Exploring Finland’s Cultural Delights: Must-Visit Destinations
Embark on a captivating journey to discover the rich tapestry of Finnish history and traditions. We’ve carefully curated a selection of must-visit destinations to ensure a delightful and educational adventure for visitors of all ages. Immerse yourself in the unique cultural heritage of Finland at these extraordinary locales.
Siida – A Gateway to Sámi Culture and Arctic Nature
The Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida has received prestigious recognitions: Sámi Museum Siida has been named European Museum of the Year 2024, the first museum in Finland to earn this honor. Together, the Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida have also been awarded Finland’s Museum of the Year 2024. Siida is located in the village of Inari, in Northern Lapland, right on the shores of Lake Inari, at the heart of Sámi culture.
The village of Inari has long attracted visitors with its tranquil atmosphere, breathtaking natural surroundings, and enriching cultural experiences. Siida serves as a lively meeting place for both travelers and locals and has established itself as one of the most significant attractions in Northern Lapland.
Siida welcomes around 140,000 visitors annually from as many as 110 different countries. In June 2022, Siida unveiled its new main exhibition, Enâmeh láá mii párnááh – These lands are our children. This exhibition, a collaborative effort between the Sámi Museum and the Nature Centre, delves into and interprets the layers of the landscape through the concept of the Sámi cultural environment. This perspective highlights the inseparable connection between nature and culture. The landscape is not only shaped by human activity but also formed by millions of years of natural processes.
Siida’s Open-Air Museum: A Window Into 10,000 Years of History
The Siida Open-Air Museum offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the 10,000-year history of the Inari region. Open year-round, weather permitting, the open-air museum showcases the area’s ancient past, with archaeological findings revealing that people have lived along the shores of Lake Inari and at the confluence of Juutua River since the Mesolithic Stone Age, nearly 10,000 years ago.
The open-air museum features an 800-meter trail shaped like a reindeer herder’s lasso. Along the path, visitors will find nearly 50 buildings and structures grouped according to their cultural region and original purpose. The trail provides insight into the cultural heritage, architectural traditions, and livelihoods of Finland’s Sámi cultures.
Siida also hosts the Siida Shop, a museum store offering a carefully curated selection of sustainable souvenirs and authentic Sámi handicrafts. For those seeking a delicious meal, Restaurant Sarrit serves hearty lunches on all days when Siida is open.
Rich Heritage of Jyväskylä’s Cultural Museums
Jyväskylä offers an impressive array of museums that showcase the region’s rich historical and cultural heritage. From hands-on crafts to visual arts and historic homes, these cultural gems provide a journey into Finland’s past and present.
Craft Museum of Finland
Located in the city center, the Craft Museum of Finland showcases the beauty of Finnish craftsmanship through temporary exhibitions. Visitors can explore craft techniques, artisan stories, and the rich history of Finnish national costumes at the National Costume Center of Finland.
In June 2025, two permanent exhibitions will open: one focusing on Finnish craft traditions and sustainability, and another on the evolution of Finnish national costumes. The museum’s Open Workshop invites guests to create their own souvenirs, while the shop offers handcrafted items from over 100 Finnish artisans.
Craftsmen’s Houses
Step back into the 19th century at the Craftsmen’s Houses, where the Kuparisepän (Coppersmith’s) and Puusepän (Carpenter’s) houses stand as some of the oldest surviving homes in Jyväskylä. These historic buildings offer a rare glimpse into the city’s early architecture and share stories of family life, work, and leisure from a bygone era.
Located within the charming Toivola Old Courtyard, the Craftsmen’s Houses provide free admission year-round and host complimentary workshops. The Sparvin Museum Shop, situated in Jyväskylä’s oldest original house, features handcrafted souvenirs that beautifully reflect the spirit of the past.
Jyväskylä Art Museum
Situated near Church Park, the Jyväskylä Art Museum is a hub for art lovers seeking inspiration or a deeper connection to Central Finnish art. The museum showcases the region’s vibrant artistic community with exhibitions that blend historical works and contemporary themes. In 2025, it will feature exhibitions exploring the stories behind art pieces from Central Finnish homes.
Gallery Ratamo
Located in the historic Veturitallit area, Gallery Ratamo is a meeting point for art enthusiasts, offering exhibitions of Finnish and international printmaking, drawing, and photography, making it an essential stop for anyone interested in Jyväskylä’s rich artistic traditions. Visitors can also explore the gallery’s studio spaces, used by both professionals and hobbyists, and participate in inspiring workshops.
Exploring the Historic Lappeenranta Fortress and Its Museums
The Lappeenranta Fortress, perched atop the hill overlooking Lake Saimaa, is a treasure trove of Finnish, Russian, and Swedish cultural heritage. This iconic landmark showcases a mix of architectural styles and historic significance, with buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The Fortress reflects its past as a strategic stronghold during Russian rule, featuring charming wooden structures, red-brick barracks, and limestone artillery storehouses. Today, the Fortress is a bustling hub for tourists, housing museums, artisan shops, restaurants, and the Orthodox Church. Its main street, Kristiinankatu, pays homage to Swedish Queen Christina, under whose reign the town of Lappeenranta was founded.
Museums of the Lappeenranta Fortress
The Lappeenranta Fortress and its surroundings are home to four distinct museums, each offering unique insights into art, history, and cultural life.
Lappeenranta Art Museum
Situated in a neo-classical yellow barracks from 1798, the Lappeenranta Art Museum focuses on Finnish fine arts from the 19th century to today. Its collections include a notable selection from the Viipuri Friends of Art Association. Regular exhibitions explore contemporary art and the region’s artistic history, often spotlighting South-Eastern Finland.
South Karelia Museum
Located in sturdy limestone artillery storehouses at the Fortress’s northern tip, the South Karelia Museum invites visitors to step into the region’s rich history. The museum’s new permanent exhibition, The Story of South Karelia, offers a captivating journey through time, exploring the area’s past from prehistoric days to the present. Divided into three themes—Lake Saimaa, The Border, and Our South Karelia—the exhibition showcases unique experiences such as stepping into a Stone Age dwelling, relaxing in a 1970s lakeside sauna cabin by Lake Saimaa, and wandering through Torkkeli Park or the 1930s streets of Viipuri using an intricate scale model. Visit a local bar, grab a pasty at the market stall, and finish your journey at a sumptuous South Karelian banquet table.
Cavalry Museum
The Cavalry Museum, housed in the Fortress’s oldest building from 1772, chronicles the fascinating history of Finnish cavalry. Its exhibit, “From Hakkapeliittas to Red Riding Trousers”, showcases cavalry life from the 16th century to the present, including artifacts from wartime and peacetime. Renovated in 2018–2019, the museum also highlights Lappeenranta’s heritage as a cavalry city.
Wolkoff House Museum
Located on Kauppakatu, the Wolkoff House Museum provides a glimpse into the life of a prominent merchant family. Built in 1826, this beautifully preserved home served four generations of the Wolkoff family before being donated for museum use in 1986. Guided tours reveal fascinating stories about the family’s history, daily life, and connections to Lappeenranta’s community.
Whether you’re an art enthusiast, history buff, or cultural explorer, the museums of the Lappeenranta Fortress offer something special for every visitor. Each tells a story that deepens the understanding of Finland’s rich and diverse heritage.
Museo Militaria – Experience Finnish War and Military History in Hämeenlinna
Museo Militaria is one of the largest war and military history museums in Finland. The museum started operating in 2013, when the Finnish Artillery Museum, the Pioneer Museum and The National Signals Museum were combined into one museum. The museum especially reserves the cultural heritage of armed forces in Finnish artillery, pioneers and military signalling and conveys related information, stories and experiences. Museo Militaria is located in the birthplace of the city of Hämeenlinna, in the historic castle barracks, next to the mediaeval Häme Castle. The museum is a cooperative museum of the Military Museum belonging to the organisation of the Defense Forces.
The museum offers a lot to see and experience for those interested in Finnish history as well as military life and military history, and is perfect as an excursion destination for the whole family. Covering three floors of the main building, the extensive main exhibition comprehensively presents the history of the museum’s three types of weapons from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. At the same time, visitors journey through the history of Finland. In the changing exhibitions, the themes of the main exhibition are explored in depth with overviews also made beyond the main weapon types on display.
The museum is located in the old red brick barracks built in the 19th century and the 1910s. In addition to the indoor exhibits, the museum includes a fenced outdoor exhibition area where, in addition to the largest cannons, the pioneers’ heavy equipment such as vehicles and military crossing equipment are on display. Also located in the outdoor exhibition area are the separate buildings for changing exhibitions, the Artillery Hall, and the military amateur radio station.
Museo Militaria is open all year round. In the summer season; from May 1st to August 31st the exhibitions are open every day from 10am to 5pm, while in the winter season, from September 1st to April 30th the museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. The Museum is closed for Christmas from December 16th 2023 to January 1st 2024.
In the museum’s main building, customers are served by the museum shop and the museum Café Militaria, where you can get hot and cold refreshments and snacks during the museum’s opening hours.
In addition to its own tickets, Museum Militaria has a joint ticket for sale, which allows you to visit The Parola Armour Museum in Hattula. You can also purchase the regional ticket, which includes Häme Castle and Prison in addition to the Militaria Museum.
Maritime Centre Vellamo – unforgettable experiences for the whole family
The Maritime Centre Vellamo rises in the old Kantasatama harbour of Kotka like a gigantic wave. Inside this stunning wave-like building, you’ll find the exhibition experiences of the Maritime Museum of Finland, the Kymenlaakso Museum, and the Coast Guard Museum. Vellamo is a must-see destination throughout the year!
The exhibition offerings of the three different museums are diverse, featuring the maritime history of Finland, alongside the Kymenlaakso region’s history, art, cultural heritage, ships, and boats. During the summer, the offerings expand as the icebreaker Tarmo (1907), the lighthouse ship Kemi (1901), and the patrol vessel Telkkä (1958) are open to the public.
The “Fateful Svensksund” exhibition provides a perspective on the Russo-Swedish War, which saw the largest naval battles ever fought in the Baltic, just off the coast of Kotka, and tells the story of the forgotten fortress city built in the aftermath of the conflict. The military history is approached through the stories of the people involved. Unique objects lifted from shipwrecks, interactive exhibits, and modern technology create a memorable experience.
“Shifting to Wood” is a tribute to the forestry industry of Kymenlaakso and its workers. Together with the journey of wood, the immersive exhibition carries visitors from one decade to the next. The path leads from the forest to the factories, each with its own culture passed down from generation to generation. The decades encompass successes and sacrifices, happy and challenging memories.
Maritime Centre Vellamo is enjoyable for both adults and children. Family activities are considered in everything, ensured by exhibitions specifically designed for children and families, as well as numerous activity points.
The offerings at the Museum Shop Plootu include unique gifts and Vellamo’s own product range. Sustainable development, recycled materials, and locality are favoured in production. Maritime Centre Vellamo has been awarded the Green Key certification as a sign of its responsible and sustainable operation.
Beyond the museum exhibits and activities, the architecture of the building is a stunning experience in itself. Maritime Centre Vellamo is a modern and impressive structure, with a facade combining sea-coloured metal panels and glass plates showcasing historical themes. The interior is dominated by oak, a traditional shipbuilding material.
The location of Maritime Centre Vellamo by the sea is an experience for both domestic and international tourists. Kotka’s other attractions, such as internationally acclaimed parks and the city’s river and nature, complement the overall experience.
The Suomenlinna Sea Fortress: A Must-Visit Cultural Gem
Recognized by UNESCO as an exceptional example of military architecture from its era, Suomenlinna earned its place on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1991. Today, it stands not only as one of Helsinki’s premier tourist destinations but also as a vibrant community hosting approximately 850 residents and fostering one of the capital’s most active artist communities.
Originally known as Sveaborg in Swedish, the construction of Suomenlinna commenced in 1748 under the guidance of Count Augustin Ehrensvärd, whose tomb now graces the Great Courtyard. Playing a pivotal role during the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790 as Sweden’s main military base and again in the war of 1808 and 1809, Suomenlinna endured a Russian siege, surrendering after three months and subsequently falling under the control of the Russian Empire. Post-Finnish Independence in 1918, the Finnish government assumed control of Viapori, renaming it Suomenlinna.
Today, Suomenlinna is more than a globally significant historical site; it is a lively and thriving community, a hub of avant-garde culture, with numerous buildings transformed into artists’ studios. Visitors have the opportunity to acquire unique souvenirs from their visit, with many studios offering distinctive items. Additionally, six museums beckon exploration: Suomenlinna Museum and the Military Museum are open year-round, the 18th-century interior museum Ehrensvärd Museum, the nostalgic Toy Museum, the Customs Museum, and the unique submarine Vesikko.
Beyond its historical and cultural significance, Suomenlinna is a cherished destination for tourists and Helsinki locals alike. The islands boast numerous parks ideal for picnics, a secluded beach perfect for swimming and sunbathing, and an array of restaurants and cafés. Suomenlinnan Panimon Ravintola offers seasonal delicacies and operates a micro-brewery, while Bastion Bistro occupies the wooden infantry barracks built in 1892. Restaurant Adlerfelt specializes in fresh food trends and wine, and Viaporin Deli and Café provide various lunch and take-out options. Pizzeria Nikolai offers a unique setting with tables in the labyrinthine casemate vaults and an outdoor terrace. For a quick snack, visitors can also stop by Café Bar Valimo, Cafe Silo, and Café Vanille. Suomenlinna truly captivates with its historical richness, artistic vibrancy, and diverse recreational offerings.
Visitors can reach Suomenlinna via a ferry service which runs from the Market Square throughout the year, and is operated by HSL-HRT, which means the same ticket works for the trams, buses, metro, and local trains. During summer and autumn, a water bus service to Suomenlinna is also available. The guest harbour in the middle of Suomenlinna caters to visitors arriving by their own boats.
