Finland Tour Holidays

Touring holidays to Finland frequently asked questions?

Touring holidays to Finland frequently asked questions?

As nearly two-thirds of Finland is covered by lush woodlands, there is lots to see and do for nature lovers but city lovers may wish to hop to neighbouring countries to have a wider exploration. If island hopping is on the agenda then Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland make good options and we have a tour that will take you to all of them.

Our Grand Baltic Explorer lets you discover five countries in one! Our epic journey take you from Finland to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and finally Poland. The Finnish capital of Helsinki is your first destination - a vibrant seaside city with sightseeing highlights including Senate Square, the Presidential Palace and the incredible Sibelius Monument. Your journey then continues to Tallinn in Estonia, via Gauja National Park, whose scenic beauty compares to that of Switzerland. Enjoy a scenic drive to Latvia via Turaida Castle and the town of Sigulda, before arriving at the picturesque capital of Riga, where sightseeing highlights include a Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral and a fascinating open-air museum. Next is Vilnius in Lithuania, whose medieval Old Town is one of the largest in Europe. Your final destination is Warsaw and a two-night stay in Poland's capital gives you plenty of time to explore

What are the highlights of Finland?

The main thing to do in Finland is visit Helsinki – The Capital of Finland, affectionately known as the white city of the North - referred to as this, because of its numerous buildings constructed of bright white granite. Although a city, Helsinki mirrors the rest of the country and has some beautiful green spaces to enjoy. It’s a very relaxed Country and most people travel around it on foot or via bike. There is lots to see in Helsinki, particularly if you are a history lover. Such highlights are: Helsinki Cathedral, Suomenlinna Fortress, Temppeliaukio, Sibelius Park, Kamppi Chapel of Silence and Helsinki's Design District.

If island hopping is on the agenda then Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland make good options with tours operating to cover them in conjunction with Finland.

What is the food like in Finland?

From Reindeer to Salmon the Finnish eat a wide variety of food – here some not to miss when travelling there:

• Poronkaristys (Reindeer) Thinly sliced reindeer meat, seasoned and seared, then cooked in beer, cream or water until tender. Served with mash potato, pickled cucumber and sweetened lingonberries. Reindeer meat isn’t as you would expect, it doesn’t taste like venison, it isn’t gamey in the slightest. It's mild in taste and extremely lean. Nutritionists praise it for its low fat content and high vitamin profile. Some would compare it to a mild tasting beef.
• Graavilohi (Smoked salmon) Smoked Salmon is a popular dish in Finland due to it being home to some of the best fishing sites for salmon.
• Lihapullat (Finnish meatballs) The Cousin to the famous Ikea Swedish meatballs but a slightly milder taste with less herbs and spices being used. Served once again with the Finnish favourite accompaniments - mashed potato, pickled cucumbers and lingonberries.
• Karjalanpiirakka (rice pies) A popular pastry breakfast dish in Finland. Rice pudding is wrapped in a rye bread crust. It’s a bit like a rice pudding calzone.
• Mustikkapiirakka (bilberry pie) – For those with a sweet tooth you’ll want to visit in the summer months when Bilberries are in abundance. Bilberries are the sister fruit of the blueberry, they are softer and more juicy but the flavour is pretty much identical. Mustikkapiirakka is a pie crust filled with bilberries topped off with a fresh yogurt topping.

What is the best time to visit Finland?

The best time to visit Finland is generally during the summer months as their winters get extremely cold. June, July and August, are when the climate is warmest with temperatures of 17-26 degrees Celsius. You’ll also find that the days are longer and the forests are at their most loveliest. Winter lasts from November through to March, with temperature ranging between -2 to -7 degrees Celsius! And if you’re hoping to see the Northern lights then autumn and spring are said to be the best seasons.