summer

Because of the long, cold winter Finns celebrate their summer very passionately. Some go to music festivals, offering a choice of jazz, blues, rock, opera and chamber music. Others are sailing among the coastal islands or enjoying slow life at their summer cottages –  swimming, fishing and cooking dinner on the grill. For three brief – but oh, so sweet! – months, the temperatures soar high and the sun does not set at all.

summer in figures

+15°C – +32°C

Around 100 days

June – August

The sun does not set

In Finnish Lapland a single summer day lasts for over two months.  In the southern parts of the country it is never really dark either, just a period of twilight for a few hours. This is why we call Finland the Land of the Midnight Sun.

“Terrace season”

When in the city Finns enjoy their months of sunshine (and a glass of cider) on the sidewalk and park terraces around town. Market places of all sort are another attraction. The signs are small at first – the marketplaces feature strawberries or peas eaten fresh – but by midsummer the Nordic nation has definitely defrosted.

Beginning of summer

Midsummer is often seen as the beginning of warm summer weather and many Finns start their summer holidays on Midsummer Eve. Taking place at the end of June, longest day of the year is a key element in the festivities in the northern parts of Finland.

one way to enjoy the midnight sun: incredible NIghtlife

Getting out of a dark nightclub at 3 a.m. can be a bit confusing, as it feels more like 3 p.m. You wouldn’t be the first to swap sleep for an after-party on the beach – in full sunlight, of course.

festivals

From large-scale rock festivals to small local happenings, you’ll find something going on more or less every day throughout the Finnish summer. The largest festivals have been around for decades and cater for all tastes in the popular music category, gathering tens of thousands of people.

summer cottage

Often situated by water, cabins and cottages are an essential element in Finnish life, providing a physical and mental getaway from the daily grind. Forgetting the everyday worries is inevitable in retreats amid the country’s greatest resource: its rugged natural beauty.