How Finns Celebrate Summer: From Midsummer Magic to Everyday Summer Life

Finnish summer is short—but deeply cherished. When the snow finally melts and the light returns, life moves outdoors: to cottages, lakeshores, forest paths and café terraces. Summer isn’t just a season in Finland—it’s a mindset. It’s freedom, stillness, and joy in the simplest things. Read the list at the end of the article to learn how to enjoy summer like a Finn!

Midsummer – Light, Fire and a Touch of Magic

Midsummer (juhannus) is the crown jewel of Finnish summer. Celebrated around the summer solstice in late June, it’s the lightest time of the year—when the sun barely sets at all (In Lapland, the northernmost part of Finland, the sun shines around the clock.). Many people head to the countryside or their summer cottages already on Thursday and stay the whole weekend.

It’s a celebration of light, nature, and togetherness. Bonfires are lit by the water, people relax in saunas, enjoy meals outdoors and decorate tables with wildflowers. The Finnish flag is raised to mark the special day, and old folk traditions like love spells or fortune-telling are still fondly remembered—even if mostly for fun.

Fun fact! One of the most popular Finnish Midsummer spells involves placing seven different kinds of flowers under your pillow—so that your future spouse will appear in your dreams.

If you happen to be in Helsinki during Midsummer, you’ll see the city at its quietest. Most locals have escaped to the countryside, making it the perfect time for peaceful walks and crowd-free views.

*Wood anemones in the light of a May evening sun.*

Summer Cottage Life – Simple and Slow

To a Finn, a summer cottage (mökki) is often not about luxury—it’s about simplicity and escape. Some cottages don’t even have electricity, running water, or an indoor toilet. But what they do have is silence, maybe a view of the lake, and the sense of being completely off the grid.

Life at the cottage is slow and free of schedules. Days are filled with sauna sessions, swimming, grilling, reading, and doing absolutely nothing. Some go fishing, others take naps in a hammock. The radio might be on in the background—or not at all. It’s a place where time stretches out, and being is more important than doing.

*Unhurried moments are a pleasure. When you slow down and do nothing, some of the best ideas and insights can emerge.*

However, there are many different ways to spend time at the cottage. Some people enjoy keeping busy even on their time off—building things, doing yard work, maintaining the cottage and its outbuildings, or tending to flower beds. If the cottage has no electricity or running water, there’s naturally plenty to do: chopping or collecting firewood and carrying water become part of the daily rhythm.

Living With Nature – Swimming, Berries and Forest Peace

Summer in Finland is all about living in harmony with nature. Swimming in a lake or the sea is part of the rhythm. Berry picking, mushroom hunting and forest walks are beloved summer activities, for both kids and adults. It can just as easily take place in the nearby forest as in one of Finland’s stunning national parks.

Silence is not seen as awkward—it’s sacred. A lone call of a loon, the breeze through birch leaves, the gentle lapping of water against the dock. In Finland, nature isn’t something you visit. It’s home.

The Nightless Night – A Light That Never Ends

One of the most magical features of Finnish summer is the light. Around Midsummer in the north, the sun doesn’t set at all—and even in the south, nights are softly bright. You can go for a swim, a bike ride or cast a fishing line at midnight without needing a flashlight.

This endless light lifts spirits and extends the day. People go out more, and live as if time has taken a summer break of its own. In the mornings, evenings, and even at night, it’s so bright that you genuinely need a clock to know what time it is.

*Midsummer’s luminous glow feels especially magical on the islands of the Baltic Sea.*

Everyday Pleasures of Summer

Not every moment of summer is spent at a cottage—some of the best moments are found in everyday life. An ice cream from a kiosk, a terrace coffee, a bike ride down a gravel road. For many kids, summer means bare feet in the grass, trampolines, and picnics.

And yes, Finns love to sit at outdoor cafés and terraces, just like elsewhere in Europe. Whether it’s coffee, a cold beer or just soaking in the warmth of the sun, these small moments are essential parts of the Finnish summer experience.

Summer market life in Finland is full of charm and local flavor. Stalls offer everything from fresh local vegetables, baked goods, meats, and fish to ice cream, handicrafts, and second-hand treasures. Every market also has cafés where people sit back, enjoy a coffee, and soak up the summer atmosphere. It’s a relaxed and social experience that captures the spirit of a Finnish summer day.

Summer festivals in Finland

Summer in Finland is full of festivals that bring music, art, and community together across the country. For metal music fans, Finland is a dream destination. The capital’s Tuska Festival draws thousands to Helsinki each year for heavy sounds and strong vibes. Smaller but equally atmospheric events include Dark River Festival in Kotka, Metallivuori in Turku’s coastal park, and Nummirock, a legendary Midsummer metal festival by a lake in Kauhajoki.

*Lost Society performing at an open-air event in Turku.*

But summer festivals aren’t just about music. The Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä screens movies around the clock under the never-setting sun. In Kittilä, the Silence Festival blends contemporary circus and classical music in a stunning natural setting.

Simple Is Beautiful – And Summer Is a Feeling

In the end, summer in Finland isn’t about how much you do—it’s about how it feels. After the long, dark winter, warmth, light and nature feel like gifts. It’s a season that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and be fully present—in the forest, by the water, in the moment.

☀️ How to Experience Summer Like a Finn

Take off your watch—and forget the time
Try sauna and a swim in a lake (yes, even if it’s cold!)
Pick wild blueberries—or just walk in the forest
Sit on a dock with your feet in the water and do nothing
Drink your morning coffee outside, even if it’s cloudy
Stay up late, just because the sun won’t go down
Eat ice cream and local fresh strawberries

How Finns Celebrate Summer: From Midsummer Magic to Everyday Summer Life