Experiences in Finland

Finnish people
If you’ve ever met a Finn, chances are they’ve mentioned the reserved nature of their countrymen. Be not afraid – we’re not taciturn brutes. Finns are talkative and hospitable, but the myth of the withdrawn Finn is still alive and well inside Finland. And Finns, with their self-deprecating wit, will be the first to let foreigners in on it. An example of a traditional Finnish joke: “An introverted Finn looks at his shoes when talking to you; an extroverted Finn looks at your shoes”.

In certain ways, Finns are a pretty peculiar people and we secretly enjoy conveying that image of ourselves, even if it weren’t always true. A Finn will tell tall tales with a straight face, giggle internally and go on until stories just get too much for anyone to believe. Joking with someone (or even at someone’s cost!) is a Finnish way of saying “I like you”. Finns are sociable and warm, but have a mischievous way of showing it. But once you get to know a Finn, you’ll be friends for life.

Finnish art, design and architecture
Art, design and architecture from Finland are making waves internationally. Old masters, like our most famous architect Alvar Aalto, and new trailblazers from fashion to furniture design are putting Finland on the map. However, our culture scene is still a hidden gem. But there’s no need to hide. Finland has over 300 museums, some of the most interesting new architecture in Northern Europe and festivals from cool to quirky.

Helsinki is one of the most interesting Nordic architectural capitals at the moment with a boom of wooden architecture. The city’s newest icons, like the Oodi Library and the sauna Löyly, have been featured in publications the world over. You can find interesting wooden architecture elsewhere in the country as well, such as the historical wooden towns of the Coast and Archipelago.

Finland’s cultural landscape characterized by the long summer nights and dark winter days is a wonderful breeding ground for unique art. Enjoying art and culture in Finland means taking a trip deep into the folklore of our past, and forward into the country’s vision of a sustainable future. And beneath it all lies that most valuable of Finnish cultural treasures: peace and quiet.

Events in Finland
Finland is known for having some of the most unique – some might even say the craziest – events in the world. Our country is home to the world championships of wife-carrying and air guitar that draw participants and crowds from all over the world.

But crazy isn’t all we do. We also have many international music festivals from Helsinki’s hipster favorite Flow to the chamber music festival in northeastern Kuhmo, jazz in Pori and semiacoustic music in a fell in Lapland’s Pyhä. Not to mention classical music. Finnish conductors lead some of the world’s most famous symphony orchestras, often featuring melodies from the famed Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. While in Finland, go for a concert in the famous Finlandia Hall, Helsinki Music Centre or Sibelius Hall in Lahti. Or go for modern dance at Kuopio International Dance Festival, opera at Savonlinna Opera Festival, heavy metal music at Tuska Festival in Helsinki or Sámi culture at Ijahis idja in Lapland.

Outdoor activities in Finland
Finland is a diverse country with four regions and four seasons. This diversity in nature and weather conditions enables many different year-round and seasonal outdoor activities.

Summer is the perfect season to run, bike, golf and do all kinds of activities that the mild Finnish summers are perfect for. The summer temperatures rarely go above +30 degrees Celcius meaning that the climate is ideal for many kinds of actitivies and sports. Also, the summer days are very long, especially in the north, because of the nightless nights. Autumn is the time to go out into nature: try camping, go fishing and enjoy hiking. The autumn colors, called ‘ruska’ in Finnish, are at their peak typically in September and that’s when Finns flock to the outdoors.

Winter in the north of Finland, Lapland, starts usually in October-November and continues until the late spring. During this period Lapland, as well as the central part of Finland, Lakeland, has snow and the lakes freeze over. Due to the long snow season, Finland is a great winter – and spring! – destination for downhill skiers, snowboarders, ice skaters and cross-country skiers alike.

Active and sports holidays
Whether you want to spend your vacation enjoying the calm of the wilderness, or try a hardcore sports holiday, it is possible in Finland. Ski, bike, run, hike – it’s all here.

There are many great reasons to exercise. You might have a competitive spirit or are trying to find your own limits. Maybe it’s fitness and keeping yourself in shape. Perhaps you might simply want to blow off some steam and have fun with your family or a group of like-minded friends. Most Finns stay active for a simple reason: sports and exercise promote health and wellbeing. It’s as simple as that. That’s why Finland has a great selection of outdoor and indoor activities and facilities to try. We have 40 well-maintained national parks, over 60 ski resorts from Lapland to southern Finland, more than a 100 000 lakes to SUP, kayak or canoe in during the summer – and the list goes on.

Our ski and sports resorts and institutes – including multiple Olympic Training Centres – serve both professionals and recreational sports enthusiasts in sports education and leisure activities all year round.

International sports events
Finland hosts a number of international sports events every year, including cross-country and downhill skiing, marathons, and ultra running events for professional and recreational runners. Finnish events usually drum to a beat of their own – they can be quirky but they are always well-organized. Did you know that in Finland you can actually try a marathon even during the winter? No need to worry about the heat waves.

If you’ve been to all the biggest sports events in the world, why not step off the beaten path and try a unique and exotic event in the north instead? We promise there will clean air, lots of arctic nature, kind people and new experiences. After the event is done, try a Finnish sauna and hop into a lake – recovery is guaranteed. Finland is also a great destination for kids so bring your whole family along and make it a full on holiday!

Finnish food is pure
Due to our northern location, Finland is a haven of clean and naturally nutrient-rich foods. The long summer days and cool temperatures enhance the aromas and pigments in wild berries, mushrooms and herbs. These wild delicacies grow in clean, Nordic soil with clean air and clean water. Some of the cleanest in the world, actually.

Come summer and autumn, Finns scour their vast forests and fields for these delicious treasures. You can also find these treats in the menus of restaurants across the country. For a true taste of the Finnish nature, try fresh summer potatoes, jam made of cloudberries – also known as the ‘gold of the Arctic’ – lingonberry juice, or even spruce sprout powder in your morning yogurt. Spruce sprouts have more vitamin C than oranges!

Finnish food is innovative
Innovative use of natural ingredients and a laid-back atmosphere are what our food culture and cuisine are all about. It’s a humble but ambitious no-frills attitude towards some of the best and cleanest ingredients in the world. Our long winters and intense growing seasons in the summer ensure that flavors and colors are plentiful.

At the moment, Finland has one of the most vibrant food scenes in Europe. Restaurants ranging from Michelin-awarded fine dining establishments to more traditional spots dot the Finnish landscape like mushrooms after a September rain. And new ones keep popping up. We also have a number of food events and festivals, just waiting for your visit.

Foodies ahoy – don’t miss Finland!

Finnish food is authentically local
Although you can buy just about anything your heart desires in Finland these days, go native the next time you are here, and you will be in for a treat. Try a local market place, ‘tori’ in Finnish, during June, July and August and you’ll find a world of treats you never knew existed – and probably the sweetest strawberries and peas in the world. Or venture out to a forest in the fall and pick berries and mushrooms straight from nature. It is allowed due to Everyman’s Rights, ‘Jokamiehen oikeudet’. Do bring a guide (book) with you to make sure you’re picking the best stuff. And always leave nature as you found it, pure and clean.

When you are out and about in Finland, we suggest trying local delicacies of the different regions. Rye bread, Karelian pie (‘karjalanpiirakka’ in Finnish), reindeer stew, bread cheese, cinnamon bun, and Åland pancakes are some of the all-time classics.

Finns love to preserve food for the winter months by freezing, drying and fermenting different ingredients. Preserving food is an age-old tradition, which makes it possible to eat locally all year-round. You might also find these preserved little treasures in restaurants. Don’t hesitate to try them!

Finnish luxury is pure nature and space
The biggest and most affordable luxuries in Finland are pure nature and space. We have the cleanest air in the world, blue skies and clear waters, cool Nordic climate – and space to breathe. Finland only has about 5,5 million inhabitants spread across nearly 340 000 square kilometers. That’s only 19 (lovely) people per km².

In a world-wide study, Finland was among the countries that have the best air quality in the world. The air quality is good, even in the cities. Water, another important element for Finns, is also clean and you can drink tap water everywhere. You can also fill your own bottles with clean and refreshing spring water for free, as many locals do. Water means not only a comfortable and sustainable way of living, but also a mindful one. Some of the best moments can be silently experienced by the water, hearing only the voices of nature.

Finnish luxury is extraordinary accommodation
Those looking for unique, or even unusual accommodation, look no further. Glass igloos, aurora domes, high-end cottages, snow castles and lighthouses – even an old prison turned into a boutique hotel. One of Finland’s most unique and internationally acclaimed features is the selection of truly special accommodation across the country.

Doze off under the Northern lights or the midnight sun, in Finland you can. Quite literally!

Finnish luxury is once-in-a-lifetime activities
What’s on your bucket list?

Perhaps a cozy husky ride in a snowy winter wonderland? Spotting a glimpse of the rare Saimaa ringed seal on a lake cruise? Driving on an icy track in a super-fast race car in Lapland? Silently sailing past islands as far as the eye can see in the Finnish archipelago? Or maybe enjoying a round of golf in a cool and fresh summer night filled with endless light?

Get that list out and head to Finland! These activities and many more await.

Finnish luxury is exquisite, clean Nordic food
Finnish cuisine is not yet a household name but along its Scandinavien counterparts, it’s making a splash. Everything starts with pure ingredients from nature, and less is usually more. When it comes to ingredients and recipes, each Finnish region has its own delicious character and deep-rooted traditions. Finland is where East meets West – in the north. Finland is a haven of clean and naturally nutrient-rich foods. The long, intense summer days and cool temperatures enhance the aromas and pigments in our wild, organic food.

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is the home to many Michelin-starred restaurants and the new foodie destination for all those looking for something off-the-beaten-track.

Finnish wellbeing comes from nature
The traditions of Finnish lifestyle go back hundreds of years. In the rush and crush of modern life, the rarities are what we value most, such as space, quiet and time. The space to breathe, a time to dream, hiking in summer, cross-country skiing in winter, or simply a gentle walk in the woods. One could even say that Finnish people knew mindfulness and slow travel before they became global megatrends. Finns often flock to their countryside cottages, whether it be summer or winter, and the simple step of heating the sauna is the beginning of a perfect (digital) detox.

Walking in Finnish nature not only refreshes and relaxes the brain, but also frees the spirit. Spending time in the forest regularly is proven to lower blood pressure, detox your body and improve your overall mood. Try forest bathing with a guide – or how about forest yoga? Another great way to gently enjoy the outdoors is to go Nordic walking. Yes, grab those poles and head out to nature. It’s good for you!

Finnish wellbeing comes from sauna
If you want to understand Finland and its people, getting familiar with sauna is a good starting point. Sauna is such a big part of Finnish culture it can’t be compared to anything else. For centuries, it has been a place for physical and spiritual cleansing. Sauna is a way of life in Finland – toddlers take their first turns in sauna at only a few months old, and from then on, never stop.

For visitors, going into a Finnish sauna may seem intimidating at first. What’s the dress code? How hot is it? What do you do in the sauna? There’s no need to worry – Finns are easy-going when is comes to this age-old tradition. In fact, getting invited to a sauna is an honor in Finland and sauna is good for everyone. The most important thing is to relax, socialize, have a couple of drinks and enjoy the blissful post-sauna feeling of having cleaned both your body and your mind.

Finnish wellbeing comes from tradition
Sauna, cottage life and spending time in nature – these are some of the Finnish wellbeing traditions that run deep in our heritage. In fact, Finnish culture is a mix of extremes, like East and West, modern and traditional, high-tech and logged off (no technology in the sauna!). These positive extremes are also visible in the Finnish nature: winter and summer, dark and light, warm and cold.

Each Finnish region has its own unique history and traditions, but the close relationship to nature is what connects it all. Sauna infused by refreshing herbs, pure and clean Arctic food, fresh fish, local berries and mushrooms as superfoods, and traditional treatments are ways in which Finns themselves relax – and we recommend you should as well.

Finnish wellbeing comes from food
Finland is a country of long, white winters and short, but oh-so-sweet summers. The white summer nights ripen vegetables, fruits and berries making them uniquely tasty. Even though Finnish berries and fruits are smaller than average, they are packed with sweet flavours, healthy vitamins and flavonoids. Finns scour the vast forests for these delicious treasures, as well as the tasty mushrooms and fresh wild herbs.

The pièce de résistance regarding Finnish food products is the surprising fact that they are often completely free of charge and have grown in the wild. Everyman’s rights in the country’s forests guarantees that you are allowed to pick almost anything your heart and mouth desires. Some of the ‘must-taste’ items in Finland include antioxidant rich bilberries, mineral filled mushrooms, vitamin E bursting lingonberries, exotic cloudberries, as well as fresh summer potatoes and local fish.

To name only a few.