It’s official – Finland is the world’s happiest country. If you want to see for yourself why your average Finn walks around with a big smile on their face, then we’ve put together a list of amazing Christmas experience-list in Finland that we think everyone should try. And great news – you can find several of them right here in the Tinggly collection!
- Incredible Ice Driving
Kittila, in the north of the country, is a popular winter sports destination, and the base for this awesome Finland ice driving experience. A scenic open-air track that’s also illuminated for night driving, go karts with studded wheels for extra traction, and beautifully fresh air – the perfect conditions for some action-packed racing. You’ll immediately love the difference between this and driving around an indoors track.
- Warming up in a Finnish Sauna
Saunas have been a Finnish tradition for centuries. The benefits are legion – from stress relief to muscle relaxation, healthier skin to reduced calories – they’re even used as a hangover cure! Saunas can be found all over the country, including many city centre apartments! Here’s a few things you need to know before your first Finland sauna experience: normally, they are mixed-gender, and you’ll be required to take off all your clothes; during the summer, you may be handed a birch branch to gently brush yourself with, increasing circulation, and lastly – if you’re in the countryside – you may be expected to run and jump into the snow or an icy lake at regular intervals.
- Hiking in Nuuksio National Park
Just outside the capital, Helsinki, Nuuksio National Park is a spectacular setting to explore, with miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, lakes surrounded by forest, and a healthy population of rare flying squirrels too, so keep looking up! Our full-day hiking trips in Nuuksio National Park are led by professional naturalist guides that lead you to hidden corners of this amazing wilderness. While there’s masses to see in Helsinki itself, if you feel like escaping the city for a while, you can follow the locals out here.
- Picnicking on Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a vast island fortress built in the 18th century to defend the country from Russian invasion. Today it’s military use is largely forgotten, but Suomenlinna is a very popular place for day-trips, and locals love to have lunch there while enjoying the sea views. You can take a tour of this famed historic landmark with Tinggly with a guide, and bring along your own food for a memorable picnic.
- See the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland
During the winter months you stand a very good chance of witnessing the amazing Aurora Borealis in northern Finland. They are often visible on clear nights between September and March, and can occasionally be seen further south as well. Remember to wrap up warm, and try to get as far from urban environments as possible for the best views during what is sure to be a true Finland bucket list experience for many travellers. 
- Visit Santa Claus’ Workshop
Some people believe that Santa Claus, or at least his origins, are Finnish. Just south of the Arctic Circle, in Finnish Lapland, the city of Rovaniemi is home to the famous Santa Claus Village, a hugely popular family destination where you can see Santa Claus’ ‘office’, his ‘post office’ and many other fun Christmas-related attractions. You can have your photo taken on the Arctic Circle line, and even meet the man himself if he’s not too busy.
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