finland family holidays guide
Thousands of lakes, vast forests and some of the freshest air in Europe – Finland’s natural wonders are the healthy backdrop to a family holiday. The country is also home to Father Christmas and the Moomins, plus Europe’s only indigenous people, the Sámi. There is abundant wildlife, including bears and wolves, and on family itineraries, children can touch and feed the reindeer and huskies that live and work here.
The Finnish flag features the blue of lakes and the white of snow – just two of the ingredients that make it fantastic for a family holiday.![]()
Life in Finland is shaped by the drastically different seasons – from summer days when the sun barely sets, to polar nights above the Arctic circle which can drop below -30°C. Warmer weather sees the Finns flocking to lakeside summer homes, but for visiting families it’s a great time for a self drive holiday. In winter, tailor made and small group trips whisk families to Finnish Lapland for an active and fascinating taste of Arctic life and, hopefully, a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
Find out more in our Finland family holidays travel guide.
Finland family holidays are…
wild fun that’s wildly different, too, depending on where and when you travel.
Finland family holidays aren’t…
just about Santa. Its gorgeous landscapes and friendly cities are open year round.
WHAT WE RATE & WHAT WE DON'T
UNDERRATED
RATED
OVERRATED
Food, shopping & people
Eating & drinking
Karelian pasty – or Karjalanpiirakka – is a pastry crust filled with rice porridge. Hot butter is spread over it before eating. Finland does great cinnamon buns. Called korvapuusti, which means “slapped ears”, kids can skip the coffee these are usually eaten with.
Finnish children are raised on grillimakkara, fat sausages that are cooked round the campfire in winter or barbecued in summer. Salmiakki is a kind of salty liquorice that Finns grow up with, but which can prove too strong for western palattes. It’s fun to try, though.
People & language
Finnish and Swedish are the two main official languages of Finland (Swedish is only spoken by 5.3% of the population). There are several official minority languages, with Sámi the mother tongue of about 1,900 people. Finnish belongs to the Uralic family of languages, so has more in common with Hungarian and Estonian than Swedish or Norwegian. Without Germanic or Latin influence, Finnish vocabulary is completely alien to English speakers and its grammar is notoriously complex.
Sauna rhymes with downer; something very hot may be called “Kuuma kuin saunassa” meaning “Hot like a sauna”, of course.
“Hei” or “moi” is hi; “hei hei” and “moi moi” are bye.
“Kittos paljon” is thanks very much.
If you’re sledding and hear “Varo!” be careful – it means watch out!
The Finns are one of the world’s largest consumers of ice cream per capita, and glug more coffee than any other European nation.
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Family Northern Lights break, Finland
Cozy log cabin and fascinating snow adventure for each day
From
€1603 to €2618
5 days
ex flights
Northern Lights family holiday, tailor made
An Aurora-cabin glass roofed experience in Finnish Lapland
From
£1465
4 days
inc UK flights
Family winter activity holiday, Finland
Family multiactivity week in the middle of the nature
From
€1125 to €1175
8 days
ex flights
Family winter activity holiday in Finland
A skiing holiday with a family-friendly 2-day husky safari
From
€2470 to €2700
8 days
ex flights
Northern Lights Family Christmas in Lapland
Winter 'Santa free' Lapland adventure for families
From
£2195
8 days
inc UK flights
Finland lake district holiday for families
A relaxed holiday week in the lake district of Finland
From
€1453 to €1659
7 days
ex flights
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
01273 823 700
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Calling from outside the UK
In Lapland, the ‘Sámi Duodji’ label shows that souvenirs have been made by local Sámi craftspeople. Sámi weaving is a beautiful, colourful tradition. We particularly love the belts, handwoven on traditional looms.
Cosy Finnish knitted mittens and reindeer skin slippers may encourage warm clothing averse kids to wrap up once home.
The Moomins crop up in their original book format, but also on ceramics by Iittala and fabrics by Ekelund.
Along with “sisu” (the Finnish combination of guts and perseverance), “sauna” is one of the words most closely connected with the essence of Finnishness.![]()
How much does it cost?
Ticket to travel on the Helsinki Transport Network: £2.50 or £1.30 child 7-16 years
Loaf of bread: £1.70
Bottle of wine from Alko store: From £9
Visit a husky farm in summer: £18 family entry
More Finland family articles
School holidays and Finland go together well. Winter and August are great times to visit.
Take a close look at the national parks, super chilled cities and remote winter destinations for your Finland trip.
Discover exciting snowy outdoor activities and self drive summer holidays to the lakes.
Finland has a high standard of living, relaxed and safe cities and quiet roads - find out more.
Travel always broadens the mind and travel to Finland is no exception for young minds.
Recommendations and insights from our specialist Finland experts, plus tips from travellers.
