This blog is mainly focused on exploring cruises in Finland, but we thought that potential tourists should also know about the top attractions in Finland because it’s natural to want to explore the most visited places in the Nordic country.
Here’s a list of the most popular tourist attractions in Finland:
- Santa Claus Village
- Turku Castle
- Old Rauma
- Saint Olaf’s Castle
- Northern Lights (Lapland)
- Snow Castle
- Old Porvoo
- Helsinki Cathedral
- Suomenlinna Fortress
We will tell you more about each of these interesting locations that you can visit in Finland. Enjoy!
Santa Claus Village
This is the most famous tourist attraction on the list and one that would be joyous to children and adults alike. The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is the home of the lovable Santa, his reindeers, and his busy elves. Needless to say that the place is magical and your inner child will rejoice upon visiting it.
Every year, more than half a million people visit the Santa Claus Village to meet the legendary hero and experience the most Christmassy Christmas event of their lives. You can book accommodation there and choose between camping, luxurious hotels, cottages, and even a snow hotel!
It’s worth noting that the village is bustling during the winter months, so book in advance.
Turku Castle
Turku Castle is a medieval castle in Turku, Finland. Tourists flock to this castle not only because it’s magnificent but also because it’s one of the most well-preserved castles from that era. Built sometime in the 13th century, Turku Castle has withstood many attacks over the centuries and has additional wings added to it, which is something familiar for medieval castles.
Old Rauma
Old Rauma is the name given to the old part of Rauma town. The historical town centre is part of UNESCO’s Protected World Heritage because of its curious wooden architecture, which cannot be seen in many places worldwide. Unfortunately, a few fires have devasted Old Rauma, so its oldest buildings are no longer there to enjoy.
Still, there is much to see there, and tourists love the spirit of Old Rauma. Walk around the historical town center and breathe in the air of old Finland.
Saint Olaf’s Castle
Saint Olaf’s Castle in Savonlina, Finland, is another medieval castle we recommend visiting. The castle was built in 1475 with the sole purpose of protecting the border between Finland and Russia; the fortress was well-equipped for this task and never let the enemy march through it.
Nowadays, Saint Olaf’s Castle is not only a beautiful fortress on a picturesque lake but also the site for the Savonlina Opera Festival. That’s right, and you can enjoy an opera in this incredible medieval castle if you happen to be in the area during the festival.
Northern Lights (Lapland)
The Northern Lights can be observed from many places in Finland, but if you went all the way there already, you must go to Lapland which is one of the prime spots for witnessing this breathtaking natural phenomenon. Going there in winter is best, when the Northern Lights are more visible.
Snow Castle
The Snow Castle in Kemi is another uniquely Finnish destination that you should absolutely visit. Every year, leading Finnish architects and artists create a snow castle that is capable of housing and feeding thousands of tourists. You can see it every year, and still, the Snow Castle will be completely different.
You can combine this experience with a cruise on the Sampo Icebreaker (read our article on Sampo for more details). The Snow Castle is there for the months of February and March.
Old Porvoo
Old Porvoo is among the oldest Finnish towns and is as old as it is beautiful. The idyllic Old Porvoo is famous for its wooden architecture and, more specifically, its cute red wooden houses on the bank of the Porvoonjoki River. You can even get a steamboat from Helsinki to Old Porvoo in summer!
Helsinki Cathedral
The Helsinki Cathedral is a Lutheran cathedral in the capital of Finland and the most visited building in the whole country. The majestic cathedral was built between 1830 and 1852 and served as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland who was Tsar Nicholas I of Russia at the time. This is also why the cathedral is known as St Nicholas’s Church.
The church is a must-see for everyone visiting Helsinki. The architecture of the Helsinki Cathedral is quite exciting, and we bet you haven’t seen anything similar before.
Suomenlinna Fortress
The Suomenlinna Fortress is a magnificent Finnish architecture work combining geometric stone walls with luscious green flora. The fortress stands on the island of Suomenlinna, and was naturally built as a piece of military architecture. You can get a boat from Helsinki to visit this gorgeous fortress.
