The Christmas holidays, a grey sky, the lack of snow, and daylight lasting only a few short hours had wrapped Liesjärvi National Park in complete stillness when we arrived at the courtyard of the Korteniemi heritage farm on Christmas Day. The drive from Helsinki takes only about an hour and a half. We first walked […]
The heart of Liesjärvi National Park can, in a way, be found at its southern edge, where the Korteniemi Heritage Farm is located. This old forest ranger’s homestead serves as a beautiful, atmospheric starting point for hikes into the national park, radiating the spirit of times past. From one corner of the Korteniemi yard, you […]
Snowshoeing, in the right conditions – above all on a firm, load-bearing snow crust – is a fun and fitness-boosting activity that will make you break a sweat even in freezing temperatures. In the Pallastunturi fells, there is a great destination for both beginners and more experienced snowshoers alike: Palkaskero. The route from the nature […]
Ruissalo in Turku is an island connected to the mainland by a bridge, offering nature lovers plenty to explore. We visited Ruissalo for an afternoon outing with the intention of experiencing two very different worlds: the University of Turku Botanical Garden and, just a few kilometres away, the coastal area of Kuuva. The wildly shifting […]
Experience an authentic Finnish Dry Sauna at the gateway to Nuuksio National Park, just a short 35 min journey from Helsinki. In Saivo’s private sauna at the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, you can unwind, enjoy traditional sauna rituals, and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of Finland’s beloved natural landscapes. Is there anything I should take […]
From the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia it is easy not only to set off on short local trails, but also to head towards the more wilderness-like parts of Nuuksio National Park, such as the areas around Lake Urja and Lake Orajärvi. There are no marked trails in this part of the park, so you need […]
About a 20-minute drive from Mariehamn lies the charming ruins of Lemböte Chapel, beautifully situated by the sea in a peaceful forest setting. The medieval chapel has been stylishly restored, and even today summer services and other events are still held there. Visitors can explore the site independently, and although the chapel itself is usually […]
Looking for an easy way to immerse yourself in Finland’s forests and lakes without travelling far from Helsinki? Choose Nuuksio National Park and, at its heart, the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia. Haltia is the ideal gateway to the park: you can arrive by public transport, get personalised advice at the information desk, rent outdoor gear, […]
In Teijo National Park in Salo, the autumn colors glow beautifully each fall. The area offers an easy and enjoyable autumn foliage destination in Southwest Finland, even for less experienced hikers, with trails around Lakes Matildanjärvi and Puolakkajärvi. A special feature of Teijo National Park is its charming neighboring ironworks villages, such as Mathildedal, where […]
In Punkaharju, one of Finland’s official national landscapes, there is a spot where smooth rock slopes gently and evenly into the clear waters of Lake Puruvesi. Higher up on the wooded bank stands a lean-to shelter, accessible also by wheelchair or with a stroller. This place is called Karjalankallio, “The Rock of Karelia,” a beautiful […]
