The 32 Best Things to See and Do in Finland

Helsinki is a first stop for many visiting Finland. For such a small capital city, it is full of history, cultural sites, shops, restaurants and other activities. Walking around to take in the architecture and atmosphere is an experience in itself. There are also regular guided tours around the city, or a cheaper alternative is to take a tram. Some essential stops include Temppeliaukion Church, the Lutheran Cathedral and Seurasaari Open Air Museum.

Children come from all over the world to see Santa Claus and his reindeer in the Lapland city of Rovaniemi, the official home of Santa. But if you’re an adult, it’s worth making the journey both for the childhood nostalgia and to take in the sights and culture of Lapland. Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi offers sledge rides, husky sledging, snowmobiles and all manner of other Lapland activities.

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.

Every city in Finland has at least one market hall, or kauppahalli, which can range in size from a few local businesses to a bustling marketplace selling everything from pastries to spices. In many cities, the market hall is the ideal place to pick up souvenirs, find local ingredients or have an affordable lunch. The oldest in the country is the Old Market Hall in Helsinki’s south harbour, which has been operating since 1889. Any visit to a market hall allows for a chance to meet locals and support small, local businesses.

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.

The island fortress of Suomenlinna off the coast of Helsinki is the most popular tourist destination in the country, and with good reason. It is not only one of the most historically significant sites in Finland, having experienced every major conflict since the 1700s, it also holds numerous museums of everything from toys to war memorabilia. To see everything on the island takes a whole day, and the best way to learn about the history is to take one of the walking tours. Collectively, it makes for one of the most enjoyable days out you can have in Finland.

There are multiple national parks in Finland, all of which offer their own unique sights and landscapes. But some of the best views can be found in Koli National Park in Northern Karelia, in the eastern part of Finland. Climbing the rocky trail to look over the lakes and forests is just as breathtaking as seeing the Grand Canyon. In winter, there are also opportunities for skiing through this stunning landscape.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

It isn’t difficult to find Lake Saimaa – it’s the largest lake in Finland, covering more than 4,400sqkm (1,700sqmi). This gives you plenty of space for boating, fishing, renting a lake house and maybe spotting the rare Saimaa ringed seal. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Located near the site of one of most significant World War II battles in Finland, the Winter War Museum tells the story of the Battle of Suomussalmi and the military history of the area. Nearby is a memorial statue for the Winter War. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

One of the most remote parts of Finland, the Åland Islands, far out in the southwest archipelago, consist mainly of Swedish-speaking residents. As well as being a quiet spot for relaxation, there is also a maritime museum, archaeological sites and an annual Viking Market. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

A huge icebreaker ship, Sampo takes tourists on short cruises on the Gulf of Bothnia, breaking up the ice in its path. It is one of the most unique and exciting cruises you can take. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Not only does this region in Lapland have some of the top ski resorts in Finland, it also has the only sauna gondola in the world. That’s a gondola ski lift car transformed into a functioning sauna. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

It is quite a hike to reach this tiny wooden church in Lapland, but worth it. Not only is the Lapland landscape beautiful, but the church dates from 1760 and is one of the oldest surviving churches in Lapland. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

A place to get in touch with Finnish wildlife, Ahtari Zoo contains many Scandinavian forest animals, including bears, owls, reindeer and lynx. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

A World Heritage site, the old town area of Rauma is filled with classic wooden buildings preserved and reconstructed from the pre-industrial era. It is rare to see such buildings in Finland and walking through the town feels like stepping into a fairytale. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The highest peak in Finland, right on the Finnish-Norwegian border, is a difficult but exhilarating trek of more than 50km (31mi). Reaching the summit provides the best views of Lapland on both the Finnish and Norwegian sides. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The 35,000 paintings in this state-owned collection are divided between three buildings in Helsinki, and are regularly lent out to other museums. A visit to any one is a fascinating look at Finnish and European art, from classic to modern. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

This is a fascinating museum exploring the history, arts and culture of the native Sámi people in Lapland. There is also an open-air museum of traditional Sámi dwellings and a shop selling handmade crafts. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

This impressive 15th-century castle in Savonlinna is significant, not only for the history, but also for the intriguing ghost stories. The castle is also home to events such as the Savonlinna Opera Festival. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

You might not associate Finland with grand manor houses, but there are many beautiful examples, such as Herttoniemi Manor in Helsinki. The 19th-century manor was renovated from an old porcelain factory and combines baroque architecture with an English-style garden. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The second tallest observation tower in the Nordic countries, Näsinneula in Tampere has views of the city centre and surrounding lakes up to 20km (12mi) away. The structure also has a rotating restaurant. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Porvoo is an easy choice for anyone wanting to step outside of the beaten tracks of Helsinki. Located only a 30-minute bus ride from the capital, Porvoo is a cute Finnish city of 50,000 inhabitants. Porvoo is famous for its old, wooden-house district lining the river Porvoonjoki. Inhabited since the Stone Age, Porvoo used to be a prosperous trading site largely because of its river. Nowadays, Porvoo is a popular city to visit because of its breathtaking aesthetic, convenient location near Helsinki, and the fact that it’s one of Finland’s best foodie destinations! With its boutique shops, artisanal chocolatiers, cafés and restaurants, Porvoo is great for a weekend visit. Recommended by Paula Hotti.

Hanko is a historic seaside holiday destination for Finns. It is located 130 kilometres west of Helsinki, and almost half of its 8,500 inhabitants belong to Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority. In the late 19th century, Hanko was a famous spa town among the Russian nobility – Finland being under Russian rule at the time. Nowadays, Hanko is a relaxing seaside town with cute hotels, shops and cafés, as well as activities such as yoga, kayaking, and golf. Recommended by Paula Hotti.

Fiskars is a unique artisanal village in Southern Finland. You might recognise the word ‘Fiskars’ from the orange-handle scissors that were originally manufactured in the area, and have now spread worldwide. The craft-making heritage is still celebrated in Fiskars Village, making it a perfect spot for anyone wanting to explore Finnish artisanal produce, including gin, art, homeware, and clothes. Recommended by Paula Hotti.

Kuopio is the capital of the Savonia region and its inhabitants are renowned for their easy-going (or “lupsakka”) lifestyle. Kuopio’s heart is its Market Square: in the summertime, the square is occupied by tents selling local produce such as berries, vegetables, and fish, as well as wooden cutlery. Around the square, there are a few shopping malls, cafés and restaurants. Kuopio also has a little harbour where you can jump on-board of an old-fashioned boat and sail the waters of Lake Kallavesi. Recommended by Paula Hotti.

Naantali is a little harbour town on the West Coast of Finland. Naantali is famous for being the home of Moomins, as well as the summer residence of the President of Finland. Naantali’s old wooden-house area is beautiful in any season, but it is during the summer months that the town really bursts into life. In the summer, Naantali’s harbour is filled with small yachts and boats, and people enjoying the sunniest place in Finland by sipping coffee or wine at one of the harbour’s many restaurants. Recommended by Paula Hotti.

Let’s start with the basics: Yyterin Hiekkasärkät means The Sand Dunes of Yyteri. Although Finland may not be a famous beach destination, there are a few great beaches Finns like to visit regularly. One of them is Yyteri, located on the west coast of Finland, near Pori. The sand dunes of Yyteri stretch out for over six kilometres and lure thousands of Finns each summer. Apart from sunbathing, people also come here for golf and spa. Recommended by Paula Hotti.