Forget Lapland and Helsinki – 3 Places You Don’t Want to Miss When Traveling to Finland

You might be familiar with the small Northern country of Finland; The land of thousands of lakes, clean air and pure nature, home of The Moomins, Santa Claus, sauna and the Midnight Sun.

But how much more do you know about Finland? You have probably heard of Helsinki, the capital of Finland, and the untamed wilderness of Lapland with reindeer running wild and Northern Lights flaming in the sky.

What you really should know is that there is so much more to Finland than Helsinki and Lapland. These 3 places you don’t want to miss when traveling to Finland!

The Shattered Archipelago of the Åland Islands

Located at the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia between Finland and Sweden, the Åland Islands consist of 20,000 islands and islets. It’s not only the shattered archipelago that makes the Åland Islands so unique; out of 29,000 inhabitants only 5 % speak Finnish as their native language. The official language is Swedish, but don’t worry – you can manage perfectly with English when visiting Åland.

The best way to explore the beautiful archipelago is to rent a car or a bicycle. In Åland you can discover the historic ruins of Bomarsund, climb the rocks of Badhusberget and solve the mystery of the hauntingly beautiful lighthouses that are standing alone in front of the surging sea. Travel from island to island with a ferry, all the way to the West Coast of Mainland Finland.

Live Like a True Finn in Finnish Lakeland

You might have heard Finland being ’the land of a thousand lakes’. That’s a huge underestimation; In reality, there are nearly 200,000 lakes in Finland. The largest lake, Saimaa, is located in southeastern Finland, right next to the Russian border.

On Lake Saimaa you can experience true Finnish cottage life with steaming hot sauna, barbecued sausages and the most beautiful sunsets you have ever seen. Spot the endangered Saimaa ringed seal sunbathing on top of a lonely islet, investigate the secret corridors of Olavinlinna, the northernmost medieval castle still standing, and take the cruise to Vyborg to feel the locks of Saimaa Canal lowering you down nearly 80 meters all the way to the Gulf of Finland.

Get Inspired in Koli National Park in North Karelia

Just a few hours drive north from Lake Saimaa you’ll find Koli National Park that is known for being the most famous national landscape in the whole of Finland. The forested hills decorated by the blue skies and sparkling lakes have inspired the most famous artists – composers, writers and painters – of all times, including Jean Sibelius and Eero Järnefelt.

Admire the national landscape on top of Ukko-Koli, the highest peak of Koli National Park, dive deep into the mysterious caves, hike and camp in the middle of purest nature, and if arriving at winter time, drive along the Europe’s longest inland ice road crossing the lake Pielinen.