Helsinki, FinlandPhoto: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Finland
Finland, made simple: saunas, silent forests, northern lights and a design-loving capital
Finland is a calm, safe Nordic country of forests, lakes and islands, with a seaside capital that loves design and a far north where the sun never sets in summer and the northern lights dance in winter. It is easy to travel, but the seasons, Schengen entry rules and cashless habits raise real questions. This guide answers them so you can travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flySchengen entry, new border checks, seasons and what to pack for the cold, answered
- LandingHelsinki Airport, the train into town, cards, SIM cards and your first night
- Your days in FinlandSaunas, ferries, lakes, Lapland and the northern lights, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cards, tipping, transport tickets and typical budgets so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Finland should feel like a deep breath, not a worry. We answer the questions about entry, money, transport, weather and safety before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming back from Stockholm, Minnesota, Toronto or Sydney to see family, or tracing a grandparent's village by a lake? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your FinlandCity and design, lakes and cottages, the archipelago or Arctic Lapland: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules for your passport, the right season and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for restaurants, cafés, saunas, museums, markets and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Helsinki, the Lakeland and Lapland at a relaxed pace.
Everything your Finland trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, the Lakeland and Lapland, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, cafés, saunas, museums, nature trails and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Helsinki and Lapland and stays in every corner of the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Finland trip
Helsinki, the lakes and Lapland
Most first trips start with three nights in Helsinki: the harbour and Market Square, the Design District, a ferry to the sea fortress of Suomenlinna and a public sauna by the water. Then take the train to Tampere or into the Lakeland around Savonlinna for lakes, forests and a cottage stay, and fly or ride the night train north to Rovaniemi and Lapland for huskies, reindeer and, from late August to early April, a chance of the northern lights. Ten days gives you all three at an easy pace.
- A ferry to Suomenlinna and a sauna by the sea in Helsinki
- Lake views and Olavinlinna castle in Savonlinna
- The Arktikum and the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi
- Clear, dark Lapland nights for the aurora
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the lakes, the coast and the north fit together.
Finland destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Finland rewards a little preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, Lapland stays booked early for Christmas and the aurora season, proper winter layers, and a pace that respects long distances and short winter days. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic train, bus and domestic flight times
- The right season for midnight sun, autumn colours or snow
- Day trips that are easy and those worth a night
Where to go in Finland
From the seaside capital Helsinki and the old capital Turku to industrial Tampere, the lakes and castle of Savonlinna and Arctic Rovaniemi in Lapland.
Uusimaa
Helsinki
A relaxed seaside capital of design, saunas, islands, food halls and Art Nouveau streets.
Read the guidePhoto: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lapland
Rovaniemi and Lapland
The Arctic Circle, northern lights, huskies, reindeer, Sámi culture and midnight sun.
Read the guidePhoto: WikiLucas00, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southwest Finland
Turku
Finland's oldest city, a medieval castle and cathedral, riverside life and the gateway to thousands of islands.
Read the guidePhoto: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pirkanmaa
Tampere
A friendly red brick city between two lakes, famous for saunas, museums and a working class story.
Read the guidePhoto: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
South Savo
Savonlinna and the Lakeland
A medieval island castle, summer opera, lake cruises, cottages and the rare Saimaa ringed seal.
Read the guidePhoto: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Finland safe to visit?
Yes, Finland is one of the safest countries in Europe, with low crime. The main risks are winter cold, icy pavements and remote hiking. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
Do I need a visa for Finland?
Finland is in the Schengen area, so rules depend on your passport. Many visitors can stay visa free for short trips, and the EU Entry/Exit System registers non EU travellers at the border. Check the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs visa pages for your nationality.
What currency does Finland use?
Finland uses the euro. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts, so you need very little cash.
When can I see the northern lights in Finland?
In Lapland the aurora season runs roughly from late August to early April, whenever skies are dark and clear. Seeing them is never guaranteed, so allow several nights.
How many days do I need in Finland?
Three or four days covers Helsinki and a day trip. A week adds Lapland or the Lakeland, and ten days to two weeks lets you combine the capital, the lakes and the far north.
Do people speak English in Finland?
Yes, English is widely spoken, especially by younger people and anyone in tourism. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages, and signs are often in both.
Ready to find your Bliss in Finland?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.