Finland Guide
When is the best time to visit Finland?
Spring
If you want to escape the winter and summer crowds, search for cheap flights to Finland for travel between March and May. Temperatures are brisk and you’ll still need to pack thermal layers, but the mercury slowly starts to warm in the later months. Some of the top events you can plan your trip to Finland around are Vappu and the Helsinki City Marathon. Vappu is held on May 1 and locals take to the streets to celebrate.
Summer
Most people who buy return flights to Finland over June and August want to experience the famous Midnight Sun period. This natural phenomenon sees the sun remain up for almost 24 hours a day. If you can handle the crowds, the summer months are a great time to buy tickets to Finland and go hiking or camping in the countryside.
Autumn
For travellers that want to keep to a budget, September to October can be good months to find deals on airfare to Finland. There tend to be fewer tourists at the top attractions (although some sights do close down after the summer period) and you can enjoy the beautiful autumnal foliage.
Winter
Despite the freezing temperatures, winter is Finland's second busiest tourist season. Travellers from all around the world arrive to see the spectacular Northern Lights. Finnish Lapland in the Arctic Circle is one of the best places for seeing this magical light display, and it is also the home of Santa Claus.
What are the best things to do in Finland?
Northern Lights
One of the best things to do in Finland is to see the Northern Lights. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience and worth braving the freezing winter temperatures. Between September and March, you're chances of seeing the lights are highest - especially if the skies are clear of cloud. If you're considering buying flights to Finland to see the natural phenomenon, you can even get email alerts from the Finnish Meteorological Institute to help you plan the dates of your airfare.
Sleep in a glass igloo
There are few places in the world where you can spend the night in a glass igloo. If you're booking tickets to Finland over the winter months, think about booking a night at one of these igloo hotels and look forward to falling asleep as you gaze up at the Milky Way. If you're lucky, you might even see the Northern Lights without having to leave the comfort of your bed!
Explore Finland's lighthouses
Finland has the largest archipelago in the world, and its coast is home to dozens of lighthouses. If you can, make a point of seeking out Bengtskar. It's located on the west coast of Finland and is the tallest lighthouse in the Nordics. The only catch? The lighthouse is on an island that's only accessible by boat between June and August. If your flights to Finland arrive at Helsinki Airport (HEL), go on a day trip to the Soderskar lighthouse. It's more than 150 years old and only an hours’ drive away from the capital city.
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Finland has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the most popular attraction is Suomenlinna, a fortress island added to the list in 1991. With your airfare to Finland, you can visit the crumbling fortress, dungeons and a museum that recounts Finland's military and maritime history. Suomenlinna is only a 15-minute ferry ride from Helsinki's central market square.
What are the best places to stay in Finland?
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland - and also happens to be the home of Santa Claus. If you're buying flights to Finland and are travelling as a family, it's the perfect base for your trip. Fly into Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) and take the kids to visit Santa's workshop while exploring one of Finland's most remote regions.
Vaasa
Vaasa is one of the most well-known cities in Finland. It was actually once ruled by the Swedish until it was destroyed in a fire. Today, you can visit the ruins of the original Vaasa town as well as the impressive Soderfjarden crater. The city is a good choice for history lovers thinking of travelling to Scandinavia with plane tickets to Finland, or travellers who want to spend their holiday exploring museums or art galleries.
Tampere
Heading to Finland for the snow? Tampere is one of the best towns to visit for skiing. The easiest way to get here is to fly into Tampere–Pirkkala Airport (TMP). And even if you're not one for Nordic winters, there's plenty of things to do in the summer. With your flights to Finland, you can visit the town's unusual museums, such as the Spy Museum (complete with working espionage gadgets) and the Lenin Museum. The latter is the only one left in the world and is built on the spot where Lenin and Stalin first met.
Helsinki
Most flights to Finland from Australia will land at Helsinki Airport (HEL). The capital city is a wonderful place to explore no matter when you are visiting the country. Start your trip with a stroll down Market Square, it’s one of the best outdoor markets in northern Europe. Get an adrenaline rush at the Linnanmaki Amusement Park and explore the National Museum of Art.
Top Cities
Finland Cities
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital city of Finland. Facing the Baltic Sea, it's full of museums, art galleries and three major theatres. Built in 1550 by King Gustavus Vasa of Sweden, Helsinki has a fascinating history and was once part of the Russian empire.
After much of the city burnt down in 1808, its streets and boulevards were rebuilt in a Neoclassical style by Carl Ludwig Engel.
Make sure you visit the National Museum of Finland and spend time exploring the Finish Art Gallery.
Turku
Once the capital and largest city in Finland, Turku is a charming town situated on the banks of the Aura River.
It has a trendy cosmopolitan vibe and is full of creative bars, interesting restaurants and medieval cobblestone streets.
For the history buffs, there are old sailing ships moored in the river, castles and a cathedral from 1290 that all deserve a visit.
Jyvaskyla
Founded by Tsar Nicholas I, Jyvaskyla is an important administrative and cultural hub of Finland.
If you can, plan your trip around the Jyvaskyla International Arts Festival. It's held every year in June and is the longest-running cultural event in Finland.
The city's highlights include a Neo-Gothic church, Leivon Maki National Park and its plethora of museums and galleries.
Tampere
Tampere is the third largest town in Finland. Established in 1779, it's developed into the country's leading industrial city.
It's renowned around the world for its theatres and plays host to many festivals throughout the year. For history buffs, there is a museum dedicated to Lenin, a throwback to when the region was under Russian control.
Top Attractions
Top Attractions in Finland
Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are Finland's top attraction and for a good reason. It's nature's most spectacular light show and is visible only 200 nights per year. The best time to see them is usually from late August to April and in the far north.
While the traditional ways of watching the lights include skiing, snowshoeing or sledge dog touring, a more comfortable way is to stay in a glass igloo. You won't even have to leave your room to star gaze and marvel at skies changing colours.
If you want to increase your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis, sign up for free email alerts from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. It's a great way to plan your visit and predict more accurately when the conditions will be at their best to see the Northern Lights.
Lemmenjoki National Park
Lemmenjoki National Park is the largest in Finland and over 70 years old. It stretches across 1,000 square miles of wildlands and boasts miles of marked trails.
Inside the park, you'll catch glimpses of Scandinavian creatures like brown bear, wolves, reindeer, and wild golden eagles to name a few.
But the park's highlight is the Lemmenjoki River. It leads into the homelands of the indigenous Sami people, and there's an onsite museum to learn more about their culture and way of life.
If you want to spend the night, Lemmenjoki has free wilderness huts or luxury rental cabins complete with saunas and fireplaces.
Lake Saimaa
If you head east, you'll discover Finland's lake region. It's full of thousands of lakes, rivers, ponds and marshes.
Lake Saimaa is the largest in Finland and the fourth biggest in Europe. It boasts an area of 1,300 square kilometres and holds numerous islands.
Some of the best ways to explore Saimaa is to hire a bike, paddle across the calm waters or take a slow boat ride over the water highways of Finland.
Near its shorelines, you'll also find Linnansaari National Park, and the town of Savonlinna that's home to Olavinlinna castle.
Yyteri
Located outside the city of Pori, Yyteri is one of Finland's most popular beach destinations. Its sandy shores stretch across the coastline for 4 miles, and during summer the water is a comfortable 20°C.
If you've ever wanted to learn how to ride a wave, Yyteri is considered the best place to surf in Finland. There's also a range of other activities to take part in like windsurfing, biking and paddle boarding.
Once you've had enough of the outdoors, you can pamper yourself at the nearby spa. There's also a restaurant that's open daily and many accommodation options to choose from.
Aland
Situated between Finland and Sweden, the Aland Islands are full of unspoiled nature and beautiful landscapes.
The archipelago consists of 6,500 islands with only 60 inhabited. It's a unique place to visit with its own postage stamps, flags and taxation system.
The best way to see Aland is to get on board one of the many ferries and go island hopping. For cyclists Aland is a dream to explore, with many paths and bridges running through the wilderness.
For families travelling with children, Lilla Holmen island is a must-visit. It's home to a pirate ship, beautiful picnic areas and a small petting zoo with bunnies and other small animals.
Airports
Major International Airports in Finland
- Helsinki Airport
- Oulu Airport
- Rovaniemi Airport
- Turku Airport
- Vaasa Airport
