If you have already checked out the largest and most impressive rapids at Imatrankoski, another great nature place to visit at Imatra is Malonsaari island. Popular among the locals, the peaceful and small 1km-long Malonsaari is one of the many islands located just outside of Imatra. I visited it on a Sunday afternoon, and I gave myself a lot of time to enjoy the...
Visiting Porkkala is the perfect way to get to know a lot about Finnish nature as well as Finnish history. The recently improved hiking areas now have even more accessibility for more people to enjoy a place where beautiful seaside cliffs and pine forests meet the glistening sea.
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Well-kept castle gardens, a folly and a love bridge, a river with a floating bridge, and picturesque statues dotting the landscape. The private (yet free) gardens at the Mustio castle offer lovely vistas for those who just want to meander around aimlessly, gazing at the beautiful surroundings, but the garden also has plenty to explore for those looking for more...
Tulliniemi is a multifunctional area with plenty to see: a nature reserve, the southernmost tip of Finland, a pilot station for ships, a coastguard station, and a beach fit for swimming. It also has a historical women's penal colony offering even more intrigue and mystery to the area.
The steep cliffs overlooking lake Lohjanjärvi and southern Finland, the lush hazel groves, and forbidding pine trees offer a fantastic place for exploration and adventure... and all handily next to the old ironworks hamlet and castle at Mustio. Korpudden is a hidden gem close to the capital.
I visited the Korpudden...
Dark green pine forests, shining blue lakes, magnificent high fjells, and the open sky as far as the eye can see. That is what you have at Koli, which is probably the most famous of all Finnish landscapes. I have visited Koli several times and every single time when I climb those last few steps to the top of the hill and stop, I am silenced by the majesty of the...
Even if summer makes you wait for it, a certain sign of summer is the explosion of colours at the Haaga rhododendron park in Helsinki. The splendour only lasts for a few weeks in June, and this destination is definitely worth visiting even if your knowledge of flowers is limited only to "Oh, look how pretty they are!".
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You might not expect to see a Japanese-style cherry tree park in Finland. However, this curiosity does exist in the middle of an otherwise non-descript suburb in East Helsinki called Roihuvuori, and every May the glorious pink foliage magically appears after months of snow. It vanishes almost as quickly as it has appeared so you have to be prepared.
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In a time of impending climate disasters and rising temperatures, many may experience a deep-seated need to crawl back to your mother's lap. In the unique erosion cave at Högberget, you can do exactly that.
I had tried to find this cave once before but without success. This time my mother and I were determined to...
Uutela is an urban outdoors area in the eastern part of Helsinki easily accessible to everyone. Whether you look for more challenge on your trail running or hiking, if you want to go bird-watching, or whether you just want to barbecue some goodies for yourself on an open barbecue area, Uutela is the place to go.
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