Autumn Is Like A Painter’s Palette – the Finnish Third Season

The summer turns into autumn just now on the coastline in Finland. Nature starts to make itself ready for the wintertime in October, and we can experience the Ruska-effect. The wilderness displays itself in all the bright colors that were hidden during the green and lush summertime. Autumn Foliage As the air turns brisk and […]

Autumn Cruise Calls with Hanseatic Nature

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Nature, a luxury expedition cruise ship, visited four different ports in autumnal Finland – Kemi, Oulu, Vaasa, and Mariehamn. With 214 passengers on board, the ship started its 15-day cruise from Hamburg. The ship will return to Germany, arriving in Kiel on October 2. Besides the Finnish ports, the ship also visited […]

Åland Harvest Festival – a Paradise for Food Enthusiasts

Photo credit: Visit Åland, photographer Rebecka Eriksson

Skördefesten – The Harvest Festival is the highlight of autumn on Åland and the beating heart and engine of Åland’s food culture. During three wonderful days in September, you can enjoy the Åland countryside and the peak of the harvest season, learn about rural life, shop directly from producers, and eat amazing food based on […]

Finland’s Bold Presence at Seatrade Europe 2025

Seatrade Europe 2025 was a vibrant celebration of innovation, collaboration, and optimism in the cruise industry. With over 3,000 attendees, 250 exhibitors, and 75 cruise line brands from 100 countries, the event truly lived up to its theme: “Future Forward.” The atmosphere felt more like a family reunion than a trade show—full of meaningful conversations, new connections, and shared visions for the […]

Helsinki Design Week 20th anniversary programme to feature celebrations and happiness design

Once again, Helsinki Design Week will fill the city with exhibitions, discussions, workshops and get-togethers for friends of design and architecture on 5–14 September. This year, Suomitalo next to Old Church Park serves as the main venue of the festival celebrating its 20th anniversary. Main Exhibition: Designing Happiness    At the heart of the festival is […]

Åland Opera Festival Held at an Inspiring Medieval Milieu

Åland Opera Festival celebrated its 5th anniversary with W.A.Mozart’s masterpiece the Magical Flute at Kastelholm Castle on 8-10 August. It was the first time ever that a full opera performance, with a symphony orchestra, a large choir, and room for 800 people in the audience, was held outside the castle. The medieval fortress and the […]

Discover Kotka: Finland’s Most Beautiful Summer City 2025

A gem and a vibrant coastal city on the south east coast of Finland, the charming city of Kotka has officially been crowned Finland’s Most Beautiful Summer City 2025 – and after exploring its vibrant parks, rich history, and stunning nature, it can definitely be said: the title is well deserved. The Historic Charm of Kotka Kotka has a […]

The Superyacht Ilma Made its Inaugural Call to Mariehamn

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht collection’s second luxury superyacht Ilma made its inaugural call to  Mariehamn on Wednesday 30 July. There were 299 passengers onboard, mainly from North and South America, and 373 members of crew.  A delegation representing the town of Mariehamn, the Port of Mariehamn, Visit Åland as well as Åland Agency went onboard to […]

A Day of Elegance and Chivalry: MS Europa Meets Medieval Turku

On July 11, 2025, the city of Turku welcomed a unique blend of maritime elegance and medieval spectacle as Hapag-Lloyd’s luxurious cruise ship MS Europa docked at the Port of Turku for the second time for this season. This time the guests onboard MS Europa were welcomed by medieval knights and their stunning horses at the Turku Castle […]

Vaasa: Top Attractions in This Vibrant Coastal City in Finland

Sailboats with the Vaasa shores in the background

Your journey of discovery has brought you to the Vaasa region — welcome! Are you planning to explore the unique archipelago or enrich yourself with museum visits and culinary delights? Whatever you choose, everything is close by — you won’t risk accidentally ending up on the wrong continent during your adventure. UNESCO World Heritage The […]

This year’s theme of Helsinki Pride is “Pride Without Borders.”

Helsinki Pride Week will be celebrated from June 23 to June 29, 2025. The week will culminate on June 28 with the Pride Parade and a park celebration in the city center. In recent years, the event has attracted over 100,000 participants. The tradition of Pride parades in Finland began in 1981. Helsinki Pride is […]

Jakobstad – A new coastal destination for Cruise Guests

Jakobstad (Pietarsaari in Finnish) is an emerging cruise destination on Finland’s scenic west coast, now open to international cruise calls. This picturesque seaside town offers Baltic cruise guests a unique day experience filled with maritime heritage. The town breaths Nordic culture, and small-town charm – all close to the port of Jakobstad. One of Jakobstad’s […]