Top Finland hotels
The Sibelius Monument Helsinki
12 Reviews This monument was created to honour the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). The designer of the monument was Eila Hiltunen. This monument (called 'Passio Musicae') was one of the first...
See All 286 Off The Beaten Path in Helsinki
Vanhankaupunki (old city) Helsinki
8 Reviews The city of Helsinki is was founded by Gustavus Vasa, the king of Sweden, more than 450 years ago. He needed the city as a new trading post in southern Finland and a competitor to Tallinn in Estonia....
See All 286 Off The Beaten Path in Helsinki
Sponsored Links
The town centre is built in expanding circles around the city hall. Try taking one of the circle streets and get a different glimpse of the central square - which actually isn't a square - in every crossing.The town is surrounded by a star-shaped fortification nowadays giving great frames for concerts and other events.Located on the South Coast, 150 km East from Helsinki. Don't miss the pictoresque town of Porvoo on the way!
This castle is amidst the very lake district in Savo in the eastern of middle Finland.This is where people still have time, don't rush and I think know how to enjoy.Every July/August there is the opera festival in the very castle with rather famous operas with guest stars from all over the world.You better reserve your hotel room in advance...
A few days walking in and around Oulanka National park - a real discovery to me. Starting with my backpack in Ruka (ski resort) in the late afternoon, I found a nice shelter near a small lake for my first night. No need to bring a tent with - a warm sleeping bag is more important. A nice shelter with the firewood almost ready...the saw and axe are at your disposal to give you a real feel of outdoor life. Fresh water from the lake - and in the morning, watch a reindeer family approaching the lake border... My breakfast is complemented with blueberries (as much as you can pick in September) - in fact, the whole trail you can eat them...
"The Silent People of Kainuu" was really a surprise. We didn't at all expect to see this piece of art, it was on the roadside somewhere in the eastern region of Kainuu, after hours of driving only through woods.The second surprise was to see the T-shirt on one of these "persons", it was from a restaurant in Locarno, a city close to our home in Switzerland.They are dressed figures made from wood, straw and dirt.I think they symbolize the character and the soul of the inhabitants in this region. They are indeed really calm persons.
The secret of ice fishing? I haven't found it yet, it is something that you'll propaboly understand when you have in Finland more than 40 years...:)Ice fishing is very popular winter activity in Finland, as soon as sea and lakes frozen, the fishers go to ice. It is pretty funny when you take metro to downtown from east. At Kulosaari bridge, you will notice ice fishers sitting on the ice and, yes, fishing.My parents 'found' this wonderful winter active last winter. And now, every weekend they are going to do ice fishing. They pack sandwiches andtake warm drink and then they sit there many hours and enjoy...In the evening they make some fish food then. Come to Finland to feel this. If it is very cold winter, you can propably do it while your Helsinki trip as the pic shows.
We were driving back home, and I had to have the car stopped to visit a local church. This row boat was used to pick up different families from the area, and since water is a fundamental feature of Finland, well it was efficient! I guess you really had no excuse if the priest was at your dock waiting for you...There are 16 sets of paddles, making enough room for 32 church-going couples.
Here you are, the world's largest wooden church... in the middle of eastern Finland.If you happend to stay in Savonlinna you might consider taking short trip to Kerimäki, maybe some 20 or 30 kilometers away.Make sure you have a look from the clock tower in the yard of the church - nice view.
This is a kiosk named after the famous finnish musician Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki -active in the 70s and 80s, popularising folk songs and schlager...Between Somero and Somerniemi on the right hand side just by the street - only open on Summer days.While driving through Varsinais-Suomi, the very south-west of Finland (the grain chamber) stop here and enjoy a deliciouos ice-cream while listening to Badding's songs.
There are many strange competitions arranged in Finland such as rubber boot throwing, carrying of a woman or a kissing contest. You can also try to become a world champion of sitting in a sauna, swimming in a hole made in a frozen lake or in Academic Kyykkä. :)
Travelling is like any other type of movement first of all physical action.So for instance walking around a city all day long is - like everybody knows - quite exhausting. If you are abroad many days or even weeks and months you surely know the importance of resting every now and then. Do it porperly! Take of your shoes and let your toes feel the air tickling or treat yourself with a massage... ther are many ways. In Finland there are little things that top the first warming sun beams in delicate pre-spring time. The long and dark winter is just gradually fading, but still it is not warm enough to get rid of you coat or pullover. So, you have to enjoy yourself by warming your face and tanking fresh air - outside - still surrounded by masses of snow.Ahhh, life is back!
Hotel Kamp Helsinki
16 Reviews and 332 Opinions Located on Pohjoisesplanadi, in the heart of Helsinki, Hotel Kämp is one of the city's most...
Sokos Hotel Ilves Tampere
5 Reviews and 59 Opinions I stayed at Sokos Hotel Ilves for one night in July 2011 and had a very pleasant stay in this 4 star...
Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel Turku Turku
4 Reviews and 125 Opinions We had never stayed in Radison hotels before, because they are allways more expensive than any other...
Reviews and photos of Finland attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Finland sightseeing.
More Cities in Finland
More Regions in Finland
Q: Right - here's the brief. I've got a maximum of three days, and am going to pick up a car from either Helsinki or Tampere....
A: go to the koli national park. thats not too far so you can get to see something in 3 days, and its one of the most beautiful landscapes in finland.
Read 2 Replies
Sponsored Links
