Finland is one of the most northerly countries in Europe.
It is a modern country which benefits from a population who are both industrious and connected with their environment. Helsinki or "Helsingfors" in Finnish is the capital. Finland is perhaps one of the least known of the Scandinavian states, and its history and its language have meant the Finnish culture has remained more distant its immediate neighbours.
One of the best known attractions of Finland are the world famous Northern Lights. They can be seen at different times of the year and times of day. A great place to stargaze is Korvatunturi, a mythical mountain which many Finns claim is the home of Santa Claus, and for those looking for Santa Claus they’re bound to find a warm welcome among the hotels in Lapland nearby.
Finland has the amazing the number of 188,000 lakes within its borders, so visitors who enjoy spending time on, in or around water will find plenty of things to do. The forests of Finland or "Taiga" are home to some of the most captivating wildlife in Europe. The large mammals that is still possible to see in Finland include brown bears, wolves and lynxes, although they may require professional guides to locate. Finland has 37 national parks which are well managed in order to ensure they remain in their pristine state. For visitors looking to visit primarily for the wildlife there is an impressive amount to keep them interested.
Finland like its neighbours uses the Nordic Ecolabel for environmentally friendly goods and services which help the guests of hotels in Finland know that they are staying at legitimately eco friendly hotels if the hotel or hotels have been awarded the Nordic Ecolabel. Ecotourism and sustainable tourism as an actual travel option is less common in Finland, despite eco friendly hotels being comparatively common in comparison with most of the rest of the world. It is probably to still too early to accurately predict the upward growth of ecotourism and sustainable tourism in Finland.
Accommodation in Finland
Jyväskylä and Kuopio are both university towns in Central Finland, another university town is Lappeenranta which is near the Russian border in South East Finland sitting beside lake Saimaa. Oulu is a town focused on technology at the end of the Gulf of Bothnia. Rovaniemi marks the start of Lapland. Tampere in Southern Finland is home to Finland's music scene, a city with a vibrant cultural edge, including its art and museums. Turku is the former Finnish capital which has both a medieval castle, a medieval cathedral and lies on the western coast. Vaasa has visible traces of Swedish influence, and is located near the UNESCO world natural site Kvarken Archipelago on the west coast.
Accommodation in Helsinki
Helsinki the capital of Finland is a comparatively young city by European standards it was founded in 1550, it has only been the for the last 200 years it became the Finnish capital since in 1812. From this date the city was "Russianised" and was rebuilt by the Russian Tsars to resemble a modest Finnish St. Petersburg. Contemporary Helsinki manages to have the air of a cosmopolitan city while still managing to feel like a small-town. Summer is the best time to visit this city when it truly comes alive and you can take advantage of the sustained daylight in the long summer evenings.
