1. 📬 There’s a Santa Claus Village With Its Own Post Office
- In Rovaniemi, Finland, you can visit Santa Claus' official post office, open year-round on the Arctic Circle. It receives over 500,000 letters annually from around the world, and visitors can send cards with a special Arctic Circle postmark, which is a perfect Christmas keepsake. Friendly elves sort and respond to letters, and you can even pre-order a personalized letter from Santa for the holidays. The village is a festive experience with shops, reindeer, snow activities, and Christmas magic in every corner.
2. 🌞 In Summer, the Sun Doesn’t Set
- Above the Arctic Circle in northern Finland, the Midnight Sun shines for up to 76 days straight during summer. From late May to mid-July, towns like Utsjoki experience 24 hours of daylight, making it possible to hike, swim, or even play golf in the middle of the night. It’s one of Finland’s most surreal and unforgettable natural phenomena.
3. 💤 Finland Pays People to Rest
- Finland launched a global campaign called "Rent a Finn", where locals acted as happiness guides, teaching visitors how to relax through nature, silence, and slow living. It’s part of Finland’s national focus on mental wellbeing, which helped it become the happiest country in the world several years in a row.
4. Finland Gave the World the First Text Message
- The world’s first SMS was sent using technology developed in Finland, the birthplace of Nokia, once the world’s leading mobile phone company. Finnish engineer Matti Makkonen played a key role in making texting possible, revolutionizing how people communicate across the globe.
5. Finland Has the Cleanest Air in the World
- According to the World Health Organization, Finland has the lowest air pollution levels on Earth. Thanks to vast forests, low population density, and strong environmental policies, the air here is crisp, fresh, and revitalizing. Places like Lapland’s national parks offer some of the cleanest air ever recorded.
6. 🐟 The Archipelago Sea Has More Islands Than Any Other in the World
- Finland’s Archipelago Sea is home to over 40,000 islands, making it the most island-rich region on the planet. Stretching from Turku toward the Åland Islands, it offers scenic ferry routes, kayaking trails, and peaceful seaside villages. Many of the islands are uninhabited, making it a perfect escape for nature lovers.
7. 🧄 Garlic Ice Cream Is a Festival Favourite
- At Finland’s Kerava Garlic Festival, adventurous foodies line up for a scoop of garlic ice cream which is a surprisingly mellow treat that blends sweet creaminess with roasted garlic’s subtle warmth. It’s a quirky highlight of the event, offering a unique twist on traditional dessert.
