Southern Finland

The first impression you get, looking out from the window of the plane, is that there are a lot of trees. An endless carpet of forest, with lakes in between. And a few small farms and small towns. So it's kind of a surprise when you land in Helsinki to find that the airport is so modern and efficient. Not a polar bear in sight.

Southern Finland is the busiest and most densely populated part of the country possessing site to the nation´s biggest cities. Today, both the financial and the cultural life are focused to a great extent in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. However, the other parts of Southern Finland - i.e. Turku region and the Åland archipelago as well as Häme, Lahti and Kymenlaakso areas - also maintain considerable reputations concerning both their historical as well as their cultural heritages and thus can offer travellers immemorial experiences during the whole year.

Helsinki the Capital of Finland
Helsinki - the capital of Finland - is a modern city which is also considered the gateway between the Baltic countries and Western Europe. During a visit in the Finnish capital our guests are introduced to a charming and cultural city where they can enjoy the environment of a city which is in constant movement but nevertheless offers plenty of opportunity to relax in beautiful parks or squares.

Areas and Cities
Turku here you recognise a medieval European town with it's riverfront location, the market square, the castle and the cathedral. Turku is not only the one city in Finland to meet all of the above criteria, but also a vibrant modern city of many events and a European Capital of Culture in 2011.

You don't have to be an avid sailor with experience of sailing the Seven Seas to fully enjoy the uniqueness of the Turku Archipelago. Among the world's largest - and to some among its most beautiful - the archipelago is accessible by foot, bike, connecting vessels, ferries, car or waterbus.

Porvoo is Finland's second oldest town. People come from all over the world to see the Old Town - and no wonder - it is unique. Although it lives in the present, many aspects of the area have been left untouched by the passage of time - above all the atmosphere!

A leisurely walk, a visit to a museum or exhibition, a break to enjoy a tasty meal or a drink - these are the most popular ingredients of an excursion to Porvoo. But why not this time spend the night and continue the next day without any hurry. Walking north you will find the old railway station area. Walking south you come to the river bank or you can continue out towards the sea. In summer there are plenty of things to do and see in Porvoo: our weekly programme gives many hints.

The Ox Road of Häme
Finland's excellent roads and sea routes have offered to voyagers convenient ways of travelling throughout ages. There are three main tourism routes in the Southern Finland and Archipelago area that gives the visitors a clear view to the different sides of the destination. The Ox Road of Häme, going from the river landscapes of West Finland to the forest terrain of Häme, has been used by kings, soldiers, merchants and pilgrims and even by Vikings more than a thousand years ago.

The King's Road
Also another significant historical route that needs to be mentioned is The King´s Road. It has been used by kings and their couriers, bishops and townsmen, artists and armies ever since the 1300s. The King's Road's initial purpose was to unite the eastern and western parts of the Kingdom of Sweden. It runs along the southern coastal region of Finland between Turku and Virolahti, Still today, these roads endow travellers with an excellent possibility to learn to know Finnish history and nature in a nutshell. For example medieval churches, beautiful mansions, picturesque villages and idyllic seaports describe perfectly the affluent build-up of Finnish past and present.

The Archipelago Trail
Another more recently completed route is The Archipelago trail. Its intention is to promote tourism and travelling in south-western Finland, and it is yearly used by approximately 20 000 tourists. The route consists of 190 km of public ways on top of 50 km of waterways. The trail offers a unique way to become acquainted with the incredibly attractive Turku archipelago.

Welcome to the South of Finland