The most beautiful parks and gardens Finland

Created in 1893, this wonderful winter garden is a veritable oasis. Surrounded by lush, exotic plants, visitors are tempted to sit at pretty wrought-iron tables to savor the peace of the place. The beauty of the cacti, azaleas and palms that invade the glass and steel greenhouse, while listening to the lapping of the fountain... If the season is right, stroll through the formal garden that borders the greenhouse to breathe in the scent of roses.

This district, built around a bay, is a great place to stroll, to breathe in the sea air and admire the unique blend of modern architecture and soothing natural surroundings. Helsinkians call it the Smurfs or Legoland district, because of its multicolored, geometric buildings from the 1980s and 1990s. The whole area is reminiscent of a vacation village, but not unpleasant. There are also a few wooden sculptures dedicated to children's cultural awakening and a playground.

Europe's largest aquatic park. In the winter, only the indoor swimming pool is open. The small hill outdoors allows you to enjoy the joys of alpine skiing. Cross-country skiing is also available. In summer, indoor and outdoor swimming pools are open.

Now an observation tower, this old water tower from 1912 stands on Naisvuori (literally "Women's Mountain") hill in the centre of Mikkeli town. The café inside, known for its delicious waffles, is always busy during the summer holidays. It is the ideal place to take a break between visits and walks, and is a great place to enjoy a meal. The hill also has a small park with all kinds of flowers. You can have a picnic here or simply enjoy the splendid view!

Created in 1989, it extends over 5,000 ha, largely marine - 90% of the surface area -, there are no less than 600 islands and islets. Ornithologists and the simply curious will appreciate it. In addition to a wide variety of birds, deer and, if you are lucky, moose can be seen here. You can hike or go boating or canoeing. Campfires are available for grilling sausages, marshmallows or bivouacking.

The University of Turku has a branch in Ruissalo, where you can find a magnificent botanical garden. On the spot, there are no less than 5,000 species, a beautiful living showcase of the biodiversity of the plant world with, in addition, vegetable gardens (aromatic and medicinal herbs), crossbreeding of new vegetables, fruits and berries. The neighbouring rose garden displays old-fashioned rosebushes, some of which were already in bloom in the 17th century!

The President of Finland spends his summer holidays in Naantali, enjoying the park and the beautiful rose garden (650 m²) in the Kultaranta Gardens. Every year the site attracts about 20,000 visitors. Today it is one of Finland's built cultural sites of national interest. The building belonged to Alfred Kordelin, who had it built in the early 1910s, and later belonged to the University of Turku before it was taken over by the state.

This 1,530 km² park is worth a visit to walk through part of its "grand canyon", which is 40 km long and 80 m deep. It is the biggest natural attraction in Northern Lapland. It should be visited from the north, near the narrow Kevojoki River, to enjoy the most beautiful panorama of Kevo. There are many marked hiking trails to explore the park and the area. Be sure to check out the 26-metre Fiellu Falls.

It is full of treasures for sporty hikes. The most impressive site is certainly Helvetinkoulu, a deep break through which one reaches the lake from the top of the cliff. There are many facilities for camping and preparing meals, including one by the beach. The landscape is diverse, with rocks, cliffs, lakes, rivers, swamps, dense forests, and even a beach. In summer and winter, the park has incredible and magnificent landscapes. We love it!

Torronsuo Mire National Park is one of the largest and most impressive marshes in Southern Finland, covering an area of 30 km². It is an ideal destination for a multitude of outdoor activities (short hiking trails, or trails ranging from 5 to 15 kilometres, marked cross-country ski trails). With its tracks built on the marshes, this park is a good place to observe migratory birds, several species of which stop to rest on the mud, such as cranes and geese.