Explore the nature gems of the big cities: Oulu, Tampere, Espoo, Vantaa and Helsinki

Koiteli

Koitelinkoski or Koiteli is a stunning, almost natural rapids area of the Kiiminkijoki River. In Koiteli you can go hiking, fishing, canoeing, enjoy nature and have a picnic. Koiteli is about a 20-minute drive from Oulu, and there are good driving directions from Kuusamontie (VT 20).

Koiteli consists of four islands connected by suspension bridges. The islands have numerous fireplaces and well-maintained marked trails that cross from one island to the next. The routes are partly suitable for use with prams or wheelchair users. Please bring your own kindlings and love-locks!

• Koitelinkoski

Letonniemi 

Letonniemi Nature Reserve is a land uplift area in the Perämeri Sea. Letonniemi is located about six kilometres north of the centre of Oulu. The nature trail can be accessed from the east side of the Rajahauta marina.

A 2.7 km long nature trail runs around Letonniemi. The area has a bird watching tower and a covered rest and campfire area with firewood. Duckboards make it easier to walk in the wetter areas.

The cape is lush, deciduous and bordered by low coastal meadows. In the forest with dead standing trees you may hear the warbling of a willow warbler or a Eurasian chaffinch, but the birds of the area also include the lesser spotted woodpecker, the european robin, the wood warbler and eurasian woodcock. The narrow coastal meadows are waded by common redshank, eurasian oystercatcher, the eurasian curlew and the common snipe. Rabbits and moose are also residents of the area.

• Letonniemi Nature Reserve

Pilpasuo 

Pilpasuo is a large, almost unditched marshland area in eastern Oulu. It is a national peatland conservation programme site and a Natura 2000 site. Pilpasuo is signposted from Vaalantie Road.

The Pilpasuo nature trail is divided into two routes of different lengths; the Lystireitti Route (1 km) and the Aistireitti Route (7 km). The signposts along the trail include information and small tasks. The Lystireitti, which runs around the Pahalampi pond, is particularly suitable for young children. At Pilpasuo you can stay overnight in lean-to shelters or go berry picking and mushroom picking.

There are two campfire sites and a lean-to shelter on the trails. There is a toilet on the Lystireitti Route, and a spring along the Aistireitti Route. The trails have duckboards, but the ground can be damp. Fires are only allowed at the campfire sites. Please bring your own firewood, as the firewood provided by the city is not enough for everyone on the popular trail.

• Pilpasuo

Kintulammi – peace and hiking in the middle of nature

Kintulammi is an extensive and diverse hiking and nature reserve in Tampere's Teisko-Aitolahti, about 20 km north-east of the city centre. The area offers a great opportunity to enjoy nature by walking along paths, duckboards and from a lean-to shelter to another. A total of 18 kilometers of guided trails and six fireplaces invite hikers into nature.

The Kintulammi Nature Reserve covers over 600 hectares, with forests, marshes, lakes and cliffs providing shelter for many rare species. The area is home to species such as the western capercaillie, the flying squirrel and the Eurasian three-toed woodpecker. The old trees, up to 400 years old, still stand tall, a reminder of the area's history as a crown park.

The area is easily accessible by car and bike. Public transport runs to Sorila, which is about 3 km away. An accessible route leads to the Kirkkokivi lean-to shelter, which serves as the focal point of the area. Hikers are reminded to follow the paths, keep pets on a leash and admire the plants without damaging them.

The pond is not only a haven of natural peace, but also a valuable conservation site that is being allowed to become increasingly natural. Restoration activities will support forest and peatland biodiversity long into the future.

• Kintulampi hiking trail

Hervantajärven Camping Area - natural tranquillity close to the city

The Hervantajärvi camping area offers an easily accessible nature experience just south of the city of Tampere. The area has around 10 kilometres of guided trails and two campfire sites which include a lean-to shelter, a woodshed and a dry toilet at Viitastenperä. The trails are suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities, including walking, trail running and mountain biking.

The area borders three municipalities - Tampere, Lempäälä and Kangasala - and is connected via unguided paths to the Kaarinanpolku and Birgitta paths. Public accessibility is excellent, with tram and bus stops within a short walking distance.

At the heart of the area is the Makkarajärvi-Viitastenperän nature reserve, the largest protected forest area in Tampere. It covers 86 hectares of old forests, unditched swamps and dignified cliffs. The diverse nature provides a habitat for species such as the red-throated loon, willow tit and rare polypores and lichens.

Hikers are encouraged to use the trails and to respect the special features of nature - this will ensure that the fragile habitats are preserved for future generations.

• Hervantajärvi hiking trail

The Kiimajoki paddling route - paddling in the middle of nature

The Kiimajoki paddling route runs through the idyllic lake and river landscapes of Velaata and Terälahti in northern Tampere. The historic timber rafting route runs from Lake Velaatta along the Kiimajoki and ends at Terälahti in Lake Näsijärvi. The 17-kilometre-long route is at its best in spring and autumn when the water level is high.

There are several rest stops along the route, such as the campfire sites at Nallinranta and Mustametsä, and the Velaata lean-to shelter, built in 2021 on the northern shore of the lake. The lean-to shelter was designed by architect Manu Humppi and offers a beautiful view of Lake Velaatta. The rest areas have camp fire siters, firewood and some have dry toilets.

There are several rapids along the way, and the landing places are clearly marked and equipped with structures to make it easier to move the canoe.

You can start paddling from the Velaata boat launch (Velaatantie 518), for example, and there are other starting points on the route map. The Kiimajoki route offers a refreshing way to explore the northern waters of Tampere in the peace and quiet of nature and on the water.

• Kiimajoki paddling route

Espoo is full of interesting destinations for families and long-distance hikerers alike. Do you already know Espoo's pearls outside Nuuksio? Grab the tips and find your new favourite spot!

Archipelago boat takes hikers to the sea

Have you heard of an island with a lake where there's an island? That's what Pentala is. It's where maritime Espoo shows its best side: a memorable sailing trip that combines archipelago history, cultural landscape and the archipelago's distinctive nature. During the summer season until September, an archipelago boat (espoo.fi) takes hikers to the island.

A nature hike in Pentala can be made along the nature trail. The signposted route, which is a few kilometres long, starts in the courtyard of the Pentala Farm Museum and winds its way back to the museum via Diksand sandy beach. Diksand is part of the Pentala nature reserve and the finest natural sandy beach in the Espoo archipelago, which on a hot day invites hikers to take a dip in the waves.

Tapio Taskinen, Head of Sports Services at Espoo's Outdoor Sports Services, gave a tip on how to get to Pentala.

• Pentala Outdoor Island
• Pentala Nature Trail

Marsh gems within a bus ride

Tremanskärr is one of Espoo's most representative marshland sites - and easily accessible by public transport. The Tremanskärr nature trail is an excellent day trip destination for lovers of duckboards and rocky lookouts. The trail, which runs for a few kilometres across the Tremanskärr swamp, invites you to stop for a picnic lunch on the shores of Lake Kurkijärvi. There are two options to choose the length of the trail that suits you best.

Tia Lähteenmäki, an environmental expert from Espoo's Environmental Protection Department, gave you the tip on the Tremanskärri trail.

• Tremanskärr nature trail

Espoonlahti is an oasis for birds and birdwatchers

Espoonlahti is an important nesting area for waterfowl and wetland birds, as well as a migratory resting place - and therefore a particularly interesting destination for birdwatchers. The way to the bird tower is along a nature trail of more than a kilometre, which will not leave you cold: the Fiskarsinmäki is dotted with huge deciduous trees. The soothing nature experience is perfected by a profusion of flowers and a rich variety of insects and mosses. The Fiskarsinmäki nature trail is easily accessible, but not unobstructed. In addition to the nature trail, there is an extensive network of paths in the area, which can easily add length to the hike.

The hiking tip for Tremanskärr was given by Mira Soini, Environmental Manager at Espoo Environmental Protection.

• Espoonlahti Nature Reserve

Tammisto Nature Reserve

"The Tammisto Nature Reserve is a wonder of leafy vegetation, rocky forests, spruce forest and even 300-year-old oak trees. The oak forests are a very rare habitat type by national standards. In the Tammisto nature reserve you can see nesting common starlings, singing garden warblers and eurasian blackcaps, drumming lesser spotted woodpeckers and resting tawny owls. The area is home to roe deers and has also been observed to have flying squirrels."

- Taru Metsä and Jasmine Vaittinen, City of Vantaa nature guides

• Tammisto Nature Reserve

Kuusijärvi

"For me, the Kuusijärvi outdoor area is a natural gem in Vantaa. It is as diverse in its services as Vantaa as a city, regardless of the season. The soft steam of the smoke saunas and a dip in Lake Kuusijärvi is a refreshing experience.

In winter, you can go skiing and sledding on Lake Kuusijärvi, and in summer you can enjoy a relaxed beach life or head for the jogging trails.

In recent years, Lake Kuusijärvi has been made more accessible. There is an accessible nature trail and barbecue area, and an accessible smoke sauna will be completed in autumn 2025. With the completion of an accessible swimming beach, Lake Kuusijärvi will become even more accessible for everyone."

- Pekka Timonen, Mayor of Vantaa

• Kuusijärvi outdoor area

Lake Bisajärvi

""Bisajärvi", the answer for the best nature spot in Vantaa is easy for me. The life of an entrepreneur is busy, but I refuse to give up unhurried moments in nature. Since "haste is bad preparation", I always check the up-to-date information about the destination on Luontoon.fi. Then I'm not in a hurry and I can enjoy the trip. The best thing about Lake Bisajärvi is the scenery and the silence. If you feel like chatting, you have the opportunity to do so. It's easy for even a less experienced hiker to head to Bisajärvi along the marked trail, but Sipoonkorpi also offers wilderness experiences to satisfy your longing for Lapland."

- Lauri Kaivoluoto, Entrepreneur, Restaurant Backas

Vanhankaupunginlahti - Old Town Bay

Easily accessible by public transport, Vanhankaupunginlahti is a unique bird sanctuary and nature destination in the heart of Helsinki. The area offers hikers a variety of trails and 15 built nature observation points. The wetlands and coastal meadows of the internationally important bird water provide a diverse habitat for resting and breeding birds. In the coastal meadows you can also see cattle and sheep working in the summer. In particular, the Pornaistenniemi and the Lammassaari boardwalk with its birdwatching towers also offer unobstructed nature experiences.

• Lammassaari accessible boardwalk

Central Park  

The Central Park, which runs through Helsinki, is a well-guided and popular nature and outdoor recreation area that stretches from Töölönlahti in the south to Haltiala on the northern border of the city. The outdoor trails are used for walking, cycling and, in winter, skiing. There are separate routes for horse riding and mountain biking. Many Helsinki residents commute to work via the Central Park. One of the most popular areas for outdoor activities is Paloheinä, which features frisbee golf in summer and a city-maintained sledding hill and snow-covered slopes in winter.

The nature of the Central Park is diverse and the terrain varied. In addition to outdoor activities, it is easy to find places to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of nature in the Central Park. Central Park is easily accessible by public transport from different parts of Helsinki.

• Central Park Mountain Biking Trail (16 km)

Pihlajasaari 

Pihlajasaari is a traditional outdoor island and one of the most popular summer islands in Helsinki. It is located about 10 minutes by sea from the mainland. The island's nature consists of woods and groves, as well as rocky and sandy beaches. Pihlajasaari has a nature reserve and a protected seaside meadow. There are sandy paths along which you can walk around the island, and a marked nature trail that runs along both the western and eastern islands, which are linked by a footbridge.

The island has a popular beach, a guest marina and restaurant, as well as cooking shelters with firewood on hand and drinking water points. There are two saunas for hire and camping is allowed on the eastern Pihlajasaari. On the western island is one of Helsinki's two naturist beaches.

• Pihlajasaari nature trail