13 Reasons to Visit Finland in 2025

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Considering a visit to Finland for your next European adventure? Here are 13 reasons that this fascinating country should be on your list!

Candidly, I first visited Finland in early 2023 because I found cheap Ryanair flights to Rovaniemi from Dublin (€90 including a checked bag) and decided that it would make a great jumping off point to visit the Arctic Circle. I had always been interested in Finland after studying education policy in college, but I’d never really started dreaming of a trip there. 

I had always assumed that Finland would be expensive – like $10 for a cup of coffee expensive – and I wasn’t sure what one would actually do in the country. But, as one does, I resolved to figure it out after I bought my flights. 

I was immediately enamored with Finland after I arrived – the food, the quality of budget accommodations, and the kindness of the locals all blew me away. With any luck, I’ll be back in Finland in no time, exploring even more of this very interesting country. 

13 Reasons Why You Should Visit Finland 

Curious if Finland deserves a spot on your travel list? Here are 13 reasons that Finland is worth a visit, from the northern lights to sauna culture to great food. 

1. Sauna Culture

Finland is famous for its saunas and sauna culture. The country famously has more saunas than cars, with more than 3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million. Finns start visiting saunas very young; the average of a baby’s first sauna bath in Finland is 4.5 months. 

It’s common for accommodations to have their own saunas, including some apartment rentals. So, definitely check for a sauna when you’re booking your hotel or hostel! Otherwise, you can almost certainly find a public sauna to visit nearby. 

One of the most unique sauna experiences I had was at Cafe Kuusijärvi. They had a traditional smoke sauna, modern saunas (separated by gender), and a cafe. Near the smoke sauna was a lake so that you could alternate between cold plunges and the hot sauna. 

2. Finns are Some of the Happiest People in the World

If you’re anything like me, you may have first learned about Finland because it is famously one of the happiest countries in the world. That’s not conjecture; the World Happiness Report releases an annual ranking of the happiest countries, and Finland often tops it. 

Finns often report that their country’s happiness is more of a national contentment. The high scores are driven by close community ties, practice doing good deeds for others, and search for purpose for themselves. Most striking to me, 96% of Finns report that they have someone they can rely on in times of need. 

So, you might consider visiting Finland to see how the world’s happiest – or, perhaps most content – people live. 

3. Finland is Very Safe

Finland is the safest-feeling country I’ve ever visited, and there was a pervasive calm everywhere I went. I noticed young children riding the trams through Helsinki with only a friend to escort them, and they (and the adults around them) seemed perfectly comfortable. Even in the very center of Helsinki, the overall vibe was chill and subdued. 

Solo females and safety conscious travelers in particular will love and feel comfortable in Finland. Although I didn’t visit by myself, I did spend some time walking around solo and felt completely comfortable during the daytime. 

I limited my walking at night to short, well-lit routes like I would in any city – it’s always a good idea to be cautious. 

4. It’s Not as Expensive as You Might Think

Before I visited for the first time, I always assumed that Finland was exorbitantly expensive like its neighbors, Norway and Sweden. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, in fact, it was more comparable to the prices in Ireland or France. Many restaurants were even a bit cheaper than comparable meals I’ve had in western Europe. 

To be clear, I would not consider Finland to be budget-friendly like Naples or the Azores, but it’s more in the “normal” range for a European destination. For a mid range trip to Italy, Ireland, or the Netherlands, you can expect to pay about the same amount, if not slightly less, to go to Finland. 

5. Experience Finnish Culture in Helsinki 

Helsinki is a really interesting city – to borrow from another blogger, it’s the sort of city that you experience instead of see. Walking around, there’s really not a lot of sightseeing to be done and in this endeavor you’re likely to be disappointed. Helsinki is better suited to ducking into places, moving slowly, and asking questions. 

When you visit Helsinki, try to visit at least one sauna, sit in a chic cafe and enjoy a cup of coffee, and try some local food. I’d also recommend visiting at least one cathedral, perusing the stacks of a library, and sitting on rock features in a public park (weather permitting). 

6. See the Northern Lights

One of the primary goals for my trip to Finland, Sweden, and Norway in early 2023 was to see the northern lights. My partner had long dreamed of seeing the colorful displays, and Finland was the place we chose to start our trip. 

Full disclosure: we were only in Rovaniemi for two nights and both were cloudy, so we didn’t see the northern lights during our trip. We did, however, see the northern lights in Abisko, Sweden and the most brilliant displays were in Senja and Trosmø, Norway.  

For a very unique northern lights experience, consider staying in an arctic dome. There are several of these glass huts near Rovaniemi, where you can stare out at the northern lights from the comfort of your bed. 

7. Many Locals Speak English

Not only is Finland a safe place to visit, I noticed that nearly every young Finn that I met spoke pretty decent English, making it a very easy country to navigate. I would say that the level of English spoken in Finland was similar to my experiences in Germany – that is, not everyone speaks English, but it’s still very common. 

Even when locals didn’t speak any English, as was common in grocery stores and shopping malls, I still found them to still be very helpful and kind. It wasn’t uncommon for them to ask other customers for help translating, and Finns who spoke English were typically happy enough to help. 

8. Inspiring Architecture

One of my favorite experiences in Helsinki was visiting the National Library of Finland and the University of Helsinki Library. Both of these libraries had incredible (and imminently photographable) architecture and design. 

While the National Library of Finland looks like it may have inspired the latest Wes Anderson film, the University of Helsinki’s library feels like walking through a modern art museum. 

​​Finland is even more famous for its two cathedrals, both of which are only a short walk from the very center of Helsinki. The austere Helsinki Cathedral overlooks Senate Square, a very central area in the city. You can also visit the nearby Uspenski Cathedral, which showcases a very different style of architecture – one that is far more lavish and almost delicate. 

9. Great Local and International Food

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the local cuisine before visiting Finland, but I was very impressed by the meals I ate in both the north and south of the country. 

Admittedly, I only ate at one traditional Finnish restaurant – Nili Restaurant – but it was very tasty. My favorite part was the “squeaky cheese” dessert that’s served warm with tart cloudberries (a local berry – similar to a blackberry but more tart). 

The best meal I tried was undoubtedly the set lunch at Bruket Cafe & Catering, a lunch spot in Helsinki. For €12, I enjoyed a jacket potato (baked potato) with smoked tofu, unlimited fresh soup and bread, and a coffee. I went back and tried a falafel that was also good, but the jacket potato was the obvious winner. 

10. Incredible Nature Access

Finns love to spend time in nature, and this is evident everywhere from the Rovaniemi airport to the design of parks and urban areas. National parks are fully equipped with shelters, free firewood, and compost toilets that, at least early in the season, were very clean and well maintained. 

The love of nature is also evident in urban spaces. I visited parks in Helsinki that had large granite outcroppings available for people to lounge and climb on, instead of just grassy expanses. 

Just outside of Rovaniemi was a cross country ski park, easily within walking distance from the city center. I didn’t have a chance to try cross country skiing there, but it was still nice to walk around because it was very well lit (important in the long winter days in northern Finland). 

11. Finns are Coffee Lovers

When I first visited Finland, I was surprised to learn that coffee is such a significant part of the local culture. In fact, Finns consume more coffee per capita than nearly any other country in the world at 17 pounds (7.8 kilos) of coffee per person each year per Statistica. Only the Netherlands beat them out, with an impressive 18 pounds (8.3 kilos) of coffee each year per capita. 

I don’t think I necessarily would have noticed the Finns’ love for coffee as a casual visitor, but while I was in Helsinki I ran into two MBA students who were doing a research project on the subject. Specifically, they were tasked with figuring out why coffee consumption for Finns under 30 might be declining.

It seemed like a very strange topic for a research project until they told me how much coffee the locals were actually consuming!

The best coffee I had in Helsinki was from Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo, a small cafe tucked into the Teurastamo Market. They also have a standalone cafe nearby. The coffee was strong and expertly prepared, with a choice of at least two types of beans. Inside the cafe were plenty of vintage touches, from the furniture to the teapots. 

12. See the Finnish Lapland

The far northern area of Finland is known as Lapland, a region that starts just south of the Arctic Circle and extends northward. It’s known for being home to the Sámi people, Santa Claus, and for its cold and harsh climate during the winter months. From Santa Claus Village to seeing the northern lights to just being above the Arctic Circle, the Finnish Lapland is a pretty special place to visit. 

I recently read a fantasy book set in Lapland that was written by a Finnish author, Juhani Karila. The novel is titled Summer Fishing in Lapland (Is More Dangerous Than You Think) and follows ​​protagonist Elina as she tries to save someone she loves by catching a pike in the swamp near her childhood home. 

The novel is unusual, nicely paced, and offers little glimpses into Finnish culture that I never would’ve otherwise picked up on. Summer Fishing in Lapland is definitely worth a read if you’re considering visiting Lapland or even Finland in general.  

13. Try an Original Long Drink

The Hartwall Long Drink was originally developed for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. These alcoholic beverages are essentially gin and sodas, with flavors like grapefruit, lemon, and lime. You can find Original Long Drinks in almost any liquor store or grocery store in Finland; they’re very popular. 

Between their retro-looking cans and flavors that seem to somehow perfectly compliment the look and feel of Finland, there’s a lot to love about the Original Long Drink. The standard Long Drink is 5.5% abv, but there’s a lighter version, a stronger version, and an alcohol-free version available. 

FAQs: Reasons to Visit Finland

Still have questions about the reasons that someone might want to visit Finland? Here are the answers to the most common queries from other travelers. 

Why would you visit Finland?

Travelers might choose to visit Finland for its unique culture, the chance to see the northern lights in the northern regions, and because the country is very safe to visit. Helsinki is home to some beautiful architecture, great food, and a wonderful public transit system. 

What makes Finland so special?

Finland is special because of its unique sauna culture, love and appreciation for the outdoors, and its incredible wildness in Lapland. Finns love to drink coffee (more than almost anyone else in the world) and the public infrastructure in urban areas is safe and reliable. It’s a unique and special place to visit because there’s nowhere else quite like it. 

Is it worth it to go to Finland?

For travelers who like to visit places off the beaten path, Finland is a great place to explore. It feels distinctly different from anywhere else I’ve visited in Europe, likely due to its unique history and proximity to Russia. However, if you only have one chance to visit Europe, you might prefer a more popular destination with a dramatic landscape like Cinque Terre or unique cuisine like Paris. 

Conclusion: Reasons to Visit Finland 

Finland is a really special country nestled between Russia and Sweden, with some cultural similarities to both countries (and many distinctions). It’s a wonderful place to visit because it’s very safe, clean, and nature-oriented, with spaces to hike and walk even close to very urban areas. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the culture of Finland, consider reading a novel by a Finnish author. I read Summer Fishing in Lapland recently and was intrigued by its interesting storyline and cultural references. 

Finland is a wonderful and unique place to visit in Europe, especially if you want an experience that’s a bit off the beaten path!