Hotels Helsinki
What to see by car: Helsinki
 
Since the landscapes of Finland are so picturesque, it would be a shame to leave
the country without exploring farther afield and the south coast around Helsinki
offers the perfect opportunity. The countryside is scattered with medieval churches,
stately manor houses, cute villages and sleepy harbour towns.
Starting from Helsinki, head 50kms east to the historic town of Porvoo, the
second-oldest town in Finland. Pause for a stroll around the old town, with
its cobblestone alleys and brightly-coloured wooden houses.
Two places worth checking out are the Doll and Toy Museum and the house of
national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. There is an attractive marina at Loviisa
and the summer house of composer Jean Sibelius, now turned into a museum, is
at Sibeliuksenkatu 10.
From here, you could head farther east to Kotka, the country's most important
port. Cruises of the archipelago from here visit the Imperial Fishing Lodge
at the Langinkoski Rapids. This place was built for Tsar Alexander III, who
was a frequent visitor.
The area to the west of Helsinki is the most historic region of Finland and
is scattered with medieval stone churches and castles that are a delight to
discover. The spa town of Hanko is a good example - it flourished in the late
19th century as a popular haunt for Russian royalty. The seaside villas built
by these distinguished guests still remain, and some have now been converted
into guest houses, and are fantastic places to stay.
In the vicinity of Hanko are fine sandy beaches that are ideal for swimming
but often deserted. Another idyllic seaside town worth visiting is Ekenas; the
ruins of a 14th century castle are nearby at Raseborg.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Radisson SAS Seaside Hotel | | Scandic Hotel Continental Helsinki | | Scandic Hotel Grand Marina | | Hotel Helka | | Radisson SAS Hesperia Hotel | | Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Helsinki | | Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel Helsinki | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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