We would like to see as much of Finland as possible, hence my thinking is to get around by train.
Which locations/cities should we see ? We start in Helsinki and would like to use the train to get to other locations.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Rick's guidebook only covers Helsinki, which deserves two full days. A side trip by boat to Tallinn, Estonia is also high on his list. For other parts of Finland, I'd look at a Michelin Green Guide or start with their info online. The next edition of the Lonely Planet Finland guidebook is coming out in May, if you can wait that long. The Finnish Tourist Office is another starting point.
Trains do serve the country pretty extensively. See our favorite DB train schedule link and also maps and info on the Finnish railway site.
Posted by
2 posts
Finland has an excellent train system .Go to Turku, Tampere , Pori and as far north as Rovaniemi.If you are traveling in the summer check on line for various music festivals . They are often free . Helsinki itself has a number of different festivals during the summer months.
Posted by
Prague
11 posts
I totally agree with salbert3. Those cities are easily accessible by train. You could also consider one of the cities in the lake area, for example Jyväskylä.
Other than the South, please don't leave out Lapland..! Rovaniemi is easy to reach by train. It's right on the Arctic circle. You can go see Santa Claus (year-round) and do all possible winter safaris there (husky ride, reindeer sleigh, snowmobiles etc.). In summer, you can do lots of hiking. Plus, up there you have the highest chance of seeing the Northern Lights..!