Finland is a magnificent northern country that attracts tourists with its extraordinary nature, fresh air and variety of attractions.
Briefly about the sights of Finland, you can say this:
- About forty national parks have been built on the territory of the country, ski resorts are operating. There are many Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches in Finland that have preserved strict Scandinavian architecture.
- The most famous cultural attractions are located in the capital - Helsinki, the oldest city - Turku is no less popular.
- An amusement park based on Tove Janson's books Moominvalley was built for children in Helsinki. All over Finland there are Angry Birds parks made in the style of the popular Finnish game.
Below you will learn more about a brief description of the sights of Finland.
Helsinki is the main city
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and the main tourist attraction. Thousands of tourists come here every year to enjoy the beautiful scenery, see the manyattractions, visit theaters.
Sights of Helsinki in Finland are simple architecture, museums, monuments and Finnish saunas.
Museums
- Ateneum Art Museum is the most famous art museum in Finland. The collections represent the period from the 19th century to the present day. Every month it organizes seminars, lectures and excursions. On the territory there is a museum shop and a small cafe.
- Kunstalle Helsinki - Museum of Contemporary Art and Design.
- Helsinki Art Museum HAM - contains a large collection of works of art. The museum's Tennis Palace hosts contemporary exhibitions, as well as several cafes and restaurants, a museum shop and a large cinema.
- The Finnish Museum of Photography is a special place dedicated to the art and practice of photography.
- The Amos Anderson Art Museum is a private museum that includes exhibits of Finnish culture.
- Diedrichsen Museum is a unique combination of a museum and a private home on the island of Kuusisari. Temporary exhibitions and permanent displays of ancient Chinese artifacts, a sculpture park, a shop and a small cafe attract culture connoisseurs.
- Cinebrihoff Museum - presents a significant collection of paintings by foreign masters from the 14th to the 19th centuries.
Helsinki Architecture
- The Suomenlinna Sea Fortress is an example of Swedish architecture.
- Senate Square - neoclassical city center.
- Assumption Cathedral is one of the largest Orthodox churches in Europe.
- The Church of Temppeliaukio is carved into the rock. Due to its uniqueness, it is the most visited tourist attraction in Helsinki.
- The Press House is an example of modern glass architecture.
- Kamppi Chapel of Silence is an all-wood modern building.
Libraries
There are dozens of libraries in Helsinki. They are visited by lovers of reading and connoisseurs of architecture.
- The National Library is the largest library in Finland, with a collection of more than three million books. The library stores all printed periodicals of the country and unique collections of literature.
- Rikhardinkatu Library is the first public library in Finland.
- Kallio is a place that attracts hundreds of children with its legendary "fairy tale hours".
- The library in the Kais house is an incredibly beautiful building of modern architecture.
Finnish saunas
There are many saunas in Helsinki where you can feel the authentic Finnish atmosphere.
- Allas Sea Pool is an urban "resort" that provides guests with three saunas, two warm water pools and one sea water pool. In addition to this, an outdoor gym, a restaurant and a café are offered. "Allas" is open all year round and presents various entertainment events to visitors.
- Kaurilan is a heated Finnish sauna in an old 19th century building. Located in total15 minutes from the city center.
- Hermanni - The public sauna has been in operation since 1953 and offers a relaxing experience.
- Löyly – Hernesaari sauna and restaurant complex includes a traditional Finnish sauna, two wood-heated saunas, a terrace and a restaurant.
- Arla Sauna - Founded in 1929, heated with natural gas and wood. Towels and soft drinks are provided.
- Sompasauna is an open-air self-service sauna. Visitors enjoy the sauna, then they can swim in the sea.
Walking around the capital
Helsinki has plenty to do and see. You can, for example, rent a bicycle and rush along the tourist trails of the capital. And you can go to the suburbs and admire the amazing nature of Finland, visit the largest nature reserve Vanhankaupunginlahti or take a walk in the Nuuksio National Park. Photos of the sights of Finland will be a wonderful memory of stylish Scandinavia.
Mikkeli - the city of St. Michael
Mikkeli is a small and beautiful city, the capital of South Savo, located on the shores of Lake Saimaa. The city is surrounded by beautiful nature, so organic tourism is very developed in Mikkeli. Many restaurants and bars offer organic cuisine on their menus, and there are more than fifty eco-farms in the suburbs.
Sights of Mikkeli in Finland:
- Cathedral - the tower of the cathedral reaches a height of 64 meters.
- Memorial of the Club War - erected in memory of the uprising of the peasants against the Swedish nobility.
- Kissakoski Power Plant - open to visit the Electricity Exhibition.
- Museum at Moisio Hospital - Guided tours of the hospital premises are offered a few kilometers from the city center.
- Harjukoski watermill – in the suburbs of Mikkeli you can visit an unusual nature museum and immerse yourself in the days of village production.
- Kunstmuseum - exhibits by artists from the province of South Savo.
- VHD Gerd is a large tourist complex where you can go in for horseback riding, visit the car museum and dine at the restaurant on the territory of the museum.
- Veteran's Park - exhibits guns from the Second World War. Dugouts were built on the territory, trenches were dug.
- Lockey Communications Center - former air defense post, now operating as a museum.
- Pattoy Heritage House - is a typical Finnish farm from the beginning of the last century.
- Mikkeli Theater - theatrical season lasts all year round, On the stage you can see both Finnish performances and touring performances of foreign actors.
- Wax Museum - the exhibition consists of 80 exhibits, including famous politicians, athletes and artists.
- Dinosauria Park is a place of entertainment for children and adults with many interactive activities. The park has a water park with a large pool and water slides.
- Alder Lane - a place where hundred-year-old trees grow over 30 meters high.
- Ollinmäki Winery is a popular place among tourists where you can taste several types of fruit and berry wines, ciders and liqueurs.
Summer and winter in Mikkeli
Mikkeli's summertime activities include golf, hiking, biking, swimming and horseback riding.
Mikkeli has a great opportunity for fishing. Fishing on Lake Saimaa, rich in fish, is interesting and exciting. Perch, pike-perch, trout and Saimaa salmon live in Saimaa.
Winter is the season for skiing, ice-hole swimming, ice skating and visiting the world-famous Finnish sauna.
Mikkeli has many shops where you can buy the right goods at a bargain price. Brochures with descriptions of all outlets and other necessary information can be obtained free of charge from the tourist office, which is located in the city center.
Turku is the first capital
The ancient city of Turku in Finland is a place of history, art and culture. A huge number of tourists come to Turku to visit historical sites and other famous sights, admire the huge ferries in the port. Visiting cathedrals, theaters, exhibitions will make your trip to Turku unforgettable.
Sights of Turku in Finland:
- Museum of History and Modern Art - expositions combine the historical past and the modern present.
- Museum-Pharmacy - a unique museum located in the houseQuensel.
- Biology Museum - shows Finnish flora and fauna.
- Halinen Rapids is a popular fishing spot.
- Kakolanmäki Prison is a museum where you can see what places of detention really look like. There is a restaurant on the territory of the former prison.
- Brinkhole Manor is a neoclassical building surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland.
- National Defense Museum - presents the history of Finnish defense in chronological order.
- The Sibelius Museum is a music museum named after the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
- Turku Castle is the residence of the ancient Finnish nobility.
Shopping in Turku is possible:
- In antique shops.
- Buy organic.
- At flea markets.
- In jewelry workshops.
- In luxury boutiques.
- In huge malls.
Every year Turku hosts the Food and Wine Festival and the Ruisrock Music Festival.
Kotka - Eagle City
Kotka is located near the Russian border on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Today Kotka is a green city-park with a seascape.
Sights of Kotka in Finland:
- Sapoka Water Park - beautiful nature with streams and ponds where you can ride a boat, explore caves, relax in cozy restaurants.
- Maretarium is a natural aquarium with more than 60 species of variousfish. Here you can go diving and feed the fish, visit the nature school, buy souvenirs, and participate in exciting fishing.
- Vellamo Maritime Center is the Finnish maritime museum, which, along with permanent exhibitions, holds many new exhibitions and events. The Maritime Center also houses the Kymenlaakso Museum and Coast Guard Museum Exhibitions.
- Kotka National Park - Over 2,400 hectares, nature, architecture and beaches are a perfect combination. Museum The Fisherman's House, where the Russian Emperor Alexander III liked to relax, the Swedish fortress, military forts are open to tourists all year round.
- Sculpture Center - Connects Haukkvuori Park, port and city center.
- Salipigny Museum is a museum of the history of the war. The main exhibition is a tour of the routes where the defensive structures were designed.
- Kaunissaari is an authentic fishing village with many services for tourists.
- Varissaari - the old fortress of Kotka, which has preserved the memory of sunken ships. Varissaari offers to relax on the beach, barbecue area, play beach volleyball.
- Pyhtää Church - its walls are decorated with medieval paintings. Since ancient times, several wooden sculptures and an altar cabinet have been preserved.
Finland: attractions in winter
In winter in Finland, you can conquer the ski slopes or ride a dog sled, go ice fishing or visit the skating rink. Winter in Finland lastshalf a year, but tourists will not be bored at this time.
- Vuokatti resort is a popular ski resort with eight lifts and 13 slopes of varying difficulty. The resort has tunnels for snowboarding.
- Iso-Suote resort - located in a beautiful forest on top of a mountain with a magical view of Finland.
- Ruka Resort is popular with freestylers and snowboarders.
- Ylläs Resort - located beyond the Arctic Circle. In addition to skiing, Ylläs has an outdoor jacuzzi and a sauna right in the cable car.
Rovaniemi - home of Santa Claus
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, which is considered the home of Santa Claus all over the world. In addition, this is where you can see the northern lights.
Santa Park has been built in Rovaniemi, where adults and children can join the magical world of elves, taste delicious gingerbread, feel the touch of winter in the Snow Queen's ice gallery, take an unforgettable ride on the Magic Train and enjoy an incredible magical Christmas show. In Rovaniemi, you can meet Santa Claus and take a memorable photo with him.
Photos of the sights of Finland will remind you of this amazing country, its nature and incredible New Year's fairy tale for a long time.
