Gorgeous landscapes, historic buildings and a variety of attractions are all aspects of the Scandinavian country of Finland that attract millions of visitors each year. I can’t specifically pinpoint one reason why I am so attracted to Scandinavia but there is something about this part of the world that just entices me there every time I read something related to one of the Nordic countries.
Here are some of the most appealing reasons for visiting “Suomi”, the Finnish name for Finland.
Suomenlinna
A world renowned heritage site, Suomenlinna is a maritime fortress located off the coast of Helsinki, Finland’s capital. Work began on the construction of this masterpiece in the mid-18th century and was originally developed as a fortress, but nowadays is actually a district of Helsinki permanently housing around 800 residents.
National Museum of Finland
Finland’s National Museum houses a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions that attract visitors from all around the world. Predominantly focused on Finnish history and ancestry, these exhibitions include such artifacts such as coins, medals and weapons in addition to archaeologically derived items. Finland prior to industrialization is displayed in several displays but possibly the most intriguing are the exhibits prior to the Ice Age.
Nuuksio National Park
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, a beautiful part of rural Finland can be found in the Nuuksio National Park. Activities such as cross-country trekking, nature trails and ski cross-country are all available within this beautiful park and is certainly a great way to relax for a few days before heading on to explore more populated regions.
Sibelius Monument
Dedicated to Finland’s famous composer, Jean Sibelius, ‘The Sibelius Monument‘ is located inside the confines of a park within the central area of Helsinki. Consisting of a series of more than 600 hollow, steel pipes, this piece of abstract art uniquely identifies Sibelius’ work as a prominent feature in Finland’s history.
Turku Castle
Turku Castle is a cultural and historical tourist attraction that is over 700 years old. It is one of the oldest living buildings still in use throughout Finland. One of the most visited museum’s throughout the country, it is undoubtedly an attraction worth exploring to learn more about Finland’s historic past.
***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***
Thanks for sharing these photos Chris! I always wanted to go to Finland, but the closest I ever got was St. Petersburg. Being a huge fan of historic buildings, but especially castles and fortresses, you have just given me two more reasons to consider Finland as my next destination… 🙂
Wow that monument is pretty cool! I too am intrigued by scandinavia, and i make over there sooner than later!
The National Park looks lovely, I would happily spend some time there simply walking around and taking in the amazing surrounding 🙂
Scandinavia calls to me too – every image I see from these islands makes me want to jump on a plane. Too bad it’s a bit too pricey for us right now but hopefully one day! Great post!
Other than my wish to see everything, I’ve never thought of Finland specifically. I have been attracted to the idea of super long days in the summer and long nights in the winter. And there’s a Santa Claus thing that seems interesting. My husband went there once for work, though, and it piqued my interest.
But, that fort, that’s the selling point. I never have really associated a fort like that outside of the coast of Florida and some islands in the caribbean. Really cool!
I can see why this area intrigues you, it’s beautiful and rich with history! I don’t like crowds but would have to visit that castle and hear more about it. Very interesting!
Keep bringing on the Scandinavia posts! More and more, I’m determined this is going to be my next trip after SEA ….huge price difference in budget though 🙂
Finnland is definitely on our list, too…beautiful!
Nice posts and a lovely country. A most appealing country.
I would love to go to Finland for the northern lights or hiking. Would love to visit Sweden and Norway when I am at it 🙂
Great post, Chris 🙂 beautiful pictures.
Cheers Sammi, we appreciate the feedback!
Finland is a place I too would like to visit, though it’s not a place I can trade a time share in, so probably won’t make it there. You have many places on your bucket list, which has me curious where have you traveled? Would love to read first hand info and experiences.
Sandy if you check out our Destinations tab you will see all the articles that are first hand experiences. You can also go to our Where Have We Been page for an overview on our visited locations around the world and inside the USA. The majority of our traveling has been in UK and USA but we have also visited Canada, France and Australia. We are still relative newbies to the world of travel but certainly have a growing bucket list with aspirations to visit these spots!