All Good Great

Category: Travel

  • Best Gift Ideas from Finland

    Best Gift Ideas from Finland

    Finland is a country located in Northern Europe, known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and innovative design. While you can’t put forest in a bottle, you can still give a gift that contains a little bit of Finland.

    If you’re looking for a unique and creative gift for someone who loves Finland, or for someone who simply appreciates the finer things in life, here are a few ideas to get you started:

    Beautiful gift ideas from Finland: Finnish design

    Finland is home to a thriving design scene, with many talented artists and designers creating beautiful and functional products. Consider gifting a piece of Finnish design, such as a piece of furniture, home decor, or fashion accessories. 

    Some popular Finnish design brands to check out include Marimekko, Iittala, and Artek.

    You can shop for Finnish products at the Made in Finland Shop.

    Exotic tastes from Finland

    Finland is known for its delicious and unique cuisine, which includes dishes like salmon soup, reindeer meat, and berries. Consider gifting Finnish food and drink products, such as Finnish chocolate, lingonberry jam, or Finnish beer.

    ‘Fazerin sininen’, or Fazer Blue is perhaps the best known Finnish chocolate.

    Give the gift of Finnish nature experiences

    With its vast forests and thousands of lakes, Finland is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. If you’re not ready to visit Finland yet, consider gifting outdoor gear or an outdoor adventure experience, such as a guided fishing or hiking trip.

    Finnish gifts: culture in a box

    Finland has a rich cultural heritage, with a long history of folk music, dance, and storytelling. Consider gifting tickets to a cultural event, such as a traditional Finnish music or dance performance.

    You can also get to know the Finnish frame of mind by buying some of the most beloved books by Finnish artists.

    Relax like a Finn

    With its long, dark winters and beautiful summers, Finland is a country that values wellness and relaxation. Consider gifting a spa treatment or wellness experience, such as a sauna or a massage.

    The best Finnish gift is the one that comes from the heart

    No matter what type of gift you choose, a thoughtful and creative gift related to Finland is sure to be appreciated and treasured. Whether it’s a beautiful piece of design, a tasty food or drink product, an outdoor adventure, a cultural experience, or a relaxing wellness retreat, there are plenty of options to choose from to show your love and appreciation for all things Finnish.

  • When’s the Best Time to Visit Finland?

    When’s the Best Time to Visit Finland?

    There’s no wrong time to visit Finland, but there are definitely some times that are better than others. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding when to visit the land of a thousand lakes and million mosquitos.

    The short guide to visiting Finland is this:

    • In the summer it’s beautiful, with long days and moderate temperatures
    • In the winter it’s cold and dark (but there can be snow)
    • In the fall, it’s chilly and dark (and there won’t be snow)
    • In the spring it’s chilly and wet (because the snow is melting)

    The best time to visit Finland depends on what you’re after, but generally speaking the best times are either the summer months (June–August) or the winter months (September–May).

    Bear in mind that Finland is a long country, so the conditions will change radically between Helsinki and Rovaniemi (the Arctic Circle).

    • Helsinki has two seasons: summer and the rainy season.
    • Rovaniemi has three seasons: winter, spring and fall (and 1–2 summer days)

    What seasons do Finns prefer?

    According to research, Finland is the happiest country in the world. And well it should, because otherwise no one would choose to live here.

    Finns have found a way to survive through all the four seasons – and even found ways to enjoy them. When you’re planning your trip to Finland, it’s worthwhile to examine what seasons Finns themselves prefer.

    Summer: Between June and August, Finns do just about everything that people in other countries do all year round: see friends, enjoy nature, go outside, go to the sauna and swim in the lakes.

    Fall: Between September and November, Finns cozy up in their homes and wait for Christmas. The bravest may take a trip somewhere to enjoy the fall foliage.

    Winter: From December to March, Finns enter a sort of hibernation. When they wake up, it’s dark. When they go to work, it’s dark. When they get off work, it’s dark. Christmas comes and goes.

    Spring: From April to June, the days get longer and the temperatures start to rise. You can finally do all the outdoor sports you waited for all year. There are no mosquitos and the warmth of the sun feels divine after the cold dark winter.

    Many Finns will tell you that they enjoy all the seasons, but they’re probably lying. Summer is the best, spring is possibly even better, and the nice winter days are really nice.

    But realistically, fall, winter and spring mostly suck.

    What’s unique about Finland?

    If you’re reading this, you probably have your own notions about Finland. The Northern lights, Santa, sauna, snow, dog sleighs, beautiful Finnish people (no, that’s Sweden, sorry)…

    What’s truly unique about Finland is more along these lines:

    • It’s really quiet (in a good way)
    • It’s really clean
    • It’s really spacious
    • The winter is real and there’s snow
    • The summer is bright and the temperatures are mostly moderate

    People you meet will be either very rude (when sober) or extremely interested in you (when drunk). Reindeer will not be interested in you (whether sober or drunk).

    What’s the best that Finland has to offer?

    If all the stars align, you’ll have a magical time in Finland.

    In the winter, you may get to experience the Northern lights blazing in the clear night sky – while the trees around you crack from the cold. You’ve just had hot cocoa and the sauna is getting ready.

    Or in the summer, it’s midnight but it’s still light as day. Maybe you’ve been hiking and you’ve rented a cabin near Lake Saimaa. You’ve just had ice brewed coffee and the sauna is getting ready.

    What’s the worst time to visit Finland?

    Or it could be that you land in June/September/November/February/April/August and it’s wet and miserable. The food’s not great, everything’s expensive and going to the sauna is giving you a headache.

    Not to mention the mosquitoes. When we Finns dream about summer, we always forget the mosquitoes. There’s enough of them to drive you crazy and have you itching in places that civilized people do not scratch.

    What the travel brochures are not telling you

    It can be really quiet. Like eerily quiet. Like I’m-about-to-be-stabbed-with-a-dirty-needle-quiet. Some people like that, some don’t.

    The forests can feel scary. Finns are mostly okay with going to the woods for a stroll or a little hike and you should too. It’s mostly safe to step into the woods here – you won’t get jumped for your Airpods.

    It can be dark, damp and miserable – at any time of the year. Except in the summer it’s too bright, damp and miserable. You have been warned.

    But yeah, Finland is a magical place that welcomes you with natural wonders whenever you decide to visit. You also won’t be killed, mugged or spoken to.