Based on our over 10 years of experience living in Finland, we have collected the best things to do in Finland. We will walk you through the best places to visit in Finland. You will find both natural attractions and human-made sights in our Finland travel guide. There are other cool cities to visit not only Helsinki and we will show you a glimpse of the amazing national parks in Lapland and all across the country.
Although Finland is primarily a winter destination with its magical snowy Lappish landscapes and northern lights dancing in the sky, you won’t regret visiting it in the summer either. Imagine sipping your drink in front of a wooden cottage while cooling down after a hot sauna session at midnight and observing the calm nature under the rays of the midnight sun. Do I need to say anything else?
Is Finland Expensive?
Finland is not a cheap country, but definitely the cheapest one of the Nordic countries, so your vacation won’t necessarily blow your budget.
Tips for a Budget Vacation in Finland
- Travel outside of the Christmas holiday period (20th December till 6th January) – you will save a ton on accommodation. Avoid Finnish school breaks too (end of February and beginning of March).
- Rent a car. Public transport is expensive. If you aren’t traveling alone, you might be better off renting a car than paying for bus tickets, not to mention flexibility. It also makes it much easier to visit national parks as some have no public transport.
- Those who come for hiking will find free and cheap accommodation in nature. These places are usually away (on foot) from civilization, and you will need your camping gear.
- Stay in guesthouses and villas instead of hotels and book special deals. You can set a filter on booking.com when you look for options.
- Consider renting a room through Airbnb.
- If your accommodation has a kitchen, cook for yourselves.
- Don’t forget to purchase our DIY Rovaniemi guide!
What to Do in Helsinki
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, offers numerous sights in every month. You can cover the main attractions in one day, but if you want to take it slower, spend there at least 3 days. Some of the not-to-miss places are Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, Suomenlinna fortress, and the very new Oodi Library. Stay in one of the best hotels in Helsinki while visiting the capital and visit a couple of unique sights too.
What to Do in Southern Finland
Turku
There are several interesting cities to see in the south of Finland. On top of our list is Turku. It was the cultural capital of Europe in 2011, so keep it in mind.
Porvoo
Our second favorite is a small town, Porvoo. It was a home of a national poet (Johan Ludvig Runeberg), and the 18th-century architecture worth a mention too. It can be easily visited as a day trip from Helsinki.
Other cities in the south:
Tampere
Old industrial town Tampere is the third biggest city in Finland and definitely has a lot to offer for tourists. Besides the old factory buildings, the Pyynikki observation tower is worth visiting to have a beautiful panoramic view of the lakes and the city below.
What to Do in Lakeland (Central and Eastern Finland)
Finland is the country of thousands of lakes. Near the Saimaa water system, you will find interesting cities and national parks.
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta’s main attraction is the 17th-century fortress. If you visit the town in summer, make sure you time your visit when Northern Europe’s biggest sandcastle is built.
Savonlinna
Would you like to see the most northern medieval fortress in the world? Add this small town to your itinerary!
Sign Up NOW – it is FREE
Joensuu, Kuopio, Mikkeli
Eastern Finland has a couple of interesting places as well. These cities and their surrounding nature, the thousands of lakes and forests are ideal for resting in a calm environment.
Koli National Park
The national park that inspired numerous Finnish artists. For the scenic views you don’t even need to walk more than a couple of hundreds of meters, but the park offers multi-day hikes too. In winter, snow-capped trees will spread across the area and an ice road leads through the frozen Pielinen lake.
What to Do in Northern Finland
Oulu
Oulu is one of the biggest cities in Finland. The city itself is not so special, but there are several nearby places worth visiting, one of them being the rapids near Koitelinkoski.
Kuusamo & Ruka
These two settlements are popular among nature lovers. In winter, their ski resort, cross-country skiing trails, and winter activities attract tourists, while in summer, they are popular hiking destinations. One of the most famous hiking trails in Finland (Karhunkierros) starts in Ruka. The nearby Oulanka National Park offers shorter options too. Bridges, waterfalls, and other eye-catching attractions.
What to Do in Lapland
Northern lights, reindeer, amazing snow-capped trees, midnight sun, sauna, and more fun in nature! Lapland was always close to our heart, luckily we could move here and enjoy everything that this vast land can offer.
Kemi & Tornio
Kemi is famous for its Ice Castle (called LumiLinna in Finnish) and for the icebreaker Sampo. The latter one can be visited all year round, while the stunning ice structure is usually open between December and March.
Tornio is a small border town with the Swedish Haaparanta (Haparanda), where the world’s most northern IKEA store is located. There are several rapids on the Torne (Torniojoki) river worth visiting in the summer.
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland and its most visited town. It has been our hometown since 2017, so make sure you check our numerous posts about the city and the region.
Get our DIY Rovaniemi Travel Guide
Levi
Levi is the most popular skiing resort in Finnish Lapland. You can do any winter activity (during the snowy season) and go snowshoeing or hiking to the nearby Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.
We have rented a snowmobile for a day (prior experience in driving a snowmobile is a big plus!) and explored the fells on our own. It was a wonderful winter day.
The other memorable place near Levi was the SnowVillage in Lainio. Our wedding took place in their unique ice chapel.
Special Activities in Finland
How to make your Finland trip special? Let us show you some of the fun things to do in Finland.
Finnish Sauna
I’m sure you have heard Finns love saunas. They (we) love it so much that almost every house has one. In the country of 5 million people, there are 2 million saunas. Yes, it means there is one for every third person.
Now you can imagine the sauna culture is part of everyday life. Shy Finns visit (most of them) saunas naked and sweat with friends, acquaintances, bosses, or other people.
Read more about Finnish Sauna and learn how to enjoy it fully.
Ice Swimming
As we already talked about the sauna, let me dare you. Ice-hole swimming! It’s a real thing! With or without visiting the sauna beforehand, you dip into a hole cut through the thick layer of ice and take a short swim in the water. An absolutely refreshing experience. It was scary at first, but I became fond of this activity and even joined a local club to visit the sauna and swim with like-minded people.
So how was it at first? Check out my first ice swimming experience!
Ice Fishing
Do you love fishing? Angling? Don’t worry if you don’t. Me neither. Ice fishing is a totally different experience. We walk on a frozen lake or river to find a perfect spot; then it’s time to drill a hole. If it’s all done, we only have to use our special ice fishing equipment and catch something delicious.
This is how ice fishing looks like!
Meet with Santa Claus
The official Santa Claus lives near Rovaniemi in the Santa Claus Village. It’s a dream destination for families with kids.
Our Complete Guide to Santa Claus Village will help you plan a perfect vacation in Lapland.
Northern Lights Hunting
Besides Santa, the northern lights are on the bucket list of most visitors. Us, locals, we have seen these miraculous lights dancing over the night sky more times than we can count. Lapland is the best place to observe them. You can try your luck from early September till late March.
Make sure you read this Northern Lights Guide with our Lapland tips!
Sleep in a Glass Igloo under the Aurora
One of the most popular (and expensive) option is to book a night in an igloo or cabin with a glass roof. It is much more comfortable to wait for the light phenomena in your comfy warm bed than venturing out to the freezing temperature. Time your visit outside of the Christmas period to save some serious bucks on accommodation.
Check this list of the best Igloos in Lapland.
Visit Frozen Waterfalls
One of our favorite spots is in a nature reserve area where you can visit huge frozen waterfalls. They look magical, don’t they?
This is the place with the frozen waterfalls.
Get our DIY Rovaniemi Travel Guide
How Long Time to Spend in Finland
- A couple of days:
Ideal for city visits or one location (Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, Levi, or Ivalo) in Lapland. - 1 week
In one week, you can cover either the cities in the south or have an unforgettable experience of Finnish Lapland. - More than one week
If you have at least two weeks, you will see a lot from Finland. It’s enough time to add a couple of less-visited locations too. Make sure you check our road trip itineraries below!
Road trips in Finland
- 2-week Finland itinerary
- Lapland itineraries especially for winter visits.
When to Visit Finland
Things to Do in Summer
Summer is an ideal time for hiking across the vast lands of Lapland. You will see a lot of wildlife, including reindeer, birds, and lemmings. The cities are also very pleasant during this short time of the year.
Here we wrote a list of things to do in summer in Lapland.
Things to Do in Winter
Winter is about snow, northern lights, and Santa. Check the section above with special activities. Most of them are winter-specific. In case you need some suggestions about winter clothing, we have you covered too!
https://ourlifeourtravel.com/best-winter-jacket-for-extreme-cold/
Things to do in the Fall
The fall season is magical in Lapland. The colors of the vegetation are unique and vibrant. The only problem is to be there at the right time. It usually lasts 2-3 weeks (mostly in September).
You’ll find here several spectacular photo spots.
Where to Stay in Finland
As we mentioned in the introduction, there are several accommodation options in Finland that you can consider based on your budget and needs.
You can search for places both on booking.com (here) and Airbnb (here) and filter them according to your needs. If you are looking for something more special, make sure you read our guide about the luxury hotels in Lapland or the best hotels in Rovaniemi.
Finland with Kids
Finland is an amazing destination for families. As a family of four, we can absolutely recommend the country. There are several attractions for kids, such as Moomin World, Santa Claus Village, some of the Angry Birds Parks, and playgrounds, just to mention a few.
You will see Finland is a clean and safe country, so there is no need to worry about traveling here with kids. In several cities, including Helsinki and Rovaniemi, small kids (under 6) can use public transport for free. Isn’t it nice?
Finnish Food
Sign Up NOW – it is FREE
Finland has a unique cuisine, including specialties such as reindeer meat, smoked salmon, and nordic berries. Finnish desserts and pastries are also interesting, some really tasty (my favorite is korvapuusti), while other desserts such as mämmi divide locals and visitors too. And don’t forget about Salmiakki!
Finnish recipes
Finnish souvenirs
If you can’t wait for your trip and would like to check out Finnish souvenirs, this guide will help you. We have collected a wide range of Finnish products that locals love too.
Finnish Souvenirs and Products You Need to Know
Travel Resources
There is nothing better than a relaxed holiday. To ensure your rest, make sure you reserve and book your accommodation and transportation in advance of your trip.
- Don’t forget to insure yourself during your travels: SafetyWing. Check out their policies HERE. It also covers several virus-related expenses.
- Look for the best prices on flight tickets, hotels, and car rentals: Expedia
- Car rental: SIXt
- Accommodation: Booking.com, Agoda or Hostelworld if you travel on a budget. Don’t forget that you can search for Apartments also on Booking.
- Activities: GetYourGuide
- Opinions on hotels and restaurants: TripAdvisor
- Was your flight canceled or delayed? Get up to 600€ back with the help of Compansair!
About the Author
Katalin
Katalin is a Lapland-based outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking, road-tripping, and traveling with her family. She spends her free time far away from civilization in one of the national parks around the world, explores off-the-beaten-path places, or hops on a road trip with her kids in an RV.
Read more about her adventures and the blog.
