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Finland, home to Finnish people and the eponymous Uralic language, houses many unseen wonders. Breathtaking fjords, majestic mountains, snowy nights, and close proximity to the north pole are just some of the mesmerizing sights that make Finland a land of many wonders. Also known as the happiest country in the world, we are sure you’ll be overjoyed and on top of the world once you experience all it has to offer. That’s why we’re bringing you this list of places to visit in Finland to help you cut through the clutter and go straight for gold!
Places To Visit In Finland – Top 15+
Aurora Borealis
Also known as the world-famous Northern Lights, this spectacle is truly unique to the region and can’t be found anywhere else. They are an atmospheric phenomenon regarded as the holy grail of skywatching. They dazzle and delight any and everyone who gazes upon them. The almost surreal experience visitors are faced with is one of sheer awe and wonder. Words fall short in encapsulating these shimmering lights’ effect on these lucky travellers who get a chance to see them. Any list of places to visit in Finland would be woefully incomplete without this attraction.
Levi
This quaint ski city, 170 km north of the Arctic, is known for its perpetually subzero temperatures and snowy mountains. As a prominent skiing destination, it sports 200 km of track, which means it caters to beginners and experts alike. Its open trails are nothing like what you might expect. With numerous lifts available, you can rest assured that your skiing plans won’t get interrupted by unnecessary wait times. The city’s ski resorts also sport a dedicated snowboard park for snowboarders. Besides these more sport-oriented activities, the resorts host husky sledge rides and a cute reindeer park as well.
Restaurant Aanaar
Perched over the iconic Juutuanjoki’s Jäniskoski Rapids, restaurant Aanaar offers a dining experience like no other in Finland. With dishes made from locally grown and sourced ingredients, such as reindeer heart, angelica root and pine needles, its uniqueness holds true twice over. Deep within the Inari tundra, Aanaar pays particular emphasis to nature and its surroundings. This philosophy of looking locally shines exceptionally bright with local Finnish design and handicrafts on display at the restaurant. Innovative Inuri dishes accompanied by recommended wines will give your palate a new flourish never before experienced. To overlook such an exclusive experience at one of the most elusive places to visit in Finland would be anathema to our efforts in bringing you nothing but the best.
Santa Claus Village
Ice restaurants, igloo hotel rooms, and a snowy wonderland in the heart of Lapland is Finland’s answer to Disneyland at its iciest best. All of this and more can be found at what is known as the Santa Claus Village. This one-of-a-kind amusement park, home to Santa Claus himself, is just a hop, skip and jump across the arctic circle. It is complete and replete with splendours such as reindeer and a magical forest known as Santa’s forest with spruce trees. The Village lies 8 km from the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, the official home of Santa Claus.
Sea Fortress Suomenlinna
Known initially as Sveaborg or Viapori, Suomenlinna or ‘Castle of Finland’ is a formidable sea fortress built in 1748. It can be said to have witnessed the formation and history of independent Finland since the roots of its inception. Charting Finland’s history, the UNESCO World Heritage site has seen its fair share of firsts for the country. To that effect, it houses ‘Noah’s Ark’ or one of Finland’s first residential multi-storey buildings. It comprises islands built during successive eras, primarily those under the country’s occupation by the Swedish and the Russian Empires. A venerable feat of early engineering, it still stands tall being one of the most significant tourist attractions in Finland.
Turku
The oldest city in Finland, Turku is home to many attractions, including the most prominent, Turku Castle. The castle’s construction began in the thirteenth century and was expanded to its present state by the 1500s. Built when Finland was a province of the Kingdom of Sweden, it too has seen the shaping of Finnish history and culture through the centuries. This is why the castle features a museum detailing the town’s rich and storied history. This ancient town also harbours a Swedish theatre, a shopping complex full of local handicrafts and quirky and quaint riverside restaurants.
Nuuksio National Park
If you’re looking for a more adventurous flight of fancy to Finland, you needn’t look any further. With trails for hiking, biking, or horse riding, Nuuksio National Park in the heart of Finland is calling out your name. It is one of Finland’s most well-preserved nature hotspots, and surprisingly so, given its proximity to Helsinki. You will surely get lost in its pristine beauty as you make your way through the cascading coniferous forests. Along with being left to your own devices to explore, the park also provides camping courses and campfire sites. So go and camp to your heart’s delight!
Kemi
Looking for accommodation overlooking beautiful places in Finland, all roped up in one of the best holiday destinations? Then a city nestled in Lapland known for its iconic, truly one-of-a-kind snow castle should be your next destination. Built anew on a yearly basis, this three-storey tall venue made of ice caters to weddings and musical performances. Should you choose, the option to stay overnight in the hotel is also available to you. Though a stay here is no cakewalk so, expect some frigid experiences, sending chills down up and down your spine.
Arktikum
In keeping with the icy atmosphere that tourist attractions in Finland are so known for, we take you back to the arctic with Arktikum. It is a museum and science centre of epic proportions in terms of its location, grandeur, and exhibits steeped in cold, hard facts. Arktikum houses the University of Lapland’s Arctic Centre and the Provincial Museum of Lapland, making it the destination to get your knowledge fix. Featuring a 172 m glass corridor, the most visible part of Arktikum, the site’s architecture is in itself a marvel. So get ready to have your snow socks knocked off with Arktikum’s dynamic exhibits somehow frozen in space and time.
Sibelius Monument
Have you ever wondered what would a monument that also functions as a musical instrument would look like? Neither had we, though some Finns did for they built one as a memorial to Jean Sibelius, the famous Finnish composer. Located in Sibelius Park in Helsinki, it is composed of 600 hollow steel pipes. The monument is incredibly famous around the world as a magnificent modern art sculpture. So much so in fact that a smaller version named ‘Homage to Sibelius’ exists at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Lakeland
In the south of Finland, there is a province that has been an escape from the daily grind by Finns for time immemorial. As Europe’s largest lake district Lakeland lives up to its name with innumerable lakes all barely a skip away from one another. The region has a ton on offer, from cruises to fishing, paddle-boarding, ice swimming, skating and of course, lake hopping. And where there’s a lake, there’s bound to be a cottage. So, sit back and enjoy Finland’s pristine waters, saunas, adventure opportunities and more.
Temppeliaukio Church
Walk through the pews of a church so stunning that it warrants a reaction akin to being rocked to one’s core. Also known as “Church in the Rock,” this modern church is carved from rock and has a stunning copper dome. Temppeliaukio Church is a minimalist marvel of design, faith and nature all in their proper proportions. These three elements come together in an organic symphony which will fill you with awe and wonder. The church lends itself to an environment of tranquillity, peace and harmony with nature. So don’t forget to visit this hidden gem of a tourist attraction in Finland!
Pyynikki Park and Observation Tower
Located in Tampere City, this 26-meter-tall red granite tower rests on the world’s largest gravel ridge. Opened to the public in 1929 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Tampere, the tower allows for magnificent views. The tower also houses a renowned cafeteria serving perhaps Finland’s most unique and arguably the country’s best doughnuts or ‘munkki’. A vantage point like this one is hard to come by, especially one that offers such mesmerizing panoramic views. So go and explore the world of Tampere, in the heart of Lakeland now!
Vapriiki Museokeskus
While taking in the serene city of Tampere, another of Finland’s best holiday destinations. Vapriiki Museum is one of those places to visit in Finland, that people love experiencing alongside their families and children. It is a fairly unique museum in that it houses multiple museums. A few of these museums are, the Natural History Museum, Postal Museum, Finnish Museum of Games, Mineral Museum and more. We guarantee there’s something for everyone at this landmark. We could also see visitors getting engrossed enough to be lost in the compound for hours on end.
Koli National Park
Within Lakeland, if restricting yourself to four walls is something that is not to your liking, we have a solution. Koli National Park is one of the top places to visit in Finland as it represents the country’s essence. The most celebrated artists, musicians and intellectuals all have at times made pilgrimages to Koli in search of inspiration. With avenues for winter skiing, summer swimming and year-round hiking, of late Koli has been attracting hordes of international visitors. So if you’re in search of the great outdoors head out to Koli for a dive into the Finnish psyche.
Helsinki
Last but definitely not the least on our list of the best places to visit in Finland, is its capital, Helsinki. Home to haute couture as well as high culture, it was modelled after St Petersburg when it was first established. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it has been referred to as one of the best places in the world period, let alone one of the best places to visit in Finland. Here one can find the National Museum, Kiasma, a revered contemporary art gallery, and vibrant, colourful buildings and houses. There is so much to do here, that your fill of the city will forever stay overflowing.
