Lonely Planet
7 Ways Lapland is Better in Fall Than in Winter
Lapland in northern Finland shows its best side in the fall. Here are top ways fall is better than winter in Lapland.
Afar
This 16-Day Nordic Trip Includes a Night in a Glass Igloo
From reindeer encounters to the hometown of Santa Claus, this journey through Norway and Finland travels by train, ship, and bus.
The Guardian
Taking a deep dive in Helsinki’s subterranean city
Under the Finnish capital lies a world of swimming pools, go-karting tracks, playgrounds – and even an art gallery The moon is an impostor. Swimming backstroke beneath its surface, I look up at craggy hollows in close relief. White rock undulates in all directions, a forest of peaks rising next to a desert of craters. Every time I trick myself into thinking I’m somewhere celestial, the sound of…
National Geographic
5 of the Best Dark Sky Destinations in Europe for Stargazing
From the Canaries to the Scottish Borders, Europe is dotted with remote landscapes where exceptionally dark skies make stargazing an unforgettable part of the journey.
Atlas Obscura
AO’s Favorite Unusual Sites to Spend a Night
Where to stay is a pivotal part of any trip, sometimes just as important as the destination itself. The place you rest your head can dictate not just the quality of sleep you get but the kinds of activities you choose, the people you meet, and the way you engage with the culture around you. That’s especially true at these accommodations, which are anything but ordinary—combining thoughtful desi…
The Guardian
Going for gold: an early autumn road trip across Finland’s sparkling lake district
On a self-drive break in search of Lake Saimaa’s autumn colours, we encountered blue skies, cosy lakeside cabins and saunas, great food – and lots of stubbornly green trees I wasn’t sure what to expect from an autumn trip to Finland, my first ever to the country, but spending an afternoon sprawled on a deck chair beneath blazing blue skies certainly wasn’t part of it. After a morning walking be…
Atlas Obscura
The Fire Captain's Stone in Helsinki, Finland
In the courtyard of central Helsinki's oldest surviving wooden house, a rough-hewn cube of reddish granite sits low in the gravel, flat-topped enough to double as a seat. For decades it was the favorite perch of Alexander Wickholm, the fire captain ( ruiskumestari , literally "hose master"), who liked to smoke his pipe there while keeping an eye on the yard. Wickholm died in 1896. Nearly three…
Lonely Planet
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe
Get planning your festive season with this guide to this year
The Guardian
20 of the best cabins, campsites and hotels in Europe’s mountains, lakes and forests
From a 500-year-old inn in the Italian Dolomites to a log cabin in Finland’s lake district, these boltholes offer a tranquil and restorative getaway Continue reading...
Lonely Planet
20 things to do in Helsinki and the best way to do them
Explore Finland
BBC Travel
Why travellers are obsessed with foreign supermarkets
From Tokyo egg sandwiches to Greek dairy aisles, supermarket aisles are becoming one of travel's most revealing and beloved experiences. It's 10:00 in a Tokyo 7-Eleven, and I am standing shoulder to ...
National Geographic
The ‘coolcation’ is trending—here’s where you should go in Europe
For many travellers, the image of the summer holiday is shifting. Instead of chasing the sun, more people are seeking destinations where cool mornings, fresh air and comfortable conditions make it ...
Skift
Hoshino’s Nara Prison Leans Into the Heritage — a Test Case for Japan’s Historic Buildings
Japan’s Hoshino Resorts makes a bold move that blends cultural preservation, tourism strategy, and a new “cycle of heritage” model that blends government ownership with private operation. If it works, the rest of Japan will take notice, with its hard-to-maintain civic architecture.
Afar
UNESCO Just Named 25 New World Heritage Sites—Including America’s First Since 2023
The newly added D-Day Beaches World Heritage site spans about 50 miles along the Normandy coastline, including Gold Beach (pictured), Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Juno Beach, Sword Beach, and Pointe du ...
The New York Times
Exploring Helsinki Through the Dreamy Architecture of Eliel Saarinen
A writer goes in search of the architect Eliel Saarinen, whose Art Nouveau-inspired designs helped shape early-1900s Finland as well as midcentury America.
Afar
You Can Now Sauna Like a Finn—Smoke and All—Just Off Helsinki’s Coast
The new Saunasaari island retreat gives visitors a chance to try a traditional Finnish smoke sauna, plus wood-fired hot tubs and open-fire dining. Bathers at Saunasaari can take in views of the city ...
Afar
4 Food-Focused Trips for Travelers Who Love Culture
From cooking classes in Tuscany to market visits in Vietnam, these tours use food to connect travelers with local traditions and daily life.
Condé Nast Traveler
UNESCO Just Added 26 Sites to the World Heritage List for 2026—Including 1 in the US
We can’t wait to visit these lush wildlife reserves, dreamy seaside villages, and fairytale French castles.
Lonely Planet
Finland has a new Sauna Island. Here's where to sweat (and freeze) across the Nordics
Nothing gives you that inner glow like a sauna followed by a cold plunge. Here are the best sauna experiences in the Nordics.
Afar
4 Trips Where Expert Planning Makes All the Difference
From Borneo to the Amalfi Coast, these USTOA tour operators handle the logistics, planning, and local connections so travelers can focus on the experience. Some trips only come around once in a ...
National Geographic
Europe's secret lakes—6 destinations without the crowds
The appeal of a lakeside holiday is timeless: morning mist rising from the water, long swims, slow boat rides and mountain silhouettes mirrored on glassy surfaces. Yet many of Europe’s lakes don’t ...
The Guardian
Journey into the midnight sun: my solo road trip to the top of Norway
I found cinematic landscapes, wild freedom and thousands of miles of perfect solitude on my campervan adventure through the Nordic countries It’s midnight, in June. Powder pink and dark grey clouds drift across a pallid sky, the palette reflecting in the motionless water of Lake Inari. Islets of pine and just-budding birch create pools of distorted shade close to the horizon of this 420 sq mile…
The Guardian
‘I don’t think we’ve ever felt closer’: five writers on their most memorable family holidays
Rallying the kids can be chaotic and frustrating, but from Interrailing all the way to Turkey to Vespa rides in Naples, these trips brought families together Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for nine years running, but arriving in Helsinki, dishevelled from one of my first flights with my nine-month-old baby, I was less interested in national rankings and more in having a nic…
Condé Nast Traveler
Where to Travel in 2026, According to Your Sign
Japan, Colombia, Mexico, Finland—there's a lot to see in 2026, and your horoscope can tell you which will be the best fit.
Atlas Obscura
Santa's Hometown in Rovaniemi, Finland
Finland's Lapland region is a land of dense forests and pure air known as one of the best places in the world to catch the Northern Lights, and also to meet Santa Claus! The region has capitalized on its winter wonderland geography and climate, and its capital city, Rovaniemi has, since 2009, claimed to be the official hometown of Santa. This moniker has now been challenged by a Dutch non-ficti…
Condé Nast Traveler
50 Most Beautiful Places in the World
From the Serengeti to the Grand Canyon—plus 55 more destinations you need to see to believe.
Condé Nast Traveler
28 Best Christmas Markets in Europe
Surrounded by snow-capped cathedrals and wooden chalets, these Christmas markets in Europe are as festive as it gets.
National Geographic
Magical places to experience the midnight sun this summer
As our planet makes its annual circuit around the sun, parts of the globe experience dramatic seasonal swings thanks to the tilt of Earth’s axis. Between April and September, the northern hemisphere ...
National Geographic
Finland Travel Guide
National Geographic’s latest travel stories about Finland. Photograph by Look Foto, Aurora. Latest Stories. 5 alternative European islands to explore this ...