Hey Guys,

I’m kicking off my first six-day trip to Finland right now, and it’s already epic thanks to a friendly Finnish girl I met on the flight. She shared a bunch of must-dos that I’m excited to try.

Chatting with her taught me about Finnish sisu, love for outdoors, and genuine kindness.

To all Finns: Kiitos for being so welcoming – you’re making this unforgettable!

If you have tips or stories, share ’em. 🇫🇮

by Fearless-Lead-5924

37 comments

  2. That’s a pretty good list of things to try. Remember not to eat yellow snow and you will be fine.

  3. Maybe also try karjalanpaisti, which is meat stew. It’s popular. You can also try leipäjuusto and lakkahillo

  5. Keep an umbrella if your jacket isn’t waterproof. 

    I prefer peruna karjalanpiirakka (potato Karelian pasty) over riisi karjalanpiirakka (rice Karelian pastry) but your mileage may vary.  

    Recommended not to laugh or giggle when you view these pastries for the first time.

    Salmon soup is a must.

    Have fun.

  6. How do you know all Finns are so welcoming, why thank all Finns? Have you met us all yet?

  7. You’re up in Rovaniemi, so try some reindeer. Please. So many tourists don’t want to but it’s SO tasty.

  10. There is a really delightful forest park in Rovaniemi that’s pretty magical. Also has a cross country only track if you’re ready for some awesome cardio!

  11. A Finnish type of mulled wine, glögi, is also a Christmas market staple, if you are visiting one.
    Definitely try reindeer meat if you can, I’m not a huge fan of meat dishes, but reindeer is so good. Especially in savory pastries.
    And while I’m biased, Finnish chocolate is by far the best I’ve tasted, even though I always sample chocolate from each country I visit.

  12. Salmiakki koskenkorva (salmari) shot is also recommended heavily.

    Just a note avanto is specifically a hole in the ice, a freezing cold lake is not a same thing

  14. I would also recommend trying poronkäristys (sautéed reindeer) with some mashed potatoes, lingonberries and pickled cucumber!

    And to nitpick a little, avanto specifically means ice swimming. The lakes are not yet frozen, except for the northern parts of Finland, but swimming in the cold water is still nice in between löyly 😌

  15. I’m gonna be the “ackshully”, but avanto doesn’t mean just swimming in a lake. It means swimming in a frozen over lake during winter. Or a pond, river, whatever.

  18. Don’t do the Karelian pasty dry, it needs munavoi spread on top of it. Munavoi is a mixture of finely chopped hard boiled eggs and butter. I prefer my pasty warm rather than cold, but I have no idea if that’s heresy.

  19. I wouldn’t say swimming in lake (in wintertime) can be combined with sauna, it SHOULD be combined with sauna.

  20. If you go to McDonalds, try Ruis Feast burger (rye bread bun burger).

  22. Please include: 1) do piri in a dive bar toilet. 2) find a local girl (or man) to do piri with 3) dont sleep 4) go to Kallio around 9am the next morning 4) eat cheap pizza and take a beer or two to sideline depressing thoughts 5) walk alot, basically the whole day, in a murky rain and try to do something constructive, like seeing a museum 6) its dark, the thoughts are at it again and creeping back 7) go to Alko, take some shots while walking and expect side-eye looks from mommys 8) try to reach the girl/guy again, unsuccesfully 9) check if anyone is doing anything, not likely 10) find Itä-Pasila, sit down in the nearest bar and read yesterdays newspaper, 11) later, argue in the street with SLUSH startup co-founder / silicon valley wannabees 12) feel tired and smoke your last cigarette, 13) piss on the street 14) decide to go back the to airport.

  23. If you are into sports, go to an ice hockey game if you have never been to one. Most big cities have a team in the top league so check out if there’s any matches being played nearby.

  24. Try to visit a Savusauna if possible. Have not checked availability in your area but worth a shot to try to book one if you can. I think Savusauna is the best Sauna you can experience in Finland.

  25. It’s also the season for Glögi (mulled wine). Combine with Piparkakku (Gingerbread cookie).

  27. Really good list 👍
    She was was also very smart by giving both, English and Finnish names of foods.

    Karelian pasty is something that I eat maybe 300pcs per year 😂 So good.

    Sauna is obviously something that you can do every day (once something fancy and other days in your hotel) , it’s good after you have spent whole day outside playing with snow etc.

    Instead of salmon soup (it’s good but basically just fishsoup) try reindeer. Good low fat meat. Traditional dish is “poronkäristys” without mashed potatoes. I’m sure you can easily find it.

    Enjoy your time in Finland 😎

  28. Rent some cross country ski and grill some sausage over a “grillipaikka”. Ski some more until you find a kiosk selling munkkis

  29. What kind of a finn she was, there is no “try Koskenkorva” drink on your list.
    But me to the rescue; u must try it ice cold, its pretty good and if u can get “salmiakkikossu”, its even better, ice cold.
    Then u must try the same drink, but warm…its terrible.

  30. Remember to have some egg&butter with the karjalanpiirakka

  31. Oh man, I loved Karjalanpiirakka during my visit!!! I had forgotten the name. Thanks OP! Romanievi is awesome, I went aurora hunting and it was legit.

  32. Good suggestions earlier! I don’t know where you are traveling or what you personally seek from your stay here, but my advice is to find something that you will remember for the rest of your life. Sure, go on and adventure with Finnish culinaries like reindeer and salmiakki but I reckon you are not coming here to just eat something. Go see an actual live reindeer too.

    Not all restaurants are good but in general, I think that majority of just slightly over the mid-prized restaurants in Finland are quite decent, and they very often serve something very unique or distinguished menus around the country. Something related to Finnish food culture and/or to the time of the year. You must try smoked or flamed salmon as well as cold smoked one. I know you can have them basically all around the world today, but I can almost guarantee that you haven’t tried the traditional Finnish ones.

    Go to sauna, that’s a given, and not just any sauna. Go to one of the common saunas, if available, to actually meet Finnish people and enjoy their heartwarming communication with a few words or grunts. If possible, roll on the snow in between the hot and steamy saunas.

    Embrace the darkness. The winter night sky and all the isolated forests are actually pretty awesome. I mean it’s getting really dark really fast at this time of the year so don’t go to forest then. But I mean the kind of shady time we have in the afternoon before it blacks out completely. I personally love it.

  35. «sorry” is anteeksi, but honestly you can just use English for those, everyone can understand “hello”

    Put salmon soup further up to the top, it is great. In case you won’t see it in menu in English, it is lohikeitto. Available almost everywhere, I’ve seen coffee shops serving it.

    Sauna is honestly the same as it is anywhere else. I get that it is big in Finland, but there is no reason to go out of your way to visit it here specifically unless it is some specific sauna that it is of interest to you.

  36. You got me at sauna. My kingdom for a sauna. 🥲

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