Special

Finnish specialities

There is a long winter in Finland. A very unique experience is a cruise on the Sampo Arctic Ice Breaker and walking on the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia (Pohjanlahti). They have cruises during summer, too. See links below.

Tropical Serena Indoor Aqua Park is the biggest indoor water park in Europe. The fully heated bathing areas cover an area of 2.000 square meters. Serena is tropically warm all year round. There are terraced pools, whirlpools, water slides (including a new kind of water slide called Black Hole with lighting effects and sound effects!), a wave pool, a 140 m long River Ride, saunas inside caves in Serena. There are a cave restaurant, a hotel and a large outdoor section in the area, too. The outdoor section includes mat slides, rubber tyre slides, the Death Sea salted pool and tube slides. It is a wonderful place both for children and for adults! You will enjoy it! Serena is located in Espoo (Tornimäentie 10) only 20 kilometers from Helsinki. See links below.

The biggest snow castle in the world (in Kemi, Finland) is enormous: The Snow Hotel, The Castle Courtyard, The Snow Restaurant and the Chapel for weddings etc. The snow castle has already been built in ten winters. See links below.

Snow Land near Rovaniemi is a very unique place: igloo restaurant for 250 persons (ice tables, starlit sky), the chance to make snow sculptures, snow buildings, the arctic disco, the horse farm, ceremonies (wedding) etc. See links below.

The Holiday Village Saarituvat has a special Ice Bar in Rovaniemi. It is worth seeing! See links below.

Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen offers glass and snow igloos for staying overnight. This is the best place for seeing the northern lights (Aurora borealis), too. See links below.

Kerimäki Church is the largest wooden church in the whole world: 45 meters long, 42 meters wide and 37 meters high. There are over 3,000 seats in the church. All together there can be 5,000 people at one time in the church. The church has been built in 1844-1847. Kerimäki is located in Eastern Finland near the city of Savonlinna. See links below.

Bengtskär Lighthouse is the highest (52 meters) lighthouse in the Nordic countries. It was built in 1906 and it is the first lighthouse museum in Finland. You can visit Bengtskär in one day or stay overnight in the old home of the lighthouse keeper! All rooms have a sea view. See links below.

The Lonely Planet Blue List writes that Finland is among ”the Top Ten Nations in the World to Visit in 2007”: ”Cool zone of design in Helsinki, surrounded by remote wilderness areas – Finland is a breath of fresh air on a European adventure”. The Kemi SnowCastle, the Mammut Snow Hotel", in Northern Finland is listed as ”the Most Eccentric Place to Stay in the World”. Besides, Aurora Borealis, the northern lights, were described as ”the World's Most Amazing Natural Phenomenon”.

LINKS:

56 reasons you should move to Finland immediately: http://www.buzzfeed.com/tabathaleggett/reasons-you-should-never-leave-finland

Aerohot (hot-air balloon flights): http://www.aerohot.fi

Aikhituvat Hakoapaja - Snag Village (buildings made of old logs which are found from the bottom of a lake, also a very nice sightseeing cafeteria, cottages for rent, in Rantasalmi): http://www.porosalmi.net/hakoapaja

Alpo Koivumäki Safari Park: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/alpo-koivumaki-safari-park-sculpture-garden

Arctic ice breaker tours: http://www.sampotours.com

Arctic SnowHotel (also a snow chapel for weddings and a snow sauna, in Sinettä, Rovaniemi): http://www.arcticsnowhotel.fi

Bear watching: http://sites.google.com/site/laplandclub/activities-and-events/bear-watching

Bengtskär Lighthouse (Photo: JariJK)

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)

Countryside holidays in Finland: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/countryside

Devils's Nest - Pirunpesä (Europe's largest kettle, nature-made hole in a primary rock, 14 meters wide, 23 meters deep, in the municipality of Jalasjärvi): http://web.jalasjarvi.fi/matkailu/pirunpesa/default.htm, http://www.netikka.net/epnuorisoseura/yvdef/hiidenki.htm, http://web.jalasjarvi.fi/matkailu/Esitteet/Jalasj%C3%A4rvi_English_2011.pdf and http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e6b02c6b-52c3-482e-9b4a-3daa8e64e78e

Elk Garden (Pyhäranta): http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/elk-garden

Erämatkailu Piirainen - Wilds Piira (rapids swimming or riverfloating, wildlife watching and canoeing in Kuhmo, near the city of Kajaani): http://www.erapiira.fi/uudet/?page_id=24

Escape Room Running Rabbit (Helsinki): http://www.roomescaperunningrabbit.fi/index.php

Fantasy Safari (off road jeep safaris near the city of Tampere): http://www.profantasysafari.com/eng/index.html

Finnish food: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/food

Finnish nature: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/nature

Food Sightseeing in Helsinki: http://www.foodsightseeing.fi/

Hirvikartano - Have you ever kissed a moose? (Jämsä): http://www.hirvikartano.fi/

Historical tourism films from Finland: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/historical-videos

Hotel Iso-Syöte (Iso-Syöte, included on the list "Romantic hotels around the World TOP 10 in 2014" by The Telegraph Luxury, luxurious Eagle's View Suite especially recommended): http://www.hotelli-isosyote.fi and http://www.hotelli-isosyote.fi/index.php?h_la=en

Hotel Tent - Hotelli Teltta (11 soundproofed and air-conditioned tents in a historical building, prices in 2011: 70 euros per person or 80 euros per two persons in one tent including a small breakfast, location in Orimattila, near the city of Lahti): http://www.hotelliteltta.fi

Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen: http://www.kakslauttanen.fi and http://gallivant.com/stay/hotel-kakslauttanen/

Ilmajoki Travel & Program Services - tractor pulled guided tours for groups or by appointment!!! (a route following the Kyrönjoki riverside packed with history, beautiful restored manors and farm houses): http://www.nic.fi/~ferkku/

Important Finland Facts: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/8c73/83/

Kemi Snow Castle - The biggest snow castle in the world: http://visitkemi.fi/en/snowhotel and http://www.santatelevision.com/lapland/en0442/en0442.htm and http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kemi-snowcastle

Kerimäki Church (the world's biggest wooden church): http://www.kolumbus.fi/kerisrk/kirkkotietoja.htm

Keuruu Ecovillage: http://www.keuruunekokyla.fi/en/index

Kicksledding, snow games, curling and cross-country skiing round the year - also in the summer - in a Finnish primary rock under the Spa Hotel Vesileppis in Leppävirta, between Kuopio and Varkaus: http://www.vesileppis.fi

Kirkkovuori (the world's highest log tower, Karstula): http://www.kirkkovuori.fi

Koskikellujat (riverfloating, floating on ice, a sauna boat and Segways in Lempäälä, near the city of Tampere): http://www.koskikellujat.fi/in-english/

Lake Päijänne: http://www.lakepaijanne.com

Lapland (fells, northern lights, nightless days etc.): http://sites.google.com/site/laplandclub/

Matti Lepistö Sculpture Garden: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/matti-lepisto-sculpture-garden

Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships (in Savonlinna): http://www.mobilephonethrowing.fi/

Nellim Wilderness Hotel with Aurora Bubble & Sarmi Aurora Lodge (an adventure based ecotourism company in Northern Lapland, in new Aurora Bubbles you can fall asleep looking up at the star-lit sky from your cozy bed): http://www.nellim.fi/

Nokia Town (a place named Nokia - the original home of Nokia Company, the town is situated 18 kilometers from the city of Tampere): http://www.nokiankaupunki.fi/matkailu/foreign_visitors/

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)

Rally Center Finland (rally driving in Tuupovaara, the home village of world champion Ari Vatanen, also snowmobile safaris and Russian event & dinner): http://www.rallycenterfinland.fi

Rent a hut in a Finnish national park: http://www.outdoors.fi/en/ikolanahorentalhut

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

Rosala Viking Centre: http://www.rosala-viking-centre.com/english.htm

Saimaa - the largest lake district in Europe: http://www.saimaa.fi , http://www.saimaancharmantit.fi , http://www.gosaimaa.fi , http://www.saimaaholiday.net/ , http://www.sealtrail.com

Saimaa Travel (Visa free cruises from Lake Saimaa, Lappeenranta, Finland, via Saimaa Canal to Vyborg, Russia): http://www.saimaatravel.fi/en/cruises-vyborg

Sand Castle (Finland's biggest sandcastle), Lappeenranta: http://hiekkalinna.lappeenranta.fi/en/index.htm

Serena - The biggest indoor aqua park (tropically warm water park) in Europe: http://www.serena.fi and http://www.serena.fi/en/home-english/

Sirius Sport Resort (Photo: JariJK)

Sirius Sport Resort (go flying in a wind tunnel or go bodyboarding/flowboarding in a a FlowRider pool), Pyhtää: http://www.siriussport.fi/EN

SkySauna Helsinki: http://skysauna.fi/en/

Snow Land: http://www.snowland.fi

Snow Swimming Championships: http://youtu.be/TJMWkdTZW-U

Snow Village & Snow Hotel Lainio (opens on December 1st every year, Ylläs & Levi): http://www.snowvillage.fi

Special saunas in Ruka (Kuusamo): http://www.rukapalvelu.fi/en/11.html and http://www.rukapalvelu.fi/panoramas/sauna/default.html (see panoramas!)

Storfinnhova Gård (villas and tree-huts, Kemiö): http://www.storfinnhova.com/

Swamp Soccer World Championships: http://www.suopotkupallo.fi

Swamp Volley World Championships: http://www.haukivuorentapahtumat.net/swampvolley/index.html

Taivalkoski Nordic Walking Park (Nordic walking in the country of its origin): http://www.nordicwalking.fi

Tango Festival Tangomarkkinat (the biggest music and dance festival in Finland, Seinäjoki): http://www.tangomarkkinat.fi

Teddy Tours Lapland (tours for Teddy Bears): http://www.teddytourslapland.fi

The Finnish Textile Route: http://www.etn-net.org/routes/01_scan/finland/

The Midnight Sun Ashtanga Yoga Retreat (Kadermo Island, Hanko): http://www.yogaartsmagic.net/

The world's biggest "village shop" (3.5 million shoppers every year) in Töysä: http://www.tuuri.fi/en

The world's most beautiful archipelago: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/archipelago

Unique Lapland Helsinki Igloo Hotel (the only all-year-round igloo hotel in the world) & Unique Lapland Winter Wonderland in Helsinki all-year-round: http://uniquelapland.com/winter-world-helsinki/

Veijo Rönkkönen Sculpture Garden: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/veijo-roenkkoenen-sculpture-garden

Viking Islands: http://www.vikingislands.com

Wife Carrying World Championships (the length of the official track is 235.5 meters and the track has two dry obstacles and one water obstacle): http://www.eukonkanto.fi/en/

Wild Brown Bear Nature Adventures: http://www.wildbrownbear.fi

Wild Taiga: mammal watching (wild brown bears, wolverines, deer, lynx etc.), bird watching, photo tours, fishing, hunting, hiking, cycling: http://www.wildtaiga.fi

Winter Grand Prix ice lawn mower race - lawn mower racing in Finland - Rasenmäher-Rennen auf Schnee und Eis (Haarajoki, Järvenpää): http://www.leikkurilemans.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/groups/49713551242/

Xon-Park, Mikkeli (Photo: JariJK)

Xon-Park (action park for teens and adults in Mikkeli): http://www.xonpuisto.com/ and http://www.visulahti.fi/en/

Special in Tornio (Finland) - Haparanda (Sweden) border cities:

-The biggest shopping center in Northern Finland (situated at the border of Finland and Sweden): http://rajalla.com/en/

-The biggest candy shop in Europe: http://www.candyworld.se

-The most long-lasting hole-in-one in the world (Meri-Lappi Golf Club / TornioGolf / Green Zone Golf is situated at the border of Sweden and Finland! Shot from Sweden to Finland at 2 pm and it will be in Finland at 3 pm. So the shot will take about 1 hour and 5 seconds as national border runs across the putting green! Besides, the sun shines 24 hours a day in midsummer which allows unlimited golfing!): http://www.torniogolf.fi/en/