Custom tour packagesFinland

Unless you’re heading to Lapland to see the Northern Lights, visit Finland in summer, preferably between mid-May and mid-September. Finland never gets hot, even at the height of summer, while winters are cold, snowy, and dark. Summers are mild, with highs in the 60s and low 70s in Helsinki, and while the sun sets for a few hours, the horizon remains red.

Finnish food is typically Nordic, with Russian influences. Potatoes and black bread are the foundations for any meal, combined with fish (especially salmon or herring), meat, and mushrooms. Dairy products are common. Food tends to be mild, with spices rare, but game, such as reindeer, bear, and elk is easy to find. Berries are popular, from cranberries and lingonberries, to more exotic cloudberries, which only grow wild in Lapland (as reflected in its price!) Even berries that are commonly farmed elsewhere are generally harvested wild instead, which gives them better flavor. For a quick snack, try a Karelian pasty, which has a rye crust folded over on the sides, and carrots or rice, with warm butter and boiled egg spread over it right before being eaten. While Finnish foods are rarely sweetened, save for Pulla (pastries, some of which resemble cinnamon rolls) the Finns have a sweet tooth. Salmiakki is Finland's most infamous food. Licorice made with ammonium chloride, Salmiakki has a powerfully astringent, salty taste beloved by locals. One popular TV ad featured foreigners eating a Salmiakki-flavored ice cream bar with disgust, and Finns eating the same food with glee. Candies made of pine tar, an ancient medicine, are also common.

Finns love to drink, and are among the world leaders in milk, coffee, and alcohol consumption. Finland has a reputation for good vodka (especially compared to some of the local beers). If you’ve been on your feet too long, there’s always a cafe nearby. Finland also has some of the world’s cleanest drinking water.

Finland has excellent, if expensive, transportation, with trains often the best way to explore the country. Helsinki is built on an archipelago, and has many ferries connecting islands to the city's main body. We recommend taking one to Suomenlinna, the fortified islands in the harbor that the city was built around. Helsinki's attractions are generally within walking distance of each other, the city center has an effective streetcar network.