Plan a trip to Finland

Finland the country whose moniker “The Land of Thousands of Lakes” will not leave any person unmoved and will astound even the most experienced traveller!  Bordered by Sweden and Norway in the northeast it shares a border with Russia in the east. 

The capital city, Helsinki, is on the peninsula of the Baltic Sea, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, surrounded by islets and islands which make up the archipelago of Helsinki. It is the most populous city in the country and obviously an important center for finance and culture. 
Secret: The Land of Thousands of Lakes is a modest description; the more accurate nickname would “The Land of almost Two Hundred Thousand”!

The skies in Finland are remarkable, whether it is the magic of the midnight sun in the summer, the Northern lights in the winter or the Halo rings which are explained by scientists as “the rings occur when the light of the moon or sun is reflected by ice crystals”. With these kinds of phenomena don’t forget that when you are touring Finland you must look up!

The Finnish culture has embraced some traditions from its neighbors from Russia in the east and the other Scandinavian countries from the north and made it its own!  

Finland is actually divided into four geographical landscape areas, the largest of which is the Finnish Lakeland (Järvi-Suomi) in the central-eastern area of the country and includes North Karelia (Pohjois-Karjala), sharing a 300-km border with Russia. The area with ‘more water than land’ has many attractions and activities including swimming and bathing in the mirror-clear lakes and canoeing along the waterways and lakes like Pulkkilanharju, which includes esker islands and underwater ridges whereby bridges connect the islands and run through Lake Päijänne. 
Note: An esker is an island or mound or long ridge which was made of deposits of sands and gravel from flowing streams from glaciers.

A special activity could include cruising along Saimaa Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in Finland (and Europe) with green parks along the banks and thousands of islands dotted in the lake. One of the major small towns is the island of Savonlinaa, nicknamed the capital city of Saimaa, known for the 15 century Olavinlinna Castle, which was originally a fortress between the two strong empires at the time – the Swedish and Russian! And if you’re there in the summer, be sure to attend the open opera festival – under the midnight sky.

Six months!! As you probably know winter in the northern part of Finland lasts for half a year so you can partake in any number of winter activities and sports including downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and mushing (dog sledding) through snow-capped landscapes and forests. 
Note: The northern Sami reindeer migrate in the month of April. 

Do you believe in Santa Claus? Rovaniemi, the capital city of Lapland, which is in the most northern region of Finland, is also home to Santa Claus and the town is geared for this and includes possible accommodations in glass igloos. On a more serious level, Lapland is the home of the indigenous Sami people, who are also the herders of the Sami reindeer. 
Note: Sápmi, and not Lapland, is what the Sami call their home. 
A visit to Rovaniemi is not complete without a visit to the Arktikum Science Center and Museum. Here is all the information you’ll ever need to know about the culture, history and nature of the north! 

The Tori Quarters are in the historical center of Helsinki, squeezed in between the Harbor Market and the Senate Square, so like a bride you’ll see “something old, something new”!  Stroll along Aleksanterinkatu, the longest street in Helsinki, which starts near the Presidential Palace and continues all the way to the main boulevard  Mannerheimintie Street, passing several buildings you should notice, including the neo-gothic palace (nobel) Ritarihuone, the Helsinki Cathedral, the main building of the University of Helsinki, facing the Cathedral and the Government's Palace as well as the Stockmann department store (for those who love shopping, it is the biggest  department store in the Nordic countries).
Note: when walking around, of it is Aleksanterinkatu Street you are looking for, be sure to ask for “Aleksi", which is the colloquial name of the street. 

Of the many attractions not to be missed, the covered Kauppatori Market Square is one of them. Here you will find the best of the country's fresh agricultural produce. To its west is the city's narrow, green park – and together with the market square, this Esplandi park and the long-time (from 1867)  Finnish café Kappeli, which serves traditional, fresh and tasty food, create a special atmosphere which you will remember long after you have returned home.

A fairly modern but unusual church built directly into a huge granite rock is the Lutheran Temppeliaukio Church (1969), aka the Church of the Rock and Rock Church.
North of the city center, less known but popular among the local residents, is Lake Tolunalatti, surrounded by a wonderous, tree-lined path with old wooden buildings, houses and cozy cafes. The area is a miniature reflection of the country’s landscape!

Finland is a paradise for hikers and there are dozens of national parks located on the islands with marked trails amidst stunning, pristine nature which includes blue lakes, forests and undergrowth. You don't have to venture far away from the city center to experience this because within easy driving distance of Helsinki lies the stunning Nuuksio National Park or Sipoonkorpi National Park, both provide a fascinating Finnish experience.

And don’t leave the region without a visit to the lighthouses that have been built over the years.  A day trip to these islands offers you a spectacular view of the sea and a unique and pleasant experience. The highest lighthouse in Finland is located on the rocky island of Bengtskar and serves as the home of the lighthouse keeper. 

Anytime! Like most of the local residents, you must take time to go to a sauna. A visit to a Finnish sauna whether private or public is not only a cleansing of the body but also the mind. So, leave time at the end of your touring day to get to a sauna. This will be the time to reflect, rest and pull your thoughts together and smile at the happy memories.