Finland... Land of Santa Claus in Rovaniemi, of the Lapps, of the Northern Lights. A land with an inhospitable climate, with immense birch and conifer forests. So many images stick to the skin of this country of 5 million inhabitants, with a very low density. And yet, if it seems wild, Finland can be tamed by anyone who really wants to discover it. Wedged between Norway, Sweden and Russia, it is neither Slavic nor Scandinavian: it is Finnish. And it is both one and many. From Helsinki, its capital, sometimes compared to Saint Petersburg for its neo-classical architecture, to the Nordic Lapland, the tourist will discover many surprises. He will get to know its thousand lakes, including the famous Lake Saimaa, which gave it its nickname. He will notice that beyond its continental part, it is also composed of 40 000 islands, among which Turku the old capital. The traveler will witness the magic of the polar nights, the northern lights and the midnight sun. Finally, he will discover a country where nature is queen, and dictates a great number of activities. And between a sleigh ride and a fishing trip, he will certainly be tempted by the sauna, a local specialty!

When to go Finland ?

In Finland, the tourist season varies greatly depending on the region. In the south, the high season runs from the beginning of June to mid-August. In Lapland, it starts in February and lasts until the end of April, without forgetting the month of September and the end-of-year holidays. Of course, as everywhere, prices are doubled or even tripled. Beware, as the school year starts in mid-August in Finland, many schools are closed or slowed down in the second half of August. From September onwards, autumn, the ruska, spreads its wonderful colors between red, yellow, copper and orange. It is undoubtedly the ideal period for hiking. You will avoid the harshness of winter and will still enjoy a landscape with sublime colors without being devoured by mosquitoes. The more romantic canoeists can enjoy the sweetness of canoeing. Winter marks the return of the cold. Between mid-December and mid-January, the kaamos, the polar night, extends its grip on the region. The most addicted to winter sports will nevertheless be able to enjoy multiple activities. Between March and May, the observation of the northern lights is also privileged. Depending on the region, be sure to find out the dates of the midnight sun and the polar nights, which are quite extraordinary phenomena for those who are not used to them.

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Practical information for travel Finland

Finland, vast from North to South, requires a bit of organisation and compromise when it is discovered. Whether you are sporty or not, with your family with children or not, with friends to have fun, as a lover or alone, you will be surprised by the great diversity of landscapes as well as the cultural, artistic and sporting activities that the country has to offer. Whether you have a week, or twenty days, we propose several itineraries to discover a maximum of the country while optimizing your travels. Then, our five thematic stays focus on a particular area such as the Route of the Kings, the lakes or the discovery of Lapland in winter. In these holiday ideas, we have highlighted and highlighted our favourites of Finnish lands. Feel free to pick and choose from them to create your own perfect holiday

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How to go Finland

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How to go alone

It is easy to travel to Finland alone, as the country is well connected by air. Finland is a very safe country, where children and disabled travelers are more than welcome. The only possible danger is the omnipresence of nature. Therefore, be careful when hiking in a desert area. Inform the information points of your passage by signing the tourist registers. However, it is necessary to be well informed about the weather risks.

How to go on a tour

City weekends, sports holidays, multi-activity holidays in Lapland, cruises, self-tours, hiking in summer, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing holidays, combined tours with other Scandinavian and Baltic countries: the possibilities to discover Finland are numerous. Specialists offer a wide range of activities: you will be spoilt for choice! The only thing that remains is the cost of the stays, which is quite high, just like the cost of living in the Nordic countries.

How to get around

The airline Finnair serves all 24 airports in the country. The bus and train network is dense. There are also boat connections. Finally, driving is a real pleasure in Finland: civic-mindedness and zero tolerance for alcohol are the rule. Beware of snowy roads! In the city, there is no problem to get around: public transport and cabs are very present. And you will quickly realize how ubiquitous the bicycle is in Finnish life!

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Discover Finland

Welcome to Finland! In addition to its restaurants, bars, museums and other cultural establishments, we also offer you a more global overview of the country: its history, geography and specific features, from its climate to its flora and fauna. We try to help you discover the country in a different way, with thematic dossiers such as the one on Finnish saunas or the history and mythical pieces of Finnish design. There's also Finnish art, which will reveal all its secrets in literature, music, painting and film. And for a better understanding of Finnish history, there are also dossiers on religion, population, social life and current issues... In short, this part of our guide takes you on an (almost) complete tour of the country, from the capital Helsinki to the most remote regions.

Pictures and images Finland

Cathédrale Upenski à Helsinki. Grisha Bruev - Shutterstock.com
Mariehamn Thierry Lauzun - Iconotec
Hôtel de ville d'Oulu. ValerijaP - iStockphoto
Sami en costume traditionnel, Comté de Finnmark. Terje Rakke - Nordic Life - Visitnorway

The 12 keywords Finland

1. #Boreal Lights

The Souls call them "Fox Fires", and see in them the manifestation of a divine spirit that comes to dance for the living. This phenomenon is explained by the entry into the atmosphere of solar particles, which release their energy near polar magnetic fields, then form when the solar wind hits the earth.

2. #Calmes?

The writer Aleksis Kivi, father of Finnish literature, said: "I consider the Finnish people to be the most humorous of all peoples; their inner life is deeper than that of any other. I'm referring here to the kind of humor that has the freshness of a spring, not the sickly humor that springs from the wreckage of existence."

3. #Chalet

Finland has 10,000 mökki cottages for rent, the most typical and comfortable form of accommodation. They are located in the heart of nature, and are open both summer and winter. They come in all categories, from the simplest to the most luxurious, so there's something for everyone. And as they say: "The simpler, the better"

4. #Isostasy

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A rather barbaric term to explain a geological phenomenon. Land compressed by glaciers over 10,000 years ago has been rising since the ice melted. Here, this rebound phenomenon is the most spectacular ever observed, causing the creation of islands that emerge or unite, rising 285 m in 9,000 years.

5. #St. John's

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Midsummer's Day, June 24, is a must in all Nordic countries. Above all, it's a celebration of the sun, which stays out until midnight. It's also a time to get together with family and friends, go to the Ranta Sauna (on the water's edge), build a gigantic fire and drink vodka until "dawn"..

6. #Kaamos

The country's geographical location, north of the Arctic Circle, plunges part of Lapland into polar night for two months between December and January. Contrary to popular belief, it's not pitch black, but the sky is covered with a bluish light and a mauve hue that the sun lets filter behind the horizon.

7. #Kantele

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National musical instrument - whose origin is unknown - the kantele resembles a 5-stringed zither. Its crystalline and sweet sounds accompanied the bards who recited runes (Norse characters from the 4th and5th centuries). Later on, they were used to accompany songs and dances. Today, the kantele is mostly played solo.

8. #Lakka

A wild berry that grows in marshes and peat bogs in the north and east of the country, especially in Lapland. Lakka, similar to a yellow raspberry and with a very distinctive taste, leaves no one indifferent: you either love it or hate it. The Finns have turned it into a speciality spirit, the famous (and very good) liqueur of the same name.

9. #Ruska

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From September onwards, the forest gradually changes color to the superb hues of autumn. Red, orange, yellow, russet, copper, bronze - the contrasts with the blue of the lake, in particular, are endlessly captivating. This is certainly one of the best times to visit the country. It usually lasts only 2-3 weeks.

10. #Sauna

An unmissable Finnish "institution"! And the only Finnish word in the international vocabulary! This dry steam bath invigorates as much as it relaxes. There are almost 1.8 million saunas in Finland, despite a population of just 5.4 million! The aim: to stimulate blood circulation by alternating hot and cold.

11. #Tango

A Finnish paradox! Here, the popular passion for tango continues unabated. It has adapted to the local temperament, both melancholy and passionate. The Finnish "tango king", Toivo Kärki, defined the local tango as "50% Russian romance and 50% Prussian military march

12. #Vappu

The1st of May, originally a student's and employee's festival, Vappu gathers the whole population in the streets. It starts on April 30th at 6 pm. In Helsinki, people gather around the Havis Amanda statue. The students put a cap on the head of the statue, signaling the start of the festivities. The next day: concerts and picnic.

You are from here, if...

You know that a sauna is all about relaxation, sharing and conviviality. Whatever the occasion, you go there before jumping into the cold water of a lake or the Baltic Sea.

For you, snow is commonplace and indispensable to a good winter. In fact, its importance can be judged by the countless words for it in Finnish: hauhto, ihvilumi, kaljama, hyy, hiere, karstanne, kropo, suppu, siukale, polanne, tykky, viti..

Never forget your mosquito repellent in summer. These little pterygote insects, very virulent in Lapland and on the water's edge, are rampant in summer, especially between July 15 and August 15, when they are enormous! Their bites can ruin a walk or an evening out.

When hiking, you need a map. As well as being well-equipped against the cold to avoid frostbite or other problems and the need to call for help.

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