Top Things to See and Do in Finland
From unwinding in a sauna to adrenaline-pumping adventure breaks, there is a huge variety of sights and experiences in Finland to suit every taste. These are some of the top things to see and do in Finland which should be included on any visitor’s itinerary.
1. Helsinki
Church
2. Visit Santa and his reindeer
Hotel
You can visit Rovaniemi with Culture Trip and do all of the above on a five-day trip on which you’ll stay on your own private island.
3. Tour the Turku archipelago
Amusement Park, Park, Ruins
Finland has thousands of small islands off its coast, but the Turku archipelago to the southwest, the largest in the world with more than 20,000 islands, is by far the most impressive and offers the most attractive scenery. The Moomin World theme park is situated in Naantali and it is also home to the Kuusisto Castle Ruins. The archipelago is a great place to walk, cycle, or boat too.
5. Watch a hockey game
Sports Center, Stadium
Finland has produced some of the best ice hockey players of all time. The best way to enjoy a game is to watch one at an arena. Even if you aren’t there as a fan of the local team, it is still fun to join in with the cheers and songs.
6. Suomenlinna Fortress
Ruins
7. Take in the views at Koli National Park
Park
8. Turku Castle
Building, Museum
The city of Turku offers some vastly different historical sites to Helsinki, due to it being the capital city during the time of Swedish rule. The best way to learn about this history is by visiting Turku Castle, near the harbour. The deceptively small exterior hides a huge museum detailing Finland’s medieval history and the role the castle played in it. Its numerous rooms also hold more recent antiques, paintings, and artefacts that give a glimpse into every era of Finland’s fascinating history.
9. See the Northern Lights
Forest, Natural Feature, Ski Resort
While in Lapland during the winter, it is worth crossing the Northern Lights off your bucket list. The dark Lapland winter nights, largely unspoilt by pollution, make an ideal location to spot the sensation, especially from igloo hotels which allow you to watch the night sky while laying in bed. You’re not guaranteed to see the lights, but waiting for them to appear is all part of the fun.
On our five-day Arctic Adventure to Finnish Lapland trip, you’ll go in search of the lights during a thrilling husky-slide ride.
10. Relax in a sauna
Health Spa
The popularity of saunas may have spread worldwide, but Finland is where they were invented. In the unlikely case the place you are staying doesn’t have a sauna, you can visit a public sauna such as Arlan Public Sauna in Helsinki or take a luxury mini-break in a boutique sauna, such as Herrankukkaro on the Turku archipelago. There are also many unique saunas such as sauna ships or the sauna gondola, the only one of its kind in the world.
11. Go bear watching
Natural Feature, Park
Finns are especially proud of their natural wildlife, but since most of them are only found in remote locations and many hibernate, they can be difficult to spot in the wild. One ideal way to see bears, the national animal, is to go on a bear-watching trip. These excursions run between April and September and offer chances to watch and get photos of bears in their natural habitat without disturbing them or risking an attack. The borders of Eastern Finland are considered the best locations for spotting bears, although they can be found anywhere on the mainland
12. Stay in a lakeside cottage
Park, Natural Feature
The Finnish tradition of escaping to a lakeside or island cottage is becoming increasingly popular with tourists as well. It not only offers a remote location to relax but a chance to enjoy fishing, swimming, nature spotting and hiking. The summer months, and especially midsummer, are the most popular times to visit a lake cottage, but they can be rented out any time of year for anywhere from a few nights to several months at a time. Cottages near ski resorts or in the Arctic Circle are ideal places to stay during winter, and usually make cheaper alternatives to hotels.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.