When to go to Finland?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with real weather records
Best time: June to August (summer) and December to March (northern lights)
At a glance
Why go to Finland?
Finland cultivates a discreet way of life that wins you over slowly but surely. The land of a thousand lakes (there are actually nearly 188,000), three-quarters covered in forest, it breathes calm and space. You come here in search of silence, nature on the cabin doorstep, and the intimate bond Finns share with their lakes and woods. It is a destination that soothes as much as it transports.
It is impossible to talk about Finland without the sauna: there are more of them than cars, around three million for five and a half million inhabitants. A social, family and almost sacred ritual, you sweat it out before plunging into an icy lake, winter and summer alike. It is the heart of national identity, a shared moment where friendships and deals are sealed. Turning down a sauna in Finland is almost a friendly affront.
Finnish Lapland tips the trip into a fairy tale. It is here, in Rovaniemi, that Santa Claus has officially made his home, right on the Arctic Circle. Reindeer, dog sleds, nights in glass igloos under the northern lights, white forests as far as the eye can see: the Arctic winter takes on a magical air. The Sami people keep alive an ancestral culture tied to reindeer herding.
Map of Finland: what is where?
The map shows the 6 places covered in this guide, to picture the distances and plan your route.
- Helsinki
- Rovaniemi
- Saariselka (northern lights)
- Lake Saimaa (Savonlinna)
- Turku
- Löyly Helsinki (sauna)
How much does a trip to Finland cost?
Finland remains expensive by European standards, though a little less so than Norway or Iceland. Winter Lapland and its activities push the bill up.
| Style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €70-110/day | Hostel or campsite, self-catering, trains and buses, nature and affordable public saunas. |
| Comfort | €150-230/day | Hotel or cabin with a sauna, some restaurants, an excursion and domestic transport. |
| Premium | €300+/day | Glass igloo in Lapland, northern lights safaris, huskies and snowmobiles, fine dining. |
Finland is in the eurozone, so you pay in euros, and bank cards (often contactless) are accepted absolutely everywhere.
Is Finland safe?
Finland regularly ranks among the safest and happiest countries in the world; crime is very low and you can get around without worry at any hour. The main risk is the extreme cold of the Lapland winter, which can drop below minus 30 degrees: suitable gear and vigilance against frostbite are essential. No vaccinations are required and the healthcare system is excellent; as a member of the European Union, Finland recognises the European Health Insurance Card. Just watch out for the mosquitoes, very common in the north in summer, and for thin ice on frozen lakes.
What to see and do in Finland
- the northern lights in Lapland
- Helsinki and its design
- Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi
- saunas and lakes
- dog sledding
Helsinki
The elegant, maritime capital spreads out around its harbour and its white neoclassical cathedral overlooking Senate Square. You take the ferry to the sea fortress of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece, and visit the astonishing Temppeliaukio Church carved into the rock. Finnish design is on show in the shops and the Design District. The market halls brim with specialities. It is a gentle, refined introduction.
Rovaniemi and Santa Claus Village
The capital of Finnish Lapland, right on the Arctic Circle. You can meet Santa Claus all year round in his official village, send a card from the Arctic post office and symbolically cross the Arctic Circle line. Around it lie reindeer farms, snowmobile safaris and husky excursions. The Arktikum museum tells the story of life in the Far North. It is the perfect base for an Arctic adventure.
Lapland and the northern lights
North of the Arctic Circle, Lapland offers one of the best places in the world for the northern lights, visible around 200 nights a year from September to March. You watch for them from a heated glass igloo, lying in bed facing the sky. Resorts such as Saariselka or Levi combine skiing, snowmobiling and sledding. The cold can plunge below minus 20 degrees. Polar magic in all its splendour.
Saimaa lake region
Finland's largest lake and the fourth largest in Europe, a labyrinthine maze of islands, forests and channels. In summer you sail it, rent a wooden cabin with a sauna by the water and watch for the rare Saimaa ringed seal. The town of Savonlinna is home to the medieval castle of Olavinlinna, which hosts an opera festival. This is the Finland of slow, lakeside holidays.
Turku archipelago
Off the south-west coast stretches one of the largest archipelagos in the world, tens of thousands of islands and islets. You explore them by bike along the Archipelago Trail, which links the islands by bridges and free ferries, from fishing village to isolated lighthouse. Turku, the country's oldest city, is the gateway, with its castle and cathedral. Summer there is mild and luminous. A paradise for cyclists and sailors.
Sauna culture
More than a place, an institution found everywhere, from private cabins to public city saunas. In Helsinki, modern saunas such as Löyly by the sea let you alternate intense heat with a dip in the Baltic. You go in naked, respectfully and in silence, before cooling off in cold water. The experience can be enjoyed all year round. It is the best way to understand the Finnish soul.
How many days, and which itinerary?
Allow five to seven days to combine Helsinki with a lakeside stay in summer, or four to five days for a winter escape to Lapland to chase the northern lights.
🗺️ Day-by-day itinerary · 📓 Free printable Finland guide (PDF)
Helsinki and the lakes (6 days)
Two days in the capital between design and Suomenlinna fortress, then on to the Saimaa region for a cabin by the water, sauna and boating. Optional detour to the Turku archipelago by bike. Gentle, lakeside summer Finland.
Winter Lapland (5 days)
Fly to Rovaniemi for Santa Claus Village and a reindeer farm, two nights in a glass igloo under the northern lights, a snowmobile safari and a dog sled ride. A short, fairy-tale format for experiencing the Arctic at the height of aurora season.
Grand summer tour (9 days)
From Helsinki to the Saimaa lakes, then gradually north to Lapland to discover the midnight sun and hike in the national parks. A thread running from the refined south to the wild Far North, along the full length of the country.
Getting there and getting around
VR trains are comfortable, punctual and economical for linking Helsinki, the lake region and Rovaniemi, including by car-carrying night train.
Domestic flights (Finnair) save precious time to Lapland, as north-south distances are considerable.
In town, Helsinki has an excellent network of trams, buses and metro, with ferries to the nearby islands.
A hire car is essential mainly in Lapland and the archipelago; in winter, use studded tyres and take care on black ice.
Where to stay in Finland?
Hostels and dorms: €35 to €60 a night, widely available in Helsinki and the cities.
Double room in a standard hotel: €110 to €180, often with a sauna and breakfast included.
Lakeside cabin (mökki) with a private sauna: €100 to €250, the classic choice for a Finnish summer.
Glass igloo or cabin in Lapland under the northern lights: €250 to €500, an exceptional experience to book early.
Our places to stay, stop by stop, at three budgets →
What to eat in Finland?
Creamy salmon soup (lohikeitto), with potatoes and dill, the ultimate national comfort food.
Karjalanpiirakka, small rye pasties filled with rice pudding, spread with egg butter.
Finnish-style meatballs (lihapullat), served with mash and cream sauce.
Wild berries, blueberries and Arctic cloudberries, picked in the forest and turned into desserts and jams.
Entry requirements
Schengen area: an ID card or passport for EU citizens, 90 days visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports.
Rules change: check your own government's travel advice before you go.
Cities and regions to discover
City🇫🇮 Helsinki
Region🇫🇮 Finnish Lapland
City🇫🇮 Rovaniemi
Frequently asked questions about Finland
When can you see the northern lights in Lapland?
From September to March, in the north of the country beyond the Arctic Circle, where they appear around 200 nights a year. A clear sky and a dark night are needed; glass igloos let you watch for them in the warm.
What daily budget should I plan in Finland?
Allow about €70 a day as a backpacker staying in hostels and self-catering, around €190 for a comfortable trip, and more than €300 in winter Lapland with a glass igloo and Arctic activities.
How do I get around Finland?
VR trains efficiently link Helsinki, the lakes and Rovaniemi, night train included. Domestic flights save time to Lapland, while a car is essential for the archipelago and the Far North.
When is the best time to go?
Winter, from December to March, for Lapland, the northern lights and the magic of snow. Summer, from June to August, for the lakes, the midnight sun and the cabins. Two very different Finlands depending on the season you choose.
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