Scandinavia’s most culturally isolated and least understood country, Finland has been independent only since 1917, having been ruled for hundreds of years by first the Swedes and then the Tsarist Russians.

Finland is mostly flat and punctuated by huge forests and lakes, but has wide regional variations. The South contains the least dramatic scenery, but the capital, Helsinki, more than compensates, with its brilliant architecture and superb collections of national history and art. Stretching from the Russian border in the east to the industrial city of Tampere, the vast waters of the Lake Region provide a natural means of transport for the timber industry - indeed, water here is a more common sight than land. Towns lie on narrow ridges between lakes, giving even major manufacturing centres green and easily accessible surrounds. North of here, Finland ranges from the flat western coast of Ostrobothnia to the thickly forested heartland of Kainuu and gradually rising fells of Lapland, Finland's most alluring terrain and home to the Sami, the semi-nomadic reindeer herders found all over northern Scandinavia.

	Location:	Northern Europe
	Size:	130,559 sq miles
	Population:	5,206,295
	Capital City:	Helsinki
	Language:	Finnish, Swedish (6%)
	Currency:	Euro (€)
	Country Code:	+358
	Time Zone:	GMT + 2
	Electricity:	230 volts AC, 50Hz, 2 pin plugs
	Ferry Ports:	Helsinki, Turku, Vaasa
	Airports:	Helsinki Vantaa, Turku, Tampere, Rovaniemi
	Dept. of Tourism:	www.finland-tourism.com

By Car: Though roads are generally good, there can be problems with melting snows, usually during April and May in the south and during June in the far north. The speed limit is 40-60kph in built up areas, 100kph on major roads, and 120kph on motorways. If not signposted, the basic limit is 80kph. Other rules of the road include using headlights when driving outside built-up areas and the compulsory wearing of seatbelts.

By Bus: Buses are run by local private companies but with a common ticket system and cover the whole country, and are often quicker and more frequent than trains over the shorter east-west hops.

By Rail: The swiftest land link between Finland's major cities is invariably by train, operated by VR, Finnish State Railways. Large, comfortable express trains serve the principal north-south routes several times a day. The ‘Pendolino’ fast train runs at a maximum speed of 220km (132 miles) per hour and is designed to operate on all main routes by the end of 2006. Elsewhere, especially on east-west hauls through sparsely populated regions, rail services tend to be skeletal and trains are often tiny or replaced by buses.

By Ferry: Finland is well served by Scandinavia’s biggest ferry companies with service to and from Sweden, Germany and Estonia.

By Air: There are 22 domestic airports in Finland. Finnair runs an excellent network of domestic services. Finland is also served by many international airlines including Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, IBERIA, Iceland Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, SWISS and United Airlines.

Snow Castle (Lapland, Kemi)

On the Northern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, the World's Biggest Snow Castle with an ice restaurant and bar, ice tables covered with reindeer fur, ice sculptures and hotel rooms where heavy-duty sleeping bags keep you warm in -5°C (41°F) room temperature.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park (Helsinki)

This giant theme park was opened by six Finnish child welfare organisations to promote children’s events in the country and is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Finland.

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress (Helsinki)

Built over 250 years ago, the fortress is an integral part of the city and home to around 900 inhabitants. A variety of attractions on the islands include guided walks and many varied museums.

Rauma

Recently placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, not a museum but a living town centre. The old town is the largest wooden town preserved in the Nordic countries.

Finland's capital, Helsinki, is a city with elegant Neo-classical architecture and many fine museums and galleries. There's also a vibrant nightlife, with a great variety of pubs, clubs and free rock concerts. To get a taste for some Finnish and Swedish bands, a venue to try is the Tavastia.

Rovaniemi lies on the edge of the Arctic circle and if you're there around midsummer you can see the Midnight Sun. People also go there to visit the Santa Claus Village, just outside town, where you can meet the man himself 365 days a year.

Tampere, in the south, is a manufacturing city known as the Manchester of Finland, due to its combination of an industrial past and a large student population. Factory owners paternally supplied culture to the workforce and thus a vigorous local arts scene was born - now kept alive by the energetic students.

Opera buffs should head to Savonlinna for the month-long opera festival in July, but make sure you book well ahead and bring plenty of cash. At off peak times of the year the town, draped across several islands, is extremely relaxed and a very restful place to be.

Finland has no less than 187,888 lakes and they are clean, blue and full of fish. The scenery is superb, including the breathtaking Punkaharju Ridge, which is said to have the healthiest air in the world.

The Åland province, with its own flag and culture, comprises more than 6400 autonomous islands. It's perfect for bicycle tours, camping and cabin holidays, and for experiencing the islanders' distinctive culture, expressed in folk dancing, maypole decorating and pervasive small-town charm.