Railways in Europe
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and the country’s largest city. Since the 15th century, a small fishing settlement existed on the site of today’s Helsinki. The city was officially founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa. From that period comes the Swedish name Helsingfors. The city was often destroyed by the Russians during the …
Porvoo is the largest city in Finland not served by passenger trains. In summer, tourist trains usually run on the Helsinki–Porvoo route, but for example in 2025 the service was suspended. The city is easily accessible by bus from Helsinki. Porvoo is also one of the most beautiful Finnish towns. The town center is built …
Lahti is an important winter sports center of international fame. The city has over 120,000 inhabitants. It is located on Lake Vesijärvi, at the edge of the Finnish Lakeland. Due to its proximity to Helsinki and excellent rail connections, it is a popular destination for day trips from the Finnish capital. Each year, the World …
Jyväskylä is a medium-sized city (about 150,000 inhabitants) located on Lake Päijänne. It was founded in 1837. It is an industrial and academic center without world-class monuments. Tourists who stay in the city for a longer time can visit several interesting museums dedicated to the history of Finland. Jyväskylä is a dynamically developing city. In …
Tampere is a medium-sized industrial city, once known as the “Manchester of Finland.” In recent years, the authorities have invested heavily in transforming former factories and industrial areas in the city center into art galleries, cultural institutions, meeting places, and tourist attractions. The city is also known for its green spaces and well-kept parks. Tampere …
Pori is a medium-sized city located on the western coast of Finland, at the mouth of the Kokemäenjoki River into the Gulf of Bothnia. Architecturally, it is not particularly distinctive, but it is known far beyond Finland for the international Pori Jazz Festival, held here every July – it is one of the major jazz …
Oulu is one of the largest cities in Finland. It has long been an important industrial center, specializing in advanced electronic technologies and laboratory industries. The population of Oulu is approximately 215,000. Like many other Finnish cities, Oulu’s old buildings were almost entirely destroyed by fire (1822). The city was rebuilt according to the design …
Vaasa is a city with over 70,000 inhabitants. It was founded in 1606, but nearly all of its buildings were destroyed in the great fire of 1852. The rebuilt city was relocated 7 kilometers from its original location. From 1862, the city was called Nikolaistad in honor of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. The main …
Turku is the second-largest city in Finland. For a long time, it was the country’s capital until the capital was moved to Helsinki in 1812. In 1827, most of the city was destroyed by a great fire. The city center was rebuilt in a neoclassical style, modeled after St. Petersburg. Architecturally, Turku is not considered …
Trondheim is the northernmost large city in Norway. It was founded in 997 by Olaf Tryggvason as Nidaros and served as the capital of Viking Norway until 1217. During the Middle Ages, it was the site of Norwegian royal coronations. The name Nidaros was used until the Danish conquest of Norway, after which it was …