Finland travel advice
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Finland travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Finland travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
Ice fishing may seem boring but it's great to be sitting on a reindeer skin on a frozen lake surrounded by snow...and then to cook the catch on a fire and eat it fresh, magic.![]()
– Karina Roberts
“Batteries die really quickly out there so be sure to take quick photos and then hide the camera until needed again. A spare battery is cost effective.” - Damian Clithero
“Leave the stilettos at home! Don't expect luxury at the hotel - it is fantastic, and friendly, and I have no complaints at all - just, it's not a Hilton.” - Jane Macarthur
“Take head torches if you go in winter, as it gets VERY dark. The food was very good - they coped far better with my seafood allergy than any other holiday I have been on and provided a good variety of vegetarian meals.” - Karen Horridge
“A set of thermal underwear is essential. Don’t take wet wipes as they freeze solid.” - Susan Prcychodny
“Leave the stilettos at home! Don't expect luxury at the hotel - it is fantastic, and friendly, and I have no complaints at all - just, it's not a Hilton.” - Jane Macarthur
“Take head torches if you go in winter, as it gets VERY dark. The food was very good - they coped far better with my seafood allergy than any other holiday I have been on and provided a good variety of vegetarian meals.” - Karen Horridge
“A set of thermal underwear is essential. Don’t take wet wipes as they freeze solid.” - Susan Prcychodny
Don't worry about the temperature - yes it's cold but as long as you have plenty of layers, it's fine. And there's always a sauna, open fire and mug of hot chocolate (invariably laced with something!) to come back to.![]()
– Carolyne Coupel
“Have an open mind and go with the flow! I abandoned my quasi vegetarian diet for the week and found reindeer to be much more delicious than I had imagined.” - Emma Davey
“Finnish Sauna includes bucket showers - so don't forget your shower gel. It is an exceedingly pleasant way to end the day.” - Selina Bolton
“Just go for it - you don't know what you are capable of until you try it. Snowmobiling, snowshoe walking and dog sledding at the age of 62 was very special.” - Pam Crosland
“Approach everything with enthusiasm. You will get far more from activities and the people running them if you show an interest, are prepared to give anything a go and involve yourself as much as possible.” - Elizabeth Johnston
“Finnish Sauna includes bucket showers - so don't forget your shower gel. It is an exceedingly pleasant way to end the day.” - Selina Bolton
“Just go for it - you don't know what you are capable of until you try it. Snowmobiling, snowshoe walking and dog sledding at the age of 62 was very special.” - Pam Crosland
“Approach everything with enthusiasm. You will get far more from activities and the people running them if you show an interest, are prepared to give anything a go and involve yourself as much as possible.” - Elizabeth Johnston
Our top trip
Finland Northern Lights holiday, Wilderness Auroras
Winter activities & Aurora hunting in Finland
From
£1997 to £2327
5 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
This trip can be taken anytime between January and March
This trip can be taken anytime between January and March
Contact Us
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Health & safety in Finland
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Finland travel advice
Activity tips
Urpo Heikkinen, of our supplier, Upitrek, shares his Finland travel advice:
“I really recommend cross-country skiing. You go from place to place, spending each night with different people – you feel like you’re having an adventure. The rhythm is flexible and it’s much easier than walking – you can cover great distances while still seeing wildlife and tracks in the snow. On the downhill sections you’ll enjoy the speed. In these remote areas people still have a more traditional way of living – they have gardens where they grow their own vegetables; it’s always Finnish food made with local ingredients, so no pizza or pasta! It all comes from very close by. Skiing from place to place is also an environmentally friendly way to see Finland – it’s much better than travelling by car.”
“I really recommend cross-country skiing. You go from place to place, spending each night with different people – you feel like you’re having an adventure. The rhythm is flexible and it’s much easier than walking – you can cover great distances while still seeing wildlife and tracks in the snow. On the downhill sections you’ll enjoy the speed. In these remote areas people still have a more traditional way of living – they have gardens where they grow their own vegetables; it’s always Finnish food made with local ingredients, so no pizza or pasta! It all comes from very close by. Skiing from place to place is also an environmentally friendly way to see Finland – it’s much better than travelling by car.”
Packing tips
Juha-Pekka Tuominen on behalf of our supplier, Activities Abroad, shares his Finland travel advice: “You must bring warm base layers. We provide mittens and all-in-ones, but it gets very cold and you need something underneath. Finland has quite a continental climate – the air is dry so it’s not uncomfortable and humid, but you must keep warm.”Culture tips
Aki Käräjäoja, founded our supplier, Routa Travel, after he fell in love with the huskies. Here's his Finland travel advice: “Get in touch with the locals and try to find the small places – Finland has so many small tourism businesses. Always keep your eye out for local things. The local food is especially good – one thing I like about Finnish food is that you can really taste nature. We try to use a lot of berries and game, such as moose, which are monitored and hunted sustainably every year.”More Finland articles
Enjoy long and light summer days for trekking and kayaking, or Northern Lights watching, snowshoeing and XC skiing.
Winte, from December to April is ideal for winter sports. The arrival of spring in May sees the return of the sun.
Click on our interactive Finland map and highlights to discover some of the best places to visit in both summer and winter.
If you’re looking to put a bit of colour into the darker depths of winter there’s no better place.
From snow shoeing and cross country skiing to husky safaris and Northern Lights.
There’s no more exhilarating and rewarding way to discover the snowy Finnish wilderness than a husky safari.
The Wild Taiga region of Finland is home to these fascinating creatures and a supporting cast of other animals, too.
Younger children will be delighted by Finland's snowmen, sledging and reindeer-nuzzling.
Featuring drawn out evenings, cycling and hiking, summer can be a lot cheaper than winter.
Although traditionally semi nomadic reindeer herders, the Sámi are adapting to a changing world.
Visit Oulu and Kemi instead of heading straight to busy Rovaniemi in Lapland, and have a lovely relaxing holiday.
You’re often staying in a family’s second home, with sauna, open fire and kayaks.
From crayfish parties to coffee culture and homemade bread, our guide to food and drink in Finland.
Helsinki is the cool capital of Finland – a southerly peninsula city surrounded by lakes.
The Finnish landscape is everyone’s, including yours, to explore and forage – so long as you do so carefully.
A cabin for two, and an exhilarating dog sledding expedition, all bundled under furs.
Exercise huskies in autumn to help them get fit for sledding season or visit in summer.
How can you make sure your snowmobile safari is good? eSleds are a good start.
These mountain bikes with big chunky tyres are a great way to enjoy some Arctic exercise and have fun.
Find all our Finland guides in one place, from Husky safaris to the Northern Lights and everything in between.
