'''Southern Finland''' (''Etela-Suomen laani'') is a province of Finland. Relatively small in area, the province is dominated by the sprawl around Helsinki and is the most populous in Finland.

Regions

Southern Finland is divided into six regions.

  • South Karelia ''( [fi] Etela-Karjala, [sv] Sodra Karelen)
  • Paijanne Tavastia ''( [fi] Paijat-Hame, [sv] Paijanne Tavastland)
  • Tavastia Proper ''( [fi] Kanta-Hame, [sv] Egentliga Tavastland)
  • Uusimaa ''( [sv] Nyland)
  • Eastern Uusimaa ''( [fi] Ita-Uusimaa, [sv] Ostra Nyland)
  • Kymenlaakso ''( [fi] Kymmenedalen)
  • Cities

  • Helsinki (Helsingfors) and its neighbors Espoo (Esbo) and Vantaa (Vanda)
  • Hameenlinna (Tavastehus), has a medieval castle
  • Kotka, a port town on the road to Russia
  • Lahti, a fairly grim industrial town
  • Lappeenranta (Villmanstrand), a port town by the lake Saimaa
  • Porvoo (Borga), a city with a very nice old town
  • Hyvinkaa, a relatively small city, the Finnish Railway museum [http://www.rautatie.org/web/en/default.asp] is located here
  • Other destinations

  • Ekenas (Tammisaari)
  • Hanko (Hango)
  • Kouvola
  • Nuuksio National Park
  • Siuntio (Sjundea)
  • Understand

    Talk

    Get in

    Get around

    Between cities and major towns you can use the trains [http://www.vr.fi] or buses [http://www.matkahuolto.fi]. Hitchhiking is uncommon but possible, but be aware that some roads have very little traffic. If you chose smaller countryroads, cycling is a possibility and you can camp wild as long as you regard the "jokamiehenoikeus" (right to access) which states basically "behave".

    See

    Do

    Eat

    Drink

    Stay safe

    Get out