This is the story of Sebastian’s journey to Finland and our wonderful culture where nature and spending time in summer cottages are essential .

Straight after arriving in Helsinki we got our rental car and drove north. Ahead of us was a 10 day journey through the southern part of Finland. My expectations of this beautiful country were fulfilled immediately after leaving the city and entering the remote nature of Finland. We drove for around 3 hours north, one hour was driving on a gravel road straight into the forest until we reached our cottage directly at lake.

A Finnish BBQ in the forest.

After a day of hiking and exploring the area we finished the day by making a campfire on a hill with views over the lake. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine a better place for a fire. The nature and the remoteness of that place even made it more beautiful. A cold beer and some sausages on the stick really made a perfect evening.

Amazing view on the National Park of Repovesi

After leaving the remote cottage behind, we made our way to explore Repovesi National Park. In the park there are a lot of hiking trails and some great views over lakes and forests. There are also some campgrounds, where families spent the night. Unfortunately we didn’t bring our own tent, so we had to leave the park at dawn to sleep in our B&B.

Roadtripping in Finland

After another night at a campfire at the B&B Pinus in Mäntyharju, we made our way more north to Koli National Park where we stayed on a farm for 2 nights. The view from the top of Koli National Park was even more breathtaking than the views we saw before. After a good day of hiking, we had one of the best burgers ever at Kolin Ryynanen, close to the park.

Scenic sunset in Finland.

On our way to the West Coast we stopped at another cottage directly at a lake. As many times before in Finland we were all by ourself. We took out the paddle boat for a sunset cruise before sitting at the warm campfire again.

Lovely view from pier. Time to jump in!

The west coast was a bit disappointing. There was no road directly at the sea and we missed our days at the lakes so much, that we headed back inwards on our way back down south to Helsinki.

Helsinki City overview.

Our last couple of nights we spent on an organic farm with an awesome breakfast. Holidays in Finland is pure nature and relaxation. If you want a lot of action, this is the wrong place. But if you are looking for untouched nature and wilderness, this is one of the best places I have visited so far.

Helsinki is a charming capital, with lots of good bars, restaurants and great cultural activities. I liked Finland so much, that I came back a couple of months later to see it in autumn. The weather was more moody but definitely as beautiful as in summer.

Sebastian made a short video while exploring Finland. In the video Sebastian experiences the Finnish nature and cottage culture at the fullest.  It’s worth checking out. Sebastian creates fantastic short films about traveling in different locations and takes quite spectacular photos while traveling!

You can follow Sebastian in Instagram: sebpic_

Did you know that there are more than 500,000 holiday homes, villas and cottages in Finland? Most cottages are perfectly habitable all year round, even through winter, and filled with modern comfort and conveniences. Not all cottage owners want or need to use their holiday homes at all times. Instead of keeping the cottages empty, they’re renting them out to travelers who want to experience real Finnish lifestyle.

But have YOU, as a traveler, ever considered choosing a rental cottage over a hotel room for your holiday? In case you now find yourself shaking your head and thinking ‘hell no’, this article is worth reading.

As the largest rental cottage marketplace in the country, Gofinland currently has more than 7,000 cottages to choose from. This article provides you with 7 proven reasons why renting a cottage beats staying in a hotel any time of the year.

The last few months of 2016 were pure celebration for Finland; Many international hot stream medias highlighted Finland in their headlines trying to convince travelers all over the world that Finland truly is the top destination for 2017.

It all started when Lonely Planet listed Finland as the 3rd best travel destination in the whole world. Soon after also National Geographic and Financial Times, among others, followed Lonely Planet’s example.

There’s no doubt we wouldn’t agree with the headlines, but at the same time a rumor started to go around stating Finland, and especially Lapland, being fully booked in 2017. While the hotels are busy with tourists, there are thousands and thousands of empty cottages available for holiday rental throughout the country.

Therefore we want to present 6 outstanding beach cabins in Finland where to stay during your visit. After all, you’ll get the best feeling for the Finnish way of living if you choose a cottage over a hotel.

3,3 millions! This is the most recent number of existing saunas in Finland. Ain’t that enough to express how important the Finnish sauna culture is for Finns?

Our modern urban way of life has changed the way we resource ourselves. But from Helsinki city center to Nuorgam, the northernmost village in Finland, every Finn remain loyal to one thing: The Finnish sauna tradition.

Do you want to know more about it?

The peace of Finnish wilderness can be enjoyed in so many different ways. One of the best ones is to stay in the middle of it – in one of these stunning luxurious cabins.

We had a little look into what Finnish wilderness has to offer for travelers who love nature and appreciate a little luxury on their vacation. Explore these luxurious cabins and tell us what you think!

Have you ever asked a Finn where he or she would celebrate the midsummer fest? Most of them would reply: “in a summer cottage”. Did you know that Finland counts over half a million privately owned cottages and leisure houses in the country of 5 million inhabitants?

For Finns, the cottages and leisure houses are getaways from the hectic lives. Very often located by a lake or a river, and off-the-beaten path, cottages offer a great dive into one of the most important part of Finnish culture: enjoying nature.

The cottage life is all about going back to the roots and enjoy simple pleasures like cooking fresh fish on open fire, taking a swim in the lake after wooden-heated sauna or picking up berries.

Have You Ever Heard Silence?

The first and most overwhelming feeling you will get when staying at a cottage in the middle of nature is silence. Have you ever heard it?

Once you try, you really get hooked!  Spending time in nature has a very positive effect on your health: it is a great way to enjoy a digital detox and fill up your body and mind with energy and creativity. 

Need Help to Choose a Destination?

So ready to step off your daily routine and enjoy the pleasure of silence and nature in a traditional cottage? From the Finnish Archipelago to the Lakeland and deep Lappish forests, you can find here your dream cottage for an unforgettable experience.