Quick Facts

Area : Finland is the fifth largest country in Europe. The area of Finland is 338,000 square kilometres or 131,000 square miles, of which eight per cent is cultivated. Ten per cent of the total area is covered by lakes, which number 188,000, and 69 per cent by forests.
Languages: Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish (spoken by 6% of the population).

Religion: 89% Lutheran and about 1% Orthodox
Currency: The Finnish currency is euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents(sentti).
Climate: Finland is a Nordic country with four distinct seasons. The climate is milder than in many other areas of the same latitude partly because of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. Temperatures range from minus 30 to plus 30 degrees Celsius. The long-term average is between +14 and +18 degrees Celsius in July, and between -6 and -15 degrees Celsius in February. Winter normally begins in November. There are good opportunities for winter sports in all parts of the country.

Stacking Your Postcards

Old Rauma
Old Rauma recently made UNESCO’s World Heritage List on its 550th anniversary. It boasts one of the oldest harbours in Finland as well as an impressive array of ancient vernacular architecture. Fine craftsmen such as lace makers, goldsmiths and furniture makers actively use many of these preserved buildings. Old Rauma also contains one of the narrowest streets in Finland. The 15th century Franciscan Holy Cross Church and the Rauma Museum, located in the town hall, are also well worth a look

Ainola
Ainola is the place where Finland's greatest composer Jean Sibelius spent much of his life. It is a destination of pilgrimage for Sibelius lovers. Absorb the unbroken tranquility and gain a sense of the world in which the composer and his family lived. When he was composing there Sibelius insisted on silence; he believed that music should be heard without disturbance from extraneous noise. For this reason none of the maestro's work is amplified through loudspeakers in an effort to create the same mood.

The Island Fortress of Suomenlinna
The 18th century Fortress of Suomenlinna is a must-see on any trip to Finland. It is located on an island at the entrance to Helsinki harbour and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Treasure since 1991. The unique fortress is a fine example of European military architecture. Besides being a being a historical site and tourist attraction, Suomenlinna is also a well-loved recreation area for Helsinki citizens. With 900 permanent inhabitants, Suomenlinna remains a lively island with an impressive array of museums, galleries, restaurants and cafes to keep you occupied

St. Olaf's Castle, Olavinlinna
Balanced on the edge of a tiny green island in a lake, this beautiful 500-year-old castle resembles something from a fairytale. Founded in 1475, it is comprised of the main castle as well as three towers and a bailey with a surrounding wall reinforced by towers. It is among Finland's most well-known tourist attractions. There is a very interesting orthodox museum in the castle grounds displaying Russian Orthodox artifacts from Finland and Russia.

Destination Guides

Helinski
The southern coast of Finland is the most populated, industrialized and richest part of the country, with the densest concentration, not surprisingly, around the capital, HELSINKI . A city of half a million people, Helsinki is quite different from the other Scandinavian capitals, closer both in mood and looks to the major cities of eastern Europe. For years an outpost of the Russian Empire, its very shape and form is derived from its powerful neighbour. Yet through the twentieth century the city has become a showcase of independent Finland, much of its impressive architecture drawing inspiration from the dawning of Finnish nationalism and the rise of the republic. The streets have a youthful buzz, the short summer acknowledged by crowds strolling the boulevards and socializing in the outdoor cafés and restaurants. At night the pace picks up, with a great selection of pubs and clubs, free rock concerts in the numerous parks, and an impressive quota of fringe events.

Turku
Some of the country's most treasured landmarks survive here as well. Home of Finland's oldest Court of Appeal, the city also boasts Turku Academy, the country's oldest university. And Turku Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1300, is the mother church for all Lutherans in Finland.

Founded at the mouth of the River Aura, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in what many consider one of the world's most beautiful archipelagos, the city takes pride in exhibiting its historic past. Museums such as Turku Castle, the Kyl?m?ki Village of Living History, and the Aboa Vetus and Ars Nova trace life from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages through modern times.

But the past isn't all that's present in this prominent fair and commercial city. Three universities, a vibrant performing arts community and the Turku Technology Centre, which is comprised of BioCity, DataCity and ElectroCity, help keep the city poised for progress and the future.

Vaasa
The town of Vaasa is the educational, cultural and tourist centre of Western Finland. It is the largest town on the west coast and is linked to two islands - Vaskiluoto to the west and Pikisaari to the north - by bridge. Almost 30% of the population of Vaasa speak Swedish making it the largest distinctively bilingual town in the country.

Vaasa’s Museum of Ostrobothnia at Museokatu 3 houses one of the best collections of art from Finland’s Golden Era. The Tikanoja Art Gallery at Horioikeudenpuistikko 4 has an interesting collection of Finnish and international paintings and the open-air museum at Bragegarden is well worth a visit. The island of Vaskiluoto is a hugely popular resort boasting fine beaches and the Wasalandia amusement park, Finland’s answer to Disneyland. Check out Tropiclandia - the water amusement park and spa 200m south of Wasalandia. Take a cruise around the Vaasa archipelago in summer aboard the MS Captain Vaasa.

Dine in one of the many different restaurants gathered around the market square (kauppatori) or take a boat restaurant with live music around the harbour.

Tampere
Tampere (Swedish Tammerfors), city in southwestern Finland, on the rapids that connect Lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Tampere is a principal manufacturing center and the second largest city in Finland; leading products made here are textiles, paper, lumber, leather items, and refined metals. Several major festivals are held in Tampere; a cathedral (1907), a museum of modern art, the University of Tampere (1925), and Tampere University of Technology (1965) are located in the city. The city was founded in 1779, and its industrial importance dates from the beginning of the 19th century. Here in 1918 the White Guards defeated Bolshevik forces. Population (2000 estimate) 193,174.