I’m actually planning a round trip of the Baltic next year in August - Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Baltic states, Poland, Germany and home. Any tips for when I’m in Finland?
Sure. Just give me some ideas of your trip. Finland, as all of these 3 Nordic countries is a pretty long country (from south to north).
- Have you ever been in Finland earlier?
- How many days you have plan to be here?
- From which way you would come/leave? There are few option.
- From ferry from Tallinn (Estonia) to Helsinki … takes just some 4h and many connections by day.
- From ferry Stockholm (Sweden) to Helsinki. Few connections per day…
These are over night connections. Lots of cabins available to sleep. - From Stockholm to Turku/Åbo … similar as above, will take few hours less
- (leaving later in the evening). I need to say that sea route is beautiful …
especially the Stockholm archipelago. - From Umeå to Vaasa … goes someway northern. 2 connections per day.
Takes about 5h.
- Land round up north (Sweden/Norway to Finland).
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My plan is to ride North through Sweden and Norway, then South through Finland. Then take the ferry from Helsinki to Tallin, South to Poland and home from there. I’ve never been to Finland, I’ll probably be there about 3-4 days.
I have been to Åland by yacht - beautiful!
Ok, although I love Lapland (Finland), if you’ll go quite north in Norway/Sweden… Finland’s Lapland doesn’t offer you anything new. Depending on whether you cross the Finland’s border in Kilpisjärvi, in Utsjoki or clearly further south in Tornia, it has a slight effect. Distances to Helsinki (1278km, 1194km and 737km). When you’re riding through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania to Poland and again back home … I would avoid the route of the west coast of Finland when riding south. Yes, here are the best beaches in Finland, but you will see enough of the similar ones when you will ride from Pärnu (Estonia) to Riga (Latvia, Riga Bay area). So I would ride from north to south either through the middle or preferably along the eastern side of the country (where there are the most lakes). Use main roads (VT 5, VT 4, VT 6) as little as possible. The eastern side of the country could also be interesting through the history and mixed influence of Sweden and Czars time Russia?
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That’s really helpful, thanks! I’ll probably won’t go as far North as Norway then, and cross at Tornio. I’ll have a look at routes along the Eastern side.
Absolutely!
Ok. After you have planned your trip a bit, if you want, I can give you few tips where to visit.
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That would be great! Thanks!
A few other tips… The Old Town is a must-see in Tallinn (which gets expensive due to tourists), Tartu is an old university town, but may be too far inland (not up your road?). Saaremaa (Estonia’s largest island) should be an interesting place. I haven’t been there yet. It is talked about as if going back in time 100 years (rhythm of life). There is a ferry from the mainland. Old-fashioned farm/inn accommodation available. Pärnu in southern Estonia is a nice little old town. I personally also like Jurmala a lot … just south of the big city of Riga.
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Tallinn is certainly on the itinerary, great tip. I’ll have a look at the other places too.
Different question - is it difficult getting a cabin at a campsite last minute? I don’t usually plan my day trips far ahead… Kind of stopping when I get tired if you know what I mean…
It depends…it can be challenging if you’re on the road between the 3rd week of June and the 1st week of August.
Surely you should find some hotel room (at least from the biggest cities). But those might not be cheap. Clearly cheaper log cottages (in camping areas … which are a lot in Finland) might be fully booked (if you have a bad luck). Motorists etc. will use those a lot. And now I’m talking only about Finland.
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Right - I’m planning to travel the last two weeks of august, does that make a difference?
That should help. Most Finns start their 4-week summer vacation at Midsummer (the weekend of the 3rd week of June) and the 2nd most popular time is to start the vacation a week later (beginning of July). Both have already returned to work at the beginning of August. Of course, some are still on vacation in August, but clearly less. Tourists? They are still here in August.
Remember that the weather may not be very warm then (at the end of August), so take a look and follow the forecasts (in Finland they are quite good). And if the weather is still very warm (hot days), there is a risk that thunderstorms and lightning may occur in the evenings.
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Few other more tips …
I think you should visit Savonlinna … and even inside of the castle.
If you have more time; then take a short 1h - 3h hours cruise to lake Saimaa (one of those old Steamers).
Lake Saimaa was chosen among of the 10 most beautiful lakes in the world and to just see the a bit of Saimaa archipelago … Savonlinna would be a good place. The lakes in Finland do not improve from that.
The roads from Punkaharju to Savonlinna and again to Puumala (via Sulkava) are very nice.
Between Punkaharju and Savonlinna is the world’s biggest wood based Church (in Kerimäki).
A bit south from Punkaharju would be small Simo Häyhä museum (WWII sniper) if military issues interest you.
South-east of Puumala (in Lappeenranta) The Lappeenranta Fortress, which is a valuable part of the Finnish, Russian and Swedish cultural heritage.
In any cases, I would visit in Puumala centre too (for cafe etc.), but if you do not want to go Lappeenranta (via Imatra), then turn back a bit … as the road from Puumala to Mikkeli is also very pretty … especially between Puumala and Anttola.
Lahti city (anymore just 1h from Helsinki) is famous for winter sports but there is also Motorbikes museum / Ace Cafe
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200km north from Punkaharju would be Koli, a well-known part of Finland’s national landscape.
Pretty close is Bomba house (Karelian house) in Nurmes
Ruunaa outdoor center more to east:
And again more northern Kuusamo area, Ruka, and three big wilderness rivers.
Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association | Ruka.fi.
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I’m definitely taking notes! Excellent ideas!
You’re well come.
As you’ll visit Rovaniemi (which is already pretty close to Tornio) … it is beautiful city.
They have there a Santa Claus village (which will not be as ‘‘idyllic’’ in the summer time vs winter time) … but maybe something to consider?
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And, perhaps, listen to this before you go (or, even better, while you’re there?)… possibly one of the finest pieces of ‘modern’ classical music ever written.
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Regarding Sibelius, it’s sad what happened to his 8th symphony. That last composition he never finished. A work he did for much longer than anything else, a composition he called his life’s work. At the end of his life, knowing he would die soon (old, weak and sick), he burned all the papers related to it. I guess he didn’t want someone else to finish the work later.
With the 8th Symphony, he tried to aim for perfection, knowing that it would be his last work.
Listening to newer/current classical music, I think the audience would have accepted much less.
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That’s gorgeous. Having played the French Horn I can really appreciate it.
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