Dissatisfied with your everyday life? Move to Lapland!

This is not the exact reasoning I followed in the moment I decided to leave the country I was living in, but it is the one that turned out to be true afterwards. At first, I just wanted to move away from my previous country to study abroad without any concrete idea in mind about where to go. I did not even know what to study. So I picked up my laptop and, being a person who cannot really sleep at night, within a couple of sleepless nights spent surfing the Internet in my electronic friend’s company, I found the right Degree Programme for me. Only after that I checked where the university offering that Programme actually was located. On the webpage it said “Rovaniemi”. It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t recall where from. I googled it and the first thing that appeared on my laptop’s screen was a picture of Santa waving at me. That was the moment I realised that I was going to apply to a university in Santa’s hometown and, being a winter and Christmas atmosphere lover, this fact only strengthened my wish to move to the administrative capital of Lapland.

I applied to Lapland’s University of Applied Sciences, I did the entrance exam and after about two months I got the email I was most waiting for at that time: I got accepted to study in Rovaniemi.

As soon as I landed in Rovaniemi, I felt at home. I felt so good, and my feelings after almost a year living here are still the same, that I don’t even really want to go back to my other home country because I would feel homesick from here.

Life in Lapland proved to be amazing to me. There is no way of getting bored in here. There is always something to do and a lot to discover. This is the region that has 8 seasons and as many reindeers as inhabitants, if not more.

This is the region where sleepless nights turn into breathtaking experiences by admiring stunning Northern Lights from late autumn till spring

and the astonishing Midnight Sun in summer.

This is the region of colours: white winter wonderland; bright red, yellow and orange with all of their nuances during Ruska in autumn; Northern Lights’ green, yellow, pink and purple shining in the darkness of winter nights; different shades of blue during the “blue moment” or “Kaamos” in the same period as Northern Lights; beaming sunlight in summer. This is the region of happiness to me.

Every ordinary day can be turned into an extraordinary one here in Lapland. My average day could simply be waking up in the morning, having a coffee, going to the university, having lunch there, going back home after the lessons, having dinner, studying for a while, sleeping and repeating this over and over again. But no. This is not how things work here. Of course, they can go like this if someone wants to have a standard life with a basic and, in my opinion, quite boring routine. But Lapland offers far more to the ones that are willing to be Above Ordinary, which is also the region’s slogan. You can enjoy the view of beautiful landscapes simply while walking or cycling to move around; you can pet and make friends with adorable huskies and reindeers

and have a ride on a sleigh pulled by them in the farms that provide safaris with them; you can pick berries and mushrooms in autumn

and go fishing in summer or ice fishing in winter; you can ski or ice-skate on frozen lakes and rivers in winter and do many other kinds of winter sports;

you can attend hockey matches; you can go hiking from spring to autumn; you can enjoy homemade blueberry juice almost anywhere or coffee and pancakes prepared in a traditional way in a Kota outside in a forest, in a park or along a hiking path; you can have sauna anytime – if you do not have one in your own apartment you will have at least one in your building for common use – and make friends with Finns there or simply enjoy a relaxing moment;

you can hunt Northern Lights or wait till midnight to see the sun approaching the horizon and rising again according to the season and so much more. All of these incredible activities can be included in your everyday life when living in Lapland. Moreover, as I mentioned before, nights are not only meant for sleeping in here and they have an added value, thus enlarging the concept of everyday life also to “everynight” life.

So, to everybody who wants to make a change in their lives and feel Above Ordinary: Lapland is waiting for you. Even if not for living, but just for enjoying a shorter stay with extraordinary everydays and exceptional experiences that will probably turn into lifelong memories, Lapland is ready to host you and to be discovered.

Anyone can choose what to be and how to live. I chose to be and live Above Ordinary. What about you?

Blog Post competition with Lapland University of Applied Sciences

This blog post has been written by another of two winners of our blog post competition. Gofinland organised a competition among the students of Lapland University of Applied Sciences. The students are studying tourism in international degree programme. In the future, they will be the professionals in International Tourism.

Isabella Victoria Borgogni is sharing her inspiring experience in Finland.

Read also the blog post of another winner of our competition: Minh Hieu Nguyen wrote a great article about how hiking. Minh’s insight gives aid how to relax in nature and improve your wellbeing.

Photo by Tommaso Fornoni on Unsplash

You are considering booking a trip to Finland but aren’t sure what to expect. Do all Finns have blonde hair and blue eyes? Are Finns as nice as everyone says they are?

In this article, you’ll learn how foreigners view Finns (and how true their perceptions really are). Read on to find out what’s true and what’s false!

1. All Finns Have Blonde Hair and Blue Eyes

It is not uncommon for foreigners to believe that every Finn they’ll meet has blonde hair and blue eyes. (This same stereotype applies to any country in North Europe.)

The truth is, this is not the case. Finnish-born actress, director, and writer, Pihla Viitala is living proof, having brown hair and brown eyes.

Actor and writer, Juho Milonoff is also another Finnish celebrity that goes against this stereotype.

So, when you are walking through Helsinki, don’t be surprised to see Finns with blonde hair and blues eyes…and those with brown, red, and black hair and hazel, brown, and green eyes.

2. Nokia Is a Japanese Company

Contrary to popular belief, global technology company, Nokia, is not Japanese. Given that this article is about all that is Finland, yes, it is in fact a Finnish company. Or was until the year 2016.

What may be also surprising is that Nokia started out in 1865 as a paper mill company. As the years passed, it diversified to include not just paper products but mobile devices, rubber boots, tires, telecommunications, infrastructure equipment, and more.

If you do end up going to Helsinki, Finland, you may find yourself walking passed Nokia headquarters. (And, on a separate note, for shipping, find more here.)

Photo by fox jia on Unsplash

3. Finland… What’s That Again?

Especially Americans clump Finland in with Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. They may have heard of the country but many can’t locate where Finland is on a map. Which brings us to our next common misconception… (Speaking of maps and traveling, learn more about Stratos Jet Charters here.)

4. Finland Is a Part of Scandinavia

This is not a clear-cut answer. It really depends who you ask…Finns included. Some state that Sweden, Norway, and Denmark only make up Scandinavia. Others will throw Finland in. So, the answer is really up to debate.

5. Finns Are Innocent and Pure

We hear a lot about how perfect Northern Europe is, with parenting, teaching—progressiveness in general—being attributed to our European friends in the North. While Finns take teaching seriously and is ranked as the fifth happiest country, it does have some imperfections.

According to National Geographic, while Finns drink less than the average European, they are big binge drinkers. In fact, National Geographic goes on to state that alcohol is the leading cause of death for Finnish men. That and when Finns do drink to excess, they can get mad, which can lead to violence.

6. It Is All About Santa Claus

Yes, there is some truth to this stereotype; According to Quartz, in 1989, the Santa Claus Land Association was formed—which includes Finland’s 16 largest companies.

The main purpose of this association is to market all things Santa Claus. So, there is a reason why you hear much about Santa Claus in Finland.  

In 1927, radio broadcaster, “Uncle Markus” (who is Finnish) claimed that Santa’s workshop was said to be found in Korvatunturi, which is a part of Lapland—a province in Finland. Now, Lapland is known as home to the “real Santa Claus.

Nonetheless, there is much more to Finland—such as visit Kiasma and Market Square—than St. Nick.

Photo by Jaanus Jagomägi on Unsplash

Final Thoughts

Just like any other country you travel to, there will be people who are friendly and others who are standoffish, nice and mean, loud and quiet.

Be sure to enjoy Finland. Happy and safe travels! What else have you heard about Finland? Do you agree with what foreigners think about Finland? Leave a comment.

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The writer Wendy Dessler is a super-connector with Outreachmama who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.

The autumn is here and the hunt for Northern lights has begun. We have already seen a few good ones in Finland, so we thought it could be cool to share with you a few tips to maximize your opportunity to capture these exciting moments.

Freedom to roam is something extremely unique to Nordic countries, including Finland. Also known as ‘Everyman’s Rights’, freedom to roam allows everyone to enjoy the forests, lakes, fields and parks anywhere in Finland and, most importantly, completely free of charge.

You might have heard about freedom to roam before, but were you aware that Finns—or even Nordics—are not the only ones who are privileged to benefit from it? We want to reveal the best 5 ways how also you can enjoy the Finnish freedom to roam, no matter where are you from.

When charging your batteries in Finnish nature, it’s good to remember that great freedom comes with great responsibilities. At first it might feel too amazing to be true, when thinking of all the wonderful things freedom to roam allows you to do on the beaches, lakes and forests. But you’ll get used to it very quickly.

And when you get used to it, it’s very easy to forget that not everything is allowed—not even in Finland!

Let’s have a closer look how to enjoy the freedom to roam in Finland. And how not to.

Featured photo by: Harri Tarvainen.

In Finland you can enjoy the outdoors at anytime of the year. But autumn has a particular flavour and we would love to give you the chance to experience the natural phenomenon called ‘ruska’. Over here, seasons are really contrasted and autumn is no exception.

Darkness is progressively taking over, days are getting shorter, announcing the forthcoming winter. Autumn is also a period when you can admire the first northern lights blazing in the starry sky. It is also a good time to pick up berries and mushrooms.

It is one of the best seasons to venture into the wilderness areas of Lapland, and here is why.

Finland has four very distinguished seasons and they all have their own perks. Maybe that’s why we don’t have so distinguished travel seasons. People want to experience different sides of Finland and they plan their trips according to that.

Most traveling peaks happen during Finnish holidays, like Christmas and school holidays. Finns usually have one week off in the wintertime and that’s called the skiing holiday. In the summer adults usually have four weeks off and school kids a few weeks more.

However, high season doesn’t mean that everything is fully booked and the attractions are unavailable due overcrowding! Skiing holidays are held different weeks at different regions, so even though the ski centers are busy, they aren’t full. The summer vacations spread pretty well over the whole summer and Finns tend to spend them at the summer cottage anyways.

The biggest tourist season is around Christmas and new year, when especially the Russian tourists are traveling to Finnish ski resorts. The other Finnish seasons are not that crowded, but there is no reason why they should be! Let me tell you why.

Wilderness cabins are bit low key compared to fully equipped holiday villas, but atleast they offer true adventures in Finnish nature. Just to make things simple, we can assume wilderness cabins don’t have electricity or running water. There are still some exceptions, so consider yourself lucky if you come across these luxuries.

You can find wilderness cabins for rent all over Finland, but there are also free to use cabins and other shelters in the National Parks. The rule of thumb is, if it’s not locked, you can use it! Hikers are allowed to spend a night or two in the cabins but you can’t reserve them to yourself. Be prepared to share the cabin and making some new friends!

With almost 188,000 lakes, more than 30 important rivers with the length of over 100 km and the Baltic Sea, the water is omnipresent in Finland and in the Finnish lifestyle.

One of our favourite ways to explore the Finnish nature is from the water. The canoe and kayaking season starts from the first of May and ends in October in the South of Finland, where as in Lapland, the season usually kicks off in June and ends in September.

So, grab your paddle! We have listed here 3 paddling destinations in 3 regions to feed your adventurous minds.

You have plenty of accommodation options for our trip in Finland. You can choose from the best hotels to a snow castle or a class igloo! However, we recommend a cozy cabin. Here are seven reasons why:

1. Live like locals

Most of Finns will take trip to their cottage at least once a year – in the midsummer. Many spend most of their free time out there enjoying the freedom and solitude. This is something you can’t find anywhere else in the world!

2. Stay in the middle of the Nature

The nature of Finland is amazing! Every season of the year has something special to offer. Sun never sets in the Summer. The winter turns the land to a snowy wonderland and autumn is full of color. The best way to experience this is having your stay really close to nature – and a cozy cabin is the best solution to this.

3. Make your own adventure

You are really on your own in most of the cabins – the closest neighbor might be kilometers away. You really get to know some Finnish culture while shopping groceries and cooking everything by yourself. You are also free to come and go as you please. This freedom let’s you plan your whole trip around your own interests.

4. Sauna and swimming

Let’s face it – the best thing in Finland is the Sauna! Most of the Finnish cottages are located near a lake – no wonder in a land of thousands of lakes. This makes a perfect combination – the hot sauna combined with a cooling dip to the lake, no matter the season. In winter you just need to make a hole in the ice.

5. Room for a larger group of people

Finns tend to gather to the cabin with the whole family or a group of friends. There is always enough space to accommodate the whole group – sometimes it’s just more crowded, but the more the merrier, isn’t that right! Therefore, a cottage holiday is the perfect solution for a larger group and especially for families with children.

6. Relax and listen to the silence

There is plenty to do at the cabin, but sometimes you just need a break. There is nothing more relaxing than the Finnish cabin atmosphere. You can just sit down on the porch, feel the fresh air in your lungs and just enjoy the silence.

7. Freedom to roam

Finnish everyman’s rights grant permission to go basically everywhere you want. Ok, you are not allowed to camp on anyone’s back yard, but nearly everywhere else it’s fine. You can also pick berries or mushrooms – the real superfoods of the north.

Here are ten easy steps of renting a cottage for your holiday in Finland. All you have to do is go through the steps and we will guarantee you’ll have an amazing trip. However, if you have anything to ask you can contact us and we’ll help you out!

1. Scout the location

Decide what you want to see and do while in Finland. If you want a full on Lapland experience with snow, winter sports and aurora borealis, you might want to head over to one of our ski resorts in Lapland. If you are traveling in summer, you might want to stay somewhere south, near the big cities and their many activities.

2. Find the cottage

Find the best cabin from your location with Gofinland cottage search. Just type in the area and dates and you’ll be presented with the selection of available cabins. If you have special requirements, you can use the advanced search options on the list page.

3. Book it

When you have found the best cabin for your needs, you need to book it! Our clients support two kinds of booking options:

1. Booking request by email: You’ll contact the landlord with the booking form on the cottage page. Landlord will then email you the confirmation and further information.
2. Online-booking: Most of our clients have their own online booking systems, where we link from the cottage’s page on Gofinland. Just click the “Book now” button on the page and you’ll be redirected to the online booking system. Please read the instructions carefully and follow all the steps.

4. Make sure your booking has been confirmed

Read the booking confirmation emails closely and save them for later use. Confirmation emails contain all the necessary information about payments, how to get to the cabin and where to get the keys from. If you have some questions for the landlord, you can contact them to the email where the confirmation was sent.

5. Wait for it

Wait patiently for your holiday. We know it’s hard, but it’s worth the wait. Prepare in advance and pack at least one warm hat, for summer holidays too.

6. Come here

Get yourself to Finland! Here’s few tips on how to get here.

7. Keys – where are the keys?

Pick the keys up from the location mentioned by the landlord. If you are staying in a ski resort there is usually some kind of reception for this. But if you’ve booked a wilderness cabin in the middle of nowhere, you might need to go and see the landlord somewhere along the way. Just read the instructions well and ask for help if you have any questions!

8. Ahh, can you hear the silence?

Go to the cottage, heat the sauna up and crack open a beer – it’s time to relax!

9. Cleaning

After all the good time clean the cabin. If you’ve been smart and bought the cleaning service in advance, you don’t need to worry about this. So ask for the cleaning service – you won’t regret it!

10. Return the keys, please!

Return the key as the landlord has instructed and head back home.

Now, let’s start looking for that cabin!