Turning October’s Darkness Into Festive Coziness
The Aaltoja! Festival in Kotka, Finland is a bustling light and sound city festival held annually in October. The Aaltoja!Festival has gained popularity for reasons that combine artistic innovation, community engagement, and festive atmosphere. What and where? Aaltoja! (which translates into waves) is centered around light and sound installations that transform the urban landscape of […]
Experience the Finnish Sauna – Warmth and Wellbeing in Every Season
No visit to Finland is complete without discovering the soul of Finnish culture: the sauna. For centuries, saunas have been places of relaxation, purification, and togetherness. A place where friends and families gather to unwind, reflect, and connect. The Finnish sauna offers both physical and mental wellbeing. The heat eases muscle tension, improves circulation, relieves […]
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
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
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 […]