Lakeland

Situated between lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi, Tampere has grown thanks in part to differing in water levels of the lakes, 18 metres, and the channel that links them - the Tammerkoski Rapids. There are at least a dozen museums here and it is recognised as the centre for theatrical arts in Finland. There are some wonderful examples of Art Nouveau architecture in the city, as well as some of Finland's most impressive churches. It is also home to Särkänniemi, one of Finland's best loved adventure parks.

Founded in 1775, Kuopio is a thriving, modern city, where science and technology blends into the verdant natural beauty of the local environment. Surrounded by lake Kallavesi, much of Kuopio has been developed on islands. Indeed, one third of Kuopio is water and a half forest; the surrounding area is possesses great natural beauty, rich in flora and fauna, making it an ideal travel destination for nature lovers and those seeking quiet relaxation without being too far from a thriving urban centre. Kuopio is also a hugely popular holiday destination for sports enthusiasts, with three highly recommended ski centres in Tahko, Kasurila and Puijo for winter sports, as well as providing plenty of water based alternatives in the summer, such as sailing, wind-surfing, jet-skiing, and water-skiing.

A nature lovers paradise or the most important stop on a culture vulture's visit to Finland? The answer is both! Lying close to the national parks of Kolovesi and Linnansaari, being home to protected Saimaa Seals, White-backed Woodpecker and Corncrake, in the centre of Finland's largest lake system, Savonlinna is one of the most rewarding destinations for the nature loving outdoorsy type. And as the setting for one of the world's most renowned opera festivals, held annually in the incredible setting of a medieval castle, it has been attracting music lovers from around the world for almost 100 years.

Situated 215km equidistant from Helsinki to the west and St. Petersburg to the southeast on the southern shores of Lake Saimaa, Lappeenranta is the second most visited town in Finland. It is a town rich in cultural history, with numerous museums and Finland's oldest orthodox church located within the Fortress of Lappeenranta, and possesses ten different choirs or orchestras, as well as the largest sandcastle in Scandinavia, and excellent skiing on the slopes at Myllymäki and Konka.

The bright and modern city of Jyväskylä lies in the heart of Finland, and is known to Finns as the City of Light, thanks to over 80 illuminated sites, including the impressive Kuokkala bridge and the delightful Rantaraitti - a well lit pedestrian and cycling path circling Lake Jyväsjärvi. The city itself is situated on the banks of Lake Päijänne, Finland's longest and deepest lake, and the surrounding region is recognised as being one of the most beautiful areas of the country.

Joensuu is the vibrant capital of the North Karelia region, and with almost one third of its population being made up of students it is a town where there is always something happening. The biggest event in the calendar is the Ilosaarirock Festival which attracts big international and national acts from the rock and pop world. The region also hosts two important folk music festivals, Kihaus and Neitivirtafolk, as well as the Rokumentti Rock Film Festival and Viscult, an international festival of anthropological and documentary films.

Famous for its lakeside cottages, Mikkeli is one of Finland's most popular family holiday destinations, having the country's finest water and adventure theme park in Visulahti, and the Hulivili Carnival. Its packed cultural calendar features the Kangasniemi Music Festival, the Mikkeli Music Festival, Savcor Ballet, and numerous performances by the Mikkeli City Orchestra. The region is also home to some of Finland's finest manors such as Annilan Kartano, Kyyhkylä Spa, Anttolanhovi Manor and Wellness Village, and Kenkävero, Finland's largest historical vicarage with the biggest design boutique in the country selling Finnish handicrafts.

A small modern city, Varkaus is especially popular with nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy its easy access to the National Parks of Kolovesi and Linnansaari, whose islands are home to the endangered Saimaa ringed seals, and Kämäri island and Ämmäkoski rapids within the town which are ideal for quiet exploration and fishing. Despite its small size, Varkaus has significant museums and hosts the Joroinen Music Days festival.

This idyllic town in Northern Savonnia attracts outdoors enthusiasts, in summer and winter, who enjoy watersports and exploring nature, skiing and toboganning, as well as those seeking to simply relax and get away from it all. Among Iisalmi's unique attractions are the the Runni Health Spa, which has the historic wooden channel of Saarikoski, and the Neulatammi natural massage streams, and the Olvi brewery. The regions culture and history are well represented in the Iisalmi Cultural Centre, the Local History and Culture Museum, the Juhani Aho Museum, the Church Museum, and the Nature Museum.

This picturesque town lies on the Oulujoki river, southeast of Lake Oulujärvi, and is famed for its fishing, especially Lake Ruuhijärvi, and for the beauty of the surrounding region which includes the nature protection area Talaskangas and the Otanmäki Bird Basin. Despite its small size, Kajaani has a full calendar of events including the Kainuun JazzKevät, Kajaani Poetry Week, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, the unique, and hilarious, Swamp Soccer World Championships, Vuokatti Hiihto Skiing Race, Kainuun Soutu Rowing Competition, Kainuun Rastiviikko Orienteering Race, and Kajaani Tanssii Dance Event.

A small town in Northern Karelia by the Russian border, Kuhmo is best known in Finland for being a focal point for Karelian culture and the Kalevala, the country's national epic, and for the Kuhmo Festival of Chamber Music, a two week long event that has been running for 40 years. Kuhmo is idyllically situated, surrounded by the lakes of Ontojärvi, Lammasjärvi and Lentua, with the pristine nature of Hiidenportti National Park close by also a major attraction, one best appreciated by a visit to the Petola Visitor Centre before exploring the park.

On the southern shores of Lake Saimaa, close to the Russian border, and dominated by the River Vuoksi and the incredible Imantrankoski rapids, Imatra is often considered the first tourist town in Finland, thanks to the 1772 visit by Russian Empress Cathering the Great. Indeed, the area was so popular with Russian royalty that in 1842 Tsar Nicholas I ordered Kruununpuisto Park into existence, making it the oldest nature park in Finland. There are numerous museums in Imatra, and it is also home to two very striking, and totally different, architectural gems - the Church of the Three Crosses by Alvar Aalto, and Imatran Valtionhotelli, a Jugendstil building built in 1903 which resembles a medieval knight's castle.