Traveling Around Finland

Finland is a wonderful country to discover and explore. By canoe, on foot, by dog sled or simply by car. The rugged nature and thousands of lakes are ripe of adventure. Of course, a visit to the famous Finnish sauna is certainly a must. During the winters, in Finnish Lapland, it is possible to go skiing, drive around on a snowmobile, go on a husky tour or visit a reindeer farm. Today, we are going to take a closer look at Finland as a tourist destination.

Things to Do in Finland

Admire the magical Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland and visit the Dom Church in the capital Helsinki. Feel the wintry chill at Kemi Snow Castle and meet the Sami people in the town called Inari. Here are some of the most special sights to visit in Finland:

Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland

Rovaniemi is the capital of the beautiful Finnish Lapland, and is therefore number one in our list of must-visit places in Finland. It is located in the center of Finnish Lapland and attracts many tourists every year. The town has dozens of tourist attractions, but the most famous one is the official home of Santa Claus. It is highly recommended to take a tour through the Santa Claus village and to visit the underground amusement park.

Helsinki

The capital of Finland should of course not be missing from the list of sights to see. Helsinki has everything you would expect from a capital city. The city serves as the center of the country and has an interesting culture and special architecture. There are great entertainment venues and dozens of shops and restaurants. Helsinki is surrounded by water, which makes it possible to take a boat tour around the city. The White Dom church is a must-visit for anyone that is into impressive architecture.

The Finnish Archipelago

Off the coast of southern Finland lies the Finnish Archipelago, or the Saaristomeri Islands. The archipelago consists of thousands of islands, both inhabited and uninhabited. It is possible to make excursions to the different islands by ferry. There are a number of attractions on the islands as well, such as a ship museum, a maritime museum and a castle.

The Lake District

Finland is often called the land of thousands of lakes, but in reality, Finland has no fewer than 188,000 lakes! The Lake District is also called the Finnish Lakeland and is centrally located in the east of the country. Lake Saimaa is the largest of the lakes, with a width of 200 meters. In addition to swimming in the lakes, the area is also perfect for walks, cycling and water sports. There are beautiful waterfalls that are definitely worth a visit.

Foods to Try in Finland

The Finnish cuisine might not be widely spoken about, but there are a number of dishes that are definitely worth trying. The Finnish cuisine has Scandinavian and Russian influences and fish is extremely popular, especially salmon and rainbow trout. However, meat such as reindeer and lamb is also widely eaten. Let’s take a closer look at some of the popular dishes in the Finnish cuisine:

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  Leipäjuusto: This dish is a bit like halloumi, a kind of cheese that is baked in the oven. Leipäjuusto is usually eaten with cloudberry jam, which is also worth trying. The cheese in this dish is usually made from cow’s milk, but sometimes goat’s milk, or even reindeer’s milk is used.
• Lohikeitto: A creamy salmon soup with potatoes, leek and dill. This soup is always served hot. There is quite a debate about whether or not this dish should contain milk. However, most people think that it makes the soup wonderfully creamy.
  
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  Kaalikääryleet: White cabbage rolls filled with minced meat, onion, herbs, eggs, rice and melted butter. The rolls are covered with syrup and prepared in the oven. They are often served with cranberry jam.
• Hernekeitto: A soup made from dried split peas. Traditionally, this soup is eaten on Tuesdays along with pork. The soup is somewhat similar to pea soup eaten in other European countries. It is also thick in structure and made with different kinds of vegetables.
  

Finland Travel Tips

• Always be careful when driving. Moose tend to go out over the roads and are a big concern. Never try to pet the moose you see in the wild.
• If you don’t feel like renting a car, or using public transport, Finland has a great bicycle-lane infrastructure. Bikes can be rented per day, or per week.
• Finland’s climate can be cold and harsh. Make sure to pack thick clothing.