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Eero settles into Mikkeli, exploring the market square's autumn rhythms, the wartime history of the city as a former headquarters, and the quiet shift into ruska season along Lake Saimaa.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 41 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Mikkeli, Finland.
Places in this episode: Keskusta, market square, Headquarters Museum, Muisti Centre of War and Peace, Bistro Holvi, Lake Saimaa, Naisvuori Cafe and observation tower, Infantry Museum.
Covered: Mikkeli City Life, Wartime History, Autumn Season, Cost of Living, Local Dining, Residency Practicalities.
Chapters:
00:00 Market square
02:19 Headquarters Museum
04:35 Lake Saimaa
06:00 Infantry Museum
08:05 DVV
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Mikkeli #SouthSavo #FinlandTravel #RuskaSeason #LakeSaimaa #WartimeHistory #MarketSquare #AutumnInFinland #Mannerheim #VisitFinland #LakelandLife #TravelTips #CostOfLiving #PublicTransport #ArtMuseum #NatureWalks #ScandinavianStyle #SlowTravel
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Moving from the Punkaharju ridge to the working capital of Mikkeli, Eero explores the city’s wartime history, early ruska colours, and everyday lakeland life.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 40 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Mikkeli, Finland.
Places in this episode: Punkaharju, Lähemäki, Market Square, Headquarters Museum, Centre of War and Peace, Kenkävero, Lake Saimaa, Bistro Holvi.
Covered: Mikkeli City Life, Wartime History, Autumn Season, Cost of Living, Local Dining, Residency Practicalities.
Chapters:
00:00 Mikkeli
01:41 Market Square
03:29 Kenkävero
05:15 Akseli Shopping Centre
06:50 Kirjala Coffee Roastery
08:21 Visulahti
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#MikkeliFinland #SouthSavo #RuskaSeason #LakeSaimaa #FinnishHistory #TravelPodcast #LivingInFinland #AutumnVibes #WarAndPeace #LocalCafe #NordicDesign #ResidentLife #EeroVirtanen #FinlandTravel #SaimaaRingedSeal #AIinFinland #MuseumVisit #QuietTravel
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Eero spends his final full day in Punkaharju, exploring the ridge during peak ruska, visiting Lusto and Retretti, enjoying local dining, and reflecting on the seasonal transition before moving north.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 39 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Punkaharju, Finland.
Places in this episode: Punkasalmi, Harjutie, Puruvesi, S-market Punkasalmi, Shell station Punkasalmi, Lusto - The Finnish Forest Museum, Punkaharju Arboretum, Putikko.
Covered: Punkaharju Ridge Landscape, Early Ruska Season, Local Dining Costs, Regional History & Arts, Practicalities of Rural Living.
Chapters:
00:00 Puruvesi
01:23 Punkasalmi
04:01 Putikko
06:30 Retretti Art Centre
08:03 Leipomo-kahvila Pullaposki
09:30 Cafe
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Punkaharju #RuskaSeason #FinlandTravel #LustoMuseum #SouthSavo #RetrettiArtCentre #ForestMuseum #ForagingInFinland #LakeSaimaa #AutumnInFinland #NationalLandscapes #TravelFinland #SlowTravel #NordicNature #EasternFinland #CulturalHeritage #OutdoorLife #FinlandLifestyle
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Eero spends his final full day in Punkaharju, walking the esker ridge as ruska peaks, visiting the Lusto Forest Museum and the reopened Retretti Art Centre, and reflecting on the quiet transition from summer to autumn.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 38 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Punkaharju, Finland.
Places in this episode: Punkasalmi, Harjutie, Puruvesi, Pihlajavesi, Lusto Forest Museum, Topeliuksen polku, Arboretum, Leipomo- kahvila Pullaposki.
Covered: Punkaharju Ridge Landscape, Early Ruska Season, Local Dining Costs, Regional History & Arts, Practicalities of Rural Living.
Chapters:
00:00 Punkaharju
02:02 Arboretum
04:13 Retretti Art Centre
06:17 Ravintola Metsä
07:38 Kruunupuisto
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Punkaharju #FinlandTravel #RuskaSeason #SouthSavo #LustoMuseum #RetrettiArtCentre #VisitFinland #AutumnInFinland #EskerRidge #LakeSaimaa #NordicNature #TravelDiaries #FinlandLife #OutdoorAdventure #CulturalHeritage #SlowTravel #ForestBathing #ScandinavianDesign
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Eero explores the Punkaharju ridge as early ruska begins, visits Lusto Forest Museum, and reflects on the quiet transition from summer to autumn in South Savo.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 37 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Punkaharju, Finland.
Places in this episode: Punkasalmi, Leipomo- kahvila Pullaposki, Harjutie, Purunvesi, Pihlajavesi, State Hotel, Runeberg’s Mound, Kuikonniemi.
Covered: Punkaharju ridge landscape, Lusto Forest Museum, Early ruska season, Local dining costs, Regional History & Arts, Practicalities of moving and banking.
Chapters:
00:00 Punkasalmi
01:14 S-market
02:23 Kuikonniemi
05:19 Lake
06:37 Arboretum
08:33 Road
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#FinlandTravel #Punkaharju #RuskaSeason #LakeSaimaa #LustoMuseum #SouthSavo #VisitFinland #AutumnInFinland #NordicNature #ForestBathing #TravelTips #LivingInFinland #HikingFinland #SaimaaRingedSeal #CulturalHeritage #SlowTravel #EuropeanDestinations #OutdoorAdventures
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Day three in Punkaharju brings early ruska, a walk along the esker ridge, and reflections on the changing season. I also share what it costs to live here and how to navigate local services.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 36 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Punkaharju, Finland.
Places in this episode: Punkasalmi, Harjutie, Lake Puruvesi, Pihlajavesi, Lusto, Arboretum, Shell station, Leipomo-kahvila Pullaposki.
Covered: Punkaharju ridge landscape, Early ruska season, Local dining costs, Regional History & Arts, Practicalities of moving and banking, Daily life and costs in Punkaharju.
Chapters:
00:00 Punkasalmi
03:08 Lusto
07:00 Savonlinna
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Punkaharju #FinlandTravel #RuskaSeason #SouthSavo #LustoMuseum #SlowTravel #AutumnInFinland #SaimaaLake #DigitalNomadFinland #FinnishCulture #NatureWalks #SmallTownLife #EskersOfFinland #TravelTips #Scandinavia #NordicLiving #ForestBathing #VisitFinland
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Day two in Punkaharju. Eero explores the esker ridge as the first ruska colours appear, visits Lusto Forest Museum, and reflects on the quiet shift from summer to autumn in South Savo.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 35 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Punkaharju, Finland.
Places in this episode: Punkaharju Ridge, Lusto - The Finnish Forest Museum, Punkaharju Arboretum, Ravintola Metsä, Punkasalmi, Lake Puruvesi, Kuikonniemi.
Covered: Punkaharju Ridge Landscape, Lusto Forest Museum, Early Ruska Season, Local Dining Costs, Regional History & Arts.
Chapters:
00:00 Punkasalmi
02:22 Punkaharju Arboretum
05:26 Ravintola Metsä
08:09 Cafe
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Punkaharju #RuskaSeason #FinlandTravel #LustoMuseum #LakeSaimaa #SouthSavo #AutumnInFinland #EskerRidge #FinnishNature #TravelPodcast #SlowTravel #ForestMuseum #CulturalHeritage #LocalFood #RainyDay #QuietMoments #ExploreFinland #NordicDesign
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Eero drives from Savonlinna to his new home on the Punkaharju ridge, exploring the esker landscape, the Lusto forest museum, and the quiet arrival of early autumn.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 34 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Punkaharju, Finland.
Places in this episode: Savonlinna, Punkasalmi, Harjutie, Lusto - The Finnish Forest Museum, Retretti Art Centre, Punkaharju Arboretum, Gasthaus Punkaharju, S-market Punkaharju.
Covered: Moving to rural Finland, Punkaharju ridge landscape, Lusto Forest Museum, Retretti Art Centre, Cost of living in South Savo, Early ruska season.
Chapters:
00:00 Savonlinna
03:17 Punkasalmi
06:56 Topeliuksen polku
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Punkaharju #FinlandTravel #RuskaSeason #LustoMuseum #LakeSaimaa #FinlandLife #EskerRidge #AutumnInFinland #Savonlinna #NordicLiving #ForestMuseum #RetrettiArt #FinlandNature #SlowTravel #EasternFinland #MuumiLand #VisitFinland #OutdoorFinland
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Eero spends his last full day in Savonlinna, navigating the quiet streets after the summer crowds have left, visiting the cathedral and a local bakery, and reflecting on the practicalities of moving into the lakeland for the ruska season.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 33 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Savonlinna, Finland.
Places in this episode: Nojanmaa, Kauppatori, Savonlinnan Herkku Pekka Pullapuoti Oy, Savonlinnan tuomiokirkko, Riihisaari, Phin Cafe Station, Talvisalo.
Covered: End of summer in Savonlinna, Practicalities of Finnish residency, Local economy and business closures, Ruska anticipation, Daily life and costs in Savonlinna.
Chapters:
00:00 Nojanmaa
01:40 Kauppatori
03:32 Savonlinnan tuomiokirkko
07:27 Church
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Savonlinna #FinlandTravel #LakeSaimaa #RuskaSeason #OlavinlinnaCastle #FinlandLife #TravelPodcast #NordicLiving #AutumnInFinland #SaimaaSeal #KerimakChurch #FinlandCulture #TravelTips #Scandinavia #SlowTravel #FinlandFood #OutdoorFinland #DigitalNomadFinland
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
Eero spends his final full day in Savonlinna before moving into the lakeland for ruska. He walks the closing streets, visits the cathedral, reflects on the town's economic shifts, and prepares for the journey east.
☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Plan your trip to Finland: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Finland guide →
Some links are affiliate links.
Episode 32 of Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen. Eero Virtanen is in Savonlinna, Finland.
Places in this episode: Olavinlinna Castle, Kauppatori, Savonlinnan tuomiokirkko, Spahotel Casino, Phin Cafe Station, S-Pankki, Kerimäki Church, Punkaharju.
Covered: Savonlinna end-of-summer reflections, local economy and business closures, practicalities of moving and banking, final meals and market visits, transition to ruska season.
Chapters:
00:00 Savonlinna
02:45 Savonlinnan tuomiokirkko
06:06 Phin Cafe Station
08:28 Punkaharju
A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.
#Savonlinna #FinlandTravel #OlavinlinnaCastle #LakeSaimaa #RuskaSeason #LakelandLife #SaimaaRingedSeal #KerimakiChurch #FinlandAutumn #TravelFinland #NordicLiving #SlowTravel #CulturalHeritage #NatureConservation #EuropeanDestinations #HiddenGemsFinland #LocalLifeFinland #SeptemberInFinland
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/
From the publisher's feed
This podcast follows one resident as he settles in Finland, learning the country the way a local would. Travelling here means moving across low plains and lake basins, from the Swedish-speaking coastal south to the sparsely populated interior north, where the long Russian border shapes everyday life. The capital, Helsinki, is the northernmost national capital in continental Europe.
The host moves between Helsinki's urban streets, Turku's Swedish-influenced harbour, Savonlinna's lake-bound castle town, and Oulu's northern market squares. Each place is tied to the next by rail, road or water, and each shows a different layer of Finland's history, from Swedish rule to independence. He returns to these places as the seasons change.
Across episodes, the host stays in one region long enough to watch winter turn to spring, the ice melt on a lake, and the midnight sun give way to autumn darkness. He does not rush between sights. Instead, he returns to the same café, forest path or sauna, letting small details accumulate until a place begins to feel like somewhere he knows.
Eero Virtanen lives in Finland and stays for two years, moving between cities, coastlines and smaller towns on a route that follows the seasons. Not a week-long visit — Eero is there in every kind of weather, working out where to eat on an ordinary Tuesday, which train to take, what a festival actually feels like from the pavement.
A new episode arrives every day. Each one is short and specific: one neighbourhood, one journey, one meal, one museum worth the detour — with the practical detail that matters. What it costs. When it closes. Whether the queue is worth it. What to do when it rains. Every episode carries a full transcript and chapter markers.
☕ Enjoying the show? These episodes are free and stay that way because listeners chip in — if a coffee's worth it, support the journey: buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo
Part of Paris2Tokyo — one show for each of the world's hundred most-visited countries. Made for travelers, wherever you are going next.
#Finland #FinlandTravel #NorthernEurope #Helsinki #TravelPodcast #Travel #Paris2Tokyo
https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/finland/