Anyone looking to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience knows that seeing the northern lights should be on everyone’s bucket list. Camp, eat, and sleep under the dancing lights of the north by visiting Finland, one of the best countries in the world to relish the experience of seeing the northern lights.
This European country shares its borders with Sweden, Norway, and Russia. And known for its gorgeous capital Helsinki, the country of Finland offers travelers across the globe opportunities to take witness to its rich culture and history.
Suomenlinna Fortress
Finland is home to one of the world’s largest sea fortresses, the Suomenlinna Fortress. Sitting near Helsinki’s Market Square, this 18th-century fortress is a must-see for tourists who seek to learn more about Finnish history. The fortress castle which was built in 1748 during the rule of the Swedish, the Sveaborg, was the fortress surrendered to the invading Russians in 1808, which was followed by its condition deteriorating throughout the next century.
Once the Finnish people finally gained independence in 1917, the fortification of the fortress began, though during World War II, the landmark was utilized as an active submarine base. Today, UNESCO has given it due recognition as a World Heritage Site, rendering its worldwide appeal as a highly-renowned tourist attraction for people to visit and uncover the rich history of the Finnish people.
As the fortress also stands as a gorgeous island, walking along the trails while also exploring its tunnels and museums would guarantee to have anyone in awe. Signing up for a guided walk could also be a choice to see the 250-ton Vesikko submarine that was used by the Finnish Navy in 1936.
Kauppatori and Esplanadi
The harbor of Finland’s capital, Helsinki, is an underrated tourist destination, overlooked despite being a focal gathering point of everything that occurs in the Finnish port. With its open-air market filled with produce from local farmers, any traveler looking to experience the Finnish markets should head here, where they could also experience this market filled with craftsmen, food producers, and fishermen who sell directly from their floating boats.
Walking along this harbor would satisfy the food cravings as the Finns of the harbor cook salmon over cedar planks beside their boats, all while also enjoying ripe berries in rainbow fashion and baskets of woodland mushrooms, depending on the season. This market hall dating back to 1889 has been the center for food vendors and the outdoor market is a year-long tradition any tourist can enjoy as, even in the winter, the market is protected by tarps and tents.
On summer evenings, the entire city flocks to the open spots of the Esplanadi to enjoy and take part in festivities, markets, and cuisine. The promenade, beautifully adorned by the lining trees, is bordered by incredible buildings, and a pavilion in the area is where the Kapelli Restaurant is, known for its terrace that hosts concerts in the bandstand during the fine evenings of summer.
Rovaniemi and the Arctic
In northern Finland, the Arctic Circle runs across the town of Rovaniemi being a focal geographical point. The placing of this town grants it the title of being the Gateway of the Arctic, wherein summers would make it home to the famous Midnight Sun as the sun stays above the horizon for an entire day. On the summer solstice, around late June, specifically late May to early August, the sun never hides from the skyline far enough for the town to experience the true dark of the night.
These “White Nights” always enliven the townsfolk as they enjoy the seemingly eternal sun-lit outdoors with the tourists that come to experience this as well. And apart from this, travelers can also have a go at exploring the vast natural sights of the town, from the rivers where people can canoe, swim, or fish, to the landscapes and mountains for hiking and cycling.
Helsinki’s Design District
As the prime center of modern Scandinavian design, the Helsinki capital has, in its varying arsenal of tourist destinations, an entire district dedicated to studios, galleries, and antique shops solely for Finnish designers who display and sell their work.
Experiencing the arts and culture of the Finnish through these neighborhoods would give anyone the window to see the creativity of the concentration of creative Finnish people coming from Punavuori, Kaartinkaupunki, Kamppi, and Ullanlinna. Boutiques, galleries, and studios give this district the opportunity to showcase the country’s excellence in contemporary designs, from fashion, jewelry, furnishings, and tableware, and to other everyday items, anyone might find useful or aesthetically pleasing.
There are also designer studios people can arrange visits to, some of which are Raaka Rå and Paja, which are organic pottery and artisan jewelry respectively. Take a look at the craftspeople as they work in their specializations and learn more about Finland’s continuously evolving arts through Helsinki’s design district.
Lemmenjoki National Park
The wilderness of the Arctic can be experienced to its fullest at the Lemmenjoki National Park by nature lovers. In Finland, the boreal forest in this park is the largest and is one of the most extensive wildlands in all of Europe, having more than 2,589 square kilometers covered in natural landscapes.
Anyone who wants to have an adventure by trekking the hundreds of kilometers of trails marked for safety can also take witness and maybe even have a go at the free and open wilderness huts or, if the budget allows, the rental huts with campfire places and saunas to truly have that relaxation amidst the surrounding nature.
The Lemmenjoki National Park is also home to the Lemmenjoki River, which is its namesake, that flows down from to stunning valley with incredibly high pines that tower the landscape, adding to the natural aesthetic of the area perfect for tourists looking to see the natural beauty of the country of Finland. Visitors can rent boats or take a tour, then find brown bears, wolves, and wild golden eagles, as they explore the environment and mingle with other animals like moose and reindeers.
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