VisitFinland.com

Welcome to

The Official
Travel Guide of Finland

The stark contrasts between the four seasons are the main characteristics of the annual natural cycle in Finland. For a great part of the year the land is covered in frost and snow but there is a certain kind of mystique in the air when the seasons eventually change.

Whether it is the ice melting, revealing the green, growing grass in the spring or the leaves changing color in the forests and fells when the autumn arrives, Finns find themselves feeling united with the nature. And during those never-ending, long-awaited, white summer nights who wouldn’t?

Summer

The summer isn’t endless in Finland, but there are almost endless summer days. On a fine summer day, Finns have an overwhelming urge to go outside and get out of town.

Autumn

Summer ends with an explosion of color in the forests. This is the season known as ‘ruska’, when the autumnal reds, browns and yellows are especially beautiful on the fells of Lapland.

Winter

The snow season in northern Finland begins in November and lasts at least until May. In the inland regions of southern and central Finland, the first snow falls at the beginning of December and melts during late March and April.

Spring

Summer is short in Finland and spring is even shorter. In southern Finland there is often snow on the ground at the beginning of April, with a few crocuses poking their heads through the bare patches.

 

 

  • Summer

    At 10pm in midsummer, the sun is still shining brightly in Helsinki, making the evening forever-young and twilight wee hours barely noticeable.

    In Utsjoki, Lapland, on the other hand, a single summer day lasts for over two months – the sun just does not set at all.

     

  • Summer and cottage life in Finland are about appreciating the “art of doing nothing” – sitting on a jetty dipping your toes in the water beats staring at a computer screen any day of the week.

back to the nature

Slow down and live like a Finn, close to nature. Rent a cottage with a rowboat and bicycle. That way you can meet some Finns, either out on the lake or on an outdoor dance floor.

Read More about Summer

  • Autumn

    While most Finns are now going back to work, recalling the summer and planning for the next one, others are still finding their way to the fells of Lapland – the best place for an autumnal hike. The ground is covered in bright colors and the smell of wood smoke fills the air. Throughout the country forests are dotted with wild edible mushrooms, such as yellow chanterelles and brown porcini.

  • Hiking is the most favored activity in the autumn with routes varying from challenging ones to accessible to all. The temperature is also ideal for hiking, usually around 10 degrees Celsius. Mountain biking, canoeing and fishing are staples of the season too.

autumn leaf colour

Autumn leaf colour occurs in all of Finland, but gets more vibrant the further north you go. Leaf peeping trips to Lapland are a standard issue with Finns, as the province is home to the biggest wilderness areas in the country.

read more about autumn

  • Winter

    Depending on location, winter in Finland begins in November and can last up to five months, with temperatures ranging from a balmy zero to a lung-freezing minus 35. You may be suspicious, but we assure you that with the right layers of clothing, gloves, hat and boots, you can easily bear the most severe of arctic conditions.

  • Northernmost Finland is above the Arctic Circle, so the sun does not rise for a month or more during the winter. It’s not completely dark – there are a few hours of twilight around noon. This polar night is called ‘kaamos’ in Finnish; it sounds a bit like ‘calm us’.

Dress the part

You will actually be surprised by the fact that minus 20 doesn’t feel as cold as you would first imagine, simply because the air is really fresh and dry. Once you are armed with the right combination of clothes, you can simply start to enjoy all the fun winter activities Finland has to offer.

Read more about winter

  • Spring

    In southern Finland there is often snow on the ground at the beginning of April, with a few crocuses poking their heads through the bare patches – whilst in the South everything is changing so fast that you can almost see the grass growing and the leaves bursting forth.

     

  • The light conditions in Lapland are phenomenal. The spring sun stays above the horizon long into the evening.

celebration

In May everything is growing so fast you can almost see the grass growing and the leaves bursting forth. The Finns’ festival of spring is May 1, or Vappu, a time of frenzied celebrations across the country. Be forewarned: This is not a day when Finns are their usual sober and hardworking selves.

Read more about spring

Recommended Articles

Outdoor Adventures in Finland

While modern life keeps many of us indoors and desk-bound for most of the day, there’s no reason to keep it up on your holidays. Plot out some time in your calendar and let this list help you create the outdoor adventure trip of your dreams in the land of extremes – Finland.

Read More
Wild Food of Finland

Wild food from Finland is pure, simple, seasonal, slowly and naturally grown.

Read More
Meet Sophie – A Girl who Conquered Lapland

This epic winter expedition involved a select group of outdoor enthusiasts from around the world who spent three months in Finnish Lapland experiencing the wonders and challenges of winter. One of the explorers was Sophie Nolan the UK. See how she sums up her unforgettable experience in the …

Read More
7 'Must Experience' Ski Resorts in Finland

There are over one hundred ski resorts in Finland. That’s quite a high number for a country that has no mountains. Instead of mountains, there are a great deal of hills, which are covered with snow for about 200 days a year.

Read More
Finnish Christmas Markets

Winter is a magical time to visit Finland and the traditional Christmas markets make this time of year especially festive.

Read More
Finnish Summer Food

While Finnish winter staples such as hearty stews keep us warm during the cold months, we prefer our summer food to be light, fresh and easy to prepare.

Read More
All Articles
Outdoor Adventures in Finland Wild Food of Finland Meet Sophie – A Girl who Conquered Lapland 7 'Must Experience' Ski Resorts in Finland Finnish Christmas Markets Finnish Summer Food Summer At 10pm in midsummer, the sun is still shining brightly in Helsinki, making the evening forever-young and twilight wee hours barely noticeable. In Utsjoki, Lapland, on the other hand, a single summer day lasts for over two months – the sun just does not set at all.   Summer and cottage life in Finland are about appreciating the “art of doing nothing” – sitting on a jetty dipping your toes in the water beats staring at a computer screen any day of the week. Autumn While most Finns are now going back to work, recalling the summer and planning for the next one, others are still finding their way to the fells of Lapland – the best place for an autumnal hike. The ground is covered in bright colors and the smell of wood smoke fills the air. Throughout the country forests are dotted with wild edible mushrooms, such as yellow chanterelles and brown porcini. Hiking is the most favored activity in the autumn with routes varying from challenging ones to accessible to all. The temperature is also ideal for hiking, usually around 10 degrees Celsius. Mountain biking, canoeing and fishing are staples of the season too. Winter Depending on location, winter in Finland begins in November and can last up to five months, with temperatures ranging from a balmy zero to a lung-freezing minus 35. You may be suspicious, but we assure you that with the right layers of clothing, gloves, hat and boots, you can easily bear the most severe of arctic conditions. Northernmost Finland is above the Arctic Circle, so the sun does not rise for a month or more during the winter. It’s not completely dark – there are a few hours of twilight around noon. This polar night is called ‘kaamos’ in Finnish; it sounds a bit like ‘calm us’. Spring In southern Finland there is often snow on the ground at the beginning of April, with a few crocuses poking their heads through the bare patches – whilst in the South everything is changing so fast that you can almost see the grass growing and the leaves bursting forth.   The light conditions in Lapland are phenomenal. The spring sun stays above the horizon long into the evening.