From the very south of Finland starts rocky bays, rugged coast line, and thousands of islands which create the Archipelago Sea. One of the first sights many visitors see as they arrive by cruise ship or airplane. If you have come by cruise ship and only have a few hours in Helsinki, the archipelago coastline is one of your best options for seeing Finnish nature.
The capital city, Helsinki has hundreds of islands dotting the map around it, many of them you can visit by public ferries. E.g. the historical
Suomenlinna, the small but personable
Lonna, the greens of
Vallisaari with rich flora and fauna and
Pihlajasaari promoting a mix of sandy beaches and picnic perfect locations.
If you are visiting Helsinki in the spring time, May is a great time to
take a trip into nature. The southern forests are running full steam and great migrations of birds have returned home to prepare for a busy summer. Once
summer has begun, there will be berries, wild flowers, and edible greens that can be foraged all the way through til September and it does not stop there. Come
autumn time the forest will be filling itself with a myriad of different mushrooms. But it is better not to pick these without a local and knowledgable guide.
So there is a lot to do from Helsinki but I don't know where to start!
If you would like to get some mud on your boots and visit one of the national parks inland there are a multitude of options. Our go to spot for a quick retreat is
Liesjärvi National Park. A quiet and peaceful park with many trails, lakes, and great camping grounds. It is also where we choose to operate most of our
guided trips! For the solo traveller not interested in hiring a guide,
Nuuksio is your best bet.
Public transportation is readily available offering everyone the ability to see what Finnish nature is all about.
If you would like to leave Helsinki on a guided excursion, we recommend visiting
Porkkala peninsula as it offers some of the best hiking and seaside views you can get on a day trip from the city. You can also visit during
winter time. If you are on a longer trip then you may also want to check out the network of bike/hiking trails, campgrounds, and beautiful seascape of the
Archipelago national park which begins two hours west of Helsinki.