June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
The church sits in a small town 85 km northwest of Savonlinna, surrounded by birch forest and lake country. From the outside it looks like a traditional Finnish wooden church, white with an ocher cross. Then you see the scale. The spire reaches 37 metres. The nave is 27 metres high inside. The building can […]
Tags: architect, biggest-wooden-church-in-the-world, church, finland, kerimaki-church, larger-church, liturgy, nave, ocher, stoves, vast-interior, wooden-church, wooden-churches
Categories: Finland, Sights
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
The roar of the Kitkajoki River drowns out all other sounds as it crashes through the rugged gorge of Oulanka National Park. Ancient pine forests stretch toward the Arctic Circle, their branches heavy with moss and lichen that have grown for centuries. The famous Bear Ring trail winds past waterfalls and wooden suspension bridges, crossing […]
Tags: animal-species, arctic-circle, aventa, blueberries, cloudberries, finland, kuusamo, lapland, marshes, most-beautiful-and-famous-park, national-park, nature, nature-reserve, north-karelia, oulanka-national-park, peat-bogs, pine-forests, plant-species, plants-and-animals, pristine-conditions, russian-border, salla, skis, snowmobiles, tributaries, white-sea
Categories: Finland, Nature
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
The view from Ukko-Koli hill has been painted, photographed, and celebrated for over a century. Forested islands dot the surface of Lake Pielinen far below. The granite cliffs drop sharply to the water, and the silence between bird calls is profound. Koli National Park protects this landscape of ancient hills, old-growth forests, and rocky outcrops […]
Tags: advanced-skiers, bears, beautiful-view, eskers, finland, forested-hills, hiking-trails, koli, koli-national-park, lake-pielinen, mainland, national-park, nature, one-of-finland-best-known-national-landscapes, pine-forests, sandy-islands, siliceous-rocks, southwestern-shore, square-kilometres, two-ski-resorts
Categories: Finland, Nature
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
Lapland stretches endlessly under a vast northern sky, and Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park sits at its heart. This is not a park of sharp peaks but of rounded fells, ancient mountains worn smooth by glaciers over millions of years. Birch forests give way to pine, then to open tundra where reindeer graze and golden eagles circle. […]
Tags: altitude, aurora, countryside, cross-country-skiing, europe, finland, forests, hiking-trails, lapland, log-huts, national-park, nature, nature-reserve, northern-lights, pallas, peat-bogs, sea-level
Categories: Finland, Nature
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
Sleep with the aurora borealis dancing directly above your bed. Kakslauttanen Glass Igloo Village in Finnish Lapland offers exactly this: a dome of thermal glass that keeps you warm at minus thirty degrees while the winter sky performs its green and purple ballet overhead. Reindeer wander past the igloos as snow muffles every sound, creating […]
Tags: arctic-circle, bath-fireplace, cool-pond, finland, glass-balls, hotel-in-finland, igloo, insulating-glass, lapland, lapp, natures, northern-lights, rest-rooms, saunas, sculpture-contest, ski-resort, sleeping-bags, statues, teepee, warm-beds, wooden-cottages, woolen-socks
Categories: Finland, Travelling Tips
Updated June 12, 2026 by europeexplored
Helsinki, Finland’s vibrant capital, sits on the edge of the Baltic Sea surrounded by an archipelago of over 300 islands. This city masterfully combines Nordic design, Russian-influenced architecture, and a deep connection to nature, offering visitors a uniquely Scandinavian experience that balances urban sophistication with tranquil wilderness. 1. Suomenlinna Sea Fortress Suomenlinna is a UNESCO […]
Tags: attractions, finland, guide, helsinki, mustsee, travel
Categories: Uncategorized
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
The snow in Finnish Lapland does not just fall. It settles in layers that accumulate through the long winter until the landscape is buried in a metre of soft white powder. The sun barely rises above the horizon between December and January, casting a constant blue twilight over the frozen lakes and snow-laden pine forests. […]
Tags: backdrops, different-travel, fairy-tale, family-holiday, father-christmas, finland, holidays-in-finland, huskies, lifetime-plan, magical-family, meeting-father, plan-a-trip, reindeer, ski-holiday, skidoo, snow-and-ice, spare-pair, thermal-gloves, thermal-underwear, winter-wonderland, wonderland-holidays
Categories: Finland, Travelling Tips
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
Hepoköngäs is the highest natural waterfall in Finland, plunging 24 metres down a rocky cliff in the pristine wilderness of Puolanka. Set in the heart of Finnish Lapland’s taiga forest, this thunderous cascade is a powerful reminder that Finland’s beauty goes far beyond its famous lakes, it is a hidden gem for nature lovers seeking […]
Tags: cyclists, finland, forests, hepokongas, highest-waterfall, highest-waterfall-in-finland, nature, nature-reserve, prams, province-of-oulu, tourist-destination, waterfall, wooden-walkways
Categories: Finland, Nature
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
Turku is Finland’s oldest city and former capital, a lively cultural hub on the southwest coast at the mouth of the Aura River where a magnificent medieval castle, a striking 13th-century cathedral, and a vibrant food and festival scene combine to create Finland’s most historically rich and arguably most charming urban destination. Founded in the […]
Tags: 13th-century, 18th-century, alexander, archangel-michael, baltic-sea, capital-of-finland, european-capital-of-culture, european-capital-of-culture-in-2011, festivals, finland, helsinki, inhabitants, map, music-festival, open-air-museum, orthodox-church, pharmacy, rapid-development, ruisrock, southwestern-corner, tsar-alexander, turku, turku-art-museum, turku-castle
Categories: Finland, Sights
Updated June 11, 2026 by europeexplored
Santa Claus Village is one of Finland’s most popular tourist attractions, a Christmas-themed amusement park and shopping complex located on the Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, where visitors can meet Santa Claus himself every day of the year, cross the Arctic Circle line on the village grounds, and send postcards with the official […]
Tags: admission, amusement-park, arctic-circle, berries, cafes, exciting-fantasy-world, finland, gloves, handicrafts, hats, knitted-sweaters, lapland, local-stores, park, post-office, refreshment-facilities, rovaniemi, santa-claus-office, santa-claus-park, santa-claus-village, souvenirs, tourists, village, wooden-cottages
Categories: Amusement and Theme Parks, Finland