Things to do in Finland with kids

Whatever the season, Finns enjoy life outside, and a family vacation is about fresh air and exploration outdoors. All weather gear is typically provided on winter vacations, so wrap the kids up and try cross country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. In summer, quiet lakes are perfect for paddling and canoeing, while older kids can hike through Finland’s national parks, looking out for birds, bear tracks and beavers.

The sauna – rhymes with downer – is integral to Finnish culture. It’s a place of physical and mental cleansing, where you sweat, bathe, relax and socialise. Finns say that more important decisions get made in saunas than in meetings. In the past, women gave birth here because the bacteria resistant soot on the walls meant this was the cleanest place in the house. Today, Finns might do some yoga here or cook sausages on the stove.

No two saunas are the same. A lot depends on the löyly (literally “steam,” but meaning the whole atmosphere). Traditional smoke saunas, which produce the best löyly, take about five hours to heat up, filling the sauna with smoke that’s let out before anyone goes in. Nowadays, wood burning saunas with chimneys and fast, safe electric saunas are more common. Sauna etiquette dictates it’s important to shower first, then throw water on the stones to hike the temperature – up to 80°C or 100°C. Whack yourself with birch twigs to boost circulation and cool down with a dip in the lake or roll in the snow before heading back in.