Hameenlinna, Finland

Capital City

At just 68,319 people, Hameenlinna may seem sleepy, but its bureaucratic headaches are anything but small. The city was once the center of Finland's Tavastia province, but today it struggles to shed its rural roots, with a historic city center that some deride as a "lit cemetery." Still, Hameenlinna boasts cultural attractions like the Verkatehdas complex and the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Those drawn to the city's industrial history and strategic lakeside location may find it a suitable fit, but the persistent challenges of inland living in Finland are unlikely to appeal to all.