01 March 08

Features

Finland's Long Hot Summer

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Thanks to its position in the far north of the globe, for a few weeks in midsummer the sun doesn’t set in northern Finland, while in the south of the country, night is little more than a prolonged twilight. These white nights enliven the spirit no end and guarantee you a fantastic holiday experience.

Perpetual daylight and an abundance of glittering waterways – lakes, rivers and the endless coast – set the stage for every summer activity imaginable. With the capital city of Helsinki, and other smaller metropolises, just a short trip away, culture can be easily combined with nature. Summer is also the main festival season in Finland, when every conceivable sort of cultural event takes place – from jazz and rock fests to opera and dance performances and visual art exhibits. It’s joked that the long days must go to people’s heads, as there are also a string of very offbeat events, like wifecarrying races and mobile phone-throwing contests! Spas have been an integral part of life in Finland since the 19th century and a trip to somewhere like the spahotel in Naantali on the southern coast is a must for pampering treatments, saunas and an emphasis on nature and wellbeing.

You can enjoy some fantastic shopping in Finland. They export products of the highest quality - such as food, hides and skins, leather, undressed and dressed fur, yarns, fabrics, footwear, furniture, toys, sports goods and drinks.

Summer is also a great season for sampling the best of Finnish gastronomy. Game, fish and berries are perhaps the three most representative national foods. Pike and perch are popular local fish. Elk, duck and snow grouse are amongst the more exotic game offerings.

Have a summer of fun!

Visitors to Finland in the summer months have every outdoor pursuit imaginable to choose from. For boating enthusiasts, the Finnish coastline of little islands, bays and inlets is a dream-come-true. These romantic waters can be navigated in anything from a small rowboat to a fancy yacht or motor cruiser. And many opt for a good old-fashioned sailboat. Canoeing and kayaking are also popular as the calm waters create the perfect conditions. The fifth annual Tahko Rowing and Canoeing Event will take place in Eastern Finland, on August 1-2.

Finland’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters provide fertile hunting ground for fishermen, and fishing is one of the most popular summer pastimes here. There is ample opportunity to arrange a guided fishing tour and salmon, trout, pike and perch are the most common catches.

Finland boasts 107 golf courses, and in the summer, it’s not at all unusual to tee off at 8pm and sink your last put at midnight – in broad daylight - while other players are just beginning!

Europe’s largest Lake District

While lakes are seemingly everywhere in Finland, it is the east of the country which is home to the Finnish Lake District and has earned Finland the reputation of being the “land of thousands of lakes”. Europe’s largest such area, it stretches for hundreds of kilometres and encompasses the Saimaa district, Finland’s most extensive lake system which follows, roughly, the eastern border with Russia – a great area for cruises.

Explore the west coast

Finland’s west coast looks across the Gulf of Bothnia to Sweden and is home to the UNESCOlisted town of Rauma in the south, with its charming wooden architecture. Farms, river and sandy beaches lie side by side. There are scores of charming outdoor markets where you can stock up on food and handicrafts, and there’s even a Tango Market at Seinäjoki, the perfect place to dance a summer night away! The International Jazz Festival, now in its 40th year, brings the coastal town of Pori to life.