Best Places To Visit In Finland

Finland is a beautiful country in its own way. Here I give you a couple of insights on what I think the best places to visit are in Finland.

#1 Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and a large part of the population lives in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Although it is a capital with a capital vibe, shops and buzz, unlike some other capitals it has beautiful quiet forest and beach spots. My newest favorite spot in Helsinki is the Oodi library located next to the central railway station.

#2 Turku Archipelago

Turku, the former capital of Finland, has a range of beautiful islands in front of its coast. You can visit the islands by bike or car and hop from island to island with little ferries. On a sunny day, the islands with their colorful houses, hilly oat fields and quiet beaches can feel like paradise.

#3 Lapland

Lapland is the Northern part of Finland and besides being home to Santa Claus it is an area with pristine beauty and many activities for outdoor enthusiasts. In winter, it is a lot of fun to drive a snow scooter or go downhill skiing from one of the many hills, while in summer you can take hikes under the never setting sun.

#4 Vaasa

Vaasa is a beautiful old town on Finland's west coast. Close to the city you can also find beautiful islands which have been awarded a UNESCO status. A perfect destination for a summer trip with city AND nature vibes.

#5 Porvoo

If you get fed up with Finland's modern apartment blocks, visit Porvoo. Porvoo has a beautiful harbour and traditional buildings that will give you a glimpse of how Finland looked like a while ago.

#6 Lappeenranta

Maybe you already have seen some shots of Lappeenranta if you have watched the Finnish series 'Bordertown' on Netflix. It is as beautiful as portrayed in the series. Lappeenranta has many forests and lakes and is located close to the Russian border. The students of the university in Lappeenranta bring a vibrant energy to the city.

#7 Jyväskylä

In the center of Finland's lake district you can find the city of Jyväskylä. It is an interesting university city with a big lake at the center of it and hills that surround the valley. Fans of downhill skiing and ice skating are at the right place in Jyväskylä in winter.

#8 Nuuksio National Park

Finland has many national parks, but Nuuksio is a favorite of many as it's located very close to Helsinki and neighboring city Espoo. It is a wonderful place full of little lakes, hills, lakes and trees and definitely the fastest way to escape into nature after a week in the busy capital city.

#9 Petäjävesi

Petäjävesi is a small town with a beautiful wooden church. The church is so beautiful that it even received a UNESCO status. Especially in winter you can still imagine the people cross country skiing over the lakes to attend a church ceremony. There is a bus line from Jyväskylä to Petäjävesi, but look carefully at the times as they don't go back very frequently.

#10 Yyteri beach

Finland has many lakes and shores with stones, but sand is a bit less common than in some other countries. Yyteri however has beautiful large sandy beaches. The wind can be fresh, but even then you can have a great day strolling down the beach and have an ice cream to match the beachy vibe. Yyteri is located on the west coast of Finland close to Pori.