Must See

Aland Islands

The Åland Islands (Finnish Ahvenanmaa) lie between Finland and Sweden at the south end of the Gulf of Bothni. The islands consist of the main island Fasta Åland (where 50% of the population lives) and an archipelago to the east that consists of over 6,500 skerries and islands. Over 90% of the islanders speaker Swedish as their first language.

The islands are the warmest part of the country, and are considered to be the cradle of Finnish civilisation, boasting a larger concentration of granite churches and manors than anywhere else in Finland. Highlights include the 14th century stronghold of Kastelholm, which now houses the Museum of Cultural History, the popular seaside resort of Mariehamn, and the 12th century red granite church of Hammarland.

Helsinki

Helsinki (Swedish: Helsingfors) is the most densely populated area of Finland, and the country's capital. Covering an area of 800 sq km, only half the area is developed, the rest being parks, forests, shoreline and lakes, making it one of the greenest cities anywhere. It is also home to some historical sights, including old manor houses and churches, along with modern architectural designs such as the internationally acclaimed 20th-century masterpiece, Dipoli Hall, which is part of the Helsinki University of Technology. In the imposing Senate Square, visitors will find a 19th century statue of Tsar Alexander II, along with St Nicholas's Cathedral, which is perhaps Finland's most photographed building.

Helsinki has numerous museums, just some of which include the National Museum, the Military Museum, the National Museum of Art, the Maritime Museum, the Museum of Finnish Architecture, the Museum of Foreign Art and the Sports Museum.

The fortified islands of Suomenlinna (Swedish: Sveaborg) also form a part of Helsinki, and may be reached by a 20 minute ferry ride. The Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress is the world's largest maritime fortress and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kemi

The town of Kemi lies in Lapland, at the north end of the Gulf of Bothnia, near of the city of Tornio. It is probably most famous as the site of the world's largest snow castle, which is built anew every year with a different architecture. Despite its varying configurations, the snow castle has a few recurring elements: a hotel, a restaurant and a chapel. The SnowHotel offers a choice of double rooms and a honeymoon suite. Although the rooms have a temperature of around -5°C, guests are equipped with warm sleeping bags. The SnowRestaurant has ice tables and seats covered with reindeer fur, whilst the ecumenical SnowChapel can be used for those wanting to plan a very different wedding.

Lakeland

Finland has around 180,000 lakes, most of which are found here in this labyrinth of headlands and bays, linked to each other by rivers, straits and canals. Lake Saimaa, in the east of the region, has a shoreline 50,000 km long, and has at least 33,000 islands within it. The Western Lakeland has two major waterways, the oldest of which, the Finnish Silverline, runs between Tampere and Hämeenlinna (birthplace of Sibelius), through fertile agricultural lands. As the lakes are usually shallow and the surrounding land is not high, the water soon becomes warm in summer.

Lapland

The remote area of Lapland covers an area of 100,000 sq kilometres; in the north it consists of treeless tundra and bog, whilst in the south, it is mostly forest-covered. Since most of Lapland lies north of the Arctic Circle, the midnight sun shines in summer, while in winter the Arctic night prevails. One of Lapland's highlights is the local food: fresh salmon, reindeer, and golden cloudberry can all be tried.

Visitors can also watch 200,000 reindeer roam freely on the fells. There are reindeer round-ups from September to January, and special reindeer-driving competitions take place in March with participants from all over Lapland. Winter sports centres are located near the Arctic Circle, and traditional lumberjack competitions are held. The gold-panning town of Tankavaara, and the Sami Museum of Lapp history should both be visited.

Just 8 km northeast from Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle, lies Santa Claus Village, where visitors can meet Santa. His office is open daily.

Savonlinna

Located in the heart of the Saimaa lake region, Savonlinna is an enchanting town boasting the best preserved medieval castle in Scandinavia, the Olavinlinna Castle. The city also hosts an annual Opera Festival, which is held within the castle itself.

Turku

Founded in the 13th century, Turku (also known as Abo in Swedish), is the country's oldest city. The country's former capital city boasts a magnificent medieval castle, which now houses the Turku Historical Museum, with a fine collection of portraits, furniture, tapestries, costumes and armour. There's also a beautiful Romanesque-style cathedral (founded in 1230) and several stylish restaurants and intriguing museums, such as the Sibelius Museum, the Waino Aaltonen Museum of Art, the Handicarft Museum and the Pharmacy Museum.

Activities

Canoing

The Kukkolankoski rapids provide the biggest unharnessed rapids in the world; white-water rafting is organised here. Areas such as Lake Oulujärvi, Saimaa and Lake Inari are also great for canoeing; however, guides are recommended for trips to remote areas, as there can be some very strong currents. Rivers with rapids run through gorge-like valleys in Oulanka National Park.

Hiking

The remoteness of the Finnish forest has meant that it has been unspoilt by man, and the beautiful wilds can now be explored in hiking trips.

Horse Riding

There are around 150 riding schools in Finland, most of them located outside the towns and cities. Take a horse trek along the forest trails of Munio, or visit the Kuuma Farm in South Finland; one of the leading riding centres in Finland.

Polar Nights and Midnight Sun

The northernmost part of Finland is above the Arctic Circle, which means that between November and May visitors will experience polar night (kaamos), when the sun barely rises above the horizon. It is at this time that one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, the Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis), can be seen. The opposite phenomenon occurs during the summer, when the sun remains visible at midnight. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 days during summer.

Saunas

One of the best-known Finnish traditions is the sauna; the country has around 1.6 million of them - nearly one for every three inhabitants. Sauna tours, notably to the sauna village of Muurame (central Finland), are possible. The Ounasvaara Spa Complex, Santasport, near Rovaniemi, is the ideal location to try a traditional Finnish smoke sauna or peat bath. It is not uncommon to cut a hole (avanto) into the ice outside, to take a plunge into the icy waters after the sauna.

Winter Sports

Finland has an excellent network of marked (and often illuminated) cross-country tracks all over the country. There are also over 100 downhill skiing resorts, with many having facilities for snowboard and off-piste enthusiasts. The major ski resorts include: Himos and Lahti (in the south); Iso-Syöte, Koli, Rovaniemi, Ruka, Tahko and Vuokatti (in central Finland); and Levi, Luosto/Pyhä, Pallas, Pallastunturi, Saariselkä and Ylläs (in the north).

Aside from all the variations on skiing, visitors can also try dog or reindeer sledging, snowmobile tours and icebreaker cruises.