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lake near Mikkeli |
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Getting there
There are budget flights with Ryanair to Tampere from London/Stanstead or Frankfurt/Hahn (Germany). There are buses to and from Frankfurt Hahn to Mainz, Frankfurt, Cologne, Trier and Luxembourg. In Tampere is a bus (6 Euro) from the airport to the city center and railway station after and before each flight (look for that at ryanair.com/destinations). If you are hungray follow the shopping road opposite the station. There are some Pizzeria and restaurants nearby, the best deal I found was a Pizza buffet, all you can eat and drink (no alcoholics) for 8 Euro.
There are also cheap flights to Helsinki by Finair.Links: ryanair.com, finnair.com,
Transport
is rather expensive in Finland. The south is good served by trains, also there is a train to Rovaniemi, but not farther north to Laponia.
The best deal for going to the north is a ticket, which is valid for three days of your choice, which costs 122 Euro. There are some bus companies that are only slightly cheaper. People told me hitchhiking should be easy in Finland, especially as a hiker with backpack.
Link: HIhostels.com,
Food
Restaurants are not cheap, but not expensive either. Tipping is not common, only in some restaurants in Helsinki it might be suitable. The portions of meals are considerable big and a salad buffet in the restaurant/Pizzeria is mostly included in the price (or it is sometimes charged with 50 cent to 2 Euro anyway). Tap water beside the meal is alos free. It is common to eat without ordering something to drink. Beverage is quite expensive in restaurants (compared to US and also a bit to Germany), also soft drinks especially beer or wine. Beer in a supermarket costs five times more than in Germany.Fish with match potatoes
Hiking
Finland is a great destination for hiking, which is popular also for Finnish people. There are many hiking trails around the country. In the list below are only the most recommended trails, whereby the most known is the Bear Rings (Karhunkierros trail) Kuusamo (middle Finland at the Russia border) . But this trail should be in summer also a bit crowdy. Don't mix it up with another trail called bear trail, that is also near the Russian Border, but more South.Karhunkierros Trail
I walked the Karhunkierros Trail and it was very nice. Look for the report here.
Nordkalotteden (Fin/Nor) 800 km (part 200 km, 12 days), (part. :Kautokeino-Kilipsjärvi) Bärenrunde /Bears Ring/ Karhunkierros Trail 5 days, 80 km Hautajärvi-Ruka look here Kevo River and Canyon Trail 63 km 3-6 days Kenesjäri-Sulaoa Pallatunturi Hetta-Yuasjärvi Mail me more! Also recommended day trips
Links in English: metsa.fi/hiking/whereto/lapland.htm, luontoon.fi,
in German: nordwanderer.de,Sauna
Sauna is a Finish institution, which has conquered the western world. You find Sauna everywhere in Finland. Who can afford it, has a "mökki", that is a hut with a sauna and a boat at a lake and spent weekends there. Going to the sauna is relaxed. Finish people talk and even drink beer in the sauna.Mökki at Lake with
typical Finish Sauna Hut
Finish go nude in Sauna but hardly always women and men separated. That means women or men first and then the other gender afterwards. Also young people and friends don't mix, exception is the very close family or couples.Link: sauna.fi,
Language
In my opinion it is a waste of time to learn Finish (if you don't want to live there). Many people understand more or less English and Finish is quite difficult to learn compared to English, French, Spanish or Italian. The language is totally different from the other European languages. Some advantage, you speak it as you read it and you must pronounce every character, (aa is áá and not ah)! Many Finish people also speak Swedish, mostly at the west coast and on Aland they speak only Swedish!
Helsinki and around
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Lake Finland
The most interesting thing of Lake Finlands is the scenery with green forests, grey granite boulders and dark blue lakes.Jyväskylä pop 76.000
university town with many modern buildings created by the famous Finish architect Alvar Aalto .Savonlinna pop. 30.000 pop
the most photogenic castle Olavlinna of Finland, built from 1475 but most parts are from the 16-18th century. In summer there is a famous opera festival with international reputation.castel Olavinna
Kerimäki
biggest wooden church (from 1847) of Finland. It has place for 3.000 people.PunkaharuKerimäkki church
The road is going on a higher ridge between two lakes.Hiking HiidenmaPunkahura road
Hiking the trail Hiidenkierros to the view point Kuosmala in the Hiidenma region. Stunning views to the lakes around.view from Kuosmala
Uko Koli
347 high mountain inmidst of a flat plain of lakes and forest. Phantastic viewpoints from aove whoch had inspiratet componists and painters.Ruunaa rapids
some rapids in the river. River rafting is offered here
Forest Finland (middle/east at the border to Russia)
Ukko Kolli (347m) viewpoint on a hillLaponia (North)
Rovaniemi
West Coast and Isles
Turku
is the eldest town of Finland, founded in 1229. The town has a castle and a cathedral which was founded in 1300 as a wooden chaple but which was often rebuilt.Rauma
Finland's third oldest city (1442) has the largest quarter of wooden houses. Most of the 600 houses are red or yellow and are abput 200 years old.
The quarter is a UNESCO heritage site.Aaland Islands
Island between Finland and Sweden. Even as Aalands people had wished belonging to Sweden, the Völkerbund decided in 1921 that it belongs to Finland. The Aalands are good for biking, renting bikes it not very expensive. I Marienham is a seafare Museum with the sailing boat "Pommern" and on the island "Sund" is the Swedish castle Kastelholm.Links:
finnland.de, finland-tourism.com/de , ratgeber-finnland.de , finland-tourism.com, saaviselka.fi (Lappland) mek.fi, visitfinland.de,
visitfinland.com, metsa.fi, suomipas.fi, http://virtual.finland.fi, suomenlatu.fi, sauna.fi, autoliitto.fi, museoliitti.fi, kulttuuri.net, lormarengas.fi,
laplandfinland.com, karelien.de, finncontact.de, finnfacts.com, fishingfinland.com, nordwanderer.de, finlandforyou.com,Bus: Finnland Bus - Kolari
matkahuolto.fi/, http://eskelisen-lapinlinjat.com/de/index.php, eskelisen-lapinlinjat.com/de/index.php,
goldline.fi/, ffr.no/ Karelien
Foren (in German): finnland-forum.de, finlandia.de/forum,
questions, feedback, criticism, news, your links, your experiences, hints to mistakes and better English etc. are welcome!
mail me!!Excuse my English, that is not my native language, thanks!
If you translate part of my homepage in correct English, Finish or another language, I could translate part of your English/Spanish written homepage in German!
