About
Southwest Finland is a coastal region of Finland, where the mainland gives way to a scatter of islands, channels and open sea. It is the part of the country that looks most outward, and it has long served as Finland's gateway to Sweden and the rest of Europe.
The archipelago
The region is best known for its archipelago, a landscape of islands linked by ferries, small roads and bridges. Visitors who come for the water tend to spend their time moving between islands, watching the shoreline change from one stop to the next.
Historic cities
Turku is the region's best-known city and one of the historic centres of Finland. Its old town and riverside make a natural base for exploring the wider area, and the city offers a good introduction to the history of the coast.
Why visit
- A coastline of islands, reached by boat and road
- Historic cities, with Turku at the centre
- An easy point of entry from Sweden and other parts of Europe
For a traveller arriving from abroad, Southwest Finland makes a practical first or last stop in the country, with the sea, the islands and the old cities close at hand.
