Helsinki design and sea
A coastal capital blending design architecture, seaside markets and islands reachable by ferry for a quick escape.
Finland
The land of a thousand lakes and endless forests, Finland invites travelers to slow down among steaming saunas, wooded islands and northern lights skies, before reaching Helsinki, its quietly refined capital, with its coastal markets and design museums.
Why visit Finland?
Finland stands out for the sheer scale of its preserved nature: boreal forests, tens of thousands of lakes and long winter nights suited to the northern lights in the north of the country. Helsinki, its capital, adds a recognized architectural and cultural scene to the experience.
What to discover in Finland?
Finland is best discovered first in Helsinki, a coastal capital known for design-driven architecture, seaside markets and islands just a short ferry ride away. The city concentrates museums, public saunas and a fast-growing Nordic food scene, while remaining a practical base for exploring the rest of the country.
Beyond the capital, Finland is above all a country of nature: tens of thousands of lakes surrounded by pine forests, national parks suited to hiking and canoeing, and the Lapland region in the north, known for its northern lights nights and snowy winter landscapes. Finland also shares regular connections with its Nordic neighbors, notably Denmark, making it easy to combine into a wider Scandinavian itinerary. The sauna, deeply woven into local culture, remains one of the most authentic experiences to have there, in the city as much as in the wilderness, and visitors will find one in nearly every home, hotel and lakeside cabin across the country.
Cities to visit in Finland
Featured destinations appear first.
Coming soon.
Finland in pictures
Highlights
A few emblematic experiences that capture the spirit of Finland.
Northern lights in Lapland
Winter nights in the north of the country offer strong chances of seeing the aurora borealis far from light pollution.
The land of a thousand lakes
A landscape dotted with tens of thousands of forest-lined lakes, ideal for canoeing and lakeside cabin stays.
Traditional sauna
A central cultural practice, found in homes, cities and even some public spaces along the lakeshores.
National parks
Numerous protected parks with marked trails, well suited to hiking and wildlife watching.
Turku archipelago
A maze of wooded islands off the southwest coast, popular for sailing and quiet summer getaways.
Practical information
- Capital
- Helsinki
- Area
- About 338,000 km²
- Population
- About 5.6 million
- Languages
- Finnish and Swedish
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+2 (Eastern European Time)
- Climate
- Cold continental, long winters and short summers
- Best season
- June to August, or winter for northern lights
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Finland?
September to March, especially in Lapland, offers the best chances of seeing the northern lights during clear, dark nights.
Do I need a visa to visit Finland?
Finland is part of the Schengen area; travelers from many countries can visit visa-free for short tourist stays, subject to current agreements.
What language is spoken in Finland?
Finnish and Swedish are the official languages, but English is very widely spoken, especially in Helsinki and tourist areas.
Is sauna really part of Finnish culture?
Yes, sauna is a national institution; there are more saunas than households on average, and many public venues also offer them to visitors.
When should I visit Finnish Lapland?
Winter suits northern lights and snow activities, while summer offers the midnight sun and hiking through unspoiled wilderness.
Can Finland be combined with other Nordic countries?
Yes, Finland is well connected to Denmark and Sweden by air and sea, making it easy to plan a wider Scandinavian itinerary.
Plan your trip to Finland
Day-by-day itinerary, budget, bookings and packing in a single app.
