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Southern Finland and Archipelago

Etelä-Suomi ja saaristo

Södra Finland och skärgården

  • Helsinki Region shows a good view to the variety of the Finnish nature. Helsinki serves as the gateway to Southern Finland, and its legendary forests and clear lakes are just a short drive away from the city centre.
  • Shop till you drop in Helsinki Region!
  • Turku is the former capital of Finland (1809-1812) and it is located in the south-western coast of the country. It was established in the 13th century, which makes it the oldest city of the nation.
  • Turku Castle, which history stretches back to the 1280s, and Turku Historical Museum are definitely worth a visit.
  • Häme is a historical province in Southern Finland and it is located in the vicinity of the biggest cities of the country. Häme provides an excellent chance to get familiar with Finnish nature with spectacular views over lakes, forests and eskers. Hämeenlinna, which is the capital of the county of Southern Finland, is also the oldest inland town.
  • Lahti - Harbour City of Culture and Sports
  • The Åland islands form an archipelago in the Baltic Sea, situated to the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia. Åland is an autonomous Swedish-speaking administrative region that has its own flag.
  • The beautiful bedrocks, worn by the inland ice, have a typical red colour of the Åland granite. Travelling to Åland is easy and convenient. The archipelago is closer than you think, no matter if you travel from Sweden or Finland.
  • Kymenlaakso forms the eastern part of the Southern Finland area. Kymenlaakso was one of the first broadly industrialised regions in Finland and the industrialisation of the area was mainly based on the pioneer skills used in the paper industry. The first paper mills in Kymenlaakso were founded in the 1870s.
  • The region is also known for its maritime cities Kotka and Hamina, both located on the coast of the Eastern Gulf of Finland.
 
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Major Region

Southern Finland and its stunningly beautiful archipelago contains a variety of fascinating destinations that are easy to get to. They all have their special characteristics and open up various experiences for the visitors.

Southern Finland is the busiest and most densely populated part of the country possessing site to the nation´s biggest cities. Today, both the financial and the cultural life are focused to a great extent in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. However, the other parts of Southern Finland - i.e. Turku region and the Åland archipelago as well as Häme, Lahti and Kymenlaakso areas - also maintain considerable reputations concerning both their historical as well as their cultural heritages and thus can offer travellers immemorial experiences during the whole year.

Kaivopuisto bank, Helsinki

Kaivopuisto bank, Helsinki

The Ox Road Inn

The Ox Road Inn

The Ox Road of Häme

Finland's excellent roads and sea routes have offered to voyagers convenient ways of travelling throughout ages. There are three main tourism routes in the Southern Finland and Archipelago area that gives the visitors a clear view to the different sides of the destination. The Ox Road of Häme, going from the river landscapes of West Finland to the forest terrain of Häme, has been used by kings, soldiers, merchants and pilgrims and even by Vikings more than a thousand years ago.

The King's Road

The King's Road

The King's Road

Also another significant historical route that needs to be mentioned is The King´s Road. It has been used by kings and their couriers, bishops and townsmen, artists and armies ever since the 1300s. The King's Road's initial purpose was to unite the eastern and western parts of the Kingdom of Sweden. It runs along the southern coastal region of Finland between Turku and Virolahti, Still today, these roads endow travellers with an excellent possibility to learn to know Finnish history and nature in a nutshell. For example medieval churches, beautiful mansions, picturesque villages and idyllic seaports describe perfectly the affluent build-up of Finnish past and present.

The Archipelago Trail

Another more recently completed route is The Archipelago trail. Its intention is to promote tourism and travelling in south-western Finland, and it is yearly used by approximately 20 000 tourists. The route consists of 190 km of public ways on top of 50 km of waterways. The trail offers a unique way to become acquainted with the incredibly attractive Turku archipelago.