Helsinki - One of the most beautiful places | Helsinki town from the sea |
It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world that I've been to. Comparing other parts of the EU, I find Finland quite laid back and pretty natural with the least number of tourist and other races and cultures.
Finnish people are generally to themselves and very nice.
F I N L A N D
General
Finland is a large, clean country with some great wilderness, friendly people and an interesting culture. The main highlights in Finland are the many Museums, Galleries, Castles, Manor Houses, Historic Towns and Churches.
There are some magnificent Castles and Manor Houses in Finland. The greatest and best preserved medieval castle is Olavinlinna, located in Savonlinna. It has a beautiful setting between two lakes. There are also the stunning castles of Turku and Hameenlinna and the Kastelholm castle in ?land. One of the most superb places to visit in Finland is Louhisaari Manor in Askainen. It was built in 1655 in Dutch Renaissance style.
Culture
The language spoken in Finland is Finnish, which is a Uralic language and belongs to the Finno-Ugric group. The most widely spoken of the Finno-Ugric languages is Hungarian, but similarities with Finnish are few.
The main religion in Finland is Evangelical Lutheran, which makes up about 86% of the population. There is also a small percentage of Orthodox and Roman Catholics.
Finnish food has some Swedish and Russian influences. Potato is the base food, and it is served with various fish or meat sauces. Some traditional meals include snow grouse, reindeer stew, glowfired salmon or raw pickled salmon. Alcohol is quite expensive, due to the strict import restrictions. However, strong beers, wines and spirits are sold in licensed bars and restaurants and by the state network, called Alko.
Transport
The quickest way to travel around Finland is by air, however, this can get quite expensive. The best way to get between cities is by train and the best way to get to the more remote parts is by bus. If you would prefer to drive, the highway and freeway network is good and no international licence is needed to drive in Finland. Bicycles can also be hired and they are a great method of transport in the summer. There are also ferries, which operate over summer, you are able to take your bike on these also.
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