7 Summertime Surprises to Enjoy in Finland!
Every winter, visitors from around the world flock to Finland. Bordering Russia’s western territory, the country is a mystical Nordic land blanketed by forest and drenched with lakes. Once upon a time it was best known around the world as the home of the Moomins. Nowadays its famous creatures are a little less earthbound but a little more irritable, as the nation of little more than five million is the birthplace of the Angry Birds.
In the dark months, tourists head to the far north to see reindeer and meet the one true Santa Claus (or Joulupukki, as the Finns call him) at home in Lapland. But even in the summer, the country is an enticing destination for all sorts of vacationers. Here are some things you can enjoy on a summer vacation in Finland.
1. See the midnight sun. Finnish capital Helsinki sits on the country’s south coast, even farther north than Juneau, Alaska. Meanwhile, Lapland’s vast territory stretches deep into the Arctic Circle. In the height of Midsummer in June and July you can experience 24-hour sunlight across the country, while in the far north the sun doesn’t set at all for weeks on end. Go hiking through Lapland’s Pyhä-Luosto National Park, play a late-night golf tournament at Oulu on the west coast or check out the Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä, roughly 120 kilometers into the Arctic, to make the most of summer’s unending days.
2. Rent a cottage. In Finland, a second home is not limited to a privileged few. Families of all types have their own cottages deep in the birch forests that rule the countryside, places to entertain friends and family for the weekend or during the holidays. Some of them rent out their property in the summer, so you can sample the way of life that makes Finland one of the world’s most peaceful nations. Warm up the sauna, take off all your clothes and turn the dial all the way up like a real Finn would. Then go for a dip in one of Finland’s 180,000 lakes to cool off.
3. Wander through the woods. Finland is Europe’s most heavily forested country, with nearly three quarters of its land area covered by woods. Drive just 30 kilometers north of Helsinki to the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia and you can explore interactive exhibits about this country’s marvelous animal and plant life before taking a guided hike into the surrounding Nuuksio National Park.
4. Sip a coffee in the capital. Given the long periods of darkness they have to power through in winter, it is perhaps unsurprising that the Finns are some of the world’s biggest coffee drinkers, each consuming on average five cups a day. The capital city has plenty of attractive, bohemian spots in which to enjoy an iced latte and a cinnamon bun. For a classic cup in sumptuous surroundings, grab a table outside the Karl Fazer cafe on Kluuvikatu where you can also sample the famous old chocolatier’s beloved confections.
5. Eat out. Finland may not be the world’s number one foodie destination, but gastronomes will discover remarkable delicacies while dining out at the capital’s top eateries. Fish pie baked in a rye bread crust; salmon, leek and potato soup; Karelian rice pies; cardamom buns and blueberry pie are among the local specialties offered. Book a table at one of Helsinki’s half dozen Michelin-starred restaurants or even pick up fresh ingredients at the city’s Market Square and try preparing them for yourself.
6. Cruise around the Baltic. When you’re wandering round Market Square, you’ll see the ferries lining up at the dock ready to take passengers around the islands that surround the port of Helsinki. Get on board and have lunch or dinner while admiring the view. Cruises depart regularly between May and September, with tours available in a range of languages. Head for the island of Suomenlinna where you can wander the maritime fortress built during the Swedish reign; today it remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively you can walk with the 150 species of animals at Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island, which is open to the public year-round.
7. Party. The Finns are renowned as a quiet, taciturn people but that doesn’t keep them from letting their hair down and putting on a great night. If you’re in Helsinki in August, you have to investigate Flow Festival, a showcase of local and international artists, which drew over 60,000 visitors in 2013 to see acts as diverse as Nick Cave, Alicia Keys and Kraftwerk. Take a train to Finland’s one-time capital city of Turku where in July you can find the country’s oldest rock festival, Ruisrock. Over the years it has attracted star names like Whitesnake, Nirvana, Bon Jovi and many others. If you remember Lordi conquering at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, you’ll know that Finland’s heavy metal scene rocks. Visit the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in Helsinki and you’ll see why, with over 30,000 metal lovers coming to see some fiery performances.
Finland may be a country steeped in mystery, tucked away on the chilly edge of northeastern Europe, but it’s full of summertime surprises. It’s great that there are plenty of sunlight hours in which to see them all!
