Endless summer nights
The land of a thousand lakes is a nature-lovers’ paradise. Finland’s evergreen and silver birch forests cover 70 per cent of its land. Midsummer parties welcome the warmer months in a flurry of maypole dancing, sauna soaking and unabashed merrymaking. From the end of May to the beginning of August, the nights are light; if you’ve ever wanted to see the midnight sun, then find cheap flights to Finland.
Learn to love winter
The Finns have come up with some smart strategies for enduring their long winters. Mainly, they involve getting physical, playing in the snow and soaking in wood-fired hot tubs under the aurora borealis. All winter (but especially around Christmas), Finland is lit up by endless twinkling lights and covered by a blanket of shimmering snow. Swap the drab British winter for a Finnish wonderland: skating on frozen lakes, cross-country skiing through white landscapes and sledging with a pack of huskies in Lapland.
A Scandinavian sense of design
Finland is proudly part of that oh-so-Scandinavian design club. Grand Helsinki is made up of wide grid-like streets, Neoclassic brick edifices and pioneering modern architecture, all of which is then criss-crossed by Baltic waterways. The ancient capital, Turku, boasts a majestic castle and cathedral as well as a thriving arts scene. Oulu, on the other hand, is the tech-capital of the country.
Best time to go to Finland
Plan your trip to Finland around what you want to do. For outdoors activities that require mild weather, June, July and August are the best times to go. However, flight prices are usually highest around this time, so book your tickets at least two months prior to travel. Summer temperatures hover around the low twenties, so be sure to pack a jumper for cool evenings.
For winter sports, February and March come out on top. March is also one of the best months for spotting the northern lights. Snow typically begins to fall in November, making this a good time to travel and enjoy lower prices. December in Lapland is prime tourist season, as Santa’s grottos come alive for the holidays. From December until April, dog sledging is quite popular in the north.
Spectacular autumn colours can be a good reason to enjoy September and October in Finland; it’s hard to beat Lapland’s display of golds, yellows and oranges. Prices drop around this time as do temperatures, but snowy weather is still to come. Spring starts in mid-April in the south and gradually creeps north. This can be a good time to visit the cities; the weather remains mild, and the main attractions are still quiet.
Airports and airlines
When you compare budget flights to Finland with Netflights, you can optimise your search and view a wide range of available dates and destinations. This way, if you’re flexible with your travel, you’re more likely to find a bargain flight. Leave the date and airport field empty to see offers from a huge range of airlines.
Direct flights to Finland are available from airports throughout the United Kingdom (UK) and are operated by Finnair, Norwegian Air International, easyJet, British Airways and TUI. KLM, Lufthansa, airBaltic and Aeroflot also offer UK-Finland flights. Prices are highest during the peak summer and winter tourist seasons. Book at least two months in advance for travel at this time to find the best routes and rates for your budget.
Helsinki Airport is a popular airport in Finland and often serves as a stopover for those traveling farther north. Oulu and Turku also welcome some direct flights from UK airports. Lapland has plenty of well-served airports as well, including Enontekiö, Ivalo and Kemi-Tornio.