I was invited to discover the Finnish Archipelago as part of the Finland Centenary year, a very important event for the Finns. It was an important event for me too, as I had never been to a Nordic country before! I was all excited about this new discovery and this trip to Finland, because as you know, I always love to blaze trails that are still unknown to me…
Now that I’m back (for a little over a month, actually), I think Finland is a destination to rest and reconnect with yourself. Well-being in its natural form is at the heart of Finnish life, and everything is designed as an anti-stress therapy to achieve the art of happiness and “hygge,” as they say in Finnish.
Finns even have an expression for this, the “Slow Finland” mode, a concept about recharging your batteries, finding yourself, and relaxing (the traditional sauna, which I will tell you about in a future article, is very significant of this attitude).
I will therefore offer you no less than 3 articles on the subject in addition to this one:
- 1 article on the city of Helsinki (the country’s capital)
- 1 article on the Lahti region
- 1 Food Tour focused on Finnish gastronomy with a selection of great addresses
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Table of Contents
Practical information for traveling to Finland
Language spoken:
Finnish (a very strange language), but Finns have a perfect command of English, so don’t panic!
The benefits: We are in the European Union, so no need for a passport; an ID card is sufficient, and the currency is the euro. Plus, the electrical outlets are the same as in France, which is always more convenient.
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Flight from Paris to Helsinki with Finnair
Even in Economy class, where I was sitting, I found the seats very comfortable (they are actually the same as in business, 3 seats on each side).
For your info (it can always come in handy), food is for purchase on the Finnair flight from Paris to Helsinki; only water, coffee, tea, and the signature blueberry juice from Finnair (which you must try!) are free. So I advise you to bring something to eat if you don’t want to pay for it on the plane and increase your costs…
Flight time from Paris to Helsinki with Finnair: between 2h30 and 3h
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The Finnish Institute of Paris
Before going to Finland, the only vision I had of this country was through the Finnish Institute in Paris, which I frequented as soon as I arrived in Paris when I was still a student (yes, that story goes back a bit now…).
And the icing on the cake, before my real trip to Finland, I was lucky enough to have a little taste of the country by spending a night in a typical Finnish cottage, all while staying quietly in the capital…
The KOTI exhibition and its 6 traditional Finnish “mökki” cottages
Currently, you can discover Finnish life without leaving Paris by spending a night in one of these KOTI chalets (booking via Airbnb), whose design was conceived by Linda Bergroth. There are also lots of very nice events that take place around this exhibition (concerts, film screenings, a pop-up restaurant, etc.).
For those who might be wondering (like me before testing these charming wooden chalets), the toilets and bathroom (2 showers) are easily accessible right next to the KOTIs.
In the morning, a super friendly Finnish-style breakfast is served at the host table from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, the perfect occasion to meet your cabin neighbors…
The little extra: you can benefit from free wifi inside each chalet, which also includes access to films and documentaries about Finland in free access.
Price: between €92 (for 1 person) / €186 (for 2 people) and €298 (for 4 people)
KOTI Exhibition from January to May 2017 Finnish Institute 60 rue des Ecoles, 75005 Paris (Metro St Michel)
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What to pack in your suitcase for Finland
- A few travel guides, because when I go to a city or country I don’t know or know little about, I like to leave with a few guides under my arm (it reassures me!): for this trip I just took a small Cartoville dedicated to Helsinki, allowing me to have the main info on the city and maps of the different neighborhoods.
- Warm clothes and several layers, especially since it’s often warm indoors; gloves and a beanie are essential, and shoes adapted to snow are preferred.
- A good camera that is not bulky; I tested the Lumix GX80, with a vintage look that I like a lot, on this trip and all the photos for the future articles on Finland were taken with it (including the one just below).
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And you, have you ever traveled to Finland? If you also have your own recommendations and tips for this destination, feel free to share them in the comments!
Find all my articles on my 2017 trip to Finland below:
⇒ All my articles on Finland
MY STOPS IN FINLAND
⇒ Practical Information on Finland
⇒ Stay in the Lahti region
⇒ Finnish Food Tour
⇒ Helsinki
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Melle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization is required before any use
