A Family Trip to Finland

With its dense evergreen forests, 41 national parks, and over 180,000 lakes, Finland is a destination inspiration for nature-lovers. It also has intriguing, walkable cities that are lovely year-round and really come alive in the summertime. With so much for your family to explore in Finland, it may be difficult to figure out where to go, what to do, and how to start planning a trip. In this blog, we share information about a family road trip across four regions of Finland. We also offer travel tips, places to visit, and worldschooling ideas to help you discover Finland on a journey that works for your family.

Finland Tourism

Finland is a country of 5.5 million residents located by the Baltic Sea in northern Europe. Often recognized as “the happiest country in the world,” it is known for its excellent education system and healthy outdoor lifestyle. It is also a popular travel destination attracting an increasing number of families, solo travelers, students, and digital nomads. 

Currently Finland is a less frequented destination for US-based travelers than the rest of Scandinavia and mainland EU. Among the Nordic countries, Finland still has the fewest visitors. Most come from Germany, followed by the UK, Sweden, and Estonia. Interestingly, despite the cold temperatures, visitors in wintertime tend to stay longer and spend more money per day on average than summer travelers because they book more tours and package trips. Much of Finland’s tourism is from the Finns themselves, who have increasingly chosen to travel domestically in recent years. According to Good News Finland, nearly ⅔ of Finns have regular use of a second home, either their own (58%!) or someone else’s. The rest of us might take note of how eager Finns are to spend time in their own backyard.

Midsummer flora

So might Finland be the new Iceland, a destination whose tourism has exploded over the last decade? That remains to be seen. According to a recent study by the Helsinki Tourism Foundation, Helsinki is lagging behind its regional compatriots such as Copenhagen and Oslo in terms of post-COVID tourism recovery and growth. Prior to the COVID pandemic, tourism accounted for about 2.7% of Finland’s GDP. After dropping to 1.4%, its rebound has been a bit slower than in other countries, but projections are that tourism will exceed 25 billion euros in 2025. In fact, airlines have recently been adding new flights and connections to Finnish cities after recording over half a million foreign visits to Finland in December 2023 alone. 

When we visited Finland, it felt uncrowded, welcoming, and easy to navigate. Combined with its stunning landscapes, intriguing cultural destinations, and excellent infrastructure, now seems like a great time to visit before word gets all the way out.

Why We Chose to Visit Finland

As our kids get older, trips together are becoming less frequent and therefore all the more special. Finland was a unanimous choice for this journey, offering something for everyone–city nightlife, outdoor recreation, delicious food, and a relaxed vibe. Given our July timing, we also wanted to head for the outer latitudes in hopes of finding milder summer weather–in July, average temps in Finland range from 59-68°F, offering ideal conditions for outdoor adventures.

Late in our planning game, some friends decided to join us on the trip. We’ve traveled with them before and know we groove well together–they loved the road trip we’d scoped out, and only minor adjustments were needed so we could stay together at each accommodation. Our kids were definitely excited they’d have peers along. We traveled to Finland with older teens, but almost everything we experienced would be suitable and fun for younger kids, too. 

Boat sheds near Tampere

Planning a Trip to Finland

Finland offers four distinct regions, from Helsinki in the south, Lakeland in the east, the Coast and Archipelago in the west/southwest, and Lapland in the north. Deciding where to go is linked to when you plan to visit and what you’d like to do. Winters are excellent everywhere for skiing, skating, and ice-swimming, and of course the season lasts longer in the north. Lapland is also known for its vast arctic wilderness and Santa Claus attractions. Spring and fall are best for catching the Northern Lights, and your chances increase as you head farther north. Fall is outstanding for foliage colors across Finland’s dense forests. Summer is known for extremely long days, cottage stays, abundant crops, water sports, and hiking, and the archipelago coast and lake regions are idyllic during this time. Finland’s larger cities have interesting things to do year-round, and of course, no matter when you go, sauna is always in season. 

Most international visitors arrive in Helsinki, the capital city. Other major international airports in Finland include Turku, Rovaniemi, and Kittilä. Direct flights from the US can be difficult to find except from a few major east-coast cities, so travelers often need to connect via EU hubs such as Stockholm, London, or Frankfurt. Visitors can also arrive by boat from Sweden, Germany, Poland, and the Baltics, but the only options for arriving by car are via the Baltics ferries or by crossing from Sweden or Norway in the far north.

Booking.com–our favorite booking site–works well for Finnish city and lodge accommodations. For smaller venues, we needed to take a local angle and translate Finnish websites into English to find the best options. Speaking of the Finnish language, it’s not an easy one to catch onto quickly, but learning a few basics in advance is definitely helpful. Many but not all locals speak English, and everyone we met appreciated our attempts to converse. As usual, thank you goes a long way: “thank you” in Finnish is kiitos (KEE-tose), one of our favorite versions of gratitude ever! You basically sound like fellow Scandinavian Bjork whenever you say it properly.

A Sample Road Trip through Central and Southern Finland

Driving in Finland

One of our goals for this trip was to fly to a country and not fly again until returning home. We hoped for a meandering, low-key road trip where we could make spur-of-the-moment stops in small towns and at UNESCO World Heritage sites. Picking up our rental car from DiscoverCars as we departed downtown Helsinki was quick and convenient, and driving in the city was fairly straightforward. It became downright easy in the countryside, where good road conditions, clear signage, and sparse traffic made for low-stress days. Fuel was expensive, but the rental car companies offer primarily hybrid options as the default. Here’s our route as a reference, which we built for a max of 4-5 hour drive times between major stops.

Our driving route through southern Finland

For those who prefer not to rent a car but still want to go further afield, the extensive and reliable Finnish train and bus systems can help you reach most destinations. Check out the Perille service for transportation options, costs, and estimated environmental impact. 

First Stop – Landing in Helsinki

As our flight destination city, Helsinki was a natural first stop. Other travelers may prefer to venture further on immediately, saving the departure city exploration for the end of their trip. But we’d had long journeys from Colorado and California and anticipated needing to rest and settle in.

Filled with parks, eclectic restaurants, picturesque ports, quirky museums, and public saunas, Helsinki was recently voted the most livable city in Europe for expats. We spent our time wandering its streets, checking out the architecture, visiting government buildings, and eating fantastic international food (Georgian at Rioni was a favorite). A stroll along the shaded paths of the Kaisaniemi Botanical Gardens provided a nice afternoon respite after checking out the Helsinki Art Museum, and everyone enjoyed the parks filled with summer crowds until late in the evening. Beyond the city we explored the island fortress of Suomenlinna and crossed the Gulf of Finland to visit Tallinn, Estonia–both full-day trips we found worth our time.

Museum on the island fortress of Suomenlinna

Helsinki was the only stop where we stayed at a traditional hotel. Given our need for two rooms (tall teenagers can no longer comfortably share a bed), Hotel U14 offered nicely designed family room combos–two hotel rooms connected by a small hallway with an additional, outer locked door, so we could feel both separate and together. We also wanted access to a front desk for late-night check-in, plus breakfast available on site as everyone’s schedules reset. Hotel U14 is where we learned about egg butter! My morning toast will never be the same.

Helsinki worldschooling ideas:

• Suomenlinna. This island fortress and UNESCO site has a fascinating history that includes Swedish, Russian, and Finnish eras. Take the passenger ferry to explore its footpaths, historical buildings, and six museums.
• Tallinn, Estonia. Book in advance for the 2.5-hour-each-way ferry (and maybe a napping cabin) to check out old town Tallinn and its fascinating KGB history.
• Seurasaari Open-Air Museum. You can find tours and events at this seasonal outdoor museum showcasing historic Finnish farmsteads, manors, and cottages.

Evening stroll around Olavinlinna Castle

Second Stop – Serene Nature in Lakeland

Ready to immerse ourselves in the much-touted Finnish wilderness, our next destination was Lakeland, northeast of Helsinki. An afternoon stop in the picturesque town of Porvoo along the way was fun for an outdoor lunch, bit of shopping, and a meander along the river famous for its row of red wooden houses. The onward drive dissolved the world into a palette of greens and blues, taking us through rolling countryside surrounded by increasingly dense woodlands and vast stretches of shimmering water as we approached Rantasalmi.

The grounds at Hotel and Spa Järvisydän

We stayed at Hotel and Spa Järvisydän, a unique destination property dating back to 1658. Noted on nearly every Finland travel blog, the property has been run continuously by the same family for 11 generations! Award-winning for its focus on sustainability, it seemed to be filled with Finns. Järvisydän offers many accommodation types, including hotel rooms, cottages, a boat, those Scandinavian igloos you’ve seen all over social media, and even what they call “birds nests.” We opted for its rustic family cabins. On site dining options were fine but not memorable, so it’s worth exploring beyond the property for some meals. Activities are plentiful, though, and include nature trails, bike rentals, cooking and craft classes, tours and fishing excursions. Our visit highlights included boating to Linnansaari National Park on Lake Saimaa and a long evening stroll in nearby Savonlinna. The onsite, family-friendly “spa” experience, which includes over a dozen pools, steam rooms, and saunas, is not as fancy as it sounds and is also not to be missed. We loved it so much we went twice.

Lakeland worldschooling ideas:

• Sauna. Lakeland Finland is one of the best regions to experience authentic Finnish sauna. Why is sauna so important to the country’s cultural history?
• Olavinlinna Castle. This well-preserved 15th century castle sits on a strait connecting two lakes and was the site of numerous battles. 
• Saimaa Ringed Seals. One of the most endangered seals in the world, these ice-lovers can only be spotted on Lake Saimaa.

The spa-ahhhhh….

Third Stop – Farms and Parks in Central Finland

Our stay at Ylä-Tuuhonen Farm in Ruovesi gave us a chance to slow down and enjoy this quieter region. The farm offers verdant pastures, needle-covered hiking trails, a lapiz-colored lake with free canoes, and locally-grown food that was some of the best I’ve ever eaten. We visited during Midsummer, when the country closes down and everyone heads to their summer cottages to relax and celebrate. At the farm those celebrations included singing, flag-raising, and a special-occasion smoke sauna that took hours for the owners to prepare.

This is an excellent region for exploring some of Finland’s outstanding national parks. Basing in Ruovesi or a nearby town offers easy access to Helvetinjärvi National Park, Seitseminen National Park, and Isojärvi National Park. Each showcases canyons, woods, and trails for all skill levels–some on boardwalks hovering over the delicate landscape. In addition to the national parks you’ll find Siikaneva Swamp Nature Reserve, Ryövärinkuoppa Nature Reserve, and Juupajoki Gorge Nature Reserve. You may not need to pack a picnic, either–even the snack shops at the national parks had fantastic, healthy food. There’s simply so much natural “farm to table” here, no special advertising required.

Boardwalks make the hiking a bit easier at Helvetinjärvi National Park

Central Finland worldschooling ideas:

• Petäjävesi Old Church. Built in 1763-65, this ornately carved Nordic wooden church tells stories of everyday Finnish life across four centuries.
• Canyon geology. Use your proximity to Helvetinjärvi National Park to study the rocks that compose its canyons, plus the topography of the surrounding region. 
• Midsummer. Midsummer is Finland’s main national holiday. The central region, dotted with thousands of lakeside cottages, is an excellent spot to read about its history and experience how people celebrate the holiday today.

Traversing the archipelago

Final Stop – Turku Archipelago

A seaside house in Kustavi, near the easternmost point of Finland, was our base in this region. This is where the locals go for a saltwater vacation, a fact we quickly discovered when trying to find a house to rent for two US families. Most properties are listed only on Finnish sites–the owner of ours said we were the only non-Finns he’d ever rented to, and he initially seemed quite apprehensive about it. The cabin he’d built by hand perched unobtrusively on rocks overlooking an inlet of the Baltic Sea and snugly accommodated our two families. Rocky coastline and thick forest–with the occasional moose passerby–surrounded the house, and nearby towns offered fresh food markets, cute cafes, charming marinas, and delicious ice cream shops. Many people visit this region to drive or cycle the Archipelago Trail–check out the loop map to help you decide where to base and visit. 

In truth, we spent much of our time at the house. We grilled on the deck, played card games, basked in the pale nordic sun, and savored our final days together in Finland. A trip highlight was launching our kayaks toward a blurred horizon of pink and orange skies reflected in calm seas for a paddle under the midnight sun.

Kayaking under the midnight sun

Turku archipelago worldschooling ideas:

• Rauma. Another UNESCO site, you can study the history and well-preserved architecture of one of the oldest harbors in Finland. 
• Swedish trade. The archipelago offers a unique vantage point for studying the historical interplay and trade routes between Finland and Sweden.
• Turku Art Museum. Turku is a vibrant university city with abundant cultural offerings. Check out one of the most comprehensive art collections in Finland here, featuring both contemporary and iconic pieces. 

Finland – To Be Continued…We Hope

Of the four main stops on our Finland journey, each of the four people in our family had a different favorite. Nowhere felt touristy, and the few other travelers we met were either Finns or visitors from nearby Russia. And although Finns have a reputation for being reserved, we found them universally kind and helpful, generously welcoming us into their homes and traditions. Our family fell hard for this beautiful country, and we hope to someday visit its mystical north in wintertime. 

If in doubt, just say kiitos!

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