The city of Pori stands close to the west coast of Finland on the Gulf of Bothnia. The sea is about five miles away, along the River Kokemäenjoki, which is Finland's longest river. Pori is the capital of the Satakunta region. Visitors who hire a car in Pori can explore this area's attractions. These range from the popular four-mile-long Yyteri Beach to the strange Juselius Mausoleum at Kappara, built and decorated for the 11-year-old daughter of a wealthy businessman. The tourist island of Reposaari has a pretty village of wooden cottages while the Villa Mairea is one of the most celebrated designs of Finnish modern architect Alvar Aalto.
This is an important transport hub. Pori's international airport stands right in the southern outskirts of the city and the railway station is in the city centre. Its harbour is also busy with international freight and ferry ships. And if you hire a car in Pori you'll be able to drive straight on to Finnish Route 2 to Helsinki, 150 miles away. Pori itself has plenty of things to see. The highlights include the Satakunta Museum, the Art museum, and natural history museum. Perhaps most interesting is the Toivo Centre which demonstrates traditional ways of restoring old Finnish wooden houses. There are also old streets to wander and a popular park on an island in the river delta.