Continuing from our last post, here are more amazing places to see which are off the beaten track in Finland, and which many a visitor to this marvellous country misses – simply because they are not aware of them…
- Lake Saimaa
- Oulu
- Tampere
- Vaasa
- Turku
Eastern Finland is home to tens of thousands of rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes; the largest lake by far in this region is the beautiful Lake Saimaa. Lake Saimaa is drained by the Vuoksi River, and is full of many, many islands. The majority of the shoreline and the islands are covered with forests, predominantly birch and coniferous trees. The main city of the lake region in Finland is Savonlinna, which rose around the Olavinlinna Castle (and is well worth a visit). Not far from Savonlinna, visit Kerimaki and the world’s oldest wooden church, or cruise down the Saimaa Canal for a day trip to Russia’s Vyborg on the Baltic Sea. Other interesting boat trips take tourists to the Lintula and Uusi Valamo monasteries.
Oulu is a charming little town on the north of the Gulf of Bothnia, at the mouth of its namesake river. Visit the Cathedral, the island of Ainola Park, the Botanic Garden, the Market Square, and the Tietomaa Science Centre.
This lovely town is the third largest in Finland, and is the largest town in inland Scandinavia. Situated between Lake Nasijarvi and Lake Pyhajarvi, the lakes are linked by the Tammerkoski Rapids. Tampere’s major industries today are metalworking, textiles and footwear. The town is a recreational and cultural delight with theatres, museums, parks, almost two hundred lakes, and the Sarkanniemi Amusement Park. Close by are the old villages of Virrat and Ruovesi.
Vaasa was founded in the fourteenth century during Swedish rule, and the ruins of the original city are in an enormous park (Vanha Vaasa and Gamla Vasa). Still very Swedish influenced, this town is peaceful and offers many attractions for tourists. Museums, a nature centre, a waterpark inside a heated dome (Tropiclandia), the Kvarken National Park, and the Soderfjarden crater are all worth a visit.
Located in Finland’s southwest, Turku is the oldest town in the nation and was once the capital of Finland. Rich in history, Turku is a fabulous tourist centre, with a Market Square, Swedish Theatre, cathedral, and the old castle to appeal to visitors.
While any visit to Finland absolutely must include time in Helsinki and a Lapland trip to see the Northern Lights, there is so much more to this vast and unspoilt country. Let Scandi Travel be your first point of contact when you plan your perfect Finland vacation.
