The 5 best things to do on your next visit
Dreaming of a holiday in Finland but not sure where to start?
Winter or summer, north or south, Finland has plenty of great experiences in store. Here are the top five things to put on your list.
Chase the Northern Lights
The best place to experience the Northern Lights in their most vivid form is in northern Finland, where the season lasts for months, starting in September and continuing until spring. If the sky is cloudless, statistically, the lights appear in Lapland almost every other night. If you’re lucky, you can also catch a glimpse of the phenomenon in the southern parts of the country.
Find out where to find the Northern Lights and how to prepare for the quest.
Try a sauna and dip in ice-cold water
A sauna is certainly a year-round must for any visit to Finland. Public saunas are widely available around the country, often with access to lakes or rivers. Challenge yourself to the full Finnish experience by taking a refreshing dip in icy water followed by a steaming sauna session. The instant hit of endorphins and adrenaline will make you understand why so many Finns get hooked on bathing in freezing cold water every winter.
Celebrate under the Midnight Sun
Perhaps the most Finnish celebration of all is Midsummer, which takes place at the end of June. Originally a celebration of the summer solstice, it’s typically spent with friends and family at a summer cottage away from the city. Lighting bonfires and bathing in saunas are two of the most common traditions, but some choose to spend Midsummer in the city, where young people have recently revived the open-air Midsummer dance tradition.
See iconic architecture and designs
From Helsinki to Lapland, Finland is a magnet for architecture lovers who want to explore everything from old wooden churches to works by famous architect Alvar Aalto and beyond. Helsinki’s newest design icons, such as the Oodi Library, Amos Rex Museum and Löyly Sauna, have been featured in worldwide publications. In Finland, even visiting a small-town library can thrill a design aficionado (like the new Fyyri library in Kirkkonummi!).
Enjoy unique accommodation
You’ll find plenty of places to stay overnight in Finland’s arctic landscape. Depending on your wish list and budget, the accommodation options range from sensible to extravagant. If you are looking for more rustic accommodation, warm and cozy log cabins are available all over the country. If you are searching for something extra special, check out these unique glass cabins. There you can admire the starry night skies, maybe even the Northern Lights, from the comfort of your bed.
Looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Check out these bucket-list snow hotels in Northern Finland.
