold beer as you marvel at the blistering views.

When in Finland you must venture to one of the world’s most remote places, Lapland. It’s home to seven national parks, but Pallas-Yllästunturi is possibly the best-loved. Enjoy the arctic scenery via one of the many hiking and nature trails. A must-see when in the north is the unique image of the Northern Lights. This natural occurrence is caused when the solar wind stream collides with the Earth’s magnetic field, leaving an astonishing light performance of coloured spray painting the sky. This spectacle can be viewed anywhere in Lapland and the best viewing months are in spring and autumn.

Although Helsinki is the main party hub, in Oulu far in Finland’s north, there’s also plenty going on by night. Well-known for its thriving computing industry, Oulu is also a buzzing student city and a place worth visiting on a journey up north. The city exists across a number of islands, each connected by foot bridges. Cycling is the preferred means of transport. During midsummer, the sun doesn’t set, so take advantage of this bizarre phenomenon and stay up all night! If you’re heading there in winter, you’ll experience quite the opposite with almost total darkness encapsulating the skies.

Explore Finland’s Åland – an archipelago of more than 6,000 islands in the Baltic Sea. The prime time to visit is between May and September. These Swedish-speaking islands can be reached from Turku on the south-west of Finland. The islands are flat, so ideal for exploring by bike. For the more adventurous, there are perfect conditions for kite-surfing and kayak surfing. Degersand is one of the favoured spots, thanks to its strong southerly winds.