This region is jam packed with over 187,000 lakes, so it is easy to begin a self guided tour by just hopping in the car and heading in the general direction of the lakes. In this case you can determine the duration of the drive; however, for those who need to chart a more specific route there is an eight to nine day driving tour beginning in Helsinki, which weaves around lakes and through Finnish towns, bringing you right back to where you started. On the way to Turku, local byways will pass the ruins of the Raasepori Castle, the Mustio Manor and the Fiskars Ironworks. The end of the second day will end in Turku, Finland’s oldest city, home to some impressive medieval architecture for example its Castle and Cathedral. Day three is Urjala, The Glass Village, where there's a glass museum and opportunities to try your hand at glass blowing. Admire the work of the town's various artists of and be tempted to explore some of the local boutiques.

Next along the lakes are Tampere and Jyväskylä, where the sights and sites are endless and most of the buildings have been designed by the famous Alvar Aalto.

Finish the tour through Mikkeli, Punkaharju, and Lappeenranta, there are ancient castle towns with handicraft artistry stores around every corner. From here it's a short drive back to Helsinki and the tour is at an end. The trip can vary in length depending on the amount of time spent in each town, but no matter the length, this driving tour of Finland’s lake country exposes people to both the astonishing expanse of the lakes and the quaint and cosy country towns that dot the country.

Written by  Emily Christian-Michaels.

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