While most people from Europe head towards the equator or beyond for their holidays, discerning travellers might look north to an unspoilt land. Finland is not perhaps the most obvious holiday destination, yet it offers untold beauty; simply stunning scenery, historical architecture, a rich culture and with a population less than London, it’s easy to feel like the first person who trod this land.


In the south, the best time to visit is between late May and late August where festivals are in full swing, taking advantage of the long light nights. In the north (including Finnish Lapland), September to March is when you’ll get the most out of your trip.

For a flavour of the country, you could loosely split it into 4 regions: South and the Archipelago, The West Coast, Lakeland in the centre and dipping into the arctic circle up north, Lapland.

Finland is one of the world’s largest archipelagos (group of islands) and its special environment is heavily protected. An excellent way to explore the country is to take one of clearly marked trail routes. One example, the circular 155 mile “Archipelago Route” is an island-hopping journey taking in several magnificent bridges and cable car ferries. Or for all things tar, there’s a 202-mile “Tar Route” from Kuhmo to Oulu, but somehow “The Northern Lights Road” sounds more romantic.

THE SOUTH AND THE ARCHIPELAGO
The natural starting point for most visitors is Helsinki where the international airport is rated as one of the world’s best. This capital city is small, intimate and undeniably cool, bursting with sites of interest and its coastal location makes it an excellent place from which to take a sightseeing tour by boat. The crime rate here is almost non-existent and Helsinki prides itself as being one of the world’s safest cities.

There is no shortage of historical and cultural monuments and the best way to explore is probably on foot where you have the chance of finding the slightly less beaten tracks. A good start is a walk along The Kings Road, an ancient highway which follows the medieval coach route.


The Lutheran Cathedral dominates Senate Square and is a masterpiece of neo classical architecture designed by Carl Ludwig Engel as a tribute to Nicholas I, Tsar of Russia. The Cathedral began life in 1830 and was finally consecrated in 1852. Just over a century later, a radically different church, the Temppeliaukio Church was built by architect brothers, Timo and Tuomo Suomaialmen who won an architectural design competition. It’s another incredible building, made from a solid rock outcrop, giving its nickname “the Rock Church”. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city with half a million visitors each year.

Both these fine buildings have no entrance fee and are open to the public daily, although due to The Rock Church’s superb acoustics, it is often used as a concert hall so check before you go.

There are a number of pretty seaside towns a short distance from Helsinki; Hanko and Karjaa to the west, Porvoo and Loviisa to the east. All are charming, traditional and easily accessible. Porvoo is the second oldest town on the coast and remains wonderfully unspoilt so a visit is recommended.

There are all sorts of museums in the area including the Seurasaari Open Air Museum, set on a small island linked to the mainland by footbridge. It was founded in 1909 and gives a comprehensive overview of life in Finland over the past three centuries.


Turku is Finland’s oldest city and its first capital from 1809 – 1812. Although it no longer holds the nationwide significance it once did, it’s still an important location for business and culture. Turku has several museums, the most famous being the Sibelius Museum, which uniquely specialises in the field of music. The city has been designated the European Capital of Culture in 2011.

MARIEHAMN

The Åland Islands are situated in the very heart of the Baltic Sea just between Helsinki and Stockholm. Åland is an autonomous region in Finland, with its own flag, stamps and license plates. On the 6,500 islands that make up the Åland Islands, you’ll find an exciting mix of Swedish, Finnish and Russian culture and history.

Welcome to the Islands of Peace

For visitors, Mariehamn is the perfect antidote to a hectic, big city life style. It’s the capital for Åland’s 6,500 islands and at the same time, with its 11,000 inhabitants, a picturesque and friendly town. The inhabitants are spoilt with spectacular nature in abundance and summertime, they enjoy the light Nordic summer evenings when the sun barely sets and the islands attract visitors from far and away. The Islands of Peace, as Åland is often called, is a demilitarised territory. This means that no military forces may be stationed in the Islands and that the territory may not be fortified.

Museum Ship Pommern & Åland Maritime Museum
Much of the best that Mariehamn have to offer is located in the western harbour, not far from the quays. Here is for example the Maritime Museum and the Museum Ship Pommern, both world famous. They give insight into how the seamen’s life was aboard ship in calm seas, storms and when the captain chased the speed record for the Australia-England sailings, a common route for these ships in the early 1900´s.

Bomarsund Fortress Ruins
The Bomarsund fortress is the largest military building that has ever been built on Åland. After the war between Sweden and Russia in 1808-1809, Sweden had to surrender Finland and Åland to Russia. The Russian military soon wanted to make the Åland Islands a stronghold against the west. During the Crimean War in 1854 the fortress was surrounded by 12.000 French soldiers and some 40 British war ships. The outcome was a given. Even if the fortress was ruined, it’s still a very interesting and well visited sight. As a consequence of the Crimean War, the Åland Islands were demilitarised and still remain so. The Åland Islands are called the Islands of Peace.


Castle of Kastelholm
Take a tour to the castle of Kastelholm. The castle was built in the 1300’s and has been through both sieges and piracy. The Swedish king Gustav Vasa and his sons Johan III and Erik XIV have all spent time at the castle. After the death of Gustav Vasa, his sons fought for power. The fight ended when Erik put his brother Johan in prison. A small room in the castle has been pointed out as Johan’s prison.

Åland Museum & Art Museum
The history of Åland from the Stone Ages to present times is exhibited at the permanent exhibition in the Åland Museum. The permanent exhibition displays the development of Åland from mid 1800’s to present. The Åland Art Museum was founded in 1963 and is the province museum for art from Åland. Some ten special exhibitions with varying themes are shown yearly with artists from Åland as well as from other nations.

Maritime Quarter
Sailing ship building is an old Åland tradition. The Maritime Quarter in the eastern harbour is a great place to experience skilled boat builder’s work up-close. Here is also a museum that exhibits boatbuilding traditions in Åland. Usually there are some beautiful traditional boats moored at the quays.

Jan Karlsgården Open Air Museum
Visit beautiful Jan Karlsgården, a typical Åland farmstead from the 1800’s. It depicts life as it was before the age of fast food and it is located just a stone’s throw from the castle of Kastelholm. The prison museum Vita Björn is also nearby. Just look across the bay to return to modern times there one of the most popular golf courses in the Nordic countries is located.

Tjudö Vineyard
Åland has for a long time had a gourmet tradition when it comes to strong drinks. Visit Tjudö Vineyard and enjoy not only the locally produced wine, but also study the process of making a local variant of calvados – the highly regarded Ålvados.

Brewery Stallhagen
If you’re interested in beer, the brewery Stallhagen is a given destination. The brewery gives you an insight into beer brewing, and in the brewery pub you may sample Stallhagen Lager. The building has been moved but was originally a barrack room for the Russian coastal artillery.

Åland Hunting & Fishing Museum
Everyday life was sometimes harsh for the Ålanders in the past. The Åland Hunting & Fishing Museum in Eckerö depicts the hunters’ and fishermen’s hard work to feed their families. The museum is located in Eckerö next to the old fishing village in Käringsund
http://www.visitaland.com/jaktfiskemuseum/en

Eckerö Mail & Custom’s House
The stately impressive Eckerö Mail & Custom's house was built in 1828 and drawn by the famous architects Carl Ludwig Engel and Carlo Bassi. The building is constructed in empire style, well-known from Helsinki and St. Petersburg. The Eckerö Mail and Custom's house, together with Bomarsund, represent the Russian era in Finland and in Åland.

Önningeby Museum
The Önningeby Museum, located in a beautiful stone barn from 1869, is a small historical art museum that exhibits art from the golden era of open-air painting. The museum’s collections are concentrated around the picturesque village of Önningeby’s famous artist colony with artists from Sweden and Finland. For groups, serving and lectures may be arranged by prior agreement.
Climate
The Åland Islands have a Scandinavian maritime climate with four distinct seasons. The islands have the greatest number of sunshine hours in Scandinavia, and thanks to the surrounding sea the autumn season is exceptionally long and warm.

The average daytime temperature in summer is approximately 20°C, and in July and August daytime temperatures can rise to around 25-30°C. For more detailed information and statistics visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Mariehamn Airport is located 4 kilometres (5 minutes) from downtown Mariehamn. Taxi service available.

Main Southern Finland Regions
Helsinki, Lahti, Kymenlaakso, Turku, Aland Islands


LAKELAND
Finland is probably most famous for its lakes scattered around the centre of the country. The Great Lakes District has over 200,000 significant lakes and with more water than land, numerous and various sightseeing boat trips are available. Cities have built up on lake shores so it’s easy to take a break from the water to the land for an hour, or a few days, depending on your itinerary. The waters here are of the highest quality and fishing is a favourite pastime.
In winter, the frozen lakes become giant playgrounds for skaters with mile upon mile of solid ice – sounds more fun than a circular indoor skating rink!

Main Lakeland Regions (south to north)
Tampere, Kuopio, Karalia, Kajaani

WEST COAST
The favourite region for families as it offers a range of activities, gentle walks, the best beaches in Finland, national parks, fishing, skiing, or just doing nothing at all except for enjoying the stupendous scenery, and breathing in the purest air.

Satakunta is one of the best places to fish, both river and sea. The waterways here are just made for all manner of watery activities; sailing, canoeing and the lagoon in Yyterinlahti Bay is a surfer’s paradise.

The Kalajoki region is renowned for its magnificent beaches, earning it the title of “The Nordic Riviera”. Unlike St Tropez, it’s retained its Finnish heritage and culture. Interestingly the language in this region becomes blurred with Swedish, yet villages that have grown up along the rivers are unmistakably Finnish; wooden homes, crystal clear river valleys, wildlife and rustic charm.

Main West Coast Regions (south to north)
Pori Rauma, Seinajoki, Vassa, Kokkola-Kalajoki, Oulu

LAPLAND
The small town of Kemi is the gateway to Lapland and has its own airport so is a good starting point for visitors to this area. One of its top attractions is being home to the world’s largest snow castle, which is reconstructed every year by a different architect. The Finnish crown, which was made for a King, but never actually used, can be seen in the Kemi museum.

A highlight for visitors to Lapland is a chance to see the mysterious and awe inspiring (in the true sense of the word) aurora borealis or Northern Lights. Within the Arctic Circle, on a good night, incredible luminous displays of various forms and colours can be seen in the night sky. For all the scientific explanations of why and how it is, most visitors are unlikely to have witnessed anything quite like this.

In mid summer, the sun never sets up here making sleep a challenge for visitors and locals alike. But you can ignore the time on your watch and take advantage of a 24-hour day.

Fishing, white water rafting, hiking, canoeing and panning for gold are some of the activities on offer – you’ll soon sleep when you’re tired enough whatever the time of day.

In winter, the days may be short but there is no shortage of activities to suit everyone’s tastes. Skiing is virtually guaranteed and there are plenty of cross-country trails as well as the more familiar ski resorts and pistes. Husky safaris and reindeer sled rides should be enough to compensate, along with toasty log cabins and comforting traditional food and drink to help things along.

Although Finland’s mountains aren’t exactly the Alps, the number of vertical slopes allows over 100 ski resorts which are guaranteed to have snow for an average of 200 days a year. The gentle gradients lend themselves well to cross-country skiing, highly popular with the locals. It’s perfect for learners (lessons and guides are provided at ski centres) who may have been daunted at attempting cross-country skiing in more exacting alpine hills.

Main Lapland Regions
Kemi, Kuusamo, Rovaniemi, Levi, Pallas Olos, Tornionlaakso, Yllas

GENERAL INFORMATION

City Card
The Helsinki Card is a handy, economical way of making the most of your visit to Helsinki. It includes unlimited free travel on public transport in Helsinki, free entrance to the most important sights and 50 museums, free entrance and boat transport to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and Helsinki Zoo, great value discounts on sightseeing tours and free Helsinki guide book with maps.

Free Audio City tour daily for adult card holders.
You can buy the Helsinki Card also online at: www.helsinkiexpert.fi
The Helsinki Card is sold throughout the city, e.g. at Tourist Information, airport, hotels and kiosks.

Currency
Finland use the Euro. €1 (Euro) = 100 cent. For current exchange rates visit www.xe.com

Shop opening hours / banking
Shops: Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12 noon - 6:00 p.m. (in summer)
Banks: Weekdays: 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.


Climate
Helsinki is a city of four distinct seasons. The moderate weather is influenced by both maritime and continental climate patterns. Summer in Helsinki begins in May and lasts until mid-September. The average summer temperature - for day and 'night' - is around 15°C. On hot days the temperature can rise to around 30°C. Helsinki is usually at its warmest in July. The Helsinki summer is bright white. During the summer equinox in late-June there are no less than 19 hours of daylight between sunrise and sunset. For more details and statistics visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport is located 19 kilometres (25 minutes) from the city centre. Airport buses and regular buses operate between the airport and the Central Railway Station.

Kemi-Tornio Airport is located 6 kilometres (15 minutes) from downtown Kemi.

Turku Airport is located 8 kilometres from downtown Turku. There is a regular bus service (no.1) that departs from the airport every 20 minutes for central Turku.

Visa Information
For up to date visa requirements visit www.projectvisa.com


To plan a holiday for a group of friends, an incentive trip or a convention in Finland, please visit http://www.lss.fi where you will find that LSS offer

Long Special Services
Tailor made packages for Groups

Long Shore Services
Shore Excursions and Land Programs

Long Sport Services
Sport Groups