The Land of the Midnight Sun, Finland

Finland is probably not one amongst the most heavily promoted overseas travel destinations that you will come across. But the 'Land of the Midnight Sun' is an enchanting place if ever there was one. A Finland trip may be considered a true escape from everything you are familiar with, not to mention the drudgery of daily chores and ensuing fatigue. The tourist destinations in Finland epitomize the essence of this land of seasonal contrasts and pristine natural surroundings. The cities of Finland, which chiefly constitute the list of attractions, are Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Kuopio and Porvoo.

The capital city, Helsinki is a wonderful place and may be reached from any part of the world. It is referred to as the 'Daughter of the Baltic' for its several kilometres of coastline. It is well connected by train, bus or car just in case you are travelling from a neighbouring city. The many popular tourist attractions in the city including some famous churches and museums that may be covered conveniently by advanced facilities of communication. The visitors can move around in the city by taking a bike, taxi or car. They can even opt for the tram, metro or the bus.

If you are in the mind to spend some quality time in the lap of nature, there are many beautiful islands ideal for short interesting trips. There are some wonderful parks as well in this city like the Esplanadin puisto, Kaivipuisto, Toolo Bay, Central Park etc. The popular churches of the city include Lutheran Cathedral, Church in the Rock, Uspenski Cathedral, St. John's Church and Church of Kallio.

Things to Do

The summer is marked by long days in Finland, especially in the far north where the sun does not set at all. Tourists can go fishing and canoeing. There are several large lakes, including lakes Saimaa, Inari, and Päijänne. Finland is the ideal honeymoon destination as it offers the scope for many long romantic walks along the edge of the water and through wild greenery. The country is reputed for its excellent water quality and deep woods and forests around the sea, rivers, and the waterways.

In wintertime Finland provides excellent opportunities for cross-country and alpine skiing. Many of the popular ski resorts are situated north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland, but some like Kuusamo are situated in the northeastern part of Oulu Province. Interestingly, Santa Claus is commonly believed to be a resident of Korvatunturi in Finland. In the town of Rovaniemi there is the Santa Claus Village for tourists to visit. This is also the place to experience the famous Aurora Borealis or Northern lights. In the winter there is a large snowcastle with an Ice hotel built every year in the northern town of Kemi.

Getting there and going around

The Finnish rail system offers inter city and express trains throughout the country, and the faster Pendolino trains connect the major cities. International trains ply to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Sweden is connected by bus. It is possible to take the Silja and Viking Line ferries from Helsinki to several places around.
There are about 25 airports in Finland with scheduled passenger services. Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm Airlines provide air services both domestically and internationally. Helsinki-Vantaa airport is Finland's global gateway with scheduled non-stop flights to such places as Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Nagoya, New York, Osaka, Shanghai, Hong Kong,Tokyo and New Delhi.