Finland for Visitors
Discover Finland's unique beauty and culture.
A short overview of what Finland has to offer to visitors, from Helsinki on the Baltic Sea, to the Arctic Circle, and lots of places in between.
When most people think of Finland, they think of cold weather, Nokia phones, the Arctic Circle, and saunas. But what does Finland offer visitors?
Finland’s capital, Helsinki, is one of the world’s northernmost capitals. Despite being so far north, Finland is warmed by the Gulf Stream, so it is warmer than the same latitude in, say, Canada. Finland gained independence in 1917. Before that, it spent 100 years under Russian rule after being part of Sweden. Because of its’ history, some regions of Finland are predominantly Swedish speaking. The Russians left their mark on Helsinki’s architecture and as the largest immigrant group in Finland.
Helsinki is a center for modern architecture and design. Steel and glass buildings dot the city. Standouts are the modern art museum Kiasma and the Finlandia concert hall. Helsinki’s Design District is home to shops selling unique clothing, housewares, and furniture. Aarika, Marrimeko, and Iittala are world famous Finnish design houses with a Helsinki presence. The harbor and the Market Square are filled with artisans selling Finnish crafts, fish, along with fresh lingonberries, blueberries, strawberries, and cloudberries. Helsinki has a vibrant cafe scene, museums, and cross country ski trails. Take a ferry to Suomenlinna, the city's island fortress or to one of the islands surrounding the city in the Baltic Sea.
Drive east of Helsinki on the King’s Road, once the principle link between Stockholm, Sweden and St. Petersburg, Russia. Fiskars, home of an ironworks and art galleries (check the orange handled scissors in your drawer: they are likely from Fiskars) and Taamisaari are pleasant diversions on the way toTurku, Finland’s oldest city. Tour Turku’s medieval castle and take the ferry to the Aland Islands to bike, island hop on the ferries, and enjoy the archipelago.
Savonlinna and Lapeenranta lie to the north and west of Helsinki. Savonlinna has a world famous opera festival that sells out months in advance. Lapeenranta is the main city of Finnish Karelia. Russians annexed the territory in 1944 after Finland and Russia’s Winter War, so most of Karelia is in Russia. The countryside is perfect for renting a traditional Finnish summer cottage.
A trip to the Arctic Circle can be a once in a lifetime experience. Rovaniemi, Levi, and Ivalo are popular for their ski resorts, snowmobiling, reindeer rides, and husky farm visits. The winter brings 24 hours of darkness and a chance to see the northern lights. In summer the sun never sets.
