Finland is a tiny country with many options for visitors. If you’re new to the area, deciding which city to visit first can be overwhelming. I’ve lived in Finland for six years now, and here’s what I’ve found: each town has its personality, so it depends on what you want to see!
Turku
Turku is known as the oldest city in Finland, and it’s also the birthplace of the Finnish language. The medieval architecture you’ll find there will help you get a feel for what life was like back then. There are several museums and parks throughout Turku that you can visit when you’re not sightseeing.
You’ll find plenty of great restaurants in Turku, including one specialising Thai food!
Oulu
If you visit Finland, it might be good to start with the most northern city in the country. Oulu is also the second-largest city in Finland and is located on a delta of rivers where many people enjoy swimming. The Oulu region is a popular place for fishing and boating, so if you love being outdoors, this is one of the places for you! Many museums are for those interested in culture or science, including one focusing on archaeology from prehistoric times through today!
If you want to see what life was like during Viking times, check out their museum, which has lots of artefacts from that era, such as clothing and weapons used back when they lived here without electricity or indoor plumbing (or even back doors).
Rovaniemi
As the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi is a great place to visit all year round. In the winter, you can enjoy the Northern Lights at their best; in the summertime, you can marvel at the midnight sun and explore an enchanting landscape with wildlife that thrives on its 24-hour light cycle. Another bonus? Rovaniemi has some fantastic festivals: The Snow Festival starts right after Christmas and lasts until mid-February. At the same time, Rocktähtien Urheilutapahtuma (The Sports Event for Rock Stars) takes place in early May. There’s also plenty of opportunity for winter sports here!
Helsinki
Helsinki is a city of great beauty, with architecture that dates back to the 1800s and stands tall against the modern buildings its newer residents, have been adding. The city’s food scene is one of its most well-known attractions, with delicious dishes from around the world served at every turn. Shoppers will find everything from local boutiques to international chains in Helsinki’s shopping districts.
Helsinki has an excellent nightlife scene for those who like dancing into the wee hours, but there are also plenty of museums and parks for people who prefer daytime activities. A beautiful waterfront makes for great sightseeing, whether on foot or by boat! If you’re looking for coffee shops and restaurants where locals gather, look no further than this Nordic capital!
Each city has its personality, depending on what you want to see.
- Turku is the oldest city in Finland and has a long history, with many historical buildings. It’s primarily known for its medieval architecture.
- Oulu is the northernmost city of Finland and has a lot going on during winter when it’s cold enough for ice fishing and skiing.
- Rovaniemi, also known as “The Capital of Lapland”, is where Santa Claus lives! This town is filled with winter snow, so it can sometimes be freezing here. But it looks beautiful when there’s snow everywhere! The temperature can drop below -15 degrees Celsius, so make sure you bring warm clothes if you plan on visiting during this time of year — or even go see it earlier in spring or later in autumn when it isn’t quite as cold yet but still pretty chilly outside nonetheless because all your body heat will leave your body faster than usual due to factors like wind speed being higher than expected due to lack thereof living within such an environment which makes one feel colder than average would otherwise feel.”
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped you decide where to go first in Finland. If you still have questions about cities in Finland, drop a comment below.