It was a 9-day trip with 9 people in the summer of 2023. It is worth to travel to Finnland in summer, because in this time the weather can be good, but it can also rain a lot. We traveled by air plane to Helsinki and we also rented two cars there for 5 days. The accommodations were in Helsinki (4 nights), in Turku (1 night), in Tampere (1 night), in Jyväskylä (1 night) and in Lepaa (1 night). On this trip we got to know the two major cities of Finland (Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä) and between these cities there were many natural and cultural beauties, especially the buildings designed by the world famous Finish architect Alvar Aalto.
29.07.2023 – Arrive to Helsinki
We spent the day in Munich (D) and in the evening we flew to Helsinki. I arrived to Helsinki late at night so we did not want more than sleeping.
30.07.2023 – The main attractions in the centre of Helsinki
On this day we got to know the Finish capital city: Cathedral, Market Square, Esplanadi Avenue, Rock Church (photo), the Soumelinna Island, Main Train Station and also saw some modern buildings like the new Museum for Contemporary Art (Steven Holl), new Library (ALA Architects) and many buildings of Alvar Aalto (see on the map).
31.07.2023 – Turku and its neibourhood
On the morning we rented two cars and we drove to the former Tubercolosis Sanatorium by Alvar Aalto and we had an hour long guided tour. The next stop was a small chapel (photo) by Sanaksenaho Architects in the suburb of Turku. We took a rest in a restaurant in Naantali and we took a walk in the village between the wooden houses. After this experience we went further to the Finish Archipelago and we got a road trip with few steps. Our accommodation was in Turku, which was once the capital city of Finland. In Turku we saw the Turun Sanomat Building by Aalto and the newly renovated main square with the pavilions of Schauman & Nordgren Architects.
01.08.2023 – On the way to Tampere
In the morning we went to Rauma, a small town built of wood and it is now a UNESCO world heritage. After this special town we had a guided tour in the famous Villa Mairea (photo) in Noormarkku, designed by Aalto. On this day Tampere was our last destination, which is the capital of the sauna, so you can try it (tip: you should have a reservation).
02.08.2023 – Wood chapels and forests
On the way from Tampere to Jyväskylä you can find many wooden chapels and churches. We visited 3 of them and each of them was a little different. The church of Pihlajavesi stands in a forrest (there are a lot of mosquitos there) and it gives its spirit. The church of Keuruun is in the small town and it has classicist paintings on the inner walls and ceilings. The church of Petäjävesi (photo) is UNESCO world heritage and it has a special history (tip: you should ask the ladies by the entrace for a guided tour, it is worth). In the evening we arrived to Jyväskylä and we took a walk on the lakeside of the city.
03.08.2023 – Aalto’s land
In the morning we visited the buildings designed by Alvar Aalto in Jyväsylä: workers’ club building, Aira housing, the city theater, some wooden houses, the university campus, the Museum of Cental Finland and the Alvar Aalto Museum. We also visited the neighborhood of Jyväskylä: in Säynätsalo we visited the town hall and in Muuratsalo the summer house (photo) by Aalto. On both places we had a guided tour. In Muurame we took a look on an early work of Aalto: the church. We had a dinner in Tampere and we went further to our accommodation to Lepaa.
04.08.2023 – South coast of Finland
In the morning we were in Hämmenlinna, where we visited the biggest medieval fortress of Finland, built of brick. Our next stop were in Porvoo (photo), which is on the south coast of Finland. The town has many wooden houses and beautiful river bank. We went further to the Pellinki Island and done a road trip. In the evening we were in Helsinki again.
05.08.2023 – Helsinki
On this day we visited the National Pesion Institute by Alvar Aalto and also his own house and atelier (we had a guided tour in the atelier). After theses buildings we went to the university campus in Espoo (photo). In the evening we walked around Salmisaaren, which has an industrial look. (Tip for this night: I suggest you to walk along the bay of Helsinki to the Hietaranta Beach and the Sibelius Monument.)
06.08.2023 – Helsinki
On the last day we visited the Kallio district: the church is beautiful and there is the House of Culture by Aalto. We had also time to walk a bit in the new district of Helsinki in Sompasaari (photo). In the afternoon we had to fly back to Munich.
And here is the map:
ADAM BALOG 