Finland

Helsinki is a small capital with a big sense of space. The white Lutheran cathedral above Senate Square, the red-brick Uspenski Cathedral on its rocky hill and the market square by the harbour are all within a short walk. A ferry ride away, the island fortress of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO site, makes an easy half-day outing. Design is everywhere, from the Design District’s shops to the Oodi central library and the Temppeliaukio church, carved directly into the rock.

Saunas are central to Finnish life, and a session at one of Helsinki’s public saunas, with a dip in the Baltic afterwards, is a very local experience. Beyond the capital lie thousands of lakes, and far to the north, Finnish Lapland, with reindeer, the northern lights and snow from November to April. In our programme Finland features in Helsinki city breaks, a private walking tour and the Scandinavia private van tour, which links it with Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Food and drink

Finnish cooking leans on the forest and the sea: salmon in many forms, creamy salmon soup, Karelian pies of rye crust filled with rice porridge, and reindeer in the north. Cinnamon buns (korvapuusti) are the coffee companion of choice, and the Finns drink more coffee per person than almost anyone. Old Market Hall by the harbour is a good place to try a little of everything.

How to travel

A Helsinki city break of three nights gives time for the centre, Suomenlinna and a sauna. It also pairs well with Tallinn, two hours away by ferry. For a longer Nordic trip, the private van tour covers the four Scandinavian capitals, and we can add a Lapland extension on request in winter.