0 Leisurely at the Lighthouse

Most lighthouses in Finland have been automated but luckily not abandoned, with many now serving as tourist destinations boasting restaurants and accommodation. The distant locations guarantee visitors peace and quiet, save for the sounds of the sea.

Kylmäpihlaja lighthouse, a pearl off the coast of Rauma

Built in 1953, this lighthouse is one of few in Finland that has rooms located in the tower itself. A 45-minute boat ride from the mainland, this charming little island serves gourmet lovers, retreaters and nature buffs equally well.

The exquisite restaurant alone is worth the trip, and for those staying overnight, a steaming sauna followed by a cooling drink on the cliffs is a must. Watching the sun set on the horizon with only birdlife for company is a cinematic experience.

Tankar lighthouse watches over the coast of Kokkola

The picturesque island of Tankar is dotted with traditional Finnish summer cottages that are still used by locals. A daily boat service allows visitors to enjoy the homely atmosphere and salmon soup served in the family run café restaurant.

Walking the nature trail, paying a visit to the cosy little 18th century wooden church and the seal hunting museum are all highly recommended. The lighthouse itself, built in 1889, is of the classic shape and style, and makes for terrific photos.

Bengtskär, the historic beacon of Hanko

One of the best-known lighthouses in Finland, Bengtskär turned 100 years in 2006. It is the highest lighthouse in the Nordic countries and is rich in history, making a guided tour just about obligatory.

The majestic stone brick lighthouse has stood through it all: wars, extreme conditions, and decades of decay until reconditioned in 1995. The tourism services are family run; the restaurant offers traditional local courses and the six lighthouse keepers’ rooms now serve as accommodation.

Söderskär in the Porvoo Archipelago

The 150-year-old Söderskär lighthouse is served by three cruises a week from central Helsinki. Located in the middle of a nature preserve, landing on the island is prohibited to protect rare sea bird species. However, guided tours make an exception.

Day trippers can enjoy the café and history tours, while overnighters can stay in the lighthouse tower suite with old-fashioned decoration. The wood-heated sauna, built in 1876, should definitely not be missed.

Detail: Leisurely at the Lighthouse

0 Theme Parks in Finland

Since the establishment, Linnanmaki Amusement Park has been the liveliest place and the most popular view in whole Finland. There were a number of 1,000,000 tourists visited here last year. The park lies on the top of mountain which is not far away from the center of Helsinki. Although the area of park is not big, there are 33 various large-scale amusement machines which are suitable for all ages. There are several fabulous shows of magic and acrobatics in amphitheater every day. The Linnanmaki is a un-profit amusement, the whole income of which is donated to the Child Welfare Organization.

Sarkanniemi Adventure Park lies on a small peninsula which is surrounded by two lakes. The park, with a number of 8,000,000 tourists per year, is the most suitable place for the whole family. There are aquarium, dolphinarium, the children's zoo and the highest watchtower in Finland, etc. The most popular amusement program in the park is "Half Pipe", which is the biggest all over the world. If you come here, this is a must to experience.

Serena is the largest in-door tropical water park in Europe, with year-round heated pools 2000 m2. In summer time there is an extra 1000 m2 outdoor pools. Feel the thrill of speed in waterslides and tubes. Let the Wild Stream with the length of 140 m take you in roaring rapids. Are you brave enough to slide through the Black Hole pipe. Sound and light effects from space make your journey in darkness even more mysterious.

The Terrace Bar, various massaging whirlpools, summer outdoor activities and all other Serena services make you forget everyday routine and relax completely. Sauna caves, deep inside solid granite, satisfy all sauna lovers. The Granina Cave Restaurant is famous for delicious snacks and tasty meals.

In winter time, Serena is a famous place for skiing. There are five trails with the different length from 300m to 450m and the height of 60m. Tourists can experience various snow sports here, such as slalom skiing, jumping skiing, alpine skiing and freestyle skiing.

Muumin is a well-known cartoon character who was created by Finns. The Muumin World is located in Naantali, southwest Finland. No matter how old you are, you will be fascinated with those decorations. There is also an adventure island called Vaski where tourists can take part in many excited programs, such as "Bay War".

Santa is a Christmas Theme Park. Once inside the park, you walked through Santa's Christmas Village with 23 Christmas fantasy themes, each with life-sized buildings and animated characters, and enjoyed more than 50 amusement park rides. Santa's Park included 12 entertainment shows each day, free with your admission, featuring puppets, live magicians, white tigers, music and more. There was a giant, gas-lit Menorah, one huge Christmas tree, and 20 more themed trees that are more than 30 feet tall.

Detail: Theme Parks in Finland

0 Finland, May Day

The first of May every year is celebrated as Walpurgis Night by many religious people throughout most of Europe. It is a very important day, religiously, for a lot of different belief systems including pagan ones, Satanism and also some Roman Catholics as well. But all around the world it is better known as May Day.

May Day History

The festival is actually named after the Saint Walpurga who was born in the city of Devon in the year 710 AD. It was celebrated as the day that was associated with spring and the bounties that the season offers to the people and was originally a pagan festival, but after Christianity came into the picture the date was changed to the 1st of May and the Festival was renamed May Day, although in some places like Finland, it is considered that the day that is to be mainly celebrated is the day that falls before May Day, May Day Eve. It was celebrated by the pagans by lighting bonfires and marked by dancing and singing to scare off or rather ward off any evil spirits that inhabited an area. This was followed by the ceremony which marked the return of light with the morning sun the next day.

The day is so named so as to commemorate the death of Saint Walpurga, who died while moving the mortal remains of her brother to his final resting place. Thus she was moved next to him in the place where they keep her remains to date. She was moved on the first of May and hence May Day has come to be known as Walpurgis Day in the Finnish calendars.

May Day Traditions and Activities

Nowadays, the Night of Walpurgis is considered the biggest carnival style festival of the year and is celebrated by almost every person in the country. The streets of many cities in the country are usually filled with parades, carnival style entertainment booths, and are generally marked with flowing wine and beer-in-plenty. People from all over the world come to the country just to get a taste of what it is like to be part of one of the oldest and most fun celebrations and traditions in the world.

Generally, the First of May holiday is celebrated with a picnic in a park or garden which is characterized by the presence of a number of friends, a lavishly prepared and sumptuous meal and a large amount of wine, all enjoyed while relaxing in the spring weather on a blanket on the ground. However, a few people are known to organize extremely large and extravagant meals and picnics which include gourmet meals, the best chinaware, music and service that rival a five star restaurant. These picnics usually start in the evening around sundown and some of them stretch even till the wee hours of next morning.

Thus it is clear to see that the celebration of the festival is very important to Finnish people since it part of their culture and identity and also it not only vastly boasts the tourism in the area but also provides fun and joy to the millions of people around the country.

Detail: Finland, May Day

0 Coastal town charm of Finland

Tammisaari is an urban area in southern Finland’s Uusimaa region that received its royal charter in 1546. In 2009, it merged with two other municipalities into the town of Raasepori. Tammisaari was once a village that earned its living through fishing and crafts, and was known as a safe haven for seafarers. Today, it remains popular among boaters, especially during the summer season, and over 80 percent of the population is Swedish speakers.

Lovely old buildings

Tammisaari village grew up around the church, which still remains the central building of Old Tammisaari. The stone church was built in the 17th century in Barckens Udde which is the oldest part of the town. All the buildings in this conservation area date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, and strict regulations ensure that the area will retain its history. While many of the buildings in Old Tammisaari have been rebuilt over the years, care has been taken to preserve the winding alleys and lanes. Street names such as Hatuntekijänkatu and Nahkurinkatu offer a delightful glimpse into a bygone era.

Temptation harbor

Beside the harbor, overlooking the sea, sits the Knipan restaurant. Its sunny terrace is the perfect place to enjoy a lovely summer’s day, savor good food and feast your eyes on the magnificent view. Pleasant cafés and a sandy beach are nearby, and from the harbor you can also embark on a cruise around the lovely Tammisaari archipelago.

Hanko southernmost part of Finland

35 kilometers from Tammisaari is the seaside town of Hanko, which boasts a long history as a summer holiday centre. Hanko built its first spa in the late-19th century and several sumptuous villas were built to accommodate the guests. Today, these beautiful buildings of cultural historic value are still situated by the seaside.

The most recognizable landmark of Hanko is the bright red water tower, built in 1943. In the summer, it is a popular vantage point, offering spectacular views of Hanko and the sea.

Summer is full of happenings

Hanko is an active place throughout summer. Every Wednesday and Friday, a popular evening market is set up in the Eastern Harbor area. During Midsummer, people gather at the seaside by the Casino for a traditional midsummer dance, complete with maypole and bonfire.

Another summertime event is the three-day Hanko Regatta, one of Finland’s grandest sailing events and well-known across the country.

The summer festivities conclude on the last weekend of August with the Night of the Ancient Bonfires, which commemorates the long tradition of using lit beacons as signals for seafarers.

The harbor is made for guests

The Eastern Harbor of Hanko is Finland’s largest guest harbor, with moorings for some 400 boats. The numerous restaurants in the harbor area are ideal for enjoying a meal surrounded by the beautiful seaside scenery.

The warehouse quarter also offers an ample choice for diners. Many patrons are partial to the delicious seafood dishes served in the idyllic restaurants and, thanks to the proximity of the sea, the freshness and quality of the ingredients can be guaranteed.

Small town with many beaches

The longest unified beach in Hanko is the Tulliniemi beach, which seems to stretch as far as the eye can see. Walking distance from the town centre, Tulliniemi is located at the southernmost tip of the Finnish mainland. This tranquil spot is not only popular with sunbathers but also among both windsurfers and kite surfers.

Arguably, the most popular beach in Hanko is Plagen, where you can find the number one attraction for children: a water carousel.

There’s also Långsanda, a 1.6 kilometer-long stretch of beach, which is part of the so-called Eastern Spa Park, a recreational area of scenic and cultural historic value. The sandy promenade stretching through Långsanda has been used by walkers since the late 19th century.

Detail: Coastal town charm of Finland

0 Family Ski Holiday in Lapland

You know how it is when you take the family away, if the children are happy, everyone's happy, right? This is why it is so important to choose a family friendly resort. The ski resort of Ruka in Finnish Lapland, close to the Arctic Circle, is the perfect place for a family ski holiday.

1. Free Lift Passes - As long as they are accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet, children under the age of 7 get to use the ski lifts in Ruka for free.

2. Children's Ski Lessons - Ruka ski school, the longest running ski school in Finland, runs children-only ski lessons for all levels of ability from beginner to expert, meaning the children get to mix with other kids and are taught in a way that is designed for children and not adults.

3. Safe Ski Areas -Three, free to use, cordoned off ski areas next to the main slopes with drag lifts and magic carpet lifts that are quiet, safe places for children to learn without having to worry about other skiers on the Ruka ski slopes.

4. Safe Sledging Area - A giant, friendly snowman, as tall as a two story building, watches over the Ruka children's sledging area that is next to the main slopes but sectioned off with a snow wall to keep them safe.

5. Children's indoor and outdoor play areas and nursery. Whatever the weather there is somewhere for the kids to play either accompanied by parents or in the care of a child minder at the nursery.

6. Children's Adventure Ski Slope - A special ski run dotted with activities and things to discover designed especially for the kids on Ruka ski slopes. There is even a mini reindeer park half way down so you can stop and watch the reindeer.

7. Children's Play Areas in Restaurants - Finland is a very child friendly place and most restaurants in Ruka offer not only a good section of children's meals but a play area in the restaurant so they can enjoy themselves whilst mum and dad relax at nearby tables.

8. Husky Sled Safaris - What's more appealing in life than a bunch of excited husky puppies all wanting to play? There are several husky farms that run husky sled trips around Ruka and they almost always have a selection of friendly puppies to coo over and play with.

9. Reindeer Sleigh rides - Want to know how it feels to travel like Santa? Not a problem, you can take your choice of a long reindeer sleigh ride through the pristine wilderness wrapped up in a sheepskin blanket or a visit to a reindeer farm to meet lots of lovely reindeer, learn more about them and take a short sleigh ride.

10. Visit Santa At Home - how many children can say they've been to Santa's real house? Baked cookies with Mrs. Claus or sat on Santa's knee in on his rocking chair whilst the cookies bake? A visit to Santa's actual house, close to the ski resort of Ruka, is something memories are made of.

And that's not to mention all the great things to do for the adults and big kids too. Things like snowmobiling, ice cart racing, snowshoeing, visits to Russia, horse riding, driving on ice, golf and fishing, to name a few as well as the 29 groomed ski slopes, a snowboard park and street, half pipe, skiing and snowboarding competitions and 800kms of cross country ski tracks.

Flying not guaranteed.

Heather Sunderland writes the ultimate travel guide to Ruka and Kuusamo combining her experience working as a ski guide in the area with her local knowledge obtained by living there for over 5 years, to bring you a comprehensive guide to Ruka and Kuusamo with an expats eye to detail.

Detail: Family Ski Holiday in Lapland

0 Lapan winters Travel

Lapland is immense. It covers an area larger than the whole of Portugal, but the concept of Lapland is even larger. Many tourists think that they have reached Lapland when they have barely got halfway up Finland. The further north you go, the better you can understand the true meaning of Lapland.

In the fells you can see for miles

As you travel further north along the outstretched “arm” of north-west Finland, the coniferous forest gradually vanishes from the landscape and the birch trees shrink to a meter in height; the fells begin to rise around you in every direction and you find a silence unlike anywhere else on earth. You can see for miles but all you will hear is your own breathing and the snow crunching under your boots. Visit Kilpisjärvi, a small village in Enontekiö, and it’s easy to discover why tourists return year after year.

“The city is no place for a person”

Sami Nils-Matti Vasara has lived in Kilpisjärvi all his life – his roots go back 12 generations. Nils-Matti has been to southern Finland only a couple of times and even then not entirely voluntarily. As he sees it, Kilpisjärvi has everything anyone could want in life. Most importantly is the impressive natural landscape from which his family has derived their livelihood for centuries.

Even though the Lapland summer is beautiful, winter is a special time for Nils-Matti. Summer and autumn tend to just go by, resting and awaiting the first snow. It is only after the fells are finally covered in a white blanket that the normal course of life resumes. It is the moment you dig the snowmobile out of the garage to make it easier to travel across the fells.

The light of winter

To visitors from the south, Lapland is the perfect place to rest and relax. Whatever your reason to “escape”, there is no better place to recharge your batteries than the wide open spaces in the far north. Under the spring sun on top of the fells, you’re fine in nothing but a sweater, as the glistening snow reflects the light like a mirror. Until darkness falls, the world is like a blue and white silent movie and then the sky is filled with color. On a clear night, the Northern Lights blaze, lighting the fells as if it were day.

Detail: Lapan winters Travel