I have asked travel bloggers to share their best of Finland. Long-term, experienced travelers will tell what they liked the most!
I live in Finland, and I’ve been traveling around the country for very long. As I state in my guide for traveling Finland, for many things the world has better alternatives. Finland is an expensive country and worth visiting for the absolute best things it has to offer.
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What’s my personal best?
If I have to select my own personal best – this would be the archipelago islands in Espoo. There are thousands of small islands. If you stay at one of those, you will witness how the sun creates or moonlight make beautiful reflections in the calm Finnish waters.
For more details, take a look at my blog post about Espoo Archipelago.
And from now on, travel bloggers:
The Karhunkierros Trail
By Elisa from World in Paris
The Karhunkierros Trail (the Bear Trail) is the most popular hike in Finland and one of the best hikes that I have done lately. If you only have time for one hike in the country choose this one! This 82-Km hike from Ruka, Kuusamo to Hautajärvi explores the forests of Oulanka National Park, in the Arctic Circle. The hike goes parallel to the border with Russia and it can be done in both directions.
The hike is well signposted (with the symbol of a bear) and I did not find it difficult, just long. Along the way I saw amazing nature with beautiful pine forests, rapids, and falls and I also spent some time walking by the Oulanka river.
The hike is dotted with a few public huts where hikers can sleep and cook. Despite everybody was cooking and eating their own food there was also time for some chats and I loved this community time at the end of the day. Fins love fishing and it was very common to see them hiking with their fishing rod to fish their dinner after the day hike. I found this very curious, definitely something that I never see when hiking in France!
Due to the latitude, the best time window to do the hike with good weather conditions is from May to August. I did it in July and the weather was surprisingly hot, I did not expect this in the Arctic Circle! July is also the best time to meet all the mosquitoes in the area and if you are not protected as an astronaut they can ruin your hike.
Hike Ounasvaara in Rovaniemi to Witness the Magical Midnight Sun
If you’re visiting Finland in the summer, you must experience The Midnight Sun phenomenon. How can you not when visiting The Land of the Midnight Sun?
The Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon that takes place during the summer months (early June to early July) in northern Finland. It’s a magical time of the year when the sun doesn’t set at all in the places on and above Arctic Circle. The closer you go to the Arctic Circle, the longer the duration of the Midnight Sun.
We, luckily, were in Rovaniemi during the summer solstice (21st June.) It’s the longest day in the northern hemisphere when the sun stays above the horizon for the full 24 hours.
Our decision to hike the picturesque Ounasvaara in Rovaniemi to enjoy the summer solstice was the best thing ever! Ounasvaara is one of the best places to see Midnight Sun in Rovaniemi. Jätkänkynttilä Bridge, Santavaara Hill, Arctic Garden and, Ounaskoski beach are some fo the other places to enjoy this magical phenomenon.
We climbed the observation tower on Ounasvara hill at about 9 pm and sat there for hours soaking in the immense beauty and surreal charm of Finnish summer.
The sun was shining bright at about 3 am when we left the place. Words can’t describe how other-worldly it was to see the nature draped in the golden glow of Midnight Sun.
The Midnight Sun is an experience unlike any other. When friends and family ask me about it, I always say that witnessing the Midnight Sun is not just an experience but an emotion.
Visit Kemi Snow Castle
By NomadicMun
One of the best experiences I have in Finland is visiting Kemi Snow Castle during our Northern light hunting tour in Finnish Lapland. Since 1996 a snow castle is built every winter with a different architecture in the northern Finnish town, Kemi. This is one of the biggest snow castles in the world. The Castle includes a chapel, café, and a hotel. Only snow and ice are used to build everything inside it.
The Snow Restaurant is decorated with ice sculptures, ice tables, and seats, covered with reindeer fur. Sitting on a fur-covered seat, sipping a cup of hot coffee, surrounded by an icy wall and dreamy lights creates an amazing story to share. The hotel won World Luxury Hotel Awards in 2016. The unique idea of a wedding in a snow chapel attracts many couples around the world to Kemi castle.
This snow castle is open from mid-January to mid-April every year. Though you should not be disappointed if you are visiting Finland during another season. A new part of the snow castle “Snow Experience 365” is open throughout the year. The castle, sculptures, decorated wall – all remind me of the snow castle of princess Elsa from Frozen movie. It is really a lifetime experience to take a walk in such a fairytale castle.
Hiking in Finnish Lapland in autumn
By Ela & Beata from Stunning Outdoors
One thing we discovered about Finland, is that it is a country you ‘need to experience’ and be open to surprises! And what would be a better way of experiencing the country than walking through its wildest corners?! We hiked Hetta to Pallas long-distance route in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, in autumn.
This was the very experience that made us to fall in love with Finnish Lapland!
Have you heard about ‘Ruska’? If you said ‘no’, do not worry neither did we. However, after hiking in Finnish Lapland in autumn, you not only will know the meaning of this word but also you will feel it.
Ruska is a Finnish word to describe spectacular red, yellow, orange and brown colours landscape turn into, just before the fall of the snow. The scenery becomes alive with vivid colours, something hard to take eyes off!
Hiking in Finnish Lapland in autumn is one of the best experiences we had while visiting Finland. During our 3-day hike we enjoyed the ruska, reindeer spotting, hot sauna in the most unexpected locations, as well as overnight stays in typical Finnish huts and made new friends along the trail. Hence, if you are a keen hiker, we simply think that autumn is the best time for hiking; the days are still long, hiking trails quieter. Mosquitos are long gone and many nights are still frost-free.
Experience the Summer Sun in Hanko
Hanko, also known as Hangö (in Swedish – as the town is also home to many Finnish-Swedes) is known as the “Summer Capital” of Finland. It’s a popular spot for Finns from all over the country as well as tourists to head to “summer cabins” and enjoy the sea. What makes Hanko unique is that it’s the southernmost point in mainland Finland. Because of this, you get sunsets that sit on the horizon for a couple of hours.
Love the beach? Hanko has some of the best in Finland and it sits on the Gulf of Finland so it’s surrounded by shoreline on three sides. Although the summertime brings in large crowds there is always room on one of the many beaches. And if you’re not into sunbathing you can always enjoy the trails in the forest where you can pick berries and if you’re lucky you may see deer frolic. It’s quite a cool sight when you see the forest meet the beach.
The downtown area is filled with cafes and shops. Outdoor tables fill up quickly as everyone wants to enjoy the sun so keep that in mind when dining. There are also many outdoor spaces where you can picnic so that’s always an option.
Hanko is easy to get to. It’s just under a two-hour drive from Helsinki and is also accessible by train and bus. It’s an easy day trip but I recommend to stay at least a night. Because it’s a popular summer destination it’s important to book in advance. Enjoy the summer capital of Finland!
Winter Hiking at Oulanka National Park
By Suzanne Meandering Wild
Oulanka National park is located in the north of Finland and runs along the border with Russia. In the summer months it is home to the beautiful calypso orchid as well as white throated dippers and flycatchers. The Pieni Karhunkierros Trail runs through the southern part of the park and is home to bears. However, when we visited in the middle of winter it was a totally different place.
The deep snow coated the path from our base at Basecamp Oulanka and as we headed through the forest to Myllykoski Mill all that could be heard was the increasing noise of the raging rapids. As we crossed the narrow rope bridge above the rapids the steam rising from the water made us realise how cold it really was. With snowshoes on we trekked through the forest following the tracks of moose, the trees heavy with snow.
The noise of the raging river was always present and intensified as we reached the magical Jyrävä waterfall, one of the highest in Finland. The scene that welcomed us as we approached the waterfall from the Castle Rocks was magical. The weak winter sunlight hung above the waterfall that was frozen like an iced cake, the river emerging below the ice encrusted rocks.
However, with this being winter in Finland our time was short and it was a twilight walk back through the forest to our warm cabin and a raging fire. Nothing can beat that feeling of a day in the crisp clear cold of a winter forest and warming up in front of a fire with a hot tub and sauna to ease aching muscles.
Riding a Snowmobile in Lapland
This will be one of the best adrenaline adventures of your life, yet it’s a very safe one. Riding a snowmobile in Lapland, over frozen lakes and through dark forests lit up just by the snow and the lights of your snowmobile – that just screams freedom.
Snowmobiles are super easy to ride and they even feature heated handlebars to keep your hands warm. Additionally, every safari company will equip you with extra warm overalls so that you have nothing to worry about and only a magical ride to enjoy.
Typically, a ride on a snowmobile in Lapland includes a hot tea somewhere, often in a Sami home. You’ll be able to greet a reindeer, see some traditional Sami attire and warm up before heading out again to complete the ride.
The open space in Lapland is just out of this world. Such low concentration of people and development lets you experience the snow-capped landscapes like you could never do on foot. Whether you visit just Rovaniemi and its surroundings or venture further up North (recommended!) you’ll always have enough providers of snowmobile safari.In my experience, riding a snowmobile is one of the top reasons to visit Lapland in winter.
Husky Safari in Lapland
By Cath from Passports and Adventures
One of the best things to do in Finland is take a husky safari in Lapland. It is often on people’s bucket list for their trip to Finland and there is nowhere more special than the white, wintery wonderland of Lapland. A husky safari involves you driving a husky sleigh team and usually a fast dash through woodland and forests.
When we visited Lapland with kids, one of our must-do items was a husky safari. As we were travelling with a young child, we found a company that would take children as young as four. That company was Bearhill Husky, recommended to us by the local tourist board.
After being greeted by our instructor and suiting up in additional outdoor, winter-protective suits, we had a short demonstration on how to manage the sled (as we would be driving the dogs ourselves), with a clear instruction to make sure not to let go of the sled if you were the driver. Once we’d been assigned our team on dogs and the passenger(s) made comfortable, we set off through the forest trails, out onto a frozen lake and back.
At one point our sled hit a rock and I, the driver, lost my footing and was trailing behind the sled with the words “don’t let go” ringing through my ears. I somehow managed to get back onto the foot rails and enjoyed the rest of the thrilling ride. And let me tell you, those dogs run fast! Despite my hair-raising few minutes of wondering how to get the dogs slowed down long enough to bring my feet back under me and onto the rails, it was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. Next time though, I’ll make my husband do the driving (he’d hurt his back a few days before).
Make sure to add a husky safari to your Lapland bucket list if you are heading to Finland!
Liberation in Finland’s Saunas
Pulling on the glass door, I was consumed by an inferno. As if coaxed by the devil himself, I climbed the wooden staircase higher and higher, each step bought lingering panic. It was dark and eerily lit. Smoke danced lazily in the light. Stifling, each intake of breath teetered on the edge of pain. One minute. Two minutes. I can’t take much more of this!
Not wanting to admit defeat in the eyes of the locals I resisted the urge to run.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! Whoosh! Someone added water to make it HOTTER! I felt consumed by hellfire as the heat nipped at my body. One min…. No that’s enough! I left the sauna as modestly as I could, almost forgetting my peflet in my haste to leave.
Forgetting it was December in Helsinki I made a beeline for fresh air. ‘It’s only 7 degrees’ the lifeguard innocently remarked as I looked beyond my reflection in the unheated sea pool. Leaving my inhibitions on the poolside, I leapt into the ice-cold water of the Baltic sea desperate for some relief.
Breathless. Liberated. Alive.
I have never felt anything like what I did as I emerged from that ice-cold sea. I felt born again. I felt a new sense of accomplishment. I was hooked! In fact, I was so liberated by the experience, I started wild swimming as soon as I returned home to England.
So don’t be coy, a Finnish sauna experience is unlike anything you’ll have experienced before.
Further reading
I blog specializes on Finland and you will be able to find a lot of travel and expat articles. Check out my posts about Expat life in Finland and about things to do in Finland.
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