The Finnish Lakeland
During the ice age, formations similar to this 7km-long sand ridge were created all over Finland. Because it crosses a large lake, it’s always been an…
Must-see attractions in Finland
Tampere
This worthwhile labour museum has a variety of changing exhibitions covering social history and labour industries. The permanent exhibition consists of…
Central Finland
Situated 4.5km southeast of central Kuhmo, by the Hotelli Kalevala, this Winter War museum documents that bitter conflict in the Kuhmo area, mostly…
Lapland
Kemi's newest attraction, opened in 2017, is Santa's Seaside Office – a collection of cute red-painted timber buildings overlooking the waterfront, which…
Finland
One of the most notable museums in the lakeside region of Tuusulanjärvi, the sizeable Karelian-inspired log-built studio and home of Pekka Halonen (1865…
Finland
In the town centre, this elegant white 1930s modernist mansion was formerly the company HQ of the Serlachius family. Now a museum, it hosts a…
Central Finland
Consisting of fells and hillside bogs, this 77-sq-km national park 58km northwest of Kuusamo offers spectacular views and rewarding hiking, including…
Central Finland
At this house-museum, traditional Karelian red-painted wooden farm buildings have been fitted out to depict traditional Kuhmo life at the turn of the 20th…
Northern Lapland
If you miss witnessing the aurora borealis, this 45-minute simulation in a purpose-built riverside tepee is the next best thing. Lean back on a reclining…
Helsinki
Housed in a Jugendstil-style building dating back to 1928, Kunsthalle Helsinki hosts up to seven major, mostly contemporary exhibitions every year. Recent…
Turku & Finland's South Coast
Kotka's modern Maretarium has more than 20 giant fish tanks representing various bodies of water. The Baltic tank is the largest, with local sea life fed…
Åland Archipelago
Kvarnbo's red-granite Sankta Maria Kyrka dates from the 13th century and contains a fine clover-shaped baptismal font and fragmentary frescos of the…
Lapland
This nature centre at the eastern end of town provides information about Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and the Enontekiö region. There’s an…
Helsinki
From the kauppatori walk up the cobbled Sofiankatu to Senaatintori, Helsinki's majestic central square. Surrounded by early 19th-century buildings, the…
Åland Archipelago
Dating from the 1200s, Sankt Mikael Kyrka is the ancient place of worship in Pålsböle, a small village just 5km north of Godby. The church has a well…
Helsinki
Mustard-coloured Ruiskumestarin talo is central Helsinki’s oldest wooden townhouse, built in 1818. The charming cottage, with hardwood floors, fireplaces…
Lapland
Off the Kemi–Tornio coast, Perämeri National Park is an archipelago of small islands that’s an important conservation area for seals and a richly…
Åland Archipelago
Sankt Andreas Kyrka was built in 1720, making it a relative youngster, but it's Åland’s oldest surviving wooden church, which lends it a certain charm…
Turku & Finland's South Coast
Sapokanlahti is a natural inlet in central Kotka that provides the setting for the tranquil, award-winning Sapokka Water Garden. The centrepiece is the…
Åland Archipelago
Above the tunnel before you cross the bridge to Sund, the 30m-high observation tower at Café Uffe på Berget affords superb views of the archipelago and is…
Lapland
Tornio's local historical museum was founded in 1914 and has an interesting, recently renovated collection of old artefacts and costumes. Its Encounters…
Helsinki
Helsinki has several city beaches, but this one is considered the best. It’s a wide stretch of golden sand just west of the city centre, ideal in summer…
Åland Archipelago
By some accounts, Sankt Olof Kyrka is the oldest church in Finland, existing (in some form) on this site since the beginning of the 13th century. Some of…
Turku & Finland's South Coast
In 1743, when the Treaty of Åbo split the village of Pyhtää in two, the local church ended up on the eastern (Russian) side of the border. Shortly…
Helsinki
Transport enthusiasts and kids will especially enjoy checking out the vintage trams at this engaging museum, which depicts daily life in Helsinki’s…
Tampere
Located in the Särkänniemi amusement park, this museum showcases a collection of international and Finnish modern art and sculpture amassed by Sara Hildén…
Central Finland
In the tourist office building, this rotating exhibition displays the work of famous Finnish nature photographer Hannu Hautala with great accompanying…
Rovaniemi
Completed in 1950, this church replaced the one destroyed during WWII. The impressively large fresco behind the altar depicts a Christ figure emerging…
Helsinki
In the leafy, waterfront Sibelius Park (Sibeliuksen puisto, or just 'Sibban'), this famous, striking sculpture was created by artist Eila Hiltunen in 1967…
Turku & Finland's South Coast
This Old Town church is the only baroque greystone church in Finland. The original church was constructed between 1651 and 1680, but it was destroyed by…
Walter Runeberg Sculpture Collection
Turku & Finland's South Coast
This gallery has 150 sculptures by Walter Runeberg, the eldest son of national poet JL Runeberg. Walter Runeberg produced the town’s sculpture of his…
Central Finland
The Eino Leino-Talo is a re-creation of the place where Leino, one of Finland’s foremost independence-era poets, was born in 1878. It’s a lovely lakeside…
Lapland
More than 3000 beautiful, rare stones and jewellery from 60 countries are displayed at the Gemstone Gallery, set in an old seaside customs house. Stones…
The Finnish Lakeland
This scenic national park consists of Haukivesi Lake and hundreds of uninhabited islands; the most activity takes place on the largest island, Linnansaari…
Lapland
At the foot of the fell’s western slopes, 2.5km from Äkäslompolo, this nature centre has a good downstairs exhibition on the local environment and way of…
Åland Archipelago
Hidden away about 2km north of Kumlinge village, Sankta Anna Kyrka is an attractive, multicoloured fieldstone church. The interior contains incredible 500…
Jan Karlsgårdens Friluftsmuseum
Åland Archipelago
At this sprawling open-air museum next to Kastelholms Slott, you can stroll around 20 traditional 18th- and 19th-century Ålandic buildings, including…
Helsinki
Near the kauppatori, this bronze statue is the symbol of the city. Sculpted by Ville Vallgren in 1906 in Paris, and installed here in 1908, the nude…
Helsinki
Boardwalks lead you through one of Helsinki’s best-kept secrets. The Rhododendron Park is a wonderland of the eponymous bushes, trees and other flora…
The Finnish Lakeland
Adjacent to the Alvar Aalto Museo and also designed by him, this museum building was temporarily closed for a major restoration when we last visited. When…
