In this article, I will share with you 15 cool things to do in my Nordic home country, Finland. 

These activities highlight the Finnish, untouched nature, traditional Finnish activities and bucketlist things to do in Finland. 

Go for a hike in a national park

Slow Travel Repeat/ Sini Hietaharju

One of the best things Finland has to offer is its pure nature. There are altogether 41 national parks in Finland, all over the country. So pack some nice snacks, dress up comfortably and put your sneakers on for a great outdoor adventure in the fresh, Finnish air. 

Go ice swimming

Ice swimming is a must-try in Finland. Does it feel nice during the swim? Well, to be very honest, not really. But the real magic happens afterwards – You will feel so good and rejuvenated afterwards and it has loads of health benefits as well.

Ideally, combine your ice swimming experience with sauna.

How to find places to do Ice swimming? Ice swimming in Finnish is called “avantouinti” and you can simply google avantouinti + name of the place you’re staying. Oftentimes, you can find an ice swimming spot combined with sauna, but nothing stops you jumping in without sauna. 

How to prepare for Ice swimming? To give you some local’s tips, if you are not used to voluntarily (and for fun) stepping into ice cold water, I recommend wearing a hat. You can also wear socks, or ice swimming shoes. 

Visit the world’s best library, Oodi in Helsinki

In the capital of Finland you can walk into one of the best libraries in the world, Oodi. In Oodi library, borrowing books is not the only thing. You can also enjoy the nice rooftop cafeteria, buy some souvenirs and even use a 3-D printer.  When planning your trip to explore the best familyfriendly destinations in Europe, be sure to include a stop in Helsinki. The city offers a range of activities that cater to families, including beautiful parks and museums. Additionally, the local cuisine is diverse and kid-friendly, making it easy to find something for everyone to enjoy.

Spot the northern lights

This is one of the main reasons travellers come to my home country – to spot the magical aurora borealis. For this one you need to travel to northern Finland, Lapland. Northern lights are basically in the sky 180 days a year in Lapland, but you can not always spot them – due to too much light or cloudy sky. 

The best time to spot northern lights in Finland is from Septemeber to March. Normally the best conditions to see northern lights is during the coldest winter days. With cold I mean around -30°C, so make sure you dress up properly. Many safari organizers in Lapland also rent very warm overalls for travelers. This can be a great option, if you ar enot looking to invest on high quality winter clothes for one trip. 

Go picking for cloudberries

Cloudberry is a special berry that grows only in swamps. They have a peculiar taste and loads of health benefits. If you want some tips for where to find them – unfortunately many locals won’t help you, as they like to keep their hidden gem clouberry swamp spots secret.  😀

Go fat biking on snowy forest

If you are into adrenaline and outdoor sports you should definitely rent a fa bike, or go for an organized fatbike tour. It’s a fan activity to do on a sunny winter day – and a hot chocolate drink next to fireplace tastes heavenly afterwards!

Try reindeer pizza

Slow Travel Repeat/ Sini Hietaharju

Did you know there are more reindeer than people in Lapland? Well, now you know, and maybe it does not make you feel too bad for tasting it on pizza. You can get this in pizzerias and restaurants in Lapland. 

Try sauna yoga

If you are into ultimate relaxation, combine the Finnish legacy with yoga. Sauna yoga is deeply relaxing experience for the body and mind. You can find organised classes in wellness studios. 

Go husky sledding

During a winter holiday in Finnish Lapland, you should do at least one of these: husky sledding or reindeer ride. Both are amazing and let you discover the nature in a lovely way. 

This activity is possible to do during the winter season in Finnish Lapland, which is from November until March. I would say the best time to visit Lapland is during February and March. 

See the midnight sun

Slow Travel Repeat/ Sini Hietaharju

If you are visiting Finland during summer, you are in luck. You will have so much longer days to spend during your holiday – actually so long that there is no night at all. During midsummer, there are lot of Finnish traditions, and the sun does not set at all. 

The Finnish midsummer celebration is called Juhannus, and it’s always on Saturday after 19.6. So the day varies annually from 20.6. To 26.6. The most common Finnish midsummer tradition is burning a big bonfire. 

Visit Santa Claus

The real and official Santa Claus resides in Rovaniemi, Finland. You can visit him all year around. Just bear in mind, during christmas season you may have to queue quite long to sit on Santa’s lap. But hey, maybe it’s worth it? If you want to get the Christmas spirit, but the queue seems too long, you can also enjoy  some drinks and send a letter from Santa’s Official Post Office. 

Try the longest toboggan run

In Saariselkä, Finland there is the longest toboggan run, in the world, I presume. It’s super fun, regardless of your age. So put a warm overalls on and head for the slope in Saariselkä. 

Stay in a cottage

If you really want to do your stay in Finland the Finnish way, stay in a cabin in the woods. The connection with nature, lack of traffic (and neighbours) is sometimes much more relaxing holiday, than ticking through the bucketlist of things to see. 

And what do you do at the cottage? You relax, play mölkky, drink some beer, go to sauna and jump into a lake. And try to deal with the mosquitoes. 

Enjoy some hot juice by an outdoor fireplace

Slow Travel Repeat/ Sini Hietaharju

Outdoor fireplaces in national parks and other forest paths are really nice places to spend some time, eat snacks and chat a bit with fellow outdoor people. Finnish people are known to be a bit silent, but during a break by the fireplace outdoors, it’s normal to chat with anyone.

Cross the Arctic circle

If you added the Santa Claus visit to your list, you get to cross the Arctic Circle during the same trip. About 16kms north from Rovaniemi you have the Santa Claus village, which is located just at the crossing of the Arctic Circle. 

If you are willing to combine a trip to Finnish capital Helsinki in the south, and Finnish Lapland in the north, let me list you the best ways to travel from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. 

You can fly from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport to Rovaniemi. The flight takes just an hour. 

Another viable option is to take a train. I recommend taking a nighttime train with a sleeping vagon. This is a comfortable and easy way to travel the long stretch across (almost) the whole Finland. 

Is renting a car a good option? I mean yes, if you are ready to travel slowly. But bear in mind that distances are long and roads are not exactly highways. From Helsinki to Rovaniemi it’s about 1000kilometres, so I recommend rather taking a plane or train to Lapland, and renting a car over there.