The Wonders of Finland
- Danielle Dybiec
- 10 hours ago
- 6 min read
After my late summer 2024 trip above the Arctic Circle in Sweden and Norway, I'm fascinated by this region most of us know very little about. It was an indescribable delight to find an overlooked (and less crowded!) part of Europe, and September was a stunner of a month to visit the European Arctic because the weather was sunny, comfortable, and mild. You can go on gorgeous mountain hikes to pristine lakes, discover new towns, learn about Sami history and culture, and watch the Northern Lights appear above you at night.
I'm heading back to Arctic Europe later this year when I'll include my first visit Finland! I'll round out that trip staying in Helsinki to admire its islands, art, architecture, and design. Is Finland on your list yet?
Article below produced with Visit Finland from 1/18/2022 can found here.
Island-, lake-, and sauna-hop your way from Helsinki to the Arctic Circle.
Dreams of outdoor music festivals, kayaking around coastal islands and inlets, picnicking and hiking near a summer cottage, and sipping cider at sidewalk cafés melt the frostiest winter nights in Finland. Even Santa Claus and his reindeer – Rovaniemi in Lapland is his real home, don’t you know – look forward to a sunny respite.
Though somewhat fleeting, Finnish summers are legendary. Temps soar to 80 degrees, and the midnight sun bathes landscapes and villages with a gorgeous glow. The summer season kicks off with the Midsummer weekend, a national holiday celebrated on the longest day of the year. The season wraps up by September (even earlier in the northern regions), which is why the Finns know how to pack in as much fun as possible before darkness descends.
Bordered by Sweden, Norway, and Russia, Finland is considered by many to be an undiscovered gem. Yes, the northern lights are magnificent and a huge winter attraction. But summer is the time to soak up all-day sun and breathe the cleanest air in the world. From above, the country looks like a jigsaw puzzle of lakes and green forests – thank the Ice Age glacier melt for that – which becomes a veritable wonderland of outdoor adventures during the warmest months.
The word metsäsuhde speaks to the Finns’ affinity for the forest. Loosely translated, it means “a part of an individual’s identity and a personal relationship with that which evolves through different stages of life.” (Talk about packing a lot into something short!) Finns feel at one with their natural surroundings and happily share their wilderness with visitors. In fact, by law, everyone can explore everywhere, as long as it’s done with respect. Tread lightly, as the saying goes. From northern Lapland’s forests to the cities in the south, here’s a primer on how to enjoy it all.
Helsinki’s Island Life
With dramatic architecture, shop-filled boulevards, and a gorgeous Baltic backdrop, Helsinki is a cosmopolitan haven surrounded by natural beauty. Located on the Gulf of Finland, the city lays claim to more than 300 islands for boating, kayaking, and swimming throughout the summer months.
Hopping among them via local ferries is a favored pastime. Travelers can explore the Suomenlinna Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site encompassing six islands. Take a day cruise to quaint towns such as Porvoo, about 30 miles from the city center, where colorful wooden houses line the grid of cobblestoned streets that date to the Middle Ages. Summer-only fine-dining restaurants such as Saari on Sirpalesaari Island and Särkänlinna on Särkkä are easy to get to by boat for dinners with a view across the gulf.
Compact and extremely walkable, Helsinki’s core blends history, scenic parks, and sophisticated design and architecture. Summer brings markets of both the food and flea kind. At the end of the day, unwind at one of the popular saunas: Allas Sea Pool, Löyly, or Lonna.
Water World
Finland earns its moniker, “Land of a Thousand Lakes,” and then some: Nearly 188,000 lakes cover a huge swath of the eastern and central parts of the country. Featuring 18 out of 40 national parks, the Lakeland region beckons summer visitors with long days of water sports, hiking, bird-watching, relaxing in summer cottages, saunas, and more. It’s no wonder this was the birthplace of Finnish tourism.
The story goes that Russian empress Catherine the Great and her entourage were some of the first to visit the Imatrankoski rapids in Imatra, near the Russian border, in 1772. Since then, many have followed. Today, travelers come for medieval castles (Olavinlinna in Savonlinna), stay in nineteenth-century hotels, or rent one of the thousands of lakeside villas or cottages.
Most of the waterways in the region’s eastern half flow in or out of Lake Saimaa, the country’s largest lake. Cruises on vintage steamers are an especially popular way to explore the lake – there’s even one that goes from Lappeenranta to Vyborg, Russia (visa-free) – as are wildlife cruises to spot endangered freshwater Saimaa ringed seals, of which roughly 400 exist. Electric-boat trips to the seal habitat depart from Puumala.
Lake Päijänne anchors western Lakeland, an area known not only for nature, but also for glassblowing, design, and architecture. Roughly an hour’s drive from Helsinki, the Häme region is the center of glass arts, home to the Finnish Glass Museum and the 140-year-old Iittala Glass Factory. Roughly an hour north of the museum, Tampere, Finland’s second-largest city, is known as “the sauna capital of the world,” with the country’s oldest public sauna and more than 30 more to experience. Ask any Finn, who likely has a private sauna at their cabin, and they’ll tell you that a steam in the birch-lined huts, followed by a dip in a lake, is key to health and happiness.
Santa Claus’ Land of the Midnight Sun
While all of Finland is considered an Arctic country, Lapland is where the Arctic Circle crosses. Despite having four winter seasons – one of which is called “crusty snow” – the wilderness expanse is surprisingly pleasant in the summer, when the sun never sets (and accessible, via four airports and three train stations).
Adventure abounds in Lapland: river rafting and fishing, mountain biking and hiking, and backpacking and glamping – particularly from ski resorts such as Rovaniemi, Levi, and Luosto. Reindeer outnumber humans year-round. It’s also home to the Sámi, the only Indigenous people in the European Union.
But perhaps its most famous resident is Old Saint Nick. Travelers can visit Mr. Claus 365 days a year at Rovaniemi’s Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, and meet his tireless toymakers at the Elves Hideaway near Levi.
Coastal Calling
More than 70,000 islands dot Finland’s coast. The largest archipelago stretches into the Gulf of Bothnia from Turku and consists of 40,000 small islands and inlets – many connected by bridges and ferries. Visitors can explore this westernmost part of the country, roughly a two hours’ drive from Helsinki, via a 155-mile road trip along the Archipelago Trail, linking the city of Turku to Åland.
Cycling is especially popular here as well, and easy with the interconnectivity of the ferries. Whatever your transportation, plan a few days to take in the region’s beaches, historic lighthouses (some of which are now hotels), and seafood and locavore cuisine.
Summer’s slower pace fits Finnish sensibilities. The bustling hum of Helsinki and the larger cities unwinds a bit in the warmer months, when residents decamp to explore the country. From Lakeland to Lapland and the coastal archipelagoes, the three-month blast of sunlight makes Finland one of the world’s great adventure-travel playgrounds. Take a page from the local playbook: Get out there, sauna, sleep, and repeat.
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