The best of holidays in the Heart of Finland!
In the Heart of Finland, where southern, western and central Finland meet, you can experience everything that made Lonely Planet to choose Finland as one of the TOP 3 travel destinations in the whole world.
Whatever it is you fancy, the Heart of Finland offers hundreds of experiences to suit all tastes! Sights, events, new experiences and various accommodation options ranging from the urban to the wild frontier. For example, the Serlachius museum Gösta has been ranked as the 2nd best tourist attraction in Finland by Lonely Planet.
Our cosy cities and villages as well as the nature that will activate your senses create the perfect setting for your holiday. Come and enjoy a vacation in the Heart of Finland!
Welcome. From the bottom of our heart!
Straight to the Heart | Essential information about the region’s municipalities
The Heart of Finland (Suomen Sydän) consists of seven municipalities in northern Pirkanmaa and Central Finland. Together we represent the classic elements that define Finland while remaining distinctive in terms of appearance and what we offer.
Ruovesi
RUOVESI is known for Helvetinjärvi national park and Noitakäräjät (“witch trial”) event. You can come to visit also by boat along the famous water way Poet’s Way! The renewed guest marina in Ruovesi centre provides diverse services for visitors.
Keuruu
KEURUU is a fascinating and beautiful town by the highway 23, about 60 km from Jyväskylä. Here the nature with lake landcapes and high class services are near. Tourist attractions suitable for the whole family and over a thousand happenings a year!
Jämsä
JÄMSÄ is known for its vivid summer happenings, beautiful nature near the river Jämsänjoki and the lake Päijänne and its unique felt tradition. The renowned Himos Holiday Centre offers entertainment all year round.
Mänttä-Vilppula
MÄNTTÄ-VILPPULA is known as an Art Town where the history of the Finnish paper industry is vividly present. The Serlachius museums, Art Festival, Mänttä Music Festival and Mänttä Food Festival provide top-level experiences to the visitors.
Juupajoki
JUUPAJOKI is known for the at national level appreciated cultural landscapes of Salokunta-Sahrajärvi road. At the inhabited centre of Korkeakoski there is an old factory milieu, Shoe Museum Koskenjalka and the unique nature attraction Juupajoki ravine. You can arrive by train!
Virrat
VIRRAT is known as a summer town of hundreds of lakes and for the nature which invites the tourist to hike and fish. The Toriseva ravine lakes are situated near the center of the town. Perinnekylä (“Tradition village”) takes you to the rural scenery of the old times.
Orivesi
ORIVESI invites you to the Art Centers, historic Hörtsänä’s Arboretum, beautiful recreation areas and Rönni Entertainment Center! Orivesi offers good confectionery and restaurant services in the city center and excellent holiday cottages in the countryside.
All four seasons!
A holiday in the Heart of Finland is always in the right season. Autumn, winter, spring or summer.
TOP 5 | We listened to visitors – this is what they have liked!
Here are some of our destinations that frequently emerge in lists of favourites. They include a number of nature experiences, local events and diverse cultural activities. Use these as tips for preparing your own holiday programme!
Ruovesi | TOP 5
Helvetinjärvi National Park and Helvetinkolu
Siikaneva Conservation Area
Witches’ Trial and Witches’ Night
Poet’s Way, S/S Tarjanne’s ship route (Murole canal, Ruovesi Ship Wharf and Visuvesi canal)
Music! Ruovesi chamber music festival
Keuruu | TOP 5
Old Keuruu area
Paddle wheeler Elias Lönnrot cruises on Lake Keurusselkä
Keuruu Old Church
Steam Locomotive Park of Haapamäki
Himmaan Huippu belvedere
Jämsä | TOP 5
Himos – year-round holiday centre: ski resort, festivals, golf, husky safaris and other activities
Moose Manor, Hirvikartano – Finland’s only private moose zoo
Felt factories and factory outlets
Wanha Witonen canoeing route
Isojärvi National Park
Mänttä-Vilppula | TOP 5
Serlachius museums: Art Museum Gösta and Gustaf Museum
Mänttä Art Festival, top-class exhibition of modern art
Mänttä Music Festival, top pianists
Mäntänvuori outdoor area: observation tower, wine tavern, hiking trails
Vilppulankoski tourist district and recreational fishing area
Juupajoki | TOP 5
Kallenaution kestikievari museum inn
Shoe museum in the Juupajoki ravine area shaped by the ice age
Cultural landscape route Kopsamo–Salokunta
“Nut-form” octagon Juupajoki Church in Kopsamo
Beautiful Kopsamo–Purnu canoeing route, 19 km
Virrat | TOP 5
Toriseva ravine lake and nature trail
- Laivaranta & the 112-year-old steamship Tarjanne
- Killinkoski old factory complex
Heritage Village
Herraskoski rapids
Orivesi | TOP 5
Art Centre Purnu on the shore of Lake Längelmävesi
Hörtsänä arboretum, over a century-old park home to various flower and tree species
Rönni entertainment centre: open-air dancing, events and delicious restaurant treats
Finnish Championship in woollen socks running in January
Pukala recreational area and the beautiful Roninmaa rest area
Our Heart – full of good things for you
