If you don’t know anything about an off-the-beaten-path destination, odds are you’ll do one of two things: you’ll either ask an AI chatbot about the country or talk to someone you know who has been there before. I don’t know about you, but I think the second option is a lot more meaningful than the first. AI chatbots don’t travel, but people do, and our Destination Specialists at Goway bring their own passions, expertise, and interests into their work as travel planners. To learn more about the Nordic nation of Finland, we caught up with Melissa Matheson, Senior Destination Specialist. She shared a few authentic insights born from her own travel experiences—no AI hallucinations included.
What’s your favourite place to visit in Finland?
It has to be Finnish Lapland. It’s best known for seeing the Northern Lights, reindeer sleigh rides, husky safaris, and visiting Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.
What’s a unique way to tour Finland?
I definitely recommend going on a husky safari or snowmobile expedition in Lapland. You can book these excursions in the evenings so you can chase the Northern Lights.
What’s a hidden gem in Finland that more people should know about?
A gem is the fortress of Suomenlinna in Helsinki. It’s only accessible by ferry from the mainland and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What’s a famous landmark that people shouldn’t miss?
I mentioned it above, but I highly recommend visiting Rovaniemi, which is located in the Arctic Circle and is the official hometown of Santa Claus. It’s the urban base for Finnish Lapland.
What’s your favourite place to stay in Finland?
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. You can stay in a glass igloo at this incredible winter resort so you can see the Northern Lights right from your bed.
When's the best time to visit Finland?
June to August for warm weather, long days, and festivals, or December to March for snowy winter activities and Northern Lights.
What’s something more travellers should know about Finland?
Finland is often ranked the world's happiest country. It’s fun to experience this happiness first-hand on a trip to Finland.
What’s a common misconception about Finland?
The most common misconception is that Finland is part of Scandinavia. While it’s one of the Nordic countries, it’s not actually a part of Scandinavia and Finnish people don’t have the same ethnic roots as Swedes or Norwegians.
What’s the top food or drink in Finland that you’d recommend?
I definitely recommend reindeer hotdogs, which are very tasty! Another Reindeer dish is poronkäristys, which is traditionally served with mashed potatoes and lingonberries.
Goway’s Destination Specialists like Melissa Matheson are experts at planning tailor-made trips to Finland. You can start planning your own globetrotting adventure with a free quote.
You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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