Finnish Archipelago — THE TRAVEL GUIDES

THE FINNISH ARCHIPELAGO

NATURAL STATE.

The largest archipelago in the world, and it has just about everything a girl gone wild could hope for: national parks, wooden towns, lighthouses and of course Unesco World Heritage Sites. You can tour by ferry, car, even bike. I was lucky enough to be invited by friends and remained on an island in the south of Finland. As much as there is to see, do and experience, what I discovered to be so profound about the time spent was just enjoying the day, and staying put. Word of warning: the sun almost never sets so your day can be very long. With every single home having a sauna, as a necessity, you are led by nature to sleep, swim, eat and sauna as you fold endlessly into the flow of the environment.

DO. ISLAND HOP

Åland Islands The Shipping Heir

Turku Archipelago The Second City

Hanko - The Southern Beach Town

Kotka - The Place to Do Water Sports

Rauma - The Wooden Town

Pori - The Jazz and the Beach

Seinäjoki The Architecture

Vaasa - The Old Town and the Archipelago

Kokkola - & The Ten Meter Beach

Oulu - The Tech Town

Or do the whole thing via The Archipelago Trail

I spent the week on a small island near Hamina, in order to get there we drove from Helsinki to the Klamila port. We stopped for at the port restaurant Sataman Baari where a couple was enjoying a post lunch slow dance.

Sataman Baari, Kalasatamantie 153, 49860 Virolahti, Finland (portside cafe where lovers dance in the afternoon and eat pizza)

Once you arrive at your destination, bask in the sun eat a late dinner and never forget to sauna after each meal. The sauna's are hot as hades but jumping into the sea to cool off and rejuvenate the circulation system is heaven. The rocks were slippery so my friends had a rope installed to climb safely into the sea. And when your friends asked if going naked is ok, don't ask, JUST DO IT.

EAT. BBQ AT HOME

The food I had on the island was some of the best I have ever had. Salmon, smoked and grilled, veggie kebabs. We ate like kings and had little to no waste. Most of the homes in the archipelago are eco, which is incredible. Composting, biogradable toilets with wood chips and sparing water. It is a way of life, the circle of life which is respected and upheld. At meals, you have a lot to be thankful for.

Need inspiration? See these Traditional Finnish Foods.