Finnish cities are built on a human scale. They are compact and versatile, and that makes them ideal for a city break. Helsinki, Turku and Tampere are big enough to offer all the attractions of a lively metropolis, but they are small enough to explore on foot, or even by borrowing a city bicycle.

Helsinki – a bit Eastern, a bit Western – totally Finnish
You might get a feeling of déjà vu when you arrive in Helsinki. The city has been the stand-in for Russia in movies such as Dr. Zhivago and Gorky Park. Finland was part of the Russian Empire for about a hundred years, and the architecture of many parts of Helsinki is similar to that of St. Petersburg or Moscow. Before that it was part of Sweden, so Helsinki has influences from both East and West. You can visit the neoclassical Lutheran Cathedral on Senate Square; a short walk away is the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral.

Helsinki is built on a peninsula and islands in the Baltic. While you're here, take a boat from the Market Square to the island fortress of Suomenlinna. It's also a short boat ride to the Zoo on Korkeasaari, "High Island." The Open Air Museum of Finnish rural architecture is on another island, Seurasaari. It's a short walk to most places of interest, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art "Kiasma", the art nouveau railway station and the National Museum.

Turku – Åboriginal
TURKU (Åbo in Swedish) is Finland's oldest city, founded in 1229. It was also the country's first capital. It is here that you can see the medieval Cathedral, close to the Old Great Square, as well as Turku Castle in the harbor. Along the Aura River - the Plough River - you can walk through medieval cobblestone streets. The river is the heart of the city. During the summer, the riverbanks come to life when people gather here to eat, drink and listen to music. There are old sailing ships moored in the river, and you can take cruises out into the archipelago or to nearby Naantali.  And cruise ships sail daily from Turku Harbor across the Baltic to Sweden.

Tampere - the little big town
Tampere is a city with a long industrial history, as well as many leisure and cultural attractions. The city is beautifully located between two lakes.  You can see a spectacular view of the lakes from the observation towers of Pyynikki ridge and the Näsinneula in Särkänniemi Amusement Park – one of Finland's top summer attractions.

Take a walk along the banks and the rapids of the Tammerkoski River. This river provided hydropower for industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today the old red brick factory buildings are devoted to new activities, such as museums, galleries, restaurants, cinemas, theatre, art and craft stalls, and boutiques.