The Best Places to Visit in Finland
Finland is a striking country in northern Europe, home to around 5.6 million people and a BUNCH of lakes. It’s often called the “Land of a Thousand Lakes,” and a quick look at a map shows just how densely they cover the landscape. Beyond the lakes, Finland’s scenery becomes even more dramatic in the north, where vast Arctic wilderness stretches for miles and feels like a true once in a lifetime experience. The farther north you travel, the quieter and more remote it becomes, and during winter this region attracts a surge of visitors. At the same time, Finland’s historic cities remain popular to explore, and immersing yourself in the country’s famous sauna culture is always going to be a good idea!
Capital: Helsinki
Currency: Euro
Language: Finnish
When to visit: May to December
1) Helsinki
Helsinki is Finland’s capital city, yet contrary to popular belief it’s not one of Europe’s busy major cities. Only ~660,000 people live here, so it definitely doesn’t feel overwhelming. It’s clean and safe, and is known to be pretty functional and artistic when it comes to some of the grand architecture you can find around the city. Helsinki is surrounded by water, so ferries and harbors are a big part of life in Helsinki.
Things to do:
The heart of Helsinki is Senate Square, and as soon as you head in you’ll see Helsinki Cathedral, the standout building of the city. At the eastern end of the beautiful Esplanadi Park is Market Square, also known as Kauppatori in Finnish. It’s an active place with a variety of local stalls and it adds to the waterfront vibe of the city. A couple streets down is Uspenski Cathedral, which has a very different design to the Helsinki Cathedral with its ornate, copper colored exterior. You should definitely consider taking a short ferry ride over to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, which spans over several islands, and is a really impressive coastal defensive area. I’d definitely recommend that to get away from the city and see a world heritage site. Also check out the cool Design District back in the city, and even immerse yourself into the Sauna culture of Finland - it’s a big thing and Helsinki has both historic and modern public saunas for you to try.
How to get there:
Helsinki Airport (HEL) has extensive direct flight options across Europe.
You can also easily take a ferry from Tallinn, and if in Finland already, buses connect the country well.
2) Rovaniemi / Lapland
Rovaniemi itself is a small city with a population of ~65,000 people, and the reason for the fame is because it’s known as the gateway to Lapland - Finland’s iconic snowy Arctic world and one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. Lapland is home to the Sámi people, Europe’s only recognized Indigenous group, and the culture is strong there, especially when it comes to their connection to reindeer. Lapland is a once in a lifetime experience in winter when the christmas vibes are incredible, and summer when the days are 24hrs long.
Things to do:
Just outside the city of Rovaniemi is Santa Claus Village, Lapland’s most famous attraction. You can cross the Arctic Circle line, visit Santa, and explore shops and cafés set in a snowy forest environment. Rovaniemi is classed as Santa’s official home and place of residence! Make sure you get away from the city lights and out to a darker location so you can participate in Northern Lights Viewing. You’re in a top spot in the world to see the aurora so don’t waste the opportunity. Reindeer herding is deeply tied to Sámi culture, so a Guided Reindeer tour allows you to learn about traditional herding practices and even feed the Reindeer too. Plus, another animal-related activity people LOVE to do in Lapland is Husky sledding, where the huskies take you on an adventurous ride as they pull the sleigh which is super awesome. Really you should just get out in the nature of Lapland, as it is so unique and incredible to see.
How to get there:
From Helsinki (and other European cities), you can fly to Rovaniemi Airport (RVN).
There are also long distance trains from Helsinki all the way up to Rovaniemi. Buses connect the Lapland towns too.
3) Turku
Turku is the former capital of Finland, and the oldest city in the entire country. It sits in the southwest of Finland, and has a bunch of historic attractions within the city as well as gateways to the archipelago (more on that next). It’s a classic ‘second-city,’ much like Brno in Czechia or Kaunas in Lithuania. It definitely doesn’t feel crowded, and in the summer it shines differently.
Things to do:
The big medieval fortress of Turku Castle is the most iconic sight of the city, dating back to the 13th century reminding you of the Swedish-era past. And then you can stroll all the way down the beautiful Aura River taking in the scene of the city until you reach Turku Cathedral, which has been standing since the 1300’s (although was restored after a fire in the 1800’s). The Great fire of Turku affected many buildings, but the Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum was left unscathed, and it shows what everyday life looked like in the 18th and 19th centuries, with preserved wooden houses, workshops, and traditional crafts. Another museum mainly for maritime fans is the Forum Marinum, which focuses more on the seafaring history. Turku is known for good food and a nice calm atmosphere, and you can explore it all in and around the city center.
How to get there:
Turku Airport (TKU) is good to fly into if you’re around the Baltics or Nordic countries.
Otherwise you can take a train or bus from other major cities in Finland, plus a ferry from Stockholm.
4) Turku Archipelago
The Turku Archipelago is one of Finland’s most beautiful regions, and is made up of thousands of islands scattered off the country’s southwest coast. It begins just outside Turku and stretches all the way toward the Åland Islands, forming one of the largest archipelagos in the world by number of islands. It’s an incredibly peaceful destination, filled with pine covered islands containing little cottages and small fishing villages.
Things to do:
If you have a car, I really recommend driving the Turku Archipelago Trail, which is about 250km long taking you over many islands connected by bridges starting and ending in Turku. You can also cycle it, it’ll take a lot of days but be an incredible experience. The region of Nagu (or Nauvo) is one of the best places to visit, and it comes alive in the summer months. The Nagu Marina is super lively, and boats are always coming in and out of the energetic area. For somewhere calmer, Korpo is also a pretty popular spot, it’s an island itself, and the village is nice and tranquil and sort of helps you understand the archipelago life a bit more. Many people also probably know about the Åland Islands, the autonomous region owned by the Finnish government with heavy Swedish influence. It’s worth it’s own mention as it’s a special and serene area with over 6,700 islands in it’s own archipelago. The main town is Mariehamn, but the countryside is stunning with a lot of Swedish-built buildings everywhere too.
How to get there:
Without a car, public buses run from Turku to Nauvo and Korpo (they combine with ferries). Cycling is also a popular way to explore.
To the Aland Islands, you can ferry from both Turku and Helsinki.
5) Koli National Park
Over in eastern Finland near the border with Russia is Koli National Park, which is a place that isn’t massive but is fully covered with some of Finland’s most stunning lakes and vast forests and hill landscapes. It’s only about 30km2, and in winter the whole thing is covered in snow.
Things to do:
Make sure you complete the easy trail called Huippujen kierros (Hilltop Trail), which is barely 1.5km long and takes you past all the major viewpoints of Ukko-Koli, Akka-Koli, and Paha-Koli. Ukko-Koli Hill is the most iconic of them all, and is the highest peak in southern Finland. It looks down to Lake Pielinen and all the little islands within. The forests of Koli are really lovely to walk though and conditions are easy enough for hiking.
How to get there:
Joensuu Airport (JOE) is the closest airport and after you fly from Helsinki take a shuttle to the park.
Buses operate from Joensuu regularly.
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