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I won't comment on the cities itself. Barcelona is very close to the mountains but not directly in the mountains. How often people with their busy lives get to experience that is a good question. Many people who actually live in the mountains don't appreciate the nature because they don't care or just too used to their surroundings. Same issue everywhere.
Both Stockholm and Helsinki metros actually have nice landscapes. Very nice from the sea of course. The whole Gulf is stunning. It is different both to the med or adria. Not everyone has a sailboat unfortunately. I don't and that is a minus. Further deep inland both Stockholm and Helsinki has some very beautiful scenery as well. Driving on the bigger roads the scenery might be mediocre in both Stockholm and Helsinki. There is some mediocre agricultural land in both of those areas. Neither of those places offer mountains. Summers are short as well. Different parts of the Alps and Pyrenees are different in themselves. The mountain people who appreciate nature will find things they like in both places even if they miss their big hills
Looks like you know not more about Marseille...It has 5 million tourists per year. How much for Finland per year ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by botticelli
The entire Finland attracted 4.6m tourists in 2015 (get that: most from Russia, your genetically connected cousins), while 5M for Marseilles in 2014 alone.
People outside Russia are simply not interested in Finland.
7.4 million are the official numbers in 2015. 1/3 of the foreign tourists of China. Outside Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao people are simply not interested in China.
Top 5 foreign visitors in Finland are: Sweden, Russia, Germany, UK, US. China and Japan are on a steep rise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pokitobounto
Aaah, then you can enlight us ! But then when someone says Marseille is just a cesspool compare to Helsinki and its surroundings it's normal
Alala my poor Marseille, you are not only Kalachnikovs, drugs and garbage specially for nature
Finland is mostly unknown and a bit far from the bigger tourism destinations. Another thing that goes against it is the fact that northern europe is generally more expensive than the rest of the continent.
Marseille rules as a tourism destination and it's just starting to be noticed. Hopefully I'll make it to Helsinki in this decade.
Finland is mostly unknown and a bit far from the bigger tourism destinations. Another thing that goes against it is the fact that northern europe is generally more expensive than the rest of the continent.
Marseille rules as a tourism destination and it's just starting to be noticed. Hopefully I'll make it to Helsinki in this decade.
The price level doesn't stop people from traveling to the UK, Ireland, Netherlands or Belgium. Or Paris.
But otherwise you're right. Helsinki is overshadowed by Stockholm and Copenhagen, which I really don't see any reason why, though I'm not totally neutral on this subject. Luckily tourism is on the rise, especially from Asia.
I'd say Helsinki belongs top 10, for this reason: I have never, ever been to or heard of an major urban center anywhere else on the planet with so much forest/greenery immediately inside and surrounding it. It is truly mind blowing for those who haven't seen it. Maybe not grandiose in the vein of these other places, but stunning nonetheless. I think my conclusion though, is that while there are many significantly sized cities in Europe with outstanding landscapes, Nice probably wins. The fact that within 60 miles, one can get to outstanding vineyards, the Alps, gorgeous coastline, and geologic features like Verdon Gorge, helps it to win out for me.
This !
It is the reason why I moved here (I'm originally from the north). I have never visited a sizeable town where in less then an hour, sometimes only minutes, you can ski in the biggest alps stations, drink wine in Provence, bike and see the wolves in mercantour and of course the beautiful sea, not to mention the sunniest weather in France.
And let's not forget you can go visit italian open markets in less than 20 minutes, I do it every other sunday morning
The price level doesn't stop people from traveling to the UK, Ireland, Netherlands or Belgium. Or Paris.
But otherwise you're right. Helsinki is overshadowed by Stockholm and Copenhagen, which I really don't see any reason why, though I'm not totally neutral on this subject. Luckily tourism is on the rise, especially from Asia.
Sure yeah, Paris or London are hella expensive, but I found a solution: I don't go there
That said, I remember packing a trip which was Croatia->Bosnia->Serbia->Greece for 3 weeks a few years ago, all apartments and bus trips, and we paid probably around 1,300 € for 2 people, food included. Not sure you can find cheaper in Europe.
Schaffhausen is not really a major city but it deserves mention because of its falls wich are imho a magical feature
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