//
Finland Proper (Varsinais-Suomen maakunta, Egentliga Finland) is a region in Western Finland with a population of 480,000. It is the south-west corner of Finland, including much of the archipelago but not the Åland Islands.
Turku is well connected with the rest of Finland. You can get in by direct trains from Helsinki, Tampere and by sleeping cars from Lapland.
Read in the guideBy bus
The main towns are well connected with coaches, but check timetables in time for minor villages – there may not even be daily services. Also watch out for express coaches not stopping at your stop.
By train
Trains of VR can be used between Turku, Loimaa and Salo. Revival of regional traffic has been discussed since the 1990s, but as of mid-2020s plans are still in the blue.
By boat
Many islands in the archipelago have ferry connections, but outside the main routes you may need a boat (or kayak). There are charter and taxi boat services.
By bike
Bikes are useful for getting around, but to avoid biking along a narrow shoulder or a minor road ending in the wood, some research is needed.
By taxi
Most taxis in Turku use the Taksidata call centre, in the inland countryside Taksi Länsi-Suomi dominates. Where available, other taxis may be a tad cheaper (or more expensive).
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Turku · International · TKU
Loading places around the airport…
the former capital of Finland; the article covers also Raisio (Reso)
residential areas, bird watching, manors and the ruins of a bishop's castle
the Moomin World and wooden old town
Piikkiö (Swedish: Pikis) is a town in Finland Proper, nowadays part of Kaarina.
the countryside north of Turku, including parts of Turku itself, Lieto (Lundo), Masku (Masko), Paattinen (Patis), Rusko and Vahto
the outermost of the main island groups
a group of small islands near the Finnish-speaking northern archipelago, formerly the smallest municipality of "mainland" Finland
countryside and seaside islands
large island with ferry to Åland
Rymättylä (Swedish: Rimito) and Merimasku are rural areas in the Archipelago Sea in Finland Proper, consisting of a few main islands and about 500 smaller ones. The main islands have road connection to the mainland.
large island group in the centre of the archipelago, with the biggest marina
the only town in the archipelago
Velkua is an island group and former municipality in the Archipelago Sea, Finland Proper. The islands have a large number of summer cottages.
Marttila (Swedish: S:t Mårtens) is a small town and municipality in Finland Proper. This article covers also Koski (Koskis) in the north-east.
Nousiainen (Swedish: Nousis) is a mostly rural municipality in the inland of Finland Proper. This was where the first bishops of Finland resided.
Oripää is a small municipality located in the Inland of Finland Proper.
Pöytyä is a mostly rural municipality in the inland of Finland Proper, including also the former municipalities of Karinainen and Yläne. This article additionally covers the neighbouring municipality of Aura.
Loimaa is in the inland of Finland Proper. Alastaro, Mellilä and Metsämaa have been merged with the city and are included below.
Paimio (Swedish: Pemar) is a town in Finland Proper, with the former sanatorium planned by Alvar Aalto, part of the Aalto Works UNESCO World Heritage Site..
former home of the Nokia mobile phones
Sauvo is a rural municipality in Finland Proper, by the Archipelago Sea.
in the middle of the Helsinki–Tampere–Turku triangle, this town can be seen as a getaway from the busier parts of southern Finland
on the road from Helsinki
small coastal town with wooden old town
Bothnian Sea National Park (Finnish: Selkämeren kansallispuisto) is a maritime National Park in South-West Finland. About 98% of the park consists of sea and most of it is accessible only by boat.
Kurjenrahka National Park in Finland, in Finland Proper, is centred around the raised bog Kurjenrahka ("Crane bog"). Besides bogs and birdlife it features lakes and forests, among them the old-growth Pukkipalo.
For the Italian town, see Salò. Salo is a city of about 52,000 inhabitants (2021) in Finland Proper, perhaps best known for Nokia mobile phones.
skerry with lighthouse by the open sea
island with popular guest harbour
remote barren island with special nature
in the centre of the archipelago south of Nagu
lush island with research station and former leper hospital
the outermost inhabited island
former coastal fort; meadows with rare butterflies, old forests and nice cliffs and beaches
Articles and travel topics about Finland Proper and Finland.
Nature & adventureWhere to see the northern lights in 2026 and 2027 during Solar Cycle 25, comparing weather in Tromsø, Abisko, Fairbanks and Iceland.
7 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in December across sun, snow and culture, comparing Lapland, Chiang Mai, Vienna, Costa Rica and Cape Town.
7 min read
InspirationDiscover 10 rewarding emerging travel destinations for 2027. Escape crowded tourist hubs and explore quiet spots with rich culture and great food.
8 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.