Helsinki, the capital of Finland, debuted in Allianz Partners‘ Top 20 European Holiday Destination Index 2024 for U.S. travelers with the highest five-point jump. However, the capital is not the only popular attraction in Finland. Luxury U.S. travel operator Scott Dunn reported an 86% increase in demand for vacations in Finland this winter compared to last year.
HomeToGo, the marketplace with the world’s largest selection of vacation rentals, reported that Helsinki, Vantaa, and Rovaniemi had seen particularly notable increases this year, with year-on-year search increases of +574%, +489%, and +334%, respectively.
Finland is famed for saunas, Northern Lights, and Santa Claus, among others. Still, winter is not even the most popular time to visit the country. In July 2024, over 1.8 million tourists arrived, compared to 700,000–900,000 in December and January, according to Statista.
This contrast opens the door to exploring lesser-known destinations and quirky winter activities without the crowds. “Finland is huge, and it’s not just Lapland that should deserve attention in winter,” says Edvinas Pundys, local Finland expert at bespoke travel agency Elsewhere by Lonely Planet. Indeed, Finland’s vast landscape offers magical experiences far from the usual tourist hot spots.
From Sky High to Arctic Chill: Explore Finland’s Unique Saunas
Saunas are as iconic to Finland as Santa Claus and the Northern Lights. According to Statistics Finland, the country boasted over 2.4 million saunas at the end of 2023, with 1.8 million in private homes. With such large numbers comes remarkable variety.
“Tampere is dubbed the world’s sauna capital, as it has the most saunas per capita in Finland,” says Ms. Pundys. The oldest public sauna in Finland, the Rajaporti Sauna, is also in Tampere. This historic sauna, established in 1906 by Hermanni and Maria Lahtinen and now owned by the city of Tampere, is meticulously preserved, offering visitors an authentic Finnish sauna experience.
However, the world’s largest smoke sauna is in Tupaswilla, Jyväskylä region. This impressive structure can accommodate up to 150 people, offering a truly authentic and communal sauna experience and a natural peat treatment.
Or travelers can head to Lapland’s Ylläs ski resort for a moving sauna experience. Sauna Gondola is within a ski lift that offers a unique way to combine skiing and relaxation, even though it may come with a price tag of €2,300 for up to 12 participants.
Visitors of south Lapland can try an igloo sauna at Rukan Salonki, built from large ice blocks harvested from Lake Salonkijärvi. Despite being made of ice, the sauna heats up to a comfortable temperature, providing a surreal experience of warmth surrounded by ice.
From Icebreakers to Icekarting: Discover Finland’s Coolest Experiences
Speaking of ice. According to Visit Finland, permanent snow typically arrives in Lapland, the country’s northernmost region, by late October, with lakes freezing soon after. The sea follows in December or January, indicating the start of all ice-related activities like snowshoeing, ice fishing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, and skating on frozen lakes.
Jasmine Charbonier described ice-karting on a frozen lake as pure adrenaline. It involves regular go-karts fitted with special tires for the ice, and while spinning out is expected, she said it’s all part of the fun. She tried it last January near Tahko and couldn’t stop laughing.
Travelers may flock to Rovaniemi, but the small town of Kemi and the Gulf of Bothnia are an often overlooked part of Finnish Lapland. But not for long. This year, the vacation rental platform HomeToGo reported that Kemi received a +313% year-on-year search increase among U.S. travelers.
Departing from Kemi, travelers looking for unique ice activities can board the Arctic Icebreaker Sampo, a ship designed to plow through frozen seas. Once the hull crushes through thick ice sheets, the passengers can dip in the icy waters, safely suited up in a thermal survival suit, for an exhilarating experience not only for the bold at heart.
“One quirky winter activity I encountered was ice swimming,” says David Brabant, a business owner from Wilmington. “You plunge into icy waters, which is both invigorating and surprisingly calming.”
However, there are more things to do in Kemi, like the SnowCastle and the neighboring Winter Park, filled with fun activities like tubing and sleigh carousel. Ms. Charbonier also shared her experience about spending a night there. She found it warmer than expected and more affordable than the Artic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi. One of the highlights she recalled was sipping hot chocolate served in ice glasses at the bar.
Beneath the Snow-Capped Canopy: Relax in Finland’s Winter Forests
“The Jyväskylä region is where Finland’s natural beauty meets its rich traditions, vibrant wildlife, and warm local culture. It is a place that leaves a lasting impression with its vast number of lakes and serene forests in the heart of Lakeland Finland,” says Johanna Maasola, Project Manager at Visit Jyväskylä.
In Jyväskylä region, Mandi and Oskari Moisio, the owners of Ilmatar Airplane Lodge, transformed a decommissioned SAAB 340B airplane into a luxurious lodge with a private sauna, outdoor hot tub, and forest views from the cockpit.
At Revontuli Resort, guests can marvel at the Northern Lights from the comfort of glass cabins. Johanna Hokkanen, Sales Coordinator at Revontuli Resort, recommends trying the ice dipping and sauna or the snowshoeing adventure through Central Finland’s Scenic National Park, both with a local Finn guide.
For breathtaking panoramic views and outdoor adventures, travelers can go hiking in the wilderness and head to Häähninmäki Lookout Tower and Cabin to enjoy the tranquil forest and the calm lake from above.
This region is also the home of Finland’s only moose park, Hirvikartano. Visitors can get close to moose, reindeer, and fallow deer, following a rustic dining experience with traditional Finnish dishes.
Libraries, Legends, and Foraged Dinners: Uncover Finland’s Cultural Gems
Finland’s rich culture shines through in multiple destinations, from innovative libraries to mythical legends and unique events.
Oodi Library in Helsinki is on the list of winter travelers like Carolin Schroeter, who cannot wait to visit the library and “hibernate” with a cup of coffee. She is particularly excited to try the 3D printing service and explore the facilities of this multifunctional building.
Jakobstad, located on Finland’s west coast, may be lesser known among U.S. travelers, but it ranked as one of the top five destinations for Nordic visitors in 2024, according to HomeToGo. Minnesota-based writer and photographer Cindy Carlson shared her experience visiting one of Finland’s quirkiest attractions, the “Elf Village” near Jakobstad. “It is a historic farm property where incredible hand-made elves/gnomes/tomte fill the historic rooms. It was amazing and drew both groups of adults and families.”
“Deep in Pallas National Park, in the Finnish Lapland, guests can spend time in a private kota, a wooden hut with a central fire pit. These traditional Finnish huts originate from typical Sámi dwellings, such as the tipi-style lavvu tent. The menu typically includes Lapland bread, nettle seeds, lingonberries, cloudberries, juniper, warm dark chocolate brownies, Chaga coffee, and homemade berry cordials,” says Jacob Chapman, Europe Manager of Jacada Travel, whose Finnish itinerary specifically includes indigenous experiences.
