Where to go
The towns are conveniently small and the forest is very big. It's easy to walk around and see the sights of Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. And you can travel through the forest of Finland for weeks or even months and never see all of it.
Helsinki Region
The capital, is usually just a 2½ hour flight from London (closer than you thought?) with around 500,000 people. Easy to get around on foot or using the excellent tram service. This is a seaside city stretching out to pretty islands where green expanses are never far away. Café society springs to life in summer when people sit and watch the world go by surrounded by many architectural styles from art nouveau to functionalist: coffee, of course, is served in stylish, designer chinaware on beautiful fabrics – names such as Iittala and Marimekko are world famous.
Finland's capital city offers a magic all of its own when winter drops its silent white mantle across the streets and buildings. There is ice on the harbour, and snow on trees and statues.
Coastal Areas and Archipelago
This is the area to see pretty wooden towns (the elegant villas of Hanko used to be the summer haunt of wealthy nobility from St Petersburg), islands and more.
There are 6,500 islands in the Åland archipelago (Finland has over 20,000 islands in total) and being flat, this is a cyclist's paradise. There are boats of all types for hire from an hour to a week, Finland's oldest churches dating back to the 12th century and some great island restaurants serving fabulous crayfish buffets and barbeques. Turku on the south west coast is the oldest city in Finland and the former capital. In 2011 Turku will be the European City of Culture. Along the coast in Naantali is home to the famous Moominworld theme park.
There are 6,500 islands in the Åland archipelago (Finland has over 20,000 islands in total) and being flat, this is a cyclist's paradise. There are boats of all types for hire from an hour to a week, Finland's oldest churches dating back to the 12th century and some great island restaurants serving fabulous crayfish buffets and barbeques. Turku on the south west coast is the oldest city in Finland and the former capital. In 2011 Turku will be the European City of Culture. Along the coast in Naantali is home to the famous Moominworld theme park.
Lakeland
There appears to be more water than land in the country's south-east lake district. During summer, the horizon seems to be one vast glinting mirror – truly breathtaking. This is the largest lake district in Europe and a fisherman's paradise. Roads are good and even in five or six days, a great deal of Finland's Lakeland can be experienced.
There is something exciting and mysterious about winter in Finland's North Karelia region. Join an adventure on the doorstep of your comfortable hotel or cabin, and head out into the snowy countryside.
Lapland
Often described as "the top of the world", Finnish Lapland has a certain magic feel. More and more visitors are choosing to visit in summer attracted by the fabulous wealth of outdoor activities and sights, perfect for the whole family. Fells and mountains are perfect for bikers; the river system creates fabulous white water rafting, fishing and canoeing opportunities – even gold prospecting.
Rovaniemi is the provincial capital and is right on the Arctic Circle. The real Santa Claus lives here and it's home too to Arktikum, a superb museum that brings to life the whole story of the region. Husky safaris, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and endless winter sports – they're all here.
|