Finnish tourism Europe – Lonely Planet
The combination of Finnish wild beauty, contemporary design and culinary excellence is a fascinating combination. Throw in the magic of winter and irresistible summers, and you have one cool country.
Invitation to the wilderness
The Finland you encounter depends on the season of your visit, but regardless of the month, there is something clean and exciting in the air and spirit of Finland that is vital and exciting. In the steep forests dotted with perfect lakes, as if the artist had swept the map with a blue dipped brush, Finland (the word describing the country of the Finns) offers the best hiking, kayaking and canoeing in Europe. The magnificent network of national parks has marked trails and regularly placed lodges for overnight stays, and nature walks allow you to observe bears and deer deep in the woods.
Summer days
Finland’s short but shimmering sunny season brings the country to life. Finns seem to want to suck away even the last drop of gold in the summer in the hope that it will sustain the long, dark winter months, and joy and optimism will explode. With surprisingly high temperatures at these latitudes, summer is a time for music festivals, art exhibitions, lake cruises, comfortable beer terraces in the midnight sunshine, idyllic days in secluded beach cottages and plenty of market produce.
After the snowfall
Winter has its own charm as the snow covers the pines and the lakes freeze. The best way to expel frosts is to activate the frosts. Skiing is awesome until May. Other hobbies include renting a group of dogs, reindeer pants or a snowmobile hike through the snowy solitude illuminated by the beautiful, light winter sun; Catching Aurora borealis (northern lights) after a wood-heated sauna; drilling a hole for ice fishing; and spend the night in a glittering, colorful ice hotel.
City lights
Finland is not just a vast area of unspoilt wilderness. The vibrant cities fill the southern regions of the country, the capital Helsinki, an electrifying urban space with world-famous design and music. Surrounded by the Baltic Sea, it is a magnificent complex of modern and handsome architecture, island restaurants and stylish and quaint bars. And the ‘new Finland’ epicurean scene is booming, and locally sourced flavors are a priority. Outside Helsinki, Tampere and Turku in particular are bustling, engaging cities with a vibrant university student population.