Finland (in Finnish, Suomi), officially Republic of Finland, republic in northern Europe, bordered on the north by Norway, on the east by Russia, on the south by Russia and the Gulf of Finland, on the south-west by the Baltic Sea, and on the west by the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden. Nearly one third of the nation lies north of the Arctic Circle. The area of Finland, including 33,551 sq km (12,954 sq mi) of inland water, totals 338,145 sq km (130,559 sq mi). Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland.
Stable and secure Finland, nestled between Sweden and Norway to the west and Russia to the east, has all the attributes of a hot vacation spot.

Along your journey you can explore the culturally and historically rich King’s Road. This scenic southern region of Finland stretches west of Helsinki to the 770-year-old former capital of Turku and east to the spectacular Lakeland region.

You’ll fall in love with the vibrant capital of Helsinki, whose stunning architecture, picturesque harbor, cosmopolitan cafes, and world-class museums earned it a coveted place on the European Union’s list of European Cities of Culture 2000.

With hundreds of internationally acclaimed festivals each year, Finland is one of Europe’s liveliest centers for the performing arts. You’ll also discover a countryside rich in natural wonders, including 29 national parks, 170,000 archipelago islands, 187,888 lakes, and exotic Lapland in the north. And, with daily flights from North America, Finland is as convenient to reach as it is multifaceted.
Finland is for the most part a quiet land, where a ramshackle cottage by a lake and a properly stoked sauna is all that’s required for happiness. It’s a vast expanse of forests and lakes and more forests, punctuated by towns full of people who are genuinely surprised to see tourists.

During the months of the midnight sun, coastal regions are a sailing and fishing paradise. Inland, the largest unspoilt wilderness in Europe attracts thousands of trekkers every year. In the south, the capital Helsinki is a paradise for lovers of art and architecture.

When the nights are long in Finland (and they can be very, very long) there’s much more to do than huddle inside with a vodka or two. You can ski across vast frozen lakes or relax in a sauna, beating yourself ever so gently with a fragrant branch of birch leaves to loosen the travel grime. During the months of the midnight sun, coastal regions, including the Turku archipelago and Ã…land Islands, are a sailing and fishing paradise. Inland, the largest unspoilt wilderness in Europe attracts thousands of trekkers every year.

In the south the capital Helsinki has over 30 art galleries and museums, while in the north Santa Claus kicks back 364 days a year. Where else in the world can you take a reindeer tour or an icebreaker cruise then hit the green for some midnight golf?

The Republic of Finland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta, Swedish: Republiken Finland) is a Nordic country in northeastern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea to the southwest, the Gulf of Finland to the south and the Gulf of Bothnia to the west. Finland has land frontiers with Sweden, Norway and Russia and a maritime border with Estonia. The Ã…land Islands, off the southwestern coast, are under Finnish sovereignty while enjoying extensive autonomy. The Finnish name for Finland is Suomi.