Helsinki – a vibrant and international capital
Helsinki’s open and friendly residents wish visitors, along with new events and trends, a very warm welcome to this dynamic and lively city.
Restaurant Day, flea markets, We Love Helsinki happenings and block parties are all examples of the flourishing urban culture. Indeed, Helsinki is alive throughout the year. Mega-events, festivals and a wide range of smaller happenings are organised each year in Helsinki, and in summertime the streets and parks are also packed with fun-loving people. And it’s worth remembering that the midnight sun hardly sets at all, allowing the active nightlife to continue uninterrupted into the morning.
Most of the locals speak very good English and are happy to assist visitors. Helsinki’s personable, multilingual and friendly residents are among the city’s greatest assets, also for visitors.
The locals like to meet up with each other in cafés and bars, especially on weekends. And whenever the weather allows, people gather in the parks and on the terraces to spend time with friends. Helsinki is also a vibrant international university city.
Lapland – a region offering a wide diversity of magical experiences
Lapland is a magical destination for visitors year round. In the summer, the sun shines throughout the night when the season is at its best; in the winter’s polar night, thick snow covers the landscape, with the sun remaining below the horizon most of the time. In the summer, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy Lapland’s scenery in its many forms, including light summer nights, taking hiking trips or fishing on Arctic waters.
Several hiking centres in Lapland offer their services year round. In the autumn, the spectacular autumn foliage enchants visitors, and in winter Lapland provides a great backdrop for winter sports such as cross-country skiing and slalom. On bright cold nights, the skies are ablaze with the aurora borealis.
Those visitors who want to find peace and untouched nature will certainly do so as the population density in Lapland is only two people per square kilometre.
Finnish Lakeland – bringing east and west together
Lakeland Finland provides visitors with an opportunity to acquaint themselves with both the western and eastern cultural heritage, with breath-taking scenery – and, naturally, with plenty of water. Six of the ten largest lakes in Finland are located in Lakeland Finland. For example, Lake Saimaa is the fourth largest natural freshwater lake in Europe.
North Karelia, located in Lakeland Finland in the border zone between the east and the west, represents an area that is characterized by the distinctive Karelian culture. The Finnish cultural identity as a whole has found inspiration in Karelian history, landscapes and mythology. Have you heard of Kalevala or Nightwish? Both have their roots in Karelia.
Coastal Finland and the archipelago – charming old towns and the culture of the archipelago
Finland’s coast boasts the world’s largest archipelago. Old wooden towns, lighthouses, historical manors and stone churches, large national parks stretching over land and sea – this all sums up Coastal Finland in a nutshell.
The beautiful blue Baltic Sea surrounds almost half of Finland – in the West and South. It is one of the largest brackish inland seas in the world and has a salinity of less than 1% (where most ocean’s average 3.5%!). For centuries, the shores of the Baltic in Finland have been dotted by small, charming fishing towns and villages, many of which are more Swedish-spoken than Finnish. The laid-back islander lifestyle and a strong maritime culture are key characteristics of this fascinating area.