Bear Watching in Finland: Best in Summer (May to August)

In summer, Finland’s eastern wild Taiga forests become home to brown bears. These animals emerge from April but are most active May through August.

Evenings are the time to see bears. Purpose-built hides and glass-fronted cabins provide safe and comfortable spots for watching. Traditional hides offer quiet, basic shelter ideal for overnight stays. Glass cabins have modern comforts and large windows facing the forest, if you need a little more luxury during your bear spotting experience. 

The season runs from late spring to early autumn, with July and August often providing the best conditions. You may also spot wolverines, elk, foxes, and a range of birdlife . Daytime activities include hiking, canoeing, and wildlife tours, making for a full summer experience.

Travellers can experience bear watching in Finland through a range of small group and tailor-made tours, from wilderness hides to luxury cabins in the forest.

Skiing in Finland: Best in Winter (November to April)

The skiing season lasts from late November to April. Finland’s resorts are smaller than the Alps but less crowded and perfect for beginners and families. Equipped for both downhill and cross country skiing. 

Hotel Iso-Syöte offers quality accommodation on a fell in Lapland. This ski-in ski-out hotel has direct access to the lifts and slopes, renovated rooms, a restaurant, and a spa overlooking snowy landscapes.

Non-skiers have plenty to do too: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, husky and reindeer safaris, ice fishing, making this a great for families. The resort has indoor pools, saunas, and spas for relaxing after time on the slopes.

As many resorts do, the Iso-Syöte transforms during the Summer months into a base for hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, and fishing. With marked trails and guided activities, and the same hill top hotel. One resort in two different seasons, two completely different adventures. 

Northern Lights in Finland: Best from Autumn to Spring (August to April)

The Northern Lights season runs late August to April, with peak viewing November to March. The best chances are north of the Arctic Circle, where nights are longer and skies darker.

Nivunki Village in Lapland offers glass-roofed huts called Kotas with clear views of the night sky. The huts are warm, have private bathrooms, and include sauna access. The village is reachable from Kittilä Airport (50-minute drive) with transfers.

Besides aurora watching, winter activities nearby include snowmobiling, husky safaris, ice fishing, and reindeer experiences. The village also has a small restaurant serving local food.

Sauna in Finland: A Year-Round Tradition

With roughly two million saunas, Finland is rightly called the home of the sauna. They are found everywhere: homes, cottages, workplaces, hotels, and pools.

Saunas are places to relax, socialise, and cleanse. The traditional ritual combines time in the heat with cooling off outside. You can step outside, dip into lakes, rivers, or roll in the snow during winter. This hot-cold contrast is central to Finnish sauna culture.

Saunas are used year-round but feel especially comforting in winter after outdoor activities. Accommodations in Lapland and beyond offer wood-fired smoke saunas, electric saunas, and unique options like sauna boats.

At Sunday Morning Resort in Lapland, you can choose to add on a Lakeside Sauna experience, including sauna, hot tubs, ice dip in Lake Pyhäsalmi and access to a cose fireplace loung to relax and warm up. Alongside winter activities like snowmobiling and husky safaris, the sauna provides cosy warmth and a chance to unwind.

Best season to travel to Finland?

• Bear watching is best in summer (May–August), especially in eastern Finland’s Taiga forests.
• Skiing season runs November to April, with family-friendly resorts like Hotel Iso-Syöte.
• Northern Lights appear from late August to April, best viewed north of the Arctic Circle.
• Saunas are a year-round tradition, perfect for relaxing after outdoor activities, especially in winter.

Figured out when you want to travel to Finland? Contact our seasoned travel experts to make it happen.