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travel Finland

Finland - Places to see and things to do.

Finland is a beautiful country situated in the Northern part of Europe, bordering Russia, Norway, and Sweden. Modern and pleasant for trips, the country comprises of picturesque villages and lovely well-developed towns, as well as areas of ecologically preserved nature and almost 190 000 lakes. Tourists visit Finland for many reasons but the most exploited are the Midnight Sun, the Arctic Nights and the Lapland area known as the home of Santa Claus. Fins are very friendly and easy going. They love nature and relaxing and often spend their free time swimming and fishing, enjoying sauna treatments and preparing barbecues.

As part of the European Union, Finns accepted the euro currency but still uses the Finnish coins. The AMs machines are widely spread, and so is the use of credit and debit cards. Tipping is not necessary and in the restaurants it is already included in the bill. The prices are considered above average according to the rest of the European countries. A VAT of 22 % is charged above the price for all goods and this is included in the price displayed. Tax refund could be taken by all European Union residents that make purchases from shops with Tax-free logo on them. The traditional Finnish gifts for friends and family would be the knife puukko, the hand-woven rugs and all Lapland souvenirs. The shops working hours are from 9 am till 6 pm, but most shops close between 4 and 6 pm and do not work on Sundays.

Finland is divided into six provinces by geographic principle and the capital city is Helsinki. A popular University town is Jyvaskyla, while Rovaniemi is a large city on the way to Lapland. Savonlinna is a small town and tourist destination popular with its big castle and opera festival. Finland is a huge country and thus travelling could be long and expensive. The public transport is well organized and usually comfortable. The main airport is located near Helsinki and hosts Finnair, Blue 1 Air Finland, and Finncomm Airlines. The country is also served by the low-cost Ryanair. Domestic flights are offered only by Finnair and Blue1. Finnish Railways (VR) offer two direct train services from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and one to Moscow. The trains are also used for fast inner city connections and the service is good and comfortable. The country is also a member of the Inter Rail system and discounts are made for the local students. However, one of the best and easiest ways to find the way in Finland is by boat. There are many such boats to Sweden and Estonia, which offer cheap prices and tax-free alcoholic beverages. Tourists should know that the lake cruises are one of the best ways to see Finland. The bus service in the country is well-organized and the local company Matkahuolto provides connections over long distances to almost all parts of the country. It is the bus service that is available when heading towards Lapland, as the railway network does not go that far. Renting a car in Finland is possible and easy to organize, but expensive. Though the roads are very good and well-maintained, driving in the winter could be dangerous. The drivers should know that the gas stations are closed at night. Hitchhiking in Finland is not usual, but is possible, especially in the summer months.

The capital of Finland, Helsinki, is a modern metropolis and which has several neighbouring cities such as Vantaa and Espoo. Being long under Russian rule, the city was built using similar architecture as the one of St. Petersburg. The city is surrounded by sea and a large archipelago and is best to be visited during the summer. The centre of Helsinki has much to offer in terms of tourist sights, as it has plenty of museums and churches, many squares and parks, as well as a historical centre. The landmarks in Helsinki include the Suomenlinna sea fortress that is included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO and houses a complex of restaurants, theatres, and museums; and two islands: the pleasant small island Seurasaari suitable for walking an trails and the larger island Korkeasaari where is the large Helsinki Zoo. The parks in and around Helsinki are many, all perfectly kept and ideal for relaxation. In the summer all the parks are full of people who enjoy the warm weather, sit on the lawn and sometimes make picnics. Interesting to visit in the capital is the Lutheran Church which has a beautiful architecture and is considered the unofficial symbol of the city. The other churches include the Churck in the Rock, Uspenski Cathedral, St. Johns Church, etc. Helsinkis galleries and museums are architectural masterpieces, for example the Ateneum Art Museum where is located the largest collection of paintings and sculptures in Finland; the Design Museum where are presented the works of modern art and design. Kiasma Museum of Contemporart Art on the other side offers various unusual collections and the Heureka Science Centre which is a lovely place for a day trip. An Olympic City in the far 1952, Helsinki has an Olympic Stadium which was recently renovated and an Olympic Tower which is 72 meters high and reveals an exceptional view towards Helsinki. Helsinki is a city of festivals, some of which are a pagan carnival organized at the end of April, a large bonfire festival at the end of June known as the Midsummer Festival, the Helsinki Day on the 12th June when the city celebrates its birthday, as well as the Night of the Arts held at the end of August. The most joyful festival, however, is the one organized around Christmas which is characterized with open-air market and many lights. Besides sightseeing and festivals, many tourists come to Helsinki for the beaches, especially during the hot summer days, where they can go swimming, and playing volleyball or simply relax. There are several amusement parks with large open-air zones and many wood burning public saunas.

The second settlement we will present here is the beautiful University town Jyvaskyla, which is set in the western part of Finland. Here are available several museums including an art museum, a craft museum and many galleries. There is a nature preservation area as well, set just a few hundred meters outside the centre of the city.

The third city to be featured here is Rovaniemi, which is the capital of the Finnish Lapland. It has a small but very beautiful centre and all sights are within easy walking distance from each other. The place is 8 km from the Santa Claus Village that is just on the Arctic Circle. Close to that village is set the Santapark, which is an underground amusement park, which is a place that should be seen by all children. Other interesting places to be seen in Rovaniemi include the Administrative and Cultural Centre, the Arktikum Museum and science centre, the Lutheran Church and the Art Museum. The symbol of the city is the Jatanjynttila Bridge. For the free time of sightseeing, there are many pleasant things to be done including an arctic safari and snow activities such as riding a snowmobile and going on a dog sledding.

The last place we will present here is the small city of Savonlinna, which is set in the eastern part of Finland, very close to the Russian border. The town appeals with its medieval castle St. Olaf built in 1475 and the Lake Saimaa. Every year here are organized an Opera and a Ballet Festival, worth visiting.