- On the merits of Finnish resorts
- About beaches
- Summer vacation with children in Finland
- Note to the traveler
- About sights
The closest neighbor of Russia in the North-West, Finland, most often appears in the Christmas offers of tour operators. Many parents strive to take their children to the homeland of a real Santa Claus, and fans of snowboarding and alpine skiing are storming snow resorts in the Arctic Circle. But despite the "winter" image, there are enough tourists in the country at any time of the year, and summer holidays in Finland are no less popular.
On the merits of Finnish resorts
You can go to your neighbors by car, train, and on the wings of Russian and Scandinavian airlines. The road, in any case, will seem short-lived and will not take much time and effort. The rest of the benefits of a holiday in Finland will not be long in coming:
- Clean air, perfect food quality and a variety of outdoor activities make tours here useful for both children and adults.
- Hotels in Finland have excellent characteristics and offer quite decent service even in the absence of stardom.
- Safety at a high level is guaranteed for tourists in hotels, in public places, and in public transport.
- Profitable and varied shopping is a good addition to your vacation.
Another important argument "for" a trip to Suomi is excellent fishing. It doesn't matter if you bought a ticket to Finland or took an independent trip, but you can and should take fishing rods with you. Excellent bite and delicious fish are guaranteed even for beginners.
About beaches
Despite the rather northern coordinates of its beaches, Finland is ready to offer quite decent rest on them both to its own residents and to foreign daredevils. Only in the vicinity of Helsinki there are several dozen sandy beaches, the infrastructure of which allows both children and adults to sunbathe comfortably. Especially if you come to the sea in Finland at the height of summer.
The swimming season begins in the country in mid-June, when the water warms up to a modest + 18 ° С, and in the air the thermometers can reach + 23 ° С. In the second half of July, the values of water and air temperatures reach + 22 ° С and + 26 ° С, respectively.
The best Finnish beaches are located near the town of Pori and are called Yuyteri. They are equipped with changing rooms, sun loungers and parasols, and you can diversify your lazy rest with active sports. On the shore there are golf courses and nets on volleyball courts, and in the rental offices there is an opportunity to rent water skis and aqua scooters.
The second popular destination for summer holidays in Finland is Suomenlinna Island within the capital. You can get to its beaches by ferries starting from the pier in Helsinki four times an hour. Excursions to the local fortress, built to defend Helsinki in the 18th century, serve as an educational part of the program for vacationers on the island. Sveaborg Fortress is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Summer vacation with children in Finland
The many amusement parks and places where the child will be interesting and exciting is a distinctive feature of Finland. Here, even in small towns, dolphinariums and theme parks, attractions and aquariums are open.
For example, in Tampere, the northernmost dolphinarium in the world is especially popular with children. Its inhabitants show excellent artistic skills in daily performances. In the territory of Särkänniemi Park, where the dolphinarium is equipped, there are also attractions, including roller coasters and carousels for the youngest visitors.
The favorite hero of Finnish boys and girls is Moomin, and a theme park in Naantali near Turku is dedicated to him.
Worthy of the attention of children and Rovaniemi. When choosing what to visit in the city on your own, be sure to include a visit to the local zoo in your tour plan. It is considered one of the best in Europe, and the majority of the park's inhabitants are Arctic animals. Polar bears and wolverines, lynxes and wolves walk in the enclosures.
Note to the traveler
- A famous Finnish exhibition of dolls from around the world is open near the zoo in Rovaniemi.
- The purchase of a receipt in shops, post offices, gas stations and tourist information support centers will help pay for the right to fish. Proof of payment must be carried with you when fishing.
About sights
Even a small Finnish city is capable of giving many interesting impressions, and museums in the provinces are not inferior to the capital in the originality of the presentation of historical material. A good example is the city of Kotka in the south of the country. During his time as emperor, Alexander III often visited here. He enjoyed hunting in the forests of Kotka and fishing in the local lakes. The tsar's fishing lodge has now been turned into a museum, all exhibits of which are genuine. Aviation fans will be able to view the exhibits of the Kotka Aeronautics Museum, while fans of marine history will be happy to wander around the Wooden Boats Museum.
The main architectural sights of Turku are the 13th century castle and the cathedral. The city museums showcase the history of Turku and the surrounding villages. The art gallery displays paintings by local artists, while the Sibelius Museum displays a collection of musical instruments.
