Our top 10 reasons to visit Finland

Be sure to include a Finnish sauna, delicious local cuisine and a visit to Santa Claus Village on your bucket list. As Finland has four beautiful, distinct seasons, each with unique things to experience, you might want to plan more than one trip to Finland. There are at least hundreds of reasons to travel to Finland. We introduce 10 of them.

Four Seasons

Finland has four distinct seasons to admire. Summer is the time of white nights when everything around you bathe in the beautiful bright light. Finns love to spend their summer holidays outside hiking, biking, paddling or just laying on a pier reading a book. When the days get shorter and we move towards autumn, Finnish nature gets dressed in its best glory: the colour palette shines in the gorgeous tones of red, yellow, orange, purple, green and brown.

Finland has long and crispy winters with wonderful snowscapes. Enjoy this magical time by cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Spring, on the contrary, is the shortest season in Finland and the time when all the snow starts melting away and flora and fauna return.

Finnish sauna

The sauna experience is at the core of Finnish culture. The magic and enchantment of the whole thing is that sauna cleanses you both physically and mentally. Sauna culture is all about utter relaxation and after purifying steam, life becomes simpler, clearer, and lighter.

Try the addictive combo of a hot Finnish sauna and a dip in the lake or the Baltic Sea to cool off. In the winter, dipping your body into a freezing lake or sea is both horrible and fantastic at the same time. When you step out of the water, it might feel like a thousand needles are tingling your skin, but soon after, you’ll feel warm, relaxed, and refreshed.

Northern Lights 

Witnessing the northern lights, Aurora Borealis, or fox fires (the direct translation of the Finnish word Revontulet) is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. Finnish Lapland is one of the best places to spot and admire the northern lights that paint the sky with stunning and magical shades of green, turquoise, ultraviolet, pink and light blue. The further you go up north, the better your chances of spotting them. The aurora season in Finnish Lapland spans from the last days of August to early March. 

Lakeside cottages

Finns love to escape the hustle and bustle of the city into nature to their leisure homes – cabins by a lake. Rent a cabin to experience the Finnish lifestyle and cottage culture, with fresh air and tranquillity as absolute luxuries. Cool down by swimming, slide to the scenery with a rowing boat and try fishing with a traditional rod and line or a spinning rod.

National parks

Walk, hike and enjoy the peace in one of Finland’s many national parks. Breathe in the cleanest air of the world and drink crystal clear water from a cold fell stream. You can find altogether 40 national parks in Finland, and they are scattered around Finland’s long and beautiful country. Explore, for example, the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in Lapland, the Oulanka National Park in Kuusamo and Nuuksio in the capital area in Southern Finland. 

Santa Claus 

Although the exact location of his private retreat in Korvatunturi, Lapland, is unknown, Santa’s official hometown is Rovaniemi, where he greets visitors all year round. Santa Claus Village is located right on the border of the Arctic Circle. You will find plenty of atmospheric restaurants, cafes and gift shops as well as Finnish design inside the Village’s cute wooden buildings. And what is best, you can even spend a night in this charming Christmas atmosphere!

Midnight Sun

A Finnish summer specialty is the fascinating natural phenomenon of the Midnight Sun, where the sun stays above the horizon from May to August within the Arctic Circle. The purely magical moment is when the sun tries to set, and it paints the horizon from red to yellow and pink to purple. Climb somewhere high where the landscape opens wide to experience this wonderful moment. 

If you want to experience something unique, visit Sodankylä Midnight Sun Film Festival, which brings together famous and rising directors and international audiences in the charming surroundings of everlasting sunlight.

Huskies and reindeer 

In the snowy winter wonderland of Lapland, what could be a better thing to do than enjoy the speed and thrill of a husky safari? Ride through gorgeous snowscapes on a sled pulled by active and happy huskies. In the summertime, you can spend a day working with huskies or go hiking with them. 

Sámi people in Northern Lapland have a long history and connection with reindeer. First, reindeer were hunted, then domesticated and herded. That is why there are actually no wild reindeer in Finnish Lapland — all of them belong to someone, even though they roam freely.

Visit a Finnish reindeer farm to learn more about these magical animals. Go on a reindeer sleigh ride, walk the reindeer or try reindeer yoga!

Finnish design

Finnish design is famous for its minimalism, simplicity and functionality. The inspiration for design derives often from the surrounding forest, arctic nature and seasonal changes. Discover the history of the Finnish art industry in the internationally recognized Design Museum and visit the artistic Fiskars Village to familiarise yourself with local handicrafts and design. Don’t forget to visit the iconic Finnish design stores Marimekko, Iittala and Artek.

The happiest people on the Planet

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for many years in a row. It has a lot to do with the lifestyle of the Finns: going outdoors and spending time in nature and the wilderness is a significant part of many Finnish people's lives. Even in urban areas, you’re never far from a park or forest. In addition, people in Finland trust each other and feel secure and safe in their home country. 

Finns also trust public officials and the government. The education system is one of the fairest in the world and the health care system is universal, which leads to more equal opportunities. 

When visiting Finland, you’ll shortly notice that Finns greet you with warmth and hospitality and do their best to make your stay as comfortable as possible.