Finland
EUROPE · 6 PLACES
Two million saunas, a forest for every citizen, and a north where the sun either never sets or never rises.
Helsinki
Sea fortresses, public saunas and Nordic design.
Rovaniemi
The Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Village and husky country.
Levi
Finland's ski capital, snowmobiles and aurora nights.
Turku
Finland's oldest city and the archipelago trail.
Tampere
The world's sauna capital, between two lakes.
Porvoo
Red riverside barns and a medieval old town, an hour from Helsinki.
Festivals worth flying for
Juhannus (midsummer)
Late June — the cities empty for lakeside cottages, bonfires and the never-setting sun.
Christmas in Rovaniemi
Nov–Jan — the official Santa Claus Village, at the Arctic Circle.
Vappu
May 1 — students in overalls, sparkling wine and picnics; Finland's loudest day.
Ruska season
September — Lapland's autumn colours, the country's favourite hiking weeks.
In an emergency
Emergency number
112 — the 112 Suomi app sends your exact location. English is fine with dispatchers.
Health
Pharmacies ('apteekki') are excellent; public clinics treat emergencies. Tap water is among the world's cleanest.
Before you go
EHIC/GHIC for EU visitors. In winter the real risks are ice and cold: proper boots, and check ice thickness before walking on any lake.
The full episode drops on our socials — follow along: