Discovering Natural Wonders in Helsinki Region

Nature in the Helsinki Region – Attractions & Activities

There are few metropolitan centres in the world that compare with Helsinki when it comes to its wealth of open green spaces and surrounding nature – it is a city where you can get easily from its urban heart to the wilderness of a national park in 30 minutes; modest Sipoonkorpi to the east and massive Nuuksio National Park to the west! A little further north lies idyllic Lake Tuusula, with its concentration of historic buildings and museums, most of them alongside one of the most scenic cycling, or walking, routes in all of Finland.

Daughter of the Baltic – Helsinki’s Archipelago

As a city with a longstanding maritime tradition, Helsinki’s nature and natural attractions aren’t confined to the mainland. From Porkkalanniemi and the outer archipelago nature reserves in the south west, to Kaunissaari in the north east, off the coast of Helsinki and Espoo lies a vast archipelago, with over 300 islands. Visitors to the capital can easily explore and experience the archipelago’s rich natural heritage; there are hiking trails, campfire spots, shelters, and camping sites on many of the larger islands. Regular boat services and water buses operate between the islands and harbours in Helsinki and Espoo, and for those that prefer a more relaxed experience, there are numerous archipelago cruises and dinner cruises to choose from! For those keen to experience more remote locations, the HopOn bus service to Kimitöön and the Archipelago Sea provides convenient connections.You can also bookBaltic Sea cruises  with Tallink Silja to the Estonian capital of Tallinn, or overnight cruises to Stockholm in Sweden.

Even more frequent connections exist to a large number of islands in the inner harbour, making it possible to go island hopping and experience the rich diversity of a number of different islands in a day. Two particularly worth mentioning are Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (and home to some 800 residents), and Seurasaari, the site of Finland’s largest open-air museum, and a marvelous way to encounter Finland’s folk history.