Four Interesting hostels in Finland

Whether you fly Ryanair to Tampere, find your way to the Finnish countryside in the south-west, head towards the Eastern border in Karelia or prefer joining the company of 150 husky dogs in Lapland, you can find a hostel to suit your needs.

Tampere used to be the centre of industrialisation in Finland and this can still be seen in the city's daily life as well as art and culture. These days Tampere is a vibrant university town and there is something going on all the time. Dream Hostel opened its doors in April and joined HI Finland to be part of the worldwide hostelling family. Dream Hostel is a funky design hostel that has a great backpacker atmosphere. Take advantage of the hostel's offerings: pick a book from the book swap or rent a bicycle. The staff at Dream Hostel will also tell you the best spots for the local nightlife, which is just around the corner from the hostel.

If you are looking for a place to relax or you are travelling from Turku to, say, Tampere, why not stay on the way at Kartano Hostel in Kokemäki. Kartano Hostel is still an active farmhouse too. During the summer there is a huge selection of berries that you can pick in the gardens by yourself or alternatively you can buy them freshly picked at the hostel shop, where they also sell tasty lemonades and jams made from the berries. Kartano Hostel has both private rooms as well as dormitories.

Lieksa is a town near the Russian border in Karelia. It is also close to Koli, which is seen as the national landscape in Finland. Lieksa's Timitra Hostel is situated in a building that used to serve the army, but these days it is an atmospheric hostel. Join the many activities arranged by the hostel such as canoeing. Lieksa also hosts the annual festival Lieksa Brass Week in July, which brings to town brass enthusiasts from all over the world to enjoy the many concerts and other events.

Think of 150 furry charmers that get excited every time they see you. These gorgeous creatures are husky dogs and they expect to meet you at Guesthouse Husky in Ivalo, Lapland. Family-owned Guesthouse Husky will be opening its doors in February 2011 and will offer its guests the opportunity to get to know the Lappish way of life.