Visiting Santa: Top 15 attractions in Finland

Lemmenöki National Park

Lemmenyoki National Park is Europe's largest national park, a true example of Finnish nature. The park was officially founded back in 1956, and it has a long history in all its years of existence. The area of the park is about three thousand square meters.

Lemmenyoki National Park will offer a variety of entertainment for every traveler. Once there were gold mines here, and now absolutely every tourist arriving in the park seeks to find at least a small piece of precious metal. The main part of Lemmenyoki National Park is an impenetrable forest. An amazing place of the park is the beautiful valley of the Warm River, which is seventy kilometers long. Unforgettable places for all hikers and connoisseurs of the pristine beauty of Lapland are guaranteed here.

Santa Claus Village

According to legend, it is in Finland where the wizard Santa Claus lives. It is said that Santa chose a small town near the city of Rovaniemi to meet people. This is how Santa Claus' village appeared many years ago, far above the Arctic Circle, among glistening snow and dense forests.

The real appearance of the popular monument of Finland has quite a different history. In 1950, Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the American president, visited these lands. In honor of her arrival here was built a small wooden cabin, which was presented as a temporary home for Santa Claus. Subsequently, a whole fairy-tale village was formed around this cabin, where a magical fairy tale mixed with reality: fairy-tale characters live here and such events take place that make even adults believe in miracles. Today, Santa Claus Village has a post office, Santa's office and even a reindeer farm, in addition to the house where it all began. Guests can visit the many slides, as well as stay in cottages for longer stays. It is possible to relax in one of the many restaurants and also visit the Arctic Winter World park, full of amazing entertainment.

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Olafsborg Fortress

Olafsborg is a famous historical landmark in Finland and a northern medieval fortress located on the island of Kurensalmi between two lakes, Pihlajavesi and Haapavesi.

The fortress is named after St. Olaf, the patron saint of knights. It was built in the 15th century to defend itself against invaders, which is why it is located on a rocky island on a cliff. Throughout its existence, the fortress belonged to both Finns and Russians, and only in 1917 it finally became Finnish. Today it is primarily a popular tourist attraction that attracts connoisseurs of the country's historical and architectural heritage.

Veje Renkkenen Sculpture Park

Most countries around the world have at least one strange, sometimes creepy attraction. In Finland, it's the concrete sculpture park of self-taught artist Veje Renkkenen, located in the town of Parikala.

Five hundred human-sized figures frozen in different poses and with different facial expressions in the middle of the forest. And some of them even have real, human teeth: this "accessory" sculptor is supplied by familiar dentists. According to tourists, this place is quite creepy, but surprisingly interesting.

Rock Church

Usually churches attract the attention of tourists by their antiquity, considerable size or fanciful architectural style. The Tempeliaukio Church in Helsinki is strikingly different from its counterparts. Built in the late 1960s, it incorporates many other advantages.

The effect is truly stunning. From the outside, the church resembles a fallen saucer. Especially it is visible in the evening, when the lighting is working. Such a UFO that came to visit the Finns. And inside the optical deception creates the illusion that you are standing under the usually high dome, but in fact its height is 12 meters.

Ateneum Art Museum

The Ateneum is an art museum in Helsinki, the capital of Finland and one of the three museums that make up the Finnish National Gallery. It houses Finland's largest collection of classical art. Previously, the Ateneum also housed the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, but since 1991 the building has belonged to the museum.

The Ateneum's collections have a wide range of Finnish artworks, from 18th-century rococo portraiture to the experimental art movements of the 20th century. The collections also include about 650 international works of art.

Seurasaari

If you are interested in the original culture of Finns, their traditions, mentality and way of life, then you should definitely go to Seurasaari.

On the emerald island, drowning in greenery, a few kilometers from the Finnish capital, there is an open-air museum. The island is a true oasis amidst city life, and the quiet lifestyle characteristic of the Finns is reflected in the old manor houses, cottages and estates that have been built over the last few centuries.

The Valley of the Mummy Trolls

Back in 1945, the famous Finnish writer Tove Jansson drew a funny hippo for her younger brother, who later became one of the most beloved characters of Scandinavian fairy tale literature. Yes, this is the same Mummy Troll - about him and his family compiled a whole series of fairy tales, the plots of which formed the basis of many favorite cartoons.

These cute and funny characters are loved by adults and children not only in Finland, but all over the world. That's why it's one of the best theme parks in the world.

Lake Saimaa

Saimaa is the largest lake in Finland and the fourth largest in Europe. To be more precise, Saimaa is not a lake, but a lake system. Numerous lakes, bays, marshes and reservoirs connected in chains by arms and straits.

Depending on the region, Saimaa is ready to offer the most different style of recreation. Excellent swimming in its cleanest waters along the entire coastline, accommodation in comfortable lodges and rich fishing.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

The capital of Finland is home to one of the main architectural symbols of Helsinki, the most important landmark of Finland - St. Nicholas Cathedral. Its domes rise high above Helsinki, so it looks good from any point of the city. The twelve apostles on its roof seem to be watching you from above and guarding the city.

The cathedral took 22 years to build and was opened in 1852. It was a kind of expression of honoring Nicholas I. It was on the emperor's order that the cathedral was decorated with 12 sculptures of apostles. 1959 St. Nicholas Cathedral officially became the Cathedral, that is, the main temple of the country. Today, in addition to traditional services, solemn divine services are held here.

Åland Islands

Between Finland and Sweden lies a picturesque archipelago. Here, the main island of Åland is joined by ten thousand of its smaller brothers. And in the largest city of the islands, Mariehamn, regularly organize folk festivals, there is a museum of navigation.

Few but experienced tourists are attracted here by stunning landscapes, the opportunity to fish and feel the flavor of the "real" Scandinavia. So if you need to reboot your brain in a calm but atmospheric place - welcome to Åland Islands.

Museum of Espionage

The original Museum of Espionage is a one-of-a-kind museum that reveals the intriguing history of secret intelligence. The fact that it was opened in Finland is not accidental - the country, located at the fork between East and West, was the main strategic point for countries working against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The museum displays fascinating stories of famous spies and demonstrates technical means of espionage that were used at different times, such as lie detectors, optical devices, portable weapons, encryption machines and a number of other devices. All exhibits can be touched and even tested in action.

Turku Castle

This is one of the most beautiful state castles in Finland - a square fort with towers, formerly surrounded by a deep moat. The castle was originally built as a military fort to protect and defend the city.

Over the years, the castle has become a palace, a warehouse, a barracks and a prison. Now this monument has become a historical museum of Turku, and on holidays real feasts in the style of the Middle Ages are organized here. One of the halls of the museum has armor that anyone can try on and take a photo.

Oulanka National Park

You can't just stop being fascinated by Finnish nature! Oulanka will make you open your mouth in amazement: rugged cliffs, relic forests, rushing rivers - it's like Alaska and Canada mixed in one.

The "feature" of the park is the famous hiking route "Bear Circle" with the length of 80 kilometers. It is designed for a 5-6-day hike. Be ready to meet a lynx, wolverine or bear!

Serena Water Park

Not only museums, monuments, parks and nature can surprise tourists in Finland. There is something to do here and families with children. Beautiful entertainment park Serena is a huge territory of water entertainment 20 kilometers from the capital.

It consists of outdoor and indoor parts, allowing visitors to have fun here at any time of the year. In total, there are more than 20 attractions for different ages, as well as several swimming pools and a spa area with domes, saunas and Jacuzzis.