What to do in Finland in Autumn? Here is a Wonderful 10-Item Bucket List for You!

Welcome to Finland – a country where you can breathe the cleanest air in the world and where nature is just a few steps away, even in the heart of the capital city, Helsinki. In this article, we present ten autumnal experiences that will give you an unforgettable experience in Finland. These are experiences that the locals themselves enjoy in the fall, so you get to experience what genuine Finnish life is like.

Photos: Jonna Saari

Autumn is the time when nature dresses in its most colorful outfits and the whole country is filled with silence and peace. Come and experience it for yourself!

Tasting Blueberry Pie in a Finnish Café

No matter where you are in Finland, make a stop at a local café. Even if the café is small and modest, there is a very high probability that you will find blueberry pie in its selection, made using Finnish wild forest-picked blueberries. Blueberry pie is a very traditional Finnish delicacy that satisfies even the most demanding gourmand. Paired with a cup of hot coffee, it is the perfect way to start or crown your autumn day in Finland.

National Park Visit to See the Autumn Foliage

Autumn is a great time to experience the vibrant splendors of Finnish nature. Visit one of the country’s magnificent national parks, such as Nuuksio or Repovesi National Park, and admire the colors of the fall foliage. In Finland, trees like aspen, maple, rowan, and birch, as well as ground plants like bilberry, dress in red and yellow. If you visit Helsinki, the nearest national parks are Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi.

Tip: Bring along a camera, water-resistant shoes, and a warm jacket. If you don’t know where to head for a nature trip, you can ask for tips from local people, the local tourist information, or the Finnish Nature Center Haltia, where you can also call or send an email.

Sauna and Swimming in the Sea or Lake

The Finnish sauna is an experience that should definitely not be missed, even late in the fall. On chilly autumn days, the sauna offers a hot and relaxing moment. Swimming in the cool water after the sauna is a refreshing experience. Follow the example of other sauna-goers and ask for advice if needed.

In the Finnish sauna, everyone is friends and equals. According to Finnish sauna culture, you should not argue or debate in the sauna, but keep the conversation on amicable topics and the voice calm, so that the experience is pleasant for everyone and the sauna elf does not get upset.

Tip: Try sauna and swimming in one of Finland’s many public saunas. Make sure your destination sauna is by the shore, where you can try blowing into the water safely from a pier or sandy beach. You can also rent a cottage with a sauna and its own beach as your accommodation.

Star Gazing from Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna is one of Helsinki’s most famous attractions, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a sea fortress located on several small islands off Helsinki. The fortress was originally built during the Swedish rule in the 18th century to counter Russia’s growing influence. Today, Suomenlinna is a popular excursion destination where you can see historical fortifications, cannons, tunnels, and museums. It is also a popular place for picnics and enjoying nature, offering beautiful views of the sea and the city of Helsinki. Suomenlinna can be easily reached by ferry from Helsinki Market Square, and there is also accommodation.

Suomenlinna offers a great place to admire the starry sky on autumn evenings. For instance, at a place called Kustaanmiekka in Suomenlinna, you can distinguish the Milky Way from a clear night sky.

Morning Trip to Torronsuo or Another Bog Along the Duckboards

The name of Finland is “Suomi” in Finnish and is thought to possibly come from the name “Suomaa” which means bog land. Finland has had a lot of bogs, and although later a large part of them have been drained for forests, there are still plenty of beautiful and natural bogs in our country.

Walking in a bog is a great and very Finnish experience, and many bogs have built narrow wooden paths or ‘duckboards’ where you can walk without getting wet and sinking into the bog. Early in the morning, when the fog still hovers over the bog, is the best time to experience the Finnish bogs.

Tip: Many national parks have beautiful bog areas where you can walk along the duckboards and enjoy peace and quiet. Such national parks include Torronsuo, Valkmusa, Patvinsuo, Leivonmäki, and nearly all national parks in Lapland.

Visit to the National Museum

The National Museum, located in Helsinki, offers a deep dive into Finnish prehistory, history, and culture. Here you will find fascinating exhibitions that take you on a journey to the past and introduce you to what Finland and Finnishness are all about. The National Museum’s exhibitions have a lot of interactivity and are also interesting for children. Equip yourself with comfortable walking shoes and an open mind, and several hours to explore the museum’s rich exhibitions.

Mushroom Trip to the Forest Guided by an Expert

Autumn is the climax of the mushroom season in Finland. The Finnish nature grows esteemed edible mushrooms such as porcini, matsutake, chanterelles, horn of plenty, and much, much more. On a mushroom trip, you can also enjoy the beauty, peace, and quiet of the Finnish forest, as well as do concentration exercises when you look for sometimes very hidden mushrooms in the hiding places of mosses and shrubs.

Also, some of the world’s most poisonous mushrooms, such as the European destroying angel, grow in Finland. Therefore, it is very important to pick mushrooms only under the guidance of an expert guide, unless you happen to be an experienced mushroom expert yourself.

Tip: Join a guided mushroom trip where you learn to identify different mushroom species and enjoy the delicacies offered by the forest. Many Finnish nature businesses offer guided mushroom trips for groups. You can ask for local business tips from your destination area’s nature center, for example.

Overnight Stay in a Cottage or Glamping Accommodation in the Heart of Nature

The Finnish autumn is cool and even cold, but in certain types of accommodation, you can enjoy the immediate proximity of nature comfortably. Experience luxurious overnight accommodation in glamping accommodation in the heart of nature. Haltia Lake Lodge in Nuuksio offers tents equipped with amenities, located in the middle of beautiful nature, where you get to sleep well in a bed with a proper mattress and fresh sheets, while the forest nature practically opens up before your eyes. Similar accommodation options are available all over Finland, and a good alternative are also private rental cottages, which are often located in the middle of nature but still at the end of a car road.

Tip: When booking, ask about the possibility of renting bicycles or a canoe so that you can explore the surroundings independently.

Enjoying Silence and Clean Air in Nature

Finland is known for its clean air and eye-soothing natural environments. Even a short, even just 15-minute stay in nature has been proven to have good health effects, such as lowering blood pressure. Visit national parks such as Koli, Liesjärvi, or Teijo, for example, to experience the healing effects of silence and clean air.

Finnish national parks always have well-marked routes of various lengths to walk, so you don’t have to fear getting lost as long as you stay on the route. Often there are also other hikers in the area, as national parks are popular among locals for hiking and picnic trips. This can create a sense of safety for many, as you don’t have to walk alone in nature. In general, there is not much to fear in Finnish nature, as, for example, wild animals avoid humans from afar.

Tip: Ask briskly for help, information, or tips from other hikers, and even before the hike, it is worth contacting the local nature center to ensure which route you and your group should take.

Lapland’s Autumn Foliage

Lapland is known for its magnificent landscapes, and in the autumn it turns into a true symphony of colors, as in Lapland in addition to trees, also the low ground plants come into an exceptionally colorful autumn foliage. The autumn foliage season is at its best in September when the leaves change color before the arrival of winter. This is the best time to visit, for example, Pallas-Yllästunturi, Urho Kekkonen, or Pyhä-Luosto National Parks or even the Teno River valley in Utsjoki or Kilpisjärvi in the municipality of Enontekiö.

Tip: Plan your trip to Lapland during the autumn foliage season well in advance, and book accommodation from one of the region’s atmospheric cottages or hotels. We hope this list inspires you to plan an unforgettable autumn trip to Finland.

Welcome to enjoy the enchantment of Finnish autumn!

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