How I Spent 5 Days in the Happiest Country on Earth [What To See, Do, and Eat in Finland]

The author visited as an invited guest of Visit Finland. All opinions are the author’s own, and no one from Visit Finland had input in any part of this story.

For the eighth year in a row, Finland has been crowned the world’s happiest nation. It’s also a great place to visit, even if you aren’t among its happy citizens.

Part of what makes Finns so happy is their access to nature — something they want to provide to visitors and preserve through sustainability initiatives and ecotourism.

I recently spent 5 days in Finland, dividing my time between the capital of Helsinki and Tampere, known as the sauna capital of the world. Here’s how I spent my time in Finland, including things to do, places to eat, and tips on places to stay using your points to defray costs.

Why Is Finland the Happiest Country on Earth?

Finland has been named the happiest country in the U.N.-sponsored World Happiness Report for 8 years in a row. Rather than understanding happiness as simply smiling a lot, the report investigates the reasons why people are happy or unhappy and what factors have led to these sentiments.

Finns have numerous protections aimed at providing for people’s basic needs, removing worry and despair — the opposites of happiness, according to the report — so people can focus on their dreams, friendship, hobbies, etc. Thus, education, housing, access to nature, public transportation, and communal spaces are provided by the government, while Finns themselves focus on interpersonal connections and their connection to the planet. Guaranteed paid time off, for example, removes worries about money while providing space for personal enjoyment.

All 5 countries at the top of the 2025 list are in Europe: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Hot Tip:

Finns also consider their connection to the planet as part of being happy. Sustainable Travel Finland provides resources on visiting the country in an earth-friendly manner, including a list of businesses that meet rigorous sustainability requirements. The list includes hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and more.

Helsinki

Day 1

Allas Pool

After arriving and settling into the hotel, I visited Allas Pool. This waterfront location offers much more than just a pool, though it does have several of those. It also provided a great way to stay active and awake, rather than sitting down at the hotel and falling asleep — something that wouldn’t help me stave off jetlag. Tickets to Allas start at €18 ($20).

Guests can swim in the warm pool (the larger setting).

There’s also a cold pool that’s filled with sea water — emphasis on “cold” here.

Allas has a large, mixed-gender sauna in the main building and separate saunas in the small, black huts next to the cold pool. There’s also ample space for lounging in the sun.

Allas also had an impressive rooftop bar and indoor restaurant.

Guests can access lockers and showers. Towels can be rented for €8.90 ($10).

Puistokatu 4 — Space for Science and Hope

After showering and changing clothes, I visited Puistokatu 4, the Space for Science and Hope. In a 19th-century villa, this space has numerous scientists approaching climate questions and ecological crises from various angles in an interdisciplinary setting.

Restaurant Elm

Dinner was at Restaurant Elm, on the ground floor of Puistokatu 4.

Elm is an all-day restaurant that focuses on waste reduction and using food that’s in season — including items grown in an on-site garden. Elm’s menu is Mediterranean-inspired, and meals cost between €14 and €48 ($16 to $54).

Day 2

Suomenlinna

After breakfast at the hotel, I caught the ferry to nearby Suomenlinna, which covers several islands near Helsinki. Because people still live on the islands, the ferry is part of the public transportation system, meaning you can use transit cards to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Much of the fortress still stands, and visitors are free to walk around the area for self-exploration.

There are period actors available, as well, if you’re interested in a guided tour.

After poking around the sites, I met my guide, Anna, from Foraging Finland. Over the next 90 minutes, I learned about finding edible herbs and mushrooms on the island and in Helsinki’s parks. I also learned about Finland’s concept of “everyone’s right to the land,” under which people can pick items around the country with few restrictions, so long as they do so sustainably. Workshops start at €40 ($45).

Restaurant Lasipalatsi

For lunch, I visited Restaurant Lasipalatsi, on the upper floor (and offering great views) of a building that was originally built as the ticket center for the 1952 Summer Olympics before serving numerous purposes in the ensuing decades. Now it offers traditional Finnish meals in a great setting.

The menu focuses on fresh fish and vegetables, plus other fare like reindeer, lamb, and seasonal vegetables from the local area. Main dishes cost €25 to €39 ($28 to $44).

Design District

After lunch, I explored the Design District on the south side of central Helsinki. The area was easily walkable and even has its own map, available at most hotels and tourist information areas. Whether you’re into architecture, art, clothing, or other design elements, there’s a lot here, and I only scratched the surface during an afternoon exploring the area.

A popular stop is the Artek 2nd Cycle shop, which collects, refurbishes, and sells classic pieces from this Finnish furniture and decoration brand.

The Design District stretches across 25 streets and 200 locations, including jewelry makers, antique shops, restaurants, museums, and more.

There’s a design museum, but I headed to the Merkki Media Museum instead. On the top floor, interactive displays talked about current media, the misinformation crisis confronting the world, and how to understand the role of journalism in this environment.

On the lower level, there were numerous displays on the history of printing, including hands-on elements like typesetting and layout tutorials using newspaper stories from past decades.

Natura

For dinner on day 2, I headed to Natura — a centrally located restaurant focusing on modern dishes prepared in an open kitchen. The food is local, organic, and sourced regionally. Menu items included seafood and fresh vegetables grown at the restaurant’s own farm.

Natura was awarded a Michelin Green Star for its sustainability initiatives, and it was incredibly delicious. Dishes started at €14 ($16), though set menus with wine pairings can cost as much as €90 ($101).

Bar Mate

I finished the evening with a stop at Bar Mate, based on a recommendation that they have numerous options for craft cocktails and mocktails. Service was fantastic, as well.

Day 3

Helsinki Central Library Oodi

After another great hotel breakfast, I caught a tram to Helsinki Central Library Oodi. Visiting a library didn’t sound that interesting at first, but hearing the story of its creation made me curious. The city asked people what they wanted in a public, free-use space, and the result was much more than a basic library.

Along with classes in Finnish for immigrants, the library has numerous meeting facilities, music recording rooms, cafes, 3D printing stations, and more. There are even instruments that can be checked out for free.

The top floor has the library’s books, a children’s play area, reading spaces, and more — all with a roof designed to capture noise and keep the space quiet, despite children running around.

A robot collects books, which I loved.

And the spiral staircase between floors was beautiful.

The top of the library is on the same level as the parliament building across the square, and an outdoor terrace provides great views and a place to enjoy a drink.

Restaurant Toppa

I had lunch at Restaurant Toppa, near the Allas Pool and outdoor market area. Toppa is on the top floor of the Sugar Cube building, designed by famed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.

The restaurant serves light bites with a Finnish twist. Prices range from €15 ($17) to €90 ($101) for the feast menu with wine pairings.

There’s also an outdoor terrace, great for warmer weather.

Transit to Tampere

After lunch, I headed to the train station for a 90-minute train to Tampere, known as the sauna capital of the world. Tickets between the 2 cities start at €15.80 ($18) and can be purchased online in advance.

Tampere

Day 3

Särkänniemi

My first stop in Tampere (pronounced TAHM-peh-reh) was the second-largest amusement park in Finland, Särkänniemi. Park tickets (which start at €27 or $30) include the use of public transportation to get there and back home, helping guests reduce their carbon footprint.

Särkänniemi is en route to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and uses renewable energy — and it’s also a great amusement park. Those looking for great rides should try either Tornado or Hype, which were my 2 favorite roller coasters.

Along with classic theme park attractions, Särkänniemi has an aquarium and an observation tower with a revolving restaurant at the top.

The restaurant, Näsinneula, offers fine dining and wine pairings, along with great views.

Särkänniemi’s most interesting program, however, is its Hospital Amusement Park, which is a free park at TAYS Children’s Hospital.

Pyynikki Nature Reserve

Särkänniemi was still on a reduced spring schedule during my visit, so it closed at dinner time (it only starts operating later into the evening after June 1). From here, I caught a bus to Pyynikki Nature Reserve. Those with more time or wanting to get further away from the city could take Outdoor Express buses — an interesting concept from the local government to ensure all people have access to nature. It runs to multiple national parks in the Tampere region.

Pyynikki has multiple trails in the woods, lookout points over the city and the lakes, outdoor exercise equipment, scavenger hunts for children, and more. The coffee shop at the entrance also has incredible doughnuts.

Saunas

Next, it was time to check out Tampere’s claim to fame: saunas. There are over 70 public saunas in Tampere, and my first stop was the oldest still-functioning sauna in Finland, Rajaportti. It’s not only a great sauna, but I also learned about its eco-friendly elements. The price for adults starts at €7 ($8).

For many Finns, part of the sauna experience is the ability to take a cold plunge in the sea or a lake after heating up in the sauna — something Rajaportti doesn’t have because of its hillside location. The staff advised I check out Sauna Restaurant Kuuma, which has a restaurant, bar, 2 types of saunas, and a floating dock over the lake.

The seawater was incredibly cold, and I made a few efforts to swim like the locals between visits to the traditional wood-heated sauna and the modern smoke sauna.

Both types were much more comfortable than the sauna at my local gym, where the steam feels oppressive every time you enter. Sauna visits start at €15 ($17) for adults.

Kuuma’s restaurant offered a mix of Finnish and international fare, multiple types of drinks, and great views over the water. Main dishes cost between €16 and €42 ($18 to $47).

Day 4

Mänttä

After filling up on the hotel’s breakfast buffet, I caught a van out to the nearby city of Mänttä, roughly 1 hour outside Tampere.

Set among multiple lakes, Mänttä has rapids that provided the power for the operations of one of Finland’s oldest paper mills.

Now separate from the paper company they founded, the Serlachius family’s name can still be found on several museums in Mänttä, thanks to their history of art patronage. The Serlachius headquarters times its tours with the bus company to help guests use public transportation. Visit prices start at €16 ($18) for adults.

What I thought was a simple tour of the headquarters turned into a dramatic tour with a period actor from the 1950s, evaluating guests for our potential fit for various jobs at the paper company.

The tour continued with a short bike ride (a van was also available) along a nature path for roughly 20 minutes.

This took me to the Serlachius Manor, the former home of the second president of the paper company and now a renowned art museum.

The museum houses both classical and modern art.

Displays encompassed areas that felt like a traditional museum

The on-site restaurant, Gösta, had a great setting in the new wing of the museum and is included on the European 360º Eat Guide, which lists only sustainability-minded restaurants with high-caliber menus.

The Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation boasts one of the most extensive private collections in Scandinavia, and the arts vibe extends to the Art Sauna experience.

The living room at the Art Sauna has art and great views, and groups can rent out this space for an incredible setting. Individual visitors can pay €14 ($16) per adult during public dates.

There’s no art in the sauna itself, though it’s a great sauna with incredible views over the lake. And the sauna’s design, built into the backside of a slope, made it feel extremely private.

Villit ja Viinit

After the 1-hour van ride back to Tampere, I had dinner at Villit ja Viinit in the city center. The menu changes monthly, based on what’s in season and pairing it with the restaurant’s wines. Each course from the set menu had a different pairing, including nonalcoholic options, plus vegetarian and vegan customizations of the menu.

Villit ja Viinit’s staff was super friendly and explained items well, including the fact risotto is a prominent feature of the menu — especially since they heard numerous complaints after doing away with it for a few months last year. A 4-course set menu is available from €48 ($54).

The mushroom entrée was incredible, and I could’ve had an entire meal of this.

Thrasherie

I ended my final night in Finland at Thrasherie, a metal-themed bar that highlights Finland’s extensive history of metal bands like Nightwish, Death, Stratovarius, and Children of Bodom, as well as music from international metal bands.

Day 5

Tampere Hall

My day started, once again, with a great hotel breakfast before heading to Tampere Hall. Carbon-neutral since 2019, this building has numerous meeting facilities, cafes, and restaurants.

It also has 2 auditoriums that host everything from music and dance to comedy.

A small garden on the roof grows herbs for the on-site catering teams.

The Tampere Hall was the first Nordic congress center to gain many of its environmental certifications, and the facility also is home to the Courtyard Tampere City.

Moomin Museum

For comic and cartoon fans, Tampere Hall is also home to the world’s only Moomin Museum.

Exhibits cover the history of the Moomin comics and the life of their creator, Tove Jansson. Tickets start at €7 for students and children over 7 years old or €14.50 for adults ($8 and $16, respectively).

After a quick snack at the café, I ended my time in Finland by catching the train from Tampere to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) for my flight home.

How To Fly to Finland Using Points and Miles

Luckily, there are options for saving money on flights by using credit card points and frequent flyer miles. Finnair flies directly between Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and 6 U.S. airports, including Chicago (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York City (JFK), and Seattle (SEA). Finnair is a member of the Oneworld alliance, partnering with carriers like American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, and more.

For Finnair flights between the U.S. and Finland, you pay 30,000 Avios per person each way in economy, 43,500 Avios in premium economy, and 62,500 Avios in business class.

Finnair Plus, the airline’s loyalty program, uses Avios — the same currency used by British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways. That’s good news, as you can easily move Avios between these programs at a 1:1 ratio.

Alternatively, you can book flights using American Airlines AAdvantage miles — paying 30,000 miles each way in economy or 57,500 in business — or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, paying 27,500 in economy or 55,000 in business.

It’s also possible to fly to Finland with other airlines by adding a connection, such as Lufthansa through Frankfurt (FRA) or Air France through Paris (CDG). This allows you to book with additional types of miles and use different airline alliances.

Where To Stay in Finland

There are solid options for using points and free night awards on hotel stays in Finland. While Best Western, IHG, and Hyatt don’t have any properties in the country, there are several hotels worth considering in Helsinki and Tampere.

Helsinki

• Hilton Honors: Hilton Helsinki Strand and Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
• Marriott Bonvoy: Hotel St. George, Helsinki, a Member of Design Hotels and Hotel U14, Autograph Collection
• Radisson Rewards: Radisson Blu Aleksanteri Hotel Helsinki, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Helsinki, Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel Helsinki, and Radisson RED Helsinki

It’s also worth checking sites like AmexTravel.com or the Chase Travel portal. These portals let you use points at a fixed rate, and you can book boutique hotels using your cards’ built-in benefits. An example of this is finding properties in Fine Hotels + Resorts through AmexTravel.com and then using The Platinum Card^® from American Express‘ prepaid hotel benefit for up to $200 in statement credits each year.

Tampere

• Marriott Bonvoy: Courtyard Tampere City
• Radisson Rewards: Radisson Blu Grand Hotel Tammer, Tampere

Final Thoughts

Finland has a lot to offer, and this wasn’t my first visit. However, it was my first time exploring beyond Helsinki. Even in the capital, I enjoyed visiting sites and restaurants I hadn’t been to before. The biggest surprise was the Helsinki Central Library Oodi.

Whether you’re relaxing in a sauna, exploring a city, or connecting to nature, getting around Finland is easy, thanks to solid transportation networks. The country also has great food, much of which is sustainably harvested.