Set where the Kymi River spreads its five tributaries into the Gulf of Finland, Kotka is an architectural essay in Finnish history with Swedish fortifications, Russian Orthodox and Finnish Lutheran churches. The high spot of your stop here is unquestionably Czar Alexander III’s Imperial Fishing Lodge.

First fortified by the Swedes, Lappeenranta is a unique inland port made so by the 150 year old, 26 mile Saimaa Canal linking Lakes Saimaa’s southern end to the sea. Beneath its modern cloak you find a collision of cultures: Swedish, Karelian and Russian.

Linnankatu, the town’s oldest street runs down to Olavinlinna Castle which dominates the town and is probably the best preserved medieval one in the Nordic countries. Savonlinna in summer is a bustle of traditional Lakeland Steamer traffic, everyday life and opera goers.