Visit nature attractions by train
Visit nature attractions by train
You can travel to several beautiful nature attractions in Finland without spending hours in your car. The backpack and tent travel with you on the train, and you can use the travel time to plan hiking routes, for example.
See the map for more information about the destinations
Together with Metsähallitus, we have compiled a list of nature sites that you can easily reach without your own car. Explore destinations and check your arrival instructions.
Visit national parks and natural attractions by train
Aulanko Nature Reserve, Opens in a new tab in Hämeenlinna has been a popular tourist destination for over one hundred years. Nowadays, the nature reserve in Aulanko offers tourists much more to see than just the beautiful scenery. The Aulanko parkland with its attractions and the traditional Finnish landscape, best viewed from the observation tower on Aulangonvuori, attract more than 400,000 visitors to the area every year. Aulanko is especially suitable for day trips, and some of the attractions in the area are also suitable for those travelling with an assistant or a pram.
How to get there:
- There is a little over three kilometres to walk from Hämeenlinna railway station, Opens in a new tab to Aulanko. You can also take the local bus number 2, Opens in a new tab to Aulanko from the station.
- You can buy both a train ticket and a Hämeenlinna one-time public transport ticket in the VR Matkalla application.
The rugged landscapes of Helvetinjärvi National Park with its valleys and gorges are breathtaking. The most famous gorge in the area is Helvetinkolu. There is a vantage point near Helvetinkolu with a view of the glittering Iso Helvetinjärvi lake between the steep cliffs. Old forests border the valleys and small ponds. Hanging mosses and lichens sway in the wind from tree branches and shelf fungi bulge from tree trunks. Helvetinjärvi is also home to the Eurasian three-toed woodpecker that lives in old forests.
How to get there
On summer weekends, the Outdoor Express bus takes you directly from Tampere railway station to the Kankimäki starting point in Helvetinjärvi National Park, the Helvetin Portti restaurant. The bus runs every third weekend from May to the end of August on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also take a bike on the bus, and pets are allowed on Sundays.
Read more on the Outdoor Express bus website, Opens in a new tab.
Known for its crystal-clear lakes, Hossa is a national park with ridge landscapes and numerous hiking trails. There are a total of about 90 kilometres of routes, hiking trails run through pine forests and marshes. Mountain biking trails offer a choice of journeys for up to 50 kilometres. There are three accessible routes for all travellers.
In Hossa, you can spot reindeer, a common sandpiper, a Eurasian three-toed woodpecker, a fox or an otter, for example.
How to get there
By train, the closest station to Hossa National Park is Kajaani, 170 km away, from where there is a connecting bus to Hossa.
Alternatively, you can travel from the train station to Kuusamo by bus and rent a car there.
Learn more about directions to Hossa National Park, Opens in a new tab.
TOP destinations
The tour of Värikallio takes the visitor on a time journey to Lake Somerjärvi. The rock paintings on Värikallio date back to the New Stone Age and are at least 3,500 years old.
Muikkupuro is a shallow serpentine sandy bottomed stream that charms with its beauty. Next to the stream, there is the Muikkupuro lean-to shelter, which is by an accessible route.
The height differences and rocky slopes of Isojärvi National Park can make you breathless, but the landscapes are worth the climb. Forested mountains and deep valleys alternate in the landscape that was shaped by the ice age. Streams run among the old spruces and moss carpets adorn the forest in different shades of green. The hoots of the red-throated diver in clear water lakes and beavers floating almost silently on the surface of the water create an atmosphere of wilderness.
How to get there
On summer weekends, the Outdoor Express bus takes you directly from Tampere railway station to the Herety café in Isojärvi National Park. The bus runs every third weekend from May to the end of August on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also take a bike on the bus, and pets are allowed on Sundays.
Read more on the Outdoor Express bus website, Opens in a new tab.
In Koli National Park, Opens in a new tab, you will find Finland’s most famous national landscapes. Koli has suitable routes for hikers of all levels. There are about 80 kilometres of marked trails, ranging in length from 1.5 kilometres to 61 kilometres.
On the steep trails of Koli, you can experience the enchantment of dangerous landscapes as part of the centuries-old continuum of visitors to Koli. Countless travellers throughout history, from ordinary wilderness travellers to well-known Karelian artists, have sought strength and inspiration from the wild landscapes of the expansive Pielinen. In addition to the landscapes and unique geological history of Koli, local attractions also include old agricultural meadows and native cattle grazing in Ollila, Lakkala and Seppälä during the summer.
How to get there
- The distance from Joensuu railway station to Koli , Opens in a new tabis about 70 kilometres, and from Vuonislahti railway station it is about 10 kilometres by water.
- The most convenient way to travel from Joensuu is by a connecting bus, taxi, Opens in a new tab or affordable rental car.
- You can take advantage of the rental car benefit when you buy a train ticket using the VR Matkalla app (the benefit is visible on the app front page after you have bought the ticket) or the vr.fi website.
Top destinations
On the new Kiehinen tour, you get to practise your hiking skills and enjoy the southern scenery that is not so well known to many hikers.
The Village trail leads you trough historical times, from the village of Koli to the heart of Koli National Park. During the day of hiking, you can also visit the renewed Koli Nature Centre Ukko.
The Kurjenrahka, Opens in a new tab marshes provide an opportunity to get away for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of the culture city of Turku. As its name suggests, Kurjenrahka is home to cranes, and you can also experience the spring fever of owls. In snowy winters, the ski track takes the visitor to the heart of the peaceful marshes.
In nature conservation areas, forest rights are not valid as such. Make sure to always check the rules of the destination before your trip. National parks are nature conservation areas with an important task to safeguard biodiversity and enable people to enjoy and relax in nature in line with the terms of nature conservation. Metsähallitus manages all of Finland’s national parks.
Location information:
Kuhankuonontie 67.21930 Pöytyä, Finland , Opens in a new tab
How to get there
Some of the services on the Föli lines 21 and 23 run from Turku to Kuhankuono in Kurjenrahka National Park. These services are operated from 22 April to 27 October on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. On weekends, Föli lines 21 and 23 run to Kuhankuono once an hour. The last return service leaves after 7 p.m. You can find more information about the schedules on the Föli website., Opens in a new tab
All Föli travel cards and other tickets are valid for the trip to the national park. You can also buy a single ticket on board the bus with contactless payment and cash.
You can also continue your journey from Turku with an affordable rental car, and by showing your train ticket, you can get a Taxidata or a Menevä taxi ride at a reduced price.
Cyclists can cycle to the national park from Turku, the distance from the railway station is 41 km.
Experience nature on wings on Finland’s finest wetland
Liminka Bay is an internationally significant resting and nesting area for migratory birds. The area is a place where the ranges of many northern and southern bird and plant species meet. The Liminka Bay Visitor Centre’s, Opens in a new tab bird-themed exhibition “The Eight Seasons of Birds”, where visitors will be dazzled by the beauty of birds, is also special!
Liminka Bay is an excellent excursion destination for the whole family. About 200 different bird species can be seen at Liminka Bay every year, of which about 160 nest in the area. There are many rarities among them. Black-tailed godwits, several species of geese, beautiful ruffs, harsh-voiced Caspian terns, graceful and rare pallid harriers and elegant swans will make a nature observer’s head spin. The area has several birdwatching towers and short duckboard and sand paths, as well as campfire sites. The visitor centre and its surroundings are accessible, and birds can be observed from the Virkkula tower also with prams.
How to get there
The Oulu railway station is located approximately 34 kilometres from the Liminka Bay Visitor Centre. There are several bus services between Oulu and Liminka every day. The nearest bus station is in the centre of Liminka and the distance from the stop is about 500 metres from the visitor centre.
If you buy a train ticket, you can, for example, get a discount on a rental car, Opens in a new tab, with which you can easily get from the station to the visitor centre.
Top attractions
Liminka Bay Visitor Centre: permanent exhibition, free admission, check the opening hours on the Liminka Bay Visitor Centre website, Opens in a new tab.
Virkkula birdwatching tower: The most popular place to visit in the Liminka Bay area. The lower platform of Virkkula tower is accessible. A cooking shelter with three fire sites is located in the vicinity of the visitor centre. The campfire sites and the Virkkula birdwatching tower are maintained by the municipality of Liminka. A gravel path, measuring 600 metres in one direction, runs from the visitor centre’s yard to the Virkkula birdwatching tower. There is no winter maintenance on the trail.
Nuuksio, Opens in a new tab is a suburban national park in the capital region, whose nature provides the perfect environment for versatile hiking.
Nuuksio is well suited as a day trip destination, and it is also a good destination for a brisk weekend trip with your family, for example. Nuuksio's routes provide a suitable challenge for both a novice hiker and an experienced wilderness hiker.
The most popular destinations are Haukkalampi with its trails and the Kattila area. In Nuuksio, it is also worth visiting the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, Opens in a new tab to get acquainted with the Finnish nature through exhibitions or to ask for excursion tips.
How to get there
There is a bus connection to the Nuuksio National Park from the train station in Espoon keskus. HSL bus 245 runs to the eastern and northern parts of the national park and to the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia. In summer, you can take the bus all the way to Kattila in Nuuksio, but in winter, the last stop is at Nuuksionpää. The bus journey to Haltia takes about 25 minutes and up to Kattila about 40 minutes.
HSL buses 243 and 244 run from Espoon keskus to Siikaniemi, the southern part of the national park. The bus trip takes about 50 minutes.
For those coming from Helsinki
Helsinki Central railway station has a connection to Espoon keskus by regional train (E, U, Y). The journey takes about half an hour.
For those coming from the direction of Turku
Turku-Helsinki long-distance trains stop at Leppävaara station, which has a connection by regional train (E, U, Y) to Espoon keskus. The train trip from Leppävaara to Espoon keskus takes about 10 minutes.
HSL Journey Planner, Opens in a new tab
You can buy both a train ticket and an HSL voucher using the VR Matkalla app, Opens in a new tab.
Punkaharju Nature Reserve, Opens in a new tab has been an internationally renowned tourist destination for over two hundred years thanks to its natural landscapes. It is one of Finland's national landscapes, and the beautiful lake views between the rugged pines are still the main attraction.
Sense the layers of history from the creations of the Ice Age through the old road foundations, the building stock and military-historical structures to the present day. The primeval area of Kokonharju and the Laukansaari research park complete the Punkaharju experience.
How to get there
The train takes you directly to the heart of Punkaharju Nature Reserve, when you get off at Lusto.
Cycling is allowed in the nature reserve, and Punkaharju is the starting point for several long cycling routes, such as Pihlajavesi polkasu, the Suur-Saimaa cycling tour and the Puruvesi tour.
Repovesi National Park, Opens in a new tab is one of the most popular hiking and trekking destinations in Southern Finland. There are around 45 kilometres of marked trails in Repovesi. The trails range from slightly under 4 kilometres to 26 kilometres long. The majestic mountain landscapes of Repovesi have rolling trails that are sure to pose a welcome challenge for experienced hikers. Climb the rugged cliffs, cross Lapinsalmi Bridge or cross Määkijänsalmi on a cable ferry.
How to get there
The simplest and easiest option is to hop on the bus waiting at the train stop in Hillosensalmi. There is no need to book the bus trip in advance. The bus will also wait at the station if the arriving train is delayed.
From Hillosensalmi, the bus heads straight to Lapinsalmi, right to the starting point of the hiking trails. When the time has come to head home, you get on the bus from the bus stop located in the parking area of Lapinsalmi. You can find the timetables in the Kouvola journey planner., Opens in a new tab
The Hillosensalmi stopping point is in use from 27 April to 26 October 2024.
Train timetables:
- IC 63 Mon–Sun from Helsinki at 8:19 a.m. – Hillosensalmi at 10:13–10:14 a.m.
- IC 68 Mon–Sun from Kuopio at 2:20 p.m. – Hillosensalmi 4:42–4:43 p.m.
If you are looking for a more memorable and tailored service, your choice might be a boat taxi. By ordering in advance, you can get a boat taxi directly to the quay of Hillosensalmi and the journey continues straight to the heart of the national park, such as to the quay of Karhulahti, Kuutinkanava or Lapinsalmi. You can order a return trip to another quay or get on a bus in Lapinsalmi. Boat taxi services are provided by the companies Kuutinkolo and Seikkailuviikari.
Rokua National Park, Opens in a new tab is part of Rokua Geopark, Finland's first destination in the UNESCO network of unique geological sites. In addition to the National Park, Rokua Geopark includes the northern areas of Oulu Lake and Oulu River Valley areas.
In the rugged sand trails of this ancient pine grove, even the family’s smallest can walk along the paths. Dunes covered with silver lichen frame small ponds that tell us about the great forces that shaped the landforms during the Ice Age and its melting phase. Pookivaara Tower, located in the heart of the National Park, offers views even to the the Oulu lake, also known as the Kainuu Sea.
How to get there
The distance to Rokua National Park is about 22 kilometres from Vaala railway station and about 82 kilometres from Oulu railway station. You can get to Rokua by bus from the beginning of June to the beginning of October from both train stations. The bus departs in Vaala from the railway station yard and in Oulu from the bus station, which is right next to the railway station.
Public bus services to Rokua National Park run daily in summer and at weekends in autumn. The timetables and bus tickets are available on Matkahuolto’s website., Opens in a new tab
You can also use a local taxi, Opens in a new tab to make the trip.
TOP destinations
Rokua National Park is known for its charming forest floors full of white-glowing lichen. On the sunny southern slopes of kettleholes and steep ridges, there are some rare species that are specific to ridges.
In the meandering ridge landscape shaped by the Ice Age, the hiking trail passes through Finland's largest kettlehole, Syvyydenkaivo.
In Seitseminen National Park, Opens in a new tab, you will find old forests, ridges, bogs, meadows and pastures. There you can, for example, experience the Multiharju primeval forest, which is accessible via a two-kilometre nature trail. More than half of the area of Seitseminen National Park is marshland, which is full of life during the summer. In the marshlands of Seitseminen, it is possible to see black grouse, cranes, whooper swans or even a willow grouse, a bird that is more commonly seen further north.
How to get there
Seitseminen National Park is located 26 km from Parkano train station. The easiest way to get there is by taxi. A fixed rate has been agreed with the local taxi companies, with which your whole group will travel to the very heart of the national park. Read more about the taxi service, Opens in a new tab.
On summer weekends, the Outdoor Express bus takes you from Tampere railway station directly to Seitseminen National Park. The bus runs through the park to the nature centre, the Kovero heritage farm and Saari-Soljas. The bus runs every third weekend from May to the end of August on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also take a bike on the bus, and pets are allowed on Sundays.
Read more on the Outdoor Express bus website, Opens in a new tab.
Sipoonkorvi National Park, Opens in a new tab is located in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The dimness of the woods and the fine mushroom and berry terrain invite people from the cities to relax and enjoy nature. Sipoonkorpi is well suited for a day trip, as there are several short hiking trails that are a few kilometres long.
Cycling in Sipoonkorpi National Park is allowed on all clearly marked paths and routes.
How to get there
The distance from Tikkurila railway station to Sipoonkorvi National Park is about half an hour. The shortest connection to Sipoonkorvi National Park is from Tikkurila Railway Station by HSL bus 736, Opens in a new tab to the Kalkkiuunintie stop, which connects to the Kalkkiruukki trail. You can buy both a train ticket and an HSL voucher using the VR Matkalla application.
In Teijo National Park, Opens in a new tab, the peace of nature meets modern life and artisanal traditions of the historic villages. From the villages, you can go hiking, canoeing and fishing in the varied sea landscapes, lakes and marshes of the national park. Teijo is suitable for day hikers, but you can also stay there under the starry sky of the national park or in the charming accommodation found in the village.
How to get there
The distance from Salo railway station to Teijo National Park is about 20 kilometres. The local transport bus number 30, Opens in a new tab from Salo city centre goes to the parking area of the national park.
Teijo National Park is part of a coastal cycling route, Opens in a new tab. The cycling route from the station to the national park is around 20 kilometres. The National Park has a six-kilometre mountain bike route around Tapani and a five-kilometre tour of Jeturkasti.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, Opens in a new tab offers sightseeing and experiences in the heart of clean and magnificent nature. There are also plenty of activities to suit every taste throughout the year. This third largest national park in Finland is one of the most popular excursion destinations. Thanks to its large area, you will find both peaceful spots and the relaxed atmosphere of resting places.
How to get there
Kolari is the closest railway station to Pallas-Yllästunturi. You can see the train timetables in the trip search or here on the timetables page.
You can take the connecting bus from Kolari railway station to Ylläs and back. The distance from Kolari railway station to Ylläs is 35 kilometres.
You can find more detailed directions on the nationalparks.fi website, Opens in a new tab.
Pyhä-Luosto, Opens in a new tab is one of the most popular national parks in Finland, and no wonder. The ancient forests, fells and the sacred sites of the Forest Sámi people offer you magical moments in the nature. Pyhä-Luosto National Park is a perfect destination for the whole family, with a wide range of day-trip routes.
Salla National Park, Opens in a new tab is the perfect place for hikers to relax: the hum of old-growth forests, complete peace, gorges, ridges and magnificent scenery. Salla National Park offers both easy day trips for the whole family and longer hikes for experienced hikers.
How to get there
From the railway station, it is easy to continue your journey to both destinations by bus. The night train arrives in Kemijärvi at 8:45 a.m. and the connecting buses to both destinations depart around 9:15 a.m.
The bus ride to Pyhä Tourist Centre takes about 55 min and to Salla Ski Resort 1 h 35 min. The national parks are just a few steps from the bus stop.
Lapland’s nature fascinates all year round!
The breathtaking scenery of the north awaits you at the end of a comfortable journey on a night train, with smooth connections available. Experience the new national park in Salla and be impressed by the seemingly endless scenery at the top of Pyhätunturi.
To Lapland by train
Explorers’ dream route
Experience four different hiking and trekking destinations along the same train route. Climb the cliffs, admire the magnificent Finnish landscapes and make camp to listen to the sounds of nature.
Where would you like to travel to?
You can search for listings directly using the name of a national park or natural site.