Helsinki-Mikkeli-Savonlinna-Jyväskylä-Tampere-Helsinki (Approximate Length of the Route 1,300 Km)
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Helsinki-Mikkeli-Savonlinna-Jyväskylä-Tampere-Helsinki (approximate length of the route 1,300 km) This tour is meant for all those interested in local people, life styles, culture and history, along with cultural events and sights. If you value high-quality, authenticity, uniqueness, beautiful landscapes, local food as well as specialities and good service, this trip is a perfect fit for you! On this route, we have compiled recommendations on locations to choose from and stay for the desired time. Our recommendation tour follows the route Helsinki–Kouvola–Mikkeli–Jyväskylä–Tampere–Helsinki. The route brings together some of the best Finland has to offer – the gems that may sometimes be hard to find for travellers. We have also added recommendations for beautiful scenic routes in the Finnish Lakeland, whenever the route allows it. We believe that our suggestions can help you to plan and enjoy a fascinating and memorable holiday. The best way to follow the route is by car – your own or a rental – but cycling, for example, is also an option. The selected locations can also be visited by means of public transportation. You may have already heard about the Finnish speciality that has spread throughout the country – namely Restaurant Day. On that day, anyone can set up a pop-up restaurant and serve food for a small charge. More on the dates and pop-up restaurants is available at www.restaurantday.org/en/. We hope you have a holiday to remember in Helsinki and Finnish Lakeland Helsinki for Culture Lovers Culture is all about creative madness, fun, the joy of doing and experiencing, surprising audiences and creating memories. Culture is always a worthy pursuit, and in Helsinki it is easy to find. From one day and weekend to the next the city’s cultural venues host performances by breathtaking sopranos, charming accordion players, magical conductors, fascinating video artists, hard rocking bands and passionate folk musicians. Soup in a shoe shop, cupcakes and bagels in the park, or Finnish local food in the courtyard of an apartment building? Restaurant Day is a new kind of urban event in which locals are invited to set up their own pop-up restaurant. The concept has been a huge success among residents and tourists, who get to sample everything from children’s juice bars to multicourse gourmet meals. Restaurant Day is a fine example of Helsinki’s active food culture, which has taken off in recent years. The streets of Helsinki’s Design District are lined with intriguing boutiques, each offering something different to impress you: antiques and art, interiors and design, clothing and jewellery, and so much more. Arabianranta, a district where design and architecture can be admired everywhere you look. Pieces of Moomin mugs can be seen adorning the wall of an apartment building. A mother pushes a stroller while wearing stylish turquoise Hai boots, and children play tag on a giant oriental carpet made of ceramic tiles. The unmistakable patterns of Marimekko curtains can be seen in the windows. Text: Heidi Kalmari / Matkailulehti Mondo – Mondo Helsinki Travel Guide Accommodation Options in Helsinki: Klaus K Hotel - Klaus K understands that design reaches everywhere, including service and encounters. Come and see how the hotel takes the hotel out of the hotel! Sokos Hotel Torni - One of the most important landmarks in Helsinki, a classic in the heart of the city. Torni’s interior reflects the era when the hotel was built, featuring functionalist, Jugend and art deco design. GLO Hotel Art - A unique combination of a 1903-built Art Nouveau castle and a new modern hotel located in the heart of the lively Helsinki Design District. Hotel Anna - Located in the Design District, so there are a lot of Design and Art boutiques as well as trendy pubs and cosy restaurants in the area around the hotel. Hotels in Helsinki We warmly recommend for you in Helsinki: Suomenlinna (Viapori/Sveaborg) fortress is one of the biggest sea fortresses in the world as well as a residential area. It was included in Unesco’s World Heritage List in 1991 as a unique monument to European military history on islands off the coast of Helsinki. Suomenlinna is one of the most popular attractions in Finnish architecture. Kiasma - Museum of Contemporary Art presents Finnish and international contemporary art, collection displays, performances at the Kiasma theatre, workshops, seminars and lectures. The Music Centre gives Helsinki an acoustically first-class concert hall as well as other facilities providing a wide range of musical experiences for people of all ages. Design District Helsinki is both a neighbourhood and a state of mind. Located in the centre of Helsinki, the area is full of design and antique shops, fashion stores, museums, art galleries, restaurants and showrooms. Arabia - Today the ”Old Town” area is a modern centre for sciences and the arts, as well as a waterfront residential district that can be easily reached by trams 6 or 8. The area is home to the 130-year-old Arabia porcelain factory, museum and gallery, as well as factory outlets. Helsinki Card Restaurants and Cafes: Helsinki’s markets are popular with everybody! Coffee with a cinnamon bun, doughnut or meat pie in the Market Square or Hakaniemi Market Square is a great way of slowing down and enjoying the city with all your senses. The Abattoir - The historic redbrick buildings that once served as the city abattoir form a pleasingly authentic courtyard surrounded by boutiques, restaurants and event venues. At the heart of the Abattoir is the Kellohalli restaurant and event venue, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sea Horse - A classic Finnish "artist haunt" restaurant serving traditional Finnish home cooking. The restaurant dates back to 1934. Restaurant Lasipalatsi - A true Finnish restaurant: the kitchen combines the cherished traditional Finnish culinary culture with international influences. Savoy - Restaurant Savoy has been at the very top of Helsinki's restaurant scene since the 1930s. Culture Festivals and Events: Helsinki Day 12th of June & Helsinki Week - Helsinki celebrates its anniversary every year with special events all over the city and opens the summer season. Jazz Espa (July) - Esplanade bandstand Jazz concerts Mon–Fri 4 pm Helsinki Festival (August – September) - The extensive programme features music, theatre, dance, art, film and many visiting stars from Finland and abroad. Helsinki Design Week (September) See all Events in Helsinki General Information: Planning your stay in Helsinki: www.visithelsinki.fi/en www.facebook.com/visithelsinki www.youtube.com/Visithelsinki https://twitter.com/HelsinkiTourism Traveller Discussions Helsinki Mobile Apps Helsinki City Tourist Information Unioninkatu 28, Helsinki Tel: +358-9-310 13300 Email: [email protected] Other Tourist Information Centres in Helsinki: Helsinki Region Tourist Information - Helsinki-Vantaa airport (Terminal 2 – Arrival Hall 2A) Tourist Information - Central Railway Station Public Transport Taxis, car rental and parking Experience Wireless Helsinki Travelling in Finland by train or aeroplane Travel Advice: Drive from Helsinki to Kouvola on Route 7 (about 140 km). If your timetable allows, a recommended stopping place along the way is Porvoo, whose charming old town is really worth seeing. Kouvola for Culture Lovers (Kouvola-Elimäki-Iitti) In Kouvola, the city and countryside live side-by-side. The Kymijoki river, which meanders through the region serves some of the world’s largest forest industry companies, gives the local population employment and puts its own stamp on the landscape. Another equally strong transport-related element is the railway. Kouvola is the western terminal of the Trans- Siberian railway that goes from Europe to Asia, and is Finland’s most important junction station. The first stop for the Allegro train coming from St Petersburg is Kouvola. In terms of road traffic connections, the area is situated by Routes 6 and 15. The journey from Kouvola to the capital region takes a little over an hour by train. In Kouvola, nature offers Southern Finland’s best trekking country and holiday cottages for recreational use. The region is home to, for example, Repovesi National Park, Arboretum Mustila, Tykkimäki Amusement Park and Verla Mill Village, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Cultural Trail of Western Kymi takes travellers through the old border region from the Kymijoki river in Ahvenkoski and the Strömfors Iron Mill back to the manor houses of Elimäki. Along the old highway linking Elimäki in Kouvola to Ruotsinpyhtää in Loviisa, you will find cultural-historical sights and gardens, art exhibitions, music festivals, summer theatres, handicraft workshops and shops. Accommodation choices in the Kouvola region: Voikkaan Klubi – A small hotel-restaurant built in the early 1900s and decorated in the Jugend style in the old factory setting of Voikkaa. Voikkaantie 37, 45910 Kouvola. Reservations and enquiries tel. +358 (0)50 433 9327 Verla Cottages Close to the Verla Mill Museum are old mill workers’ cottage and holiday cottages belonging to UPM-Kymmene, which can be rented out for holiday use. Linkkumylly - From Valkeala, continue on Route 368 towards Mäntyharju. Cottage rental From June to August, a book café operates at Linkkumylly, which sells fresh, home-made bakery products and a large number of high-quality books. It also sells handicraft items and fishing lures and flies. You will find more accommodation alternatives here. We warmly recommend the following destinations: From Route 7 turn left onto Route 1792 (Elimäentie) and then right onto Route 3531 to Koskisto. Continue on Elimäentie to Elimäki Church Village, which is home to a church and Moisio Manor. From the Church Village, continue for a few kilometres on Route 6, along which you will find Arboretum Mustila and Mustila Wine. Elimäen puukirkko in 1638, it was expanded into a cruciform church in the 1670s and is Finland’s oldest still operational cruciform church.