Finland

Finland is consistently ranked as the world’s happiest country for several reasons, including an accessible outdoorsy lifestyle. Winter offers a chance to catch the magical northern lights, encounter reindeer and learn about Indigenous Sámi culture from their herders, and warm up in one of the nation’s many saunas. During summer’s long, sunny days, take a cold plunge in (or a boat ride on) one of 188,000 lakes or walk and forage for mushrooms and berries in beautifully untouched birch, spruce, and pine forests.

red cabins on a lake island in Finland

Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for the sixth year in a row.

Shutterstock

Overview

Planning your trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to Finland.

Read Before You Go
Lots of time off, generous parental leave policies, and shorter workweeks are a few of the perks of living in these spots.
Hotels
Afar’s picks for the 25 best new hotels in the world.
This winter, snuggle up in one of these insanely cozy bubbles, pods, cabins, and geodesic domes.
AFAR’s picks for the 31 best new hotels in the world.
Airbnb is giving away a stay at Santa’s home in Finnish Lapland to one lucky family. The only catch? The elves might put you to work in the post office.
It’s easy to see why these ski chalets and mountain cabins are among the highest rated on Airbnb.
Stay up past your bedtime for these one-of-a-kind experiences.
Resources to help plan your trip
Purchase select Helly Hansen ski pants and jackets to score a free day on the slopes at premiere ski resorts in California, Colorado, Vermont, Canada, Switzerland, Finland, and elsewhere. Here’s how it works.
Libraries might be the best way to get to know a place. And they look amazing too. These are among our favorites.
Plan your next trip—and avoid the crowds—with this off-season destinations guide.
Sponsored by the Nordics
From folklore and food to landscapes and literature, find adventure and enrichment in the lesser-known regions of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
Farm-to-table and fish-to-dish dining brings you closer to nature in the Nordic countries.
Airline stopover programs provide a great, affordable way to extend your trip and visit an additional destination. Here’s how to see two countries for the price of one.
The world’s happiest country wants to spread the joy to a group of lucky applicants who will travel to Helsinki this summer.
Could physical passports soon be replaced by an app? This pilot program aims to find out.
How the 76-year-old actor, who doesn’t like travel, became the host of Apple TV+'s newest travel show, which premiers February 24.
Here’s everything you need to know to see the aurora borealis in real life, including where to go—and when.
Time to learn the term “solar maximum” and book that aurora borealis trip.
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