Travel to Finland may be the right vacation choice for those seeking happiness and perhaps those insomniacs among us who treasure spending the midnight hours under the rays of the midnight sun. The Nordic destination has been coined World’s Happiest Country by the United Nations for the past five years and counting. Perhaps that is because of all the natural beauty travel to Finland offers that is just there – for the taking and appreciating.
Forest covers 75 percent of Finland – also known as having the world’s largest archipelago, consisting of over 80,000 off the coastline – so there are numerous options for island hopping or relaxing in one of the national parks. And travel to Finland is especially magical in the summer months. In the Land of the Midnight Sun the sun barely sets and much of the country is cloaked in almost around-the-clock light during this time.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, one of the world’s youngest Prime Ministers, is a particular advocate of all things Finland with an enthusiastic focus on Finland’s national parks. And for anyone traveling to Finland, a few pointers from the country’s prime minister might be just the ticket for a perfect holiday.
Finnish Finds: Lonna “Sauna” Island
Helsinki is comfortably near a line of precious islands that dot the shoreline – there are 330 on the Helsinki waterfront alone. One of Marin’s favorites is the small, charming and Instagrammable island of Lonna, a 10-minute ferry ride from the central Market Square. Visit Lonna’s waterfront wooden sauna followed by a refreshing dip in the Baltic Sea for the quintessential Finnish sauna experience.
Finland’s historical island: Suomenlinna
A 20-minute ferry ride from Market Square takes travelers to the fortress island of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that comprises eight linked islands. Since its construction in 1748 when Finland was under Swedish rule, the spot has had a role in the defense of Sweden, Russia, and Finland. In addition to the several miles of fortress wall, 100 cannons, and several museums — including the submarine Vesikko — there are cafés and restaurants and a brewery that’s more than 250 years old. Car-free Suomenlinna has several cozy beaches suitable for swimming and picnicking.
Tiny islands in the sun: Uunisaari
Another favorite for the Prime Minister are the local islands. Uunisaari (“oven island” in English) is a two-minute boat ride off the Helsinki shoreline near the popular Kaivopuisto Park. Long ago, there was an oil refinery and a paint factory on the small island, and in the late 19th century Uunisaari housed a famous spa. In addition to a child-friendly swimming beach with a playground and a bridge linking the island to nearby Liuskasaari island, Uunisaari features a café with a summer terrace boasting some of the sweetest views of the city’s shoreline.
Traveling through Finland’s Lakeland: Seitseminen National Park
Then there is Tampere, the world sauna capital located in the heart of Lakeland, and one of the Prime Minster’s favorite national parks – some 35 miles from Finland’s second largest urban area. Seitseminen National Park in Ruovesi offers a range of marked trails from shorter walks suitable for families with young children to longer day hikes that wind through the lush greenery along forest trails and wooden footpaths over marshes. Sections of the national park are also accessible by wheelchair or stroller.
An onsite nature center offers background information about the park’s flora and fauna and other useful information, and there’s also a café-restaurant that serves up a range of hearty treats suitable for the great outdoors. There’s even an old lumberjack house at Kovero dating back to the 1930s which has been restored to its original, authentic condition. Nearby, farm animals graze and plants, herbs and vegetables are grown in the fields.
Ancient Finnish Forests: Helvetinjärvi National Park
Helvetinjärvi National Park, one of Finland’s 41 national parks, is also a place treasured by the young Prime Minister. Helvetinjärvi is about 30 miles from Seitseminen; in fact, it’s accessible via the Virkatie trail connecting the two national parks. At Helvetinjärvi, Finnish for “Hell’s Lake,” the lure of ancient forests and gorges take visitors into a striking natural world that’s been around for centuries. In this remote wilderness, it’s possible to pick berries, mushrooms, and even fish on the shores of the national park thanks to a concept called “Everyman’s Right.” The law allows anyone living in or visiting Finland the freedom to forage, fish with a line and rod, and enjoy nature in respectful ways.
The national park’s epic views are at front and center – a tourist attraction since the 1800s. Many famous Finnish artists and authors, such as painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela and poet J.L.Runeberg have been inspired by the scenery. Though the park is suitable for visitors of all ages, some sections of trail are more challenging due to differences in elevation.
Finnair operates direct flights to Finland from Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Seattle. The Nordic bliss of Sweden is also a direct flight away via Finnair from Los Angeles, Miami and New York.
More information: Visit Finland.
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