Museums

The old submarine in Suomenlinna Island Fortress, Helsinki (Photo: JariJK)

Museums in Finland

There are more museums per person in Finland than in any other country in the world! We collected some highlights for you:

Ainola - the home of Jean Sibelius in Tuusula, near the city of Helsinki (this attraction is recommended by the bestseller book 1000 Places To See Before You Die): http://www.ainola.fi/eng_index.php

Arktikum (Exhibition of Arctic Regions, Rovaniemi): http://www.arktikum.fi

Bengtskär Lighthouse (Scandinavia's highest lighthouse, 52 meters, built in 1906, the first lighthouse museum in Finland, visitors can take a guided tour and eat lunch on the island, also a possibility for overnight stayings in the old home of the lighthouse keeper, admission fees go to the restoration of the island): http://www.bengtskar.fi

(History and pictures: http://www.bengtskar.com)

(Rotatable images: http://finland.fi//Picture_Book/360/bengtskarin_majakka.htm)

(Cruises from Kasnäs Archipelago Spa to Bengtskär Lighthouse: http://www.bengtskar.fi/sightsroute.htm)

(Cruises from Hanko to Bengtskär Lighthouse: http://www.marinelines.fi/fi/risteilyt/bengtskar and http://tourism.hanko.fi/en/risteilyt/)

(Cruises from Turku to Bengtskär Lighthouse: http://www.rosita.fi/saaristoristeilyt)

(Other lighthouses: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/lighthouses)

Bonk Museum (Remember! This is a joke!): http://www.bonkcentre.fi

Botanical Gardens: http://www.botanicgardens.fi/, http://www.luomus.fi/english/exhibitions/botanicgarden/index.htm, http://www.gardenia-helsinki.fi, http://www.joensuu.fi/Botania, http://www.joensuu.fi/botania/valikko/index_7.html, http://www.oulu.fi/botgarden/eindex.html, http://www.turkutouring.fi/en/botanical-garden_en

Castles, fortresses and fortifications in Finland and Russia: http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=160061&contentlan=2&culture=en-US

EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art (Espoo): http://www.emma.museum/en

Finnish Aviation Museum (Helsinki-Vantaa airport area): http://www.ilmailumuseo.fi/index.php?page=home-eng

Finnish Museum Association: http://www.museot.fi/en.php and http://www.museoliitto.fi/en.php

Finnish Museum of Horology (the only museum of its kind in the Nordic Countries, Espoo, near Helsinki): http://www.kellomuseo.fi

Museum of natural history in Helsinki (Photo: JariJK)

Finnish Museum of Natural History (Helsinki): http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/english/index.htm

Finnish National Gallery Ateneum: http://www.ateneum.fi/en

Fiskars Village, Fiskars (Photo: JariJK)

Fiskars Village: http://www.fiskarsvillage.fi/en

Gallen-Kallela Museum: http://www.gallen-kallela.fi/english.html

Gold Prospector Museum: http://www.kultamuseo.fi/

Jokioinen Railway Museum (scheduled steam trains - a trip on a narrow gauge!): http://www.jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi

Kajaani Castle (Kajaani): http://www.kajaaninlinna.fi/en.php

Kierikki Stone Age Centre in Yli-Ii, north of Oulu (Photo: JariJK)

Kierikki - the Stone Age Centre: http://www.kierikki.fi

Lahti Museums (museums in the city of Lahti, e.g. Ski Museum): http://www.lahdenmuseot.fi/museot/en/lahti-city-museum

Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge (Kotka): http://www.langinkoskimuseo.com/en/

Lighthouse museums: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/lighthouses

List and search of museums in Finland: http://www.museums.fi/english/

Louhisaari Manor (Askainen): http://www.louhisaarenkartano.fi/

Lusto (Finland's national forest museum: exhibitions & arboretum, we especially recommend "The Room of Silence" audiovisual nature show, in Punkaharju near the city of Savonlinna, visit also Retretti - see below): http://www.lusto.fi

Malmgård Manor: http://malmgard.fi/

Maritime Centre Vellamo (Merikeskus Vellamo) in Kotka (Photo: JariJK)

Maritime Centre Vellamo (Kotka): http://www.merikeskusvellamo.fi/en/

Motorbike Museum (Lahti): http://www.moottoripyoramuseo.fi/ and http://www.ace-corner-finland.fi/en/frontpage/

Museum Centre Vapriikki (in Tampere): http://www.vapriikki.fi and http://www.tampere.fi/english/vapriikki.html

Museums in East Uusimaa (quite near the city of Helsinki, especially interesting museums in Porvoo): http://www.ita-uudenmaanmuseot.com/

Museums in Turku: http://www.turunmuseot.fi, http://www.turku360.fi/360/museot/aboavetus/aboavetus.htm (click photos or choose other museums 1-12 on the right, please)

Mustio Manor (Mustio Linna, Svartå Slott) in Mustio, Karjaa/Raasepori (Photo: JariJK)

Mustio Manor in Mustio, Karjaa/Raasepori (Mustion Linna in Finnish or Svartå Slott in Swedish means literally Mustio Castle. However, actually it is a wooden manor, which was built in 1792. The style of the manor is rococo and neoclassicism. When the manor was constructed, it was the only house with double window glasses in Finland. It also had the biggest windows in Finland. Russian czars Alexander I and Alexander II have stayed in the manor. Hjalmar Linder, who was the richest man in Finland, lived in the manor in the early 20th century. Also the composer Jean Sibelius and the painter Louis Sparre have visited there. It is claimed that there are at least three ghosts living in the manor. There are hand-painted l'oeil paintings and painted scenery wallpapers there. Figured parquets made of walnut tree, birch, oak and ash are very beautiful. The sculpture named Diana in the floor lobby is also special.): http://www.mustionlinna.fi

Mänttä-Vilppula Art Town: http://www.manttavilppula.fi/taidekaupunki/in-english/

National Board of Antiquities: http://www.nba.fi/en/

Old Mine in Outokumpu: http://www.kaivosmuseo.net/index_eng.php

Pahkaparatiisi - The Gnarl Paradise - Knorrenparadis (the collection of gnarled wood, over 4000 gnarls in Huittinen): http://www.pahkaparatiisi.fi, http://www.pahkaparatiisi.fi/panoraama.html (the panorama), http://www.pahkaparatiisi.fi/galleria/index.htm (the photo gallery)

Porkkala (historical area near Helsinki): http://www.porkkala.net/?lang=en

Puppet House (over 300 puppets in Sysmä): http://www.sci.fi/~kinnunen

Raseborg Castle Ruins in Raseborg/Raasepori (Photo: JariJK)

Raseborg Castle Ruins (Raaseporin linna in Raasepori): http://www.raseborg.org/slott/eng/

Retretti Art Centre in the Finnish primary rock and glass-bottom boat cruises (in Punkaharju near Lusto Forest Museum, see above): http://www.retretti.fi

Rock Planetarium in Jyväskylä (the world's only planetarium in a primary rock, also saunas for rent): http://www.kallioplanetaario.fi

Rosala Viking Centre in Rosala (Photo: JariJK)

Rosala Viking Centre (a museum, viking houses, viking dinners): http://www.rosala-viking-centre.com/english.htm

Salpaline Museum (in Miehikkälä) and Bunker Museum (in Virolahti, military history): http://www.salpakeskus.fi/en

Sea Museum in Mariehamn/Maarianhamina, Åland islands (the world's only genuine Pirate flag still remaining): http://www.sjofartsmuseum.ax/eng/

Serlachius Museums: http://www.serlachius.fi/en/

Sibelius Museum (in Turku): http://www.sibeliusmuseum.abo.fi/index_eng.php

Spy Museum (in Tampere, the first spy museum in the world): http://www.vakoilumuseo.fi/index.php/en/

Steam train trips (scheduled trips or rent a steam train, relax on a genuine Finnish railcar of the late 50's, enjoy the beautiful scenery during the trip from the old wooden town of Porvoo, the charming medieval town): http://www.porvoonmuseorautatie.fi/

-timetables in 2012: http://www.steamrail.fi/HOYRYJUNALLA-PORVOOSSA-2012.pdf

Strömfors Iron Mill (Ruotsinpyhtää): http://www.stromforsinruukki.fi/index.php?kieli=en

Suomenlinna Island Fortress in Helsinki (Photo: JariJK)

Suomenlinna Island Fortress (the island fortress no visitor to Helsinki should miss, the biggest sea fortress in Scandinavia, founded in 1748 on the islands of the coast of Helsinki, included in the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, many museums, beaches for swimming, restaurants and cafes, a wonderful "Suomenlinna Experience" multi-image show, boats from the Market Square, also guided tours, in Helsinki): http://www.suomenlinna.fi and http://skyview.fi/panorama/52f0fdc12892839330000029 and http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162945&contentlan=2&culture=en-US and http://www.suomenlinnatours.com/frontpage and http://www.locationguide.fi/index.php?p=browse&mc=5 and http://www.visitfinland.com/article/fortress-by-the-water/

The Craft Museum of Finland (Net exhibitions are also worth seeing!): http://www.craftmuseum.fi/english/index.htm

The Finnish Museum of Agriculture: http://www.sarka.fi/

The Toivonen Animal Park and the Peasants' Museum in Kälviä (Photo: JariJK)

The Toivonen Animal Park and the Peasants' Museum (old houses and also a collection of old tractors, in Kälviä, near the cities of Kokkola and Kalajoki): http://www.elainpuisto.fi/eng/index.htm

Tytyri Limestone Mine & Dimensio Under Ground light show (Lohja): http://palvelut.lohja.fi/tytyrinkaivos/default.asp?kieli=826

The Mill Museum of Verla in Kouvola (Photo: JariJK)

Verla Mill Museum (UNESCO World Heritage Site, an idyllic mill village and over 6,000 years old rock paintings, near the city of Kouvola): http://www.verla.fi/en

Wanhat Wehkeet Museum in Karstula (Photo: JariJK)

Wanhat Wehkeet Museum (old cars and other historical collections in Karstula, near the city of Jyväskylä): http://www.wanhatwehkeet.fi/

WeeGee (Espoo): http://www.weegee.fi

Wiurila Manor (Halikko, Turku region): http://www.wiurilankartano.com/index.php?page=journal&journal=introduction&offset=&pn=1&lg=en