Finland Travel Guide
Finland is in Northern Europe and has borders with Russia to the east, Norway to the north, and Sweden to the west. The country is a thoroughly modern welfare state with well–planned and comfortable small towns and cities, but still offers vast areas of unspoiled nature. Finland has approximately 188,000 lakes (about 10% of the country) and a similar number of islands.
In the northernmost part of the country the Northern Lights can be seen in the winter and midnight sun in the summer. Finns also claim the mythical mountain of Korvatunturi as the home of Santa Claus, and a burgeoning tourist industry in Lapland caters to Santa fans. Today, Finland has a distinctive language and culture that marks it apart from the rest of Nordic Europe Finland has it all snowy winters, pleasantly warm summers and colourful spring and autumn. Lapland is the most snow guaranteed place in the Europe. Not only the climate but also Finns are considered to be cool a bit quiet and reserved. But they are actually warm, friendly, hospitable and especially honest people.
Things to do
From the major museums and galleries of Helsinki and the other cities to handsome manors, splendid medieval castles in romantic lakeland settings and picturesque stone and wooden churches, Finland has an extraordinary choice of exciting and unique attractions.
Tykkimki is the third largest amusement park in Finland. There is plenty to do for the large and small alike. The amusement park contains over 40 rides and games and there are fun shows on the outdoor stage throughout the summer.
Culture
Finland is a small country with a rich cultural heritage. Reflecting this, Finns count among the world's top readers, and libraries, theatres and museums exert an irresistible attraction. A nation of five million people continues to enrich the world with great musicians, architects, designers and dancers.
Active Holidays
Summer – If you love the water, then make sure you find time for sailing, canoeing, coastal and inland cruising, fishing or shooting the rapids. Finland is blessed with a vast expanse of lakes, many naturally interconnected. The southwest coastline, close to the city of Turku, plays home to one of the worlds most beautiful archipelagos, and offers the perfect setting for a sailing adventure or a more gentle island–hopping tour. Walking, cycling, horseback riding and some exotic wildlife watching (bear, wolf, lynx, deer and many species of bird) all add to the sense of adventure that goes with a summer holiday in Finland. Thanks to the uniquely Finnish concept of Everymans Rights, there is much greater freedom to roam freely in Finland than in most other countries. Finland's forests, lakes and rivers present incomparable surroundings in which to relax and enjoy the fresh air and unspoilt natural environment.
Winter – Check out the Alpine ski resorts of northern Finland and Finnish Lapland: head for the Arctic Circle and beyond, to find top quality resorts with wide–ranging opportunities. Draw breath at the top of the hills, gaze out across the seemingly endless expanses of forest and fell. Then find your way down. Choose a run thats perfect for confidence–building, or go for something steeper. The line–up of slopes offers decent challenges for everyone.
Shopping
Numerous Finnish products such as food, hides, skins, leather, undressed and dressed fur, yarns, fabrics, footwear, furniture, toys, sports goods and drinks, are exported and are recognised for their consistently high quality. Finland is well supplied with shops all the way from the industrial south to the most northern parts of Lapland.
Cuisine
Finnish cuisine draws imaginatively on the produce of sea, lake and forest, combining fresh fish, game, vegetables, berries and mushrooms to exquisite effect. But Finnish restaurants embrace every imaginable culinary variation, from Asian to Arab and from Italian to Central and South American. Every budget is catered for, from cheerful family eateries to more sedate five–star gourmet establishments.
