Hanko

Perhaps to your surprise, Finland also has beaches. Many locals visit Hanko to take advantage of the warm weather and long days, and it also happens to have a fascinating cultural heritage. Technically speaking, Finland is a multilingual nation with a majority of Finns and a minority of Swedes. Swedish is only spoken by roughly 5% of the whole Finnish population, but it is the primary language of 44% of the Hanko people. For a significant portion of its history, Hanko was also under Russian authority. For many years, the Russian nobility would travel to Hanko for their holidays.

A region of striking contrasts with the north is created by Finland's southern shore, which is located at the point of the Skne peninsula. A significant amount of tourists visit places like Hanko, whether they want to experience the local culture and water sports, or just relax on the beaches.

The tourist finds a small city that never stops in Hanko, where activities like golf, which is popular throughout the Nordic region, diving, fishing, and surfing draw thousands of visitors each year. It was transformed from a fishing community to one of the most coveted spa towns in the 19th century. You can still go to The Spa Park or Spa Villa today.

The sea softly laps at the Russarö lighthouse region, which is serene and tranquil. Hanko is renowned for the light that the horizon emits at sunrise and sunset, which gives the impression that the surroundings are out of a storybook.

• Location: Uusimaa