1. The Northern Lights of Lapland
Everyone should at least experience the Northern Lights in their lives, and Lapland offers the full glory of this natural wonder in close and personal terms. On a sunny, starry night in winter, visitors have a high chance to witness this magical phenomenon. The gradual tones of green, blue, yellow, purple and red dancing in the sky will make you feel like a fairy tale. When looking at the aurora, don’t neglect the warmth of the body. May be you can bring apololowear lämmitettävä liivi, heated soft shell jacket.
2. Kemi Ice Castle
Every year, Kemi welcomes visitors to the world’s largest ice fortress. In the spring, it melts, and every winter, they rebuild the wonderland with some new architectural designs. The area includes a hotel, restaurant (with ice cup!), art gallery and even a small church. The hotel’s rooms can be watched during the day, and visitors from all over the world can marry or name the chapel. The snow castle was open from January to April, when the temperature was the coldest, but it is now planned to build a snow castle that will last year in 2019.
3. Aland Islands
The archipelago is located in the Baltic Sea in the southern part of Finland. Well-developed roads and ferry systems make island excursions easy. The most popular activities in the area include visiting the capital of Mariehamn, exploring abandoned medieval ruins or exploring the desert islands. The capital has international dining and accommodation. Outside the city, visitors can enjoy beautiful sea views or go kayaking, hiking, boating and other outdoor activities.
4. Experience the Finnish sauna
Finnish houses are unique and almost every family has a sauna. This is indeed a national tradition. In fact, the Finns invented this concept. The sauna is a wooden room that is connected or separated from the house and heated by hot rock steam. Classic experiences include undressing, entering a wet room, and then jumping in a lake or river. It is polite to take a shower before entering the sauna. Even if you don’t know any locals to join, many resorts offer this classic Finnish experience.
5. Old Porvoo
The town of Porvoo is the second oldest town in Finland. It has become the iconic building of a ruby log house on the Porvoonjoki River on the edge of the town. The river flows into the Gulf of Finland and connects Porvoo and Helsinki. In the summer, a charming steamboat transports tourists between the two places. Cobbled streets and antique chalets are standard here, along with many trendy shops and restaurants with open-air patios. The town has an idyllic park, an open market square and picturesque landmarks. This is a weekend getaway, a day trip to the capital, and even a great place to relax and have a long vacation.
6. Olavi Castle
Olavy Castle, situated on an island overlooking Lake Saimaa, has a truly spectacular view and is strategically protected from the Savoy region. It is an important fortification against the Russian attack in the east. Since 1912, the castle has hosted an annual opera festival that attracts guests from all over the world. The castle is open to the public every day and offers an impressive guided tour to uncover all the secrets hidden in the castle walls.
7. Skiing in Levi
Visitors came to Levi for incredible skiing. World-class slopes are almost empty for most of the year, the chair lifts do not exist, and regular snowfall occurs in the area. The Levi’s facilities are modern and clean. Levi Resort offers skiers a variety of dining and nightlife options, even if skiing is not your cup of tea, and there are many snow-related activities nearby, including snowmobiling, husky and reindeer tours, and snowshoeing. Visitors cannot miss the Resort Resort in Levin, Igloo, which is known for its glass-roofed igloo.
8. Urho Kekkonen National Park
This national park is the second largest national park in Finland. It is very diverse and attracts hikers, hikers and skiers. There are still some indigenous Sami people who carry out traditional reindeer herding in the area. Therefore, you can enjoy a reindeer and huskies hunting tour here. Going to the northern Russian border, Korvatunturi or Ear Fell, is the famous Santa Claus home in Finland. The crystal clear streams, deep canyons and rolling hills make for an amazing natural landscape that has changed dramatically from season to season, from verdant green to sparkling white.
9. Suomenlinna Fortress
During the Swedish rule in Finland, the Swiss built the Suomenlinna fortress on six islands. It is designed as a military fortress and strategically located in the port of Helsinki. The building began in the 18th century and the fortress was ruled by Swiss, Russian and Finns. After the Finns gained independence in 1917, they renamed the Suomenlinna Fortress to the Finnish Fortress. Today, more than 800 residents live in Suomenlinna and operate mainly in the tourism industry.
10. Horse Racing Lake
Lake Saimaa is the largest lake in Finland with more than 10,000 islands. The area is known as Lakeland. It is made up of winding waterways, lush green islands and lush forests, very popular with Finnish farmers and tourists, and kayaking and hiking are the most popular activities in the area. The area has a rich history of steamboats and is used as a means of transport before the car is widely used. However, these days, the area is slowing down, just enjoying the original landscape around Lake Saimaa.
11. Sami culture in Inari
The Sami are the only officially recognized indigenous people in the European Union. Many maintain traditional livelihoods, including hunting and gathering, small-scale farming and reindeer herding, although they have recently turned to tourism and crafts. Inari is the focus of the Sami people. This is the place to learn about their fascinating culture and traditions. In Inari, the Sami Parliament lives in it and manages their language and cultural activities. Inari is also home to the Sami Museum of Sami Cultural Center and welcomes visitors to traditional reindeer farms. There are many huge wilderness parks outside the city government.
12. Helsinki Cathedral
The capital Helsinki has a magnificent church: Helsinki Cathedral. However, it is not your classic conceived church, it celebrates the unique neoclassical architectural style. In 1830, the cathedral began construction and was eventually opened in 1852 as the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church. The twelve statues of the apostles of Jesus stand on the roof outside the cathedral, overlooking the city and its port. After the visit, most visitors to the Market Square, where there are various food stalls and restaurants with heated patios, are the perfect place to enjoy a meal.
13. Turku Castle
This magnificent castle has been built since the late 13th century. Together with the Turku Cathedral, which was built at the same time, it is the oldest occupied building in Finland. The impressive building overlooks the Reiki River and is the most representative building in Turku. Originally built as a military fortress, it has changed hands many times throughout the Middle Ages. Today, Turku Castle is one of the most popular museums in Finland and is known for its grandeur. In the summer, there is a castle tour every day. If visitors explore on their own, they will need at least half a day to really make the most of this amazing place, because the castle is filled with twisted passages, antique furniture, multiple exhibits and outdoor patios.
14. Old Rauma
Founded in 1300, the small town of Rauma is one of the oldest towns in Finland. The town’s old district features colourful historic buildings and winding cobbled streets. Many cafés and restaurants are located in the recently restored market square in the Old Town. The area is known for its traditional woven lace making trade, and every year there is a lace week to celebrate this traditional local craft. In addition to these points of interest, many churches with famous murals can be traced back to the Middle Ages and beyond, and it is worth spending some time exploring.
