Straddling the southwestern coast of Finland, the inviting port city of Turku is one of Finland’s most relaxed destinations. The oldest city in Finland and formerly the nation’s capital, Turku was once the most important city in the country (in the eyes of many locals it still is). It has a rich seafaring history and is well-known for its vibrant harbour, marvellous Gothic cathedral, medieval castle, and large student population. 

Not only is Turku Castle (Turun linna) one of the must-see attractions in Turku, but it is also one of the most important sights in Finland. Sightseeing in Turku wouldn’t be complete without paying a visit to the city’s open-air Market Square (Kauppatori). For the city’s residents, the market square is the focal point of their day-to-day activities. If you’re an art lover, you should pay a quick visit to the Turku Art Museum (Turun taidemuseo), the city’s premier art museum

Dating back to the Middle Ages, Porvoo is the second oldest town in Finland and is well known for its medieval Old Town and the vivid warehouses on the riverside. The city is also recognized for its local artists, including the legendary Johan Ludvig Runeberg, whose home still exists today. Pellinki archipelago is one of the best Porvoo sightseeing attractions. It is the best day trip from Helsinki, and it is located up to an hour off, and this town can easily be explored while walking. For shopping, the Old Town has a lot to offer as well. The little boutiques are great for both window shopping and buying gifts and souvenirs. Here are some of the most intriguing shops in the area.

Helsinki delights travellers with its sea-facing landscape, diverse architecture, world-famous design, and Nordic cuisine. Finland’s capital is compact enough to explore on foot, and many reputable hotels are in the centre of the action. Among its many sights are unique churches, a UNESCO-listed fortress, and traditional marketplaces dating back to the 19th century.

Helsinki’s nightlife scene attracts alternative music fans with numerous concert halls and live bars hosting heavy metal gigs almost every evening. Each year, the city hosts one of Europe’s largest music festivals, featuring renowned metal bands from all over the world. Make the most out of your holiday by checking out for our guide of things to do in Helsinki

Helsinki has a thriving sauna culture, with locals believing that it offers health benefits such as curing insomnia and providing stress relief.

 Helsinki’s Design District spans more than 200 buildings, from fashion boutiques, furniture shops, and jewellery workshops to designer studios, museums and art galleries. Shoppers get to enjoy a day of perusing Finnish brands such as Marimekko, Lumi Accessories, and Vietto, while art and design lovers frequent the Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture

Finland has over 188,000 lakes and around 180,000 islands, many located in the Lakeland district, the largest in Europe. Finnish Lakeland is a blue labyrinth of lakes, islands, rivers and canals, interspersed with forests and ridges, stretching for hundreds of kilometres in a placid and staggeringly beautiful expanse. The best way to experience Lakeland and to slow down is to try the iconic Finnish triad of cottage, sauna and water. Swim, hop on a steam boat, try a SUP board and simply admire the view. Relaxation is guaranteed. Drive through Finland in the summer and you’ll find two colours dominating the scenery: green and blue. The forested landscape is dotted with patches of water – or, in some areas, vice versa – so numerous they have earned Finland the nickname “the land of the thousand lakes”. 

Lapland is a region that encompasses the northernmost parts of Sweden and Finland. 

Owing to its location above the Arctic Circle, Lapland is best known for its magical winter landscapes and viewing. If you can think of a winter outdoor activities, you can probably find it here, including reindeer and dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing and snowshoeing.

Lapland is home to some of Scandinavia’s most unique attractions, like the Santa Claus Village, the original ICEHOTEL and the Sampo icebreaker ship. There are also plenty of opportunities to experience the culture and traditions of the Sami, the native people of Lapland.

For a Christmas-themed trip that pleases both parents and children, the best advice is to use Santa as the excuse to head off to explore all that Lapland has to offer. We’re talking husky-sledding, meeting Sami reindeer herders, snowshoeing through sparkling boreal forest, ice fishing, snow mobile safaris and more.

Areas in Lapland

Rovaniemi
Situated next to the Arctic Circle line, Rovaniemi is considered the capital of Finnish Lapland. This town is best known as the hometown of Santa Claus, whom you could visit at any time of the year at the Santa Claus Village.

Kemi
Kemi is located in Finnish Lapland in the middle of the Bothnian Arc. This is the destination if you would like to visit or stay at the famous SnowCastle. Nearby you could also cruise aboard the Sampo icebreaker ship and go for an “Arctic swim” in a thermal flotation suit.

Saariselka

Just 250km north of the Arctic Circle and so many things to do Saariselka has become a major winter destination for Christmassy experiences, dogsled safaris, ice-fishing, skiing and northern lights sighting.

The alluring dance of Northern Lights across the sky delights visitors and locals alike from early autumn until late winter. Inari-Saariselkä is one of the best places to see northern lights in Finland and in Lapland because it is situated right under the aurora oval.

Ranua

Ranua is a small town located in the Finnish Lapland. Less than an hour away by car from Rovaniemi, Ranua is an excellent place for visitors who wish to explore a quiet and remote area, surrounded by untouched, pristine nature. With a population density of 1.12 inhabitants per square kilometre, you are guaranteed to find your peace and quiet. Depending on the season you visit, you may be lucky to arrive during the cloudberry picking season. Join the local cloudberry festival and indulge in one of the healthiest berries nature has to offer. 

Did someone say polar bears? At the Ranua Wildlife Park, you can see polar bears, as well as 50 different other arctic animal species in the midst of northern woods. The space for the animals is very ample and there were moments when we thought we are walking in an actual arctic safari rather than a zoo.