Finland is sometimes referred to as ‘the land of a thousand lakes’. The actual figure is far closer to 180,000, with the majority found in Eastern Finland. See itinerary ideas
Thanks to the large concentration of lakes, the region is known as Lakeland. The most popular destination is Lake Saimaa, which is one of the biggest fresh water lakes in Europe; it even has its own islands.
During the summer the best way to explore the network of lakes is by kayak although there are also some great cruises and day trips on boats available on the network of canals around Kuopio. During the winter, the waterways freeze over and are frequently buried beneath snow, at which point people snowmobile and ice skate on them.
The main towns include Tampere, Joensuu and Savonlinna, the last of which is famous for its opera and castle.
