This summer has been different from the previous ones by far. I think many of you have had to rearrange plans and make a lot of changes in your lives. And so have I. I’ve been temporarily laid off for months now, and so this summer is going to be about traveling inside my home country. I’m going to share the best and most beautiful naturescapes to explore this summer. So whether you are coming to Finland next time when it is possible or you are living here, use these tips to make the best out of your summer plans!
Islands around the capital of Finland, Helsinki:
There are numerous beautiful small islands around Helsinki and they are easily reachable by car or by bike, for example. My favorites are Seurasaari (this one is also probably the most popular one) and Lehtisaari. Seurasaari is an old island with an outdoor museum. You can walk around the island and take a look at the old wooden buildings and enjoy nature. Perfect place to spend the summer day and to learn more about the historical buildings of Finland at the same time! There is also a small beach and some coffee shops. You can read more about it here: https://www.seurasaarisaatio.fi/
Lehtisaari is another island in Western Helsinki about 4 km away from Seurasaari. Even though this island is small, it is super charming and it has nice views of the opposite shore. Other great places to visit are Korkeasaari (also a popular island and there’s a zoo), Uunisaari, and Suomenlinna. Suomenlinna (the fortress of Finland) is a must-see place for everyone visiting Helsinki and it is almost iconic to Finland. It plays an important part in history, and it is one of the most important places to visit if in Finland. Note though, it is reachable by a ferry that leaves from Helsinki center (Kauppatori). It’s also a great place to spend the day and get a glimpse of the old times! Official website and more information can be found here: https://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/fortress/
Lakeland:
Finland has over 168 000 lakes and a majority of them are located in an area called the Lakeland, hence the name too. So, if you want to feel the true lake life, choose a lake in this area. You’ll be guaranteed to find the most beautiful lakes in Finland with clear and clean freshwaters. Some of these cities surrounded by these lakes are Savonlinna, Imatra, Joensuu, and Jyväskylä. Many Finnish people own a summer cottage in these areas and by the lakes, so keep this in mind if visiting. There are plenty of public swimming places and saunas to enjoy these lakes. You can also plan some activities around them: kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding, jet skiing… There are numerous options!
Lapland:
Lapland is probably the most popular travel destination in Finland and I can see why. Nature there is breathtakingly gorgeous! Now, I have to admit that I have only visited Lapland in the wintertime so it would be nice to go there in summer, too. We are planning to do a famous 82km hike called Karhunkierros (Bear’s Round), but let see if we can fit it in this summer’s schedule. So any hikers out there, this is the place to do it in Finland! The scenery changes completely and during winter you can experience unique things and a true winter wonderland. In the summer, however, it is all about spending time outdoors and getting to experience the famous midnight sun; a phenomenon where the sun doesn’t set even in the night time. Yes, this is true. You can see the sun shining on the horizon through the night. Magical, eh?
Beaches:
There are some nice beaches in Finland, believe it or not. The western part of Finland is full of coastal cities and towns where you can find swimmable beaches. Baltic sea is surrounded by this part of the country and it stretches from the capital area to the northern coastal city Oulu. I haven’t visited all of these beaches but we plan to do some of them this summer. I would recommend beaches in these cities: Helsinki (some of them mentioned above but there are plenty of more), Porvoo, Hanko, Turku, Kotka, Pori, and Kalajoki. So pick your favorites (or even all of them) and plan your unique road trip!
Have you visited Finland or are you planning to in the future? Let me know in the comment section below! I’d love to hear some of your experiences and travel plans. I hope you got new and useful information about Finland in this post. 🙂 If you are interested in reading more about Finland and about other things to do, go to the official site: https://www.visitfinland.com/
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