Finland places to see: Turku Castle to Arctic Circle
Explore Turku, Finland's charming southwestern coastal city, home to the iconic Turku Castle. This 760 km route showcases the historic landmark featured in the video, offering insight into Finnish culture and architectural heritage.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Turku Castle
- End
- Rovaniemi and Arctic Circle
- Stops
- 3
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Turku Castle — Medieval fortress on the Aura River, one of Finland's most important historical landmarks and a symbol of the country's medieval past.
- Finnish Sauna Culture — Ancient bathing tradition integral to Finnish identity, featuring wood-fired or electric heated rooms where locals relax and socialize, with over 3 million saunas across the…
- Rovaniemi and Arctic Circle
Useful for your trip
- Avoid
- Don't be loud in Finland. Finns are a quiet and reserved people, so keep noise levels low, especially with children.
- Tip
- Pronounce 'sauna' correctly as 'SAW-na', not 'SOW-na'. Mispronouncing it insults Finnish pride.
- Tip
- When visiting a sauna, don't be modest. Nudity is normal in gender-segregated saunas; wearing swimwear is considered a faux pas.
- Tip
- Learn a few basic Finnish words before arrival: 'kiitos' (thank you), 'hyvää päivää' (good day), 'kyllä' (yes), 'ei' (no). Many Finns speak English well.
- Avoid
- Don't be confused by bilingual signs in Finnish and Swedish (same city has different names). Both are official languages.
- Avoid
- Don't call Finland part of Scandinavia when speaking with Swedes or Norwegians. Finland is Nordic, not Scandinavian (not on Scandinavian peninsula).
- Avoid
- Don't compare Finland unfavorably to Sweden, especially regarding hockey. Finns take great pride in their country and hockey.
- Tip
- Remove your shoes when entering Finnish homes. It's considered very rude to wear shoes indoors. Bring a small gift like candy or flowers when visiting.
- Food
- Don't buy a bag of black salmiakki (salty black licorice candy). It's popular with locals but very strong for foreigners unaccustomed to it.
- Save money
- Don't expect change for 1 or 2 cent coins in Finland. Numbers are rounded up; you won't receive these coins back.
- Save money
- Tipping is not required in Finland. Wait staff receive good wages, so tips are not expected.
- Timing
- Bring bug spray if visiting the lake district in summer (like Tampere area). Bugs can be very bad. Also bring a jacket even in summer—weather changes rapidly.
Video on this route
Finland - What NOT to Do in Finland