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Finland✨ 10 best things to do in Finland

Things to do in Finland

1. Chase the Northern LightsHead into the dark Lapland sky between late August and April for a chance to see the aurora dance overhead.
2. Take a real saunaSweat in a wood-fired or smoke sauna, then plunge into a lake or the Baltic Sea, as Finns have done for centuries.
3. Ride with huskiesMush your own sled team across snowy forests in Lapland.
4. Explore SuomenlinnaFerry out to the UNESCO-listed sea fortress spread across islands off Helsinki.
5. Paddle the LakelandCanoe or kayak among thousands of forested islands in Saimaa, home to a rare freshwater seal.
6. Experience the midnight sunHike, fish or simply stay up all night under the never-setting summer sun in the north.
7. Visit Santa Claus VillageCross the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi and visit the famous Christmas-themed village.
8. Pick berries and mushroomsMake use of everyman's right to roam and forage in Finland's vast forests.
9. Discover Finnish designBrowse the Design District and the Helsinki Design Museum for iconic glass, textiles and furniture.
10. Sleep in a glass iglooWatch the sky from a heated glass-roofed cabin in Lapland.

Finland🗺️ Where to visit in Finland

Where to go in Finland

• 
  HelsinkiCapital · design and seasideA compact capital of Art Nouveau streets, island ferries, public saunas and excellent museums.
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  SuomenlinnaHelsinki · UNESCO sea fortressEighteenth-century fortifications, tunnels and picnic spots on islands just a short ferry ride away.
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  RovaniemiLapland · Arctic CircleThe capital of Lapland, gateway to husky safaris, aurora trips and the Arktikum museum.
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  Saariselkä and InariNorthern Lapland · fells and Sámi cultureSnowy fells, aurora views and the Siida museum of Sámi culture by Lake Inari.
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  TurkuSouthwest · historic cityFinland's oldest city, with a medieval castle, cathedral and gateway to the Archipelago Sea.
• 📍
  SavonlinnaLakeland · castle and lakesThe island castle of Olavinlinna hosts a famous opera festival in summer.
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  PorvooSouthern coast · old townA picturesque town of red riverside warehouses and cobbled lanes.
• 📍
  Åland IslandsArchipelago · cycling and islandsA Swedish-speaking autonomous archipelago perfect for cycling, sailing and slow summer days.

Finland🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Finland

Best time to visit Finland

Finland has warm summers with very long days and cold winters with deep snow. Lapland in the north is much colder and darker in winter, while the south coast is milder.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Helsinki (approximate averages).

Finland🎉 Festivals & events in Finland

• Late June
  Juhannus (Midsummer)Finns head to lakeside cottages for bonfires, saunas and celebrations of the year's longest days.
• 30 April–1 May
  VappuA massive spring carnival with students in white caps, picnics and sparkling mead.
• July
  Savonlinna Opera FestivalWorld-class opera performed inside the medieval Olavinlinna castle.
• 6 December
  Independence DayCandles glow in windows across the country to mark Finland's independence.
• August
  Flow FestivalA popular Helsinki music and arts festival held in a former power plant area.

Finland🧭 Finland itinerary ideas

How many days in Finland?

Finland🎒 Backpacking Finland – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $70–100 a day

• Book train and long-distance bus tickets early online for much cheaper advance fares.
• Everyman's right lets you camp for a night in most nature areas, and many national parks have free wilderness huts and lean-to shelters.
• Lunch buffets on weekdays are the best-value hot meals; supermarkets are good for picnics.
• Public saunas in Helsinki and other cities are an affordable way to experience a Finnish tradition.
• Travel in spring or autumn for lower prices, and consider shoulder-season Lapland trips.

Finland🛡️ Safety & money in Finland

Emergency: 112 police, fire & ambulance

Finland🛬 Getting to Finland

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the main international hub, with seasonal flights direct to Lapland airports such as Rovaniemi. Ferries connect Helsinki with Tallinn, Stockholm and Germany, and there are land crossings with Sweden and Norway in the north.

✈️ Cheap flights to Finland: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Finland💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Finland

• Finland has an estimated three million saunas for a population of around five and a half million.
• Finland has around 188,000 lakes, earning it the nickname 'land of a thousand lakes'.
• Finland regularly ranks at the top of world happiness surveys.
• In northern Lapland the sun does not set for weeks in summer.
• Finnish and Swedish are both official languages, and Sámi languages have official status in parts of Lapland.

Finland❓ Finland travel FAQ

Finland travel questions