Fair warning to all visitors to Finland; be prepared to be blown away by the landscapes, nature and sightseeing packed into this small nordic country! 

Of all the Scandinavian countries, Finland might just be unrivalled in terms of adventure, excitement and beauty in comparison to its neighbors Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

And while the experience is vastly different from winter to summer, and from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, no matter which time of year you visit, and no matter which destination, we guarentee you’ll fall head over heels for the country (hopefully not literally from slipping on snow!)

Here are 3 things to love about Finland; though we could easily list 50!

3 Things to Love About Finland

The Purest Nature

What should you do first when traveling to Finland? Go fishing or swimming in one of the thousand lakes? Hike around the beautiful national parks and forests? Chase the Northern lights?

Finland is a dream for nature lovers. The landscapes here are pure and untouched, and it has something special to offer in every season.

From the greenest summer to colorful autumn “Ruska”, Finnish nature is truly something to experience. The best part is, you don’t even have to go far away from the city to get a chance to enjoy it. Nature is everywhere.

Keep in mind that a thick layer of snow covers everything from early November to late April.

Temperatures are freezing (usually between -5C and -30C all the time, with periodical drops to even as low as -50C) but there is no humidity in the air and usually no wind either, which makes them totally bearable if you dress accordingly.

The Loosest Nightlife

If you’re into nightlife, cities like Helsinki are a hive of activity once the sun goes down (and the sun goes down quite early in winter!), and you have some pretty unique options!

Finns love to stay out late on the weekends, and pubs, clubs, and casino games are popular througout the city, especially within the Punavuori design district.

You can literally loosen up if you head to Löyly, one of the most famous restaurants in the capital which combines your meal with a 2 hour sauna.

A two-hour booking in the traditional smoke or wood-burning sauna costs 21 euros and then your food is on top of that.

Then again, if you prefer spending your nights in a bit calmer atmosphere, there are numerous Michelin-starred restaurants you can check out.

But in Finland, even the sky loves to party! If you’re here during winter, the sun disappears for a few months and you have the opportunity to see the northern lights.

Many hotels offer the opportunity to spend the night underneath the Northern Lights, the most active seasons for being late autumn and early spring, when the Earth’s orientation towards the sun maximizes the probability of solar flares interacting with the planet’s magnetic field.

Nordic History

Locals in Finland are very proud of their history and culture, and Turku is a fabulous place to experience this; the former capital city until Helsinki took over.

The city has been standing proud for the past 800 years, and has a nice European vibe. Taking the Kings Road instead of the freeway from Helsinki takes you through rural landscapes and small towns, and is a great way to experience a side of the country most visitors will never see.

Turku Castle is a main attraction; the largest surviving medieval building in Finland. While this is the most obvious starting point, there are then numerous museums to hop through.

Rauma is another great historic part of the country, between Turku and Pori, and old Rauma is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where time has stood still. Get lost in the small cobblestone streets and marvel at the old wooden houses (the same kind as in Porvoo).

This is the largest unified wooden town in the Nordic countries, and walking around is like stepping into a fairy tale: the colourful wooden houses, decorative gates, cobble stone streets and beautiful public buildings create an atmosphere of the long-forgotten past.

These are our reasons to love Finland, what are yours?