Things to do in Finland

25 things to do in Finland

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Spend a night in a glass-roofed igloo at Levin Iglut to watch the Northern Lights

  Drift to sleep under the starry Arctic sky inside a thermal glass igloo, ideally positioned to witness the aurora borealis dancing overhead.

  Kittilä, Levi

• Relax in Finland's oldest public sauna, Rajaportin sauna, followed by a dip in an icy lake

  Breathe in the scent of a historic smoke sauna in Tampere, then brave the crisp waters of the nearby lake for a genuine Finnish löyly experience.

  Tampere

• Visit the UNESCO-listed Suomenlinna sea fortress

  Ferry across from Helsinki's market square to explore the 18th-century island bastion, a maze of ramparts, tunnels, and museums overlooking the Baltic Sea.

  Helsinki

• Explore the Design District in Helsinki

  Wander through Punavuori, Kaartinkaupunki, and Ullanlinna to discover independent galleries, boutiques, and the iconic Marimekko outlet.

  Helsinki

• Drive a team of huskies through snowy forests at Bearhill Husky farm

  Mush your own sled of eager Alaskan huskies on a trail deep inside an Arctic pine and birch forest near Rovaniemi.

  Rovaniemi

• Savor poronkäristys at Restaurant Nili in Rovaniemi

  Feast on sautéed reindeer in a cozy log-house setting, paired with lingonberry jam and creamy mashed potatoes, truly the taste of Lapland.

  Rovaniemi

• Hike to the Three-Country Cairn in Kilpisjärvi

  Trek through barren tundra landscape to the yellow concrete tripoint where Finland, Sweden, and Norway meet, with sweeping Arctic views.

  Kilpisjärvi, Enontekiö

• Take a day cruise on the M/S Ukkopekka through the Turku Archipelago

  Steam from Turku to Naantali aboard a 1938-built steamer, gliding past thousands of rocky islets and wooden summer cottages.

  Turku

• Sleep on an ice bed at the Arctic SnowHotel in Sinettä

  Bundle up in thermal sleeping bags inside a sculpted room of ice and snow, with a chance to watch the aurora through the skylight.

  Sinettä, near Rovaniemi

• Step across the Arctic Circle line and meet Santa at Santa Claus Village

  Cross the earth's polar circle at Santa's official office, send a postcard with a special postmark, and browse the Christmas exhibitions.

  Rovaniemi

• Paddle in Lake Saimaa at Linnansaari National Park to spot the Saimaa ringed seal

  Glide silently across Finland's largest lake by canoe, scanning rocky islets for one of the world's rarest seals resting in the summer sun.

  Oravi, Savonlinna

• Wander the cobblestone streets and colorful wooden houses of Porvoo Old Town

  Stroll past ochre and red riverside storehouses on a quaint medieval grid, visiting handicraft shops and the 15th-century cathedral.

  Porvoo

• Immerse in Tove Jansson's world at the Moomin Museum in Tampere

  Discover original Moomin illustrations, dioramas, and a five-story Moominhouse in the world's only museum dedicated to the beloved Finnish trolls.

  Tampere

• Ascend frozen waterfalls at Korouoma, Posio

  Climb thick blue ice cascades in a dramatic canyon that transforms into a vertical paradise for ice climbers each winter.

  Posio

• Listen to the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra at the Helsinki Music Centre

  Attend a concert in the modern, acoustically acclaimed Musiikkitalo, home to the city's top classical ensemble amid glass facades and Baltic light.

  Helsinki

• Board the Arctic icebreaker Sampo and walk on the frozen Gulf of Bothnia

  Cruise from Kemi port aboard a working icebreaker, then don a survival suit to float among the shattered ice blocks beneath the hull.

  Kemi

• Observe polar bears, lynx, and wolves at Ranua Wildlife Park

  Stroll the boardwalk through a snowy coniferous forest to see Arctic predators in spacious, naturalistic enclosures just below the Arctic Circle.

  Ranua

• Explore the vibrant urban art scene in Helsinki's Hietalahti district

  Seek out large-scale murals, pop-up galleries, and street art tours in the edgy former industrial harbor area reinventing itself with creativity.

  Helsinki

• Ski Yllästunturi under the midnight sun

  Carve down the slopes of Ylläs, Finland's highest fell in Western Lapland, where late-night spring skiing is lit by endless daylight.

  Ylläsjärvi, Kittilä

• Sample a freshly baked karjalanpiirakka with egg butter at Helsinki's Old Market Hall

  Pop into this century-old harbor-side market to eat the iconic rye-crust Karelian pasty, best washed down with strong Finnish coffee.

  Helsinki

• Learn about Sámi culture and the Arctic environment at Siida in Inari

  Visit Finland's national museum of the Sámi, where interactive displays and outdoor museums bring nomadic reindeer herding heritage to life.

  Inari

• Ride a fatbike on snowy trails through Oulanka National Park

  Cycle over packed snow beside Oulanka Canyon's plummeting cliffs and frozen rapids, a silent way to take in the winter wonderland.

  Juuma, Oulanka

• Play 18 holes at Green Zone Golf, crossing the Finnish-Swedish border under the midnight sun

  Tee off at this unique twin-town course straddling Tornio and Haparanda, where you putt across a time zone and night never falls in June.

  Tornio

• White-water raft the Ahvionkoski Rapids on the Kymijoki River

  Paddle the churning Class II+ rapids through a forested gorge in southern Finland, one of the country's longest river stretches.

  Pyhtää

• Admire modernist design at the Alvar Aalto Museum in Jyväskylä

  Explore the life's work of Finland's most famous architect, displayed within his own iconic white building and curated with furniture, glassware, and sketches.

  Jyväskylä