Things to Do in Finland

1. Visit Turku: One of the best things to do in Finland is to pay a visit to the oldest city in the country, Turku. Dating back to the early 18th century, this fun and lively city retains the old-world charm that one must experience at least once. You can also explore the ancient streets of Turku, as you watch the pristine Aura River pass by.
When in Turku, you can also explore the Turku Castle, which is the largest surviving medieval building in all of Finland. There are numerous museums and repurposed bars here as well.

Location: Turku, Southwest Finland

2. See the Nordic Lake Saimaa: The Nordic lakes are popular all across the world. Amongst the best attractions and things in Finland, visiting Lake Saimaa is undoubtedly the most famous of all. During your visit to this country, don’t forget to visit Lake Saimaa, which is one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in the European continent. It is here where you can catch glimpses of the unique, endangered and rare Saimaa Ringed Seal, also known as Norppa.
Or, if you are on the look out for this rare and endangered marine animal, go for a water safari, cruise or kayak tour of Lake Saimaa and the surrounding islands.

Location: Southeast Finland

3. Stay at the Kemi Ice Hotel: If wondering what to do in Finland then plan to spend a memorable night at the Kemi Ice Hotel in Lumilinna. Made completely out of snow and ice, this stunning hotel offers you a unique, one-of-a-kind experience in this Nordic country. With the average temperatures remaining around -5 degrees Celsius, the hotel offers beds made of lambskin and sleeping bags with fleece interiors. A stay here is guaranteed to be nothing short of magical, with ice carvings decorating your rooms, heated bathroom facilities and more. You can also see the snow chapel, ice sculptures, gemstone gallery and other attractions here.

Location: Fleminginkatu 15, 94100 Kemi, Finland
Price: € 200 onwards
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.

4. Learn about Finnish history at Siida Museum: Amongst the top activities in Finland is a visit to the Siida Museum. Located on the stunning Lake Inari in Inari, this is one of the best museums in the country, which tells you stories about the Laplanders or Sami, a semi-nomadic tribe in Finland. From photographs and interactive sections, to galleries telling you about the existence of the Sami from the prehistoric times to the modern days, the museum also has a theatre where you can learn about the Northern Lights.

Location: Inarintie 46, 99870 Inari, Finland
Price: € 72 onwards
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

5. Enjoy a picnic at Suomenlinna: A picnic at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Suomenlinna Island is one of the top things in Finland. Enjoy a day trip to this island by taking a ferry from Helsinki. In addition to enjoying a thrilling picnic near the shores, you can also explore the 18th century fortress on the island. The island also boasts of almost 300 ancient buildings, with intact cannons and other weapons used during warfare.

Location: 00190 Helsinki, Finland

6. Indulge in a husky or reindeer sleigh ride: Thinking of what to do in Finland? Go for a once in a lifetime sleigh ride, and get driven by huskies or reindeers. Experience the cold wilderness of Finland whilst being pulled by a pack of huskies or Santa’s reindeers in Lapland. While you can avail a reindeer or husky sleigh ride any time of the year, the best time to enjoy this thrilling activity is during the winter months, when you can explore the snowy wilderness of Lapland under the stunning Northern Lights.

Location: Lapland, Finland
Price: € 30 onwards

7. Meet Santa in the Santa Claus Village: Undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Finland is to visit Rovaniemi in the northern part of the country and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. You can also see the Elf School here, or learn to make Santa’s favourite gingerbread treats. Other attractions of this village include a Calligraphy School, where you can pen a handwritten letter to Santa, and the Post Office, where you can see the staggering number of letters people send to Santa.
You can also cross the Arctic Circle through an underground tunnel at the Santa Claus Village.

Location: 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland
Timings: 11:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m.

8. See the Northern Lights: If you are on the hunt to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, then Finland is one of the best places to be. Visit Lapland and get a chance to experience this natural phenomenon for a scintillating Northern Light experience. Capture it on your camera, soak in the views or indulge in a sleigh ride under the stunning display of dancing lights in the night sky upon your visit of Finland.
Whatever you do, the experience is sure to be nothing less than surreal, hypnotising and magical.

Location: Lapland, Finland

1. Stay in a glass igloo: One of the best things to do in Finland at night is to stay inside a glass igloo, while you soak in crystal clear views of the glittering night sky with millions of stars, devoid of any pollution or disturbance.

2. Spend some time at one of the many saunas: Finland is known all over the world for some of the best saunas. So, after the sun sets here, head over to a sauna and enjoy some relaxation and rejuvenation. You can also indulge in spa treatments at the saunas in Finland.

3. Catch the Northern lights: One of the best activities in Finland, especially at night, is to catch the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis in action. Boasting of having some of the best Northern Lights experiences, there are many places in Finland where you can chase this phenomenon, capture it in your lenses and soak in its scintillating views.

1. Explore the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden: One of the most tranquil and romantic activities in Finland is a trip to the beautiful Kaisaniemi Botanical Gardens, where you can find over 1,300 species of plants from all over the world in its 20 glasshouses. You can also catch sights of gigantic water lilies here.

2. Soak in views of the Baltic Sea from the Sky Wheel: When determining what to do in Finland with your partner, take a ride in the Sky Wheel in Helsinki. This Ferris wheel goes up to 40 metres high, and offers some of the most spectacular views of the city and the Baltic sea.

3. Share a cake at Ekberg: Head over to this 19th century bakery at downtown Helsinki and indulge in traditional Finnish delights with your significant other. This place is best known for its freshly baked breads, napoleon cakes and smorgasbord, among other delicious snacks.

1. Yyteri beach, Pori: Sprawling across 4 miles on the Baltic Shore, the Yyteri Beach is the longest beach in Finland, with clean, white sands, sand dunes, and a host of other activities that you can indulge in.

2. Bellevue Beach, Hanko: Known as one of the best beaches in Finland, this beach is quite unexplored, and has shallow waters and fine sand, which makes it great for sunbathing or swimming.

3. Nallikari Beach, Oulu: Amongst the most popular beaches in the country, this beach is famous for the wide array of restaurants, food stalls, hotels, cottages and water sports it offers. It is also a great place to enjoy ice skating during the winters.

4. Ispoinen Beach, Turku: A great beach to enjoy sunbathing and swimming, the Ispoinen Beach also boasts of a public unisex sauna, where you can relax and rejuvenate.

5. Hietaniemi Beach, Helsinki: Also known as Hietsu, this beach is known for its natural, fine sands, azure waters and a serene ambience. From beach and water sports to relaxing, there is a lot you can do here.

The best way to reach Finland is by air. Regular flights to Helsinki in Finland operate from the major metropolitan cities in India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, among others. You can also avail connecting flights from India to other European cities from where you can fly into Finland.

The best time to visit Finland is during the summer months of June to early September. This is when the climate in Finland is warm, with longer days and blossoming natural landscapes, making it great to enjoy sightseeing, adventure activities and more.

Known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, Finland is one of the best places in the world to witness the natural phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Famous for being the happiest country in the world, Finland boasts of the cleanest air as well as the best education system in the world. The presence of stunning verdant landscapes, Nordic lakes and great architecture also make Finland quite famous. Some other things that this country is known for includes its saunas, the Santa Claus Village, the Saimaa Ringed Seal and adventure sports, among others.

Yes, it is safe to go to Finland. In addition to fairly low rates of crime and violence here, Finland also has warm and friendly locals and helpful authorities if you are likely to face any issues. However, it is best to remain vigilant and aware at all times during your trip and to not wander off alone in secluded areas, especially in the dark.

The months from November to March, during the cold winter season, is the off season in Finland. Owing to the occurrence of snowfall, Finland is relatively less crowded around this time than the rest of the year. However, ski resorts all over Finland and Lapland typically see a rush of tourists during these months.

A minimum of seven days is required to explore Finland at its best. Typically, a 7-to-15-day trip to Finland is enough to not just visit the famous sightseeing attractions in Finland, but also indulge in the various experiences and activities here.