Recommended Period for a Trip to Finland

The gentle and sweet northern summer brings life and color to a nature emerging from an endless hibernation. It brings liveliness to villages and larger cities, whose streets fill with markets scented with fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs. People cycling; outdoor tables at cafes; pleasure boats dotting the sea between the mainland and the islands; charming wooden cottages once again hosting hordes of vacationers. As in other Nordic countries, the highlight of the season is the Midsummer Festival, celebrated on the weekend closest to the summer solstice (June 21). After this, temperatures steadily rise, averaging between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. This is the best time to experience the midnight sun, especially in the northernmost part of the country, where for several weeks the sun never sets (in Utsjoki, the far north, a summer day lasts over two months).
Winter runs from November to April (May in Lapland) and offers lovers of winter sports and Christmas atmospheres even more. Snowmobile excursions across tundras and endless forests, protected by special thermal suits and warmed by hot drinks and hearty food. Walks with snowshoes or cross-country skis, and thrilling downhill runs on skis, sleds, and snowboards; ice skating; trips to the Santa Claus Village in Lapland. And a very special cruise aboard the Sampo, the glorious icebreaker ship which, after 30 years of honorable service in Arctic waters, has been converted to carry tourists.