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This Nordic country with a population of 5.5 million has topped the list of the Happiest Countries in the World for two consecutive years. This is the ranking of the "World Happiness Report" published by the United Nations on March 20, 2019 (International Day of Happiness). The ranking is determined based on the assessment of people from 156 countries with criteria such as life expectancy, social benefits... But how can this happen in a country with long, gloomy winters with temperatures in the season that can drop to -50oC?
The first clue to the answer comes when you do as the locals do: meditate on a flat rock overlooking the sea at Kivinokka, a leisure and entertainment hub that includes a beach and summer cafes in Helsinki’s bay area. Instantly, the hustle and bustle of everyday life seems to be pushed far away from your world.
Not only is Finland unique for its 24-hour nighttime coverage, it is also a place where you can enjoy the sun at... midnight. After a long, harsh winter, the sun never sets from May to August. During this time, you will be able to admire the wonderful red and yellow colors of the sun at night. Try enjoying this scene at Lapland Hotels Bulevardi - a new, elegant hotel in the center of Helsinki with a breakfast that includes local specialties such as grilled whitefish, smoked cheese, reindeer sausage and pate served with oat cakes, lingonberry (a berry similar to cranberry), honey or Archipelago cake made from barley.
Winter in Finland has its own charm, evoking the love of staying warm in warm houses and reading something. At the Oodi Central Library, you will be fascinated not only by the collection of more than 100,000 books, magazines, newspapers, 3D printers, movies and video games..., but also by the magnificent architectural space of the library. This is truly an ideal destination for a day trip in its own right.
You can also experience simple pleasures at Nuuksio National Park, a 45-minute drive northwest of Helsinki. A guided tour takes you along one of the park’s eight most beautiful nature trails, encouraging you to forage and taste herbs along the way. At the end of the tour, you’ll be taught how to make herbal tea from the herbs you’ve picked.
Continue northeast to Punkaharju, where you can enjoy the stunning scenery while cycling around and stay at a comfortable hotel – Hotel Punkaharju. The hotel dates back to 1845, when Russian Tsar Nicholas I ordered the construction of a forest lodge. The magical, relaxing setting by the lake will explain why former supermodel Saimi Hoyer decided to move here and run the hotel.
You should also visit Luosto, a town known as the “forest museum of Finland”, a land famous for tree species such as spruce, pine… Besides the “land of a thousand lakes”, Finland is also the land of thousands of forests with 70% of the country covered by trees, contributing to making Finland the country with the cleanest air in the world.
In cafes in Finland, you will also be impressed to know that people in this country drink more coffee than people in any other country.
And most memorable is that this country has more than 3 million saunas out of a total population of 5.5 million. An interesting experience with the sauna that you will be told by Finnish people when coming to Punkaharju is to jump into a cold lake after coming out of the sauna. Finns believe that by doing this, your body will be full of energy, making you enthusiastic and excited like the experiences you had in their country.
After all these experiences, you will always have a smile and excitement on your face. And you will no longer wonder why the people here can be so happy!
