Finland is one of the Nordic countries along with Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. It’s regularly ranked as the happiest country in the world, and it’s not hard to see why with the great quality of life that Finland offers.
Helsinki is a cool capital city to spend a couple of days in, but where Finland really shines is its nature. The Lapland region in the northern part of the country is full of breathtaking beauty, and it’s a great place to see the Northern Lights.
The Finnish Lakeland is another picturesque region worth visiting. Finns loves spending time in the outdoors, so that’s the best thing to do as a visitor too.
Finland quick facts
- Population: 5.54 million
- Language: Finnish and Swedish are the two official languages of Finland. Around 70% of Finnish people also speak English.
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Capital city: Helsinki
- Country size: 130,559 square miles
- High season: June through August, though winter is also a popular time to visit for snowy activities and holiday festivities
Finland bucket list
- See the Northern Lights in Lapland
- Explore the capital city of Helsinki
- Visit Rovaniemi around Christmastime (it’s known for being the official hometown of Santa Claus)
- Ride in a sled pulled by husky dogs
- Stay in an igloo hotel in Lapland
- Experience a Finnish sauna
- Try Finnish cuisine like Karelian pie (a rye crust pastry stuffed with various fillings), salmon soup, and if you’re feeling adventurous, sauteed reindeer
- Go hiking in the Finnish Lakeland region
- Visit Inari and learn about the Sami culture of Finland
- Check out Suomenlinna, a historic fortress just a quick ferry ride from Helsinki
Getting around Finland
In Helsinki, getting around on foot or by public transport is easy. The city has a well-connected network of buses, trams, rail, and ferries.
For visiting the rest of the country, you can rely on a mixture of trains and buses. Renting a car is also an option, although it’s better in the summer — it can be treacherous in the winter if you aren’t used to driving in snowy conditions.
