In Finland you'll have no trouble finding a nice beach for swimming. Thousands of lakes offer peaceful beaches and docks from which you can jump into the refreshing water to escape the summer heat. You can enjoy the sea atmosphere of the coast at countless beaches and smooth cliffs from Southern Finland all the way to the end of the Bothnian Bay. There are plenty of unique sand dunes and hidden bays just waiting to be explored. Some of the beaches have been popular from the early 20th century, and they still attract plenty of locals and tourists alike enjoying the sun, swimming and casual exercise. Many of the beaches are not only valuable for their cultural significance but also for their flora and fauna. Besides swimming you can often also do other water sports, such as surfing or SUPing.

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    Yyteri Beach (Yyterin ranta)

    Yyteri in Pori feels like beaches in Southern Europe.

    Yyteri Beach (Yyterin ranta)
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    • Ódýrt
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    • Fjölskyldur
    • Myndatökur

    Yyteri Beach in Pori is the first thing many people think about when talking about beaches in Finland. Its 4-mile-long sandy beaches and dunes are just as wonderful as any beach resort elsewhere. Yyteri is said to be the most beautiful beach in the Nordic countries. The dunes and its delicate plants are protected by guiding visitors to the beach via constructed paths; in 2019 Yyteri actually received the Green Key certificate – first in Finland. The shallow waters along the shores are suitable for everybody, including the kids! As well as swimming, in Yyteri you can try out SUPing or windsurfing. In addition to the beach, you should head to the boat routes nearby; they'll take you to places like Yyteri sand flat, which is known for its shore birds.

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    Hietaranta Beach (Hietarannan uimaranta)

    Busy Hietaniemi is the biggest beach in Helsinki.

    Hietaranta Beach (Hietarannan uimaranta)
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    Hietaranta, or as locals call it, Hietsu, is located right next to central Helsinki, near Etu-Töölö. This means you can get there easily by foot, bike or public transport. The water at sand-bottomed Hietsu beach gets deeper slowly, so it's great for kids and playing near the shore. The sandy beach is a popular exercise spot especially among beach volleyball players, and people also play for example basketball and ultimate. At the beach there's also a dressing room and a shower during swimming season and a restaurant-café called Badendaben; its terrace is a nice place to freshen up and watch people go by. During swimming season there's a life guard at Hietsu, and they often organise concerts there.

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    mynd frá Jonik (CC BY-SA 3.0) breytt

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    Nallikari Beach (Nallikarin uimaranta)

    Dive in the refreshing waves of Bothnian Bay at Nallikari Beach.

    Nallikari Beach (Nallikarin uimaranta)
    • Ævintýri
    • Ódýrt
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    • Fjölskyldur
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    Nallikari Beach is located in Oulu. It's a popular beach destination, and on a warm summer day you'll find both locals and tourists there. The beach is a few miles from the centre. It has been in use from the 1940s and nowadays it gets thousands of sunbathers every summer. Roller-skaters, cyclists and people exercising in other ways really like the area because they can use the gym equipment and ball courts there. Nallikari also offers visitors a restaurant and a café plus life guards keeping an eye on the swimmers. The water at Nallikari is really shallow, so it's perfect for kids and other people who enjoy wading at the shore. There's also a playground for kids near the beach. In addition to the beach you can also explore the nearby historical manor milieu and varied hiking trails.

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    Plagen

    Sunny Hanko is full of summer atmosphere!

    Plagen
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    Hanko's location at the tip of Hankoniemi, which protrudes into the Gulf of Finland, was made for sunbathing. There are 19 miles of sandy beaches in Hanko, and its coastline is 80 miles long. That means each sunbather will find their own favourite spot on the sandy beaches or rocky coves. Plagen, also known as Karuselliranta or Tennisranta, is one of the most popular beaches in Hanko. The water at Plagen is quite shallow, so it's especially popular among families with kids, and depending on the weather the beach can get very warm. Kids and adults alike really like the carousel on the beach; it's near the shore in water that's about 1.6-feet deep. The busy beach also has a playground, volleyball court, beach café, water park, changing cubicles and a toilet. The shallow beach is great, for example, for trying out SUPing.

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    mynd frá Matti Paavola (CC BY-SA 3.0) breytt

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    Bellevue

    Bellevue in Hanko is soaked in the sun almost all day.

    Bellevue
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    Hanko is located at the tip of Hankoniemi, which protrudes into the Gulf of Finland – it is the perfect summer holiday destination due to its uniquely long coastline. Of the 80-mile-long coastline, 19 miles is covered by sandy beaches, so there are plenty of good spots for sunbathers to put down their blanket; you can choose from cliffs and coves offering some shade or sandy beaches great for kids. Bellevue is located on the eastern side of Karuselliranta, and its water is shallow and often warm. The beach continues eastward for about a mile as Långsanda Nature Reserve, which is covered by sand dunes characteristic of the landscape. Bellevue has 3 changing cubicles and a toilet, and it's great for people who enjoy a more peaceful beach life but want to stay near the city.

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    Rauhaniemi Beach (Rauhanniemen uimaranta)

    Dive into Lake Näsijärvi at Rauhaniemi Beaches!

    Rauhaniemi Beach (Rauhanniemen uimaranta)
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    • Ódýrt
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    • Fjölskyldur
    • Myndatökur

    On the north side of Tampere, Rauhaniemi Beach by Lake Näsijärvi is a refreshing oasis where you can wash away the dust of the city. There are 2 separate beaches; the shallow lagoon south of Rauhaniemi Spa is especially good for kids. The water at the sand-bottomed beach gets deeper slowly, and due to its location it warms up quickly in the sun. On the sand you'll have lots of space to sunbathe and for the kids to play, and you can also find shade under the trees around the beach. The other Rauhaniemi Beach is a sauna beach where the water gets deeper really quickly and is therefore better for experienced swimmers. You can also dive in from a popular diving board, and sometimes you can enjoy the summer sun on the warm rocks.

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    mynd frá Haltiamieli (CC BY-SA 4.0) breytt

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    Suomenlinna Beach (Suomenlinnan uimaranta)

    Refreshing swim in the historical milieu of Suomenlinna.

    Suomenlinna Beach (Suomenlinnan uimaranta)
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    • Fjölskyldur
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    Did you know that in addition to sightseeing and learning history you can also swim at Suomenlinna? The tiny beach is located in a cove on the west side of Suomenlinna, but there are lots of places to sunbathe and have a picnic on the rocks around it. When you lie on the rocks, you get to enjoy the sea view that glows at sunset. Above the beach cove there's a popular walking trail; you can take the stairs down to the beach from there. There's no supervision on this beach, but there is a toilet and shower nearby for swimmers.

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    mynd frá Azylber (CC BY-SA 3.0) breytt