Finding Happiness in Finland
A birthday trip filled with happy moments, saunas, and slowing down.
I think I’ve found my happiness in Finland. It is really about the small moments – the genuine smiles you see, and people being so kind and polite. Everyone has a relaxed, laid-back vibe and they are always open to conversations and sharing experiences together. I think they genuinely deserve being named the happiest country in the world. Along with this, the country is a masterclass in minimalism, with some of the best architecture I’ve seen lately. It’s a mix of modern, brutalist, and vintage – simple, but very much functional.
Celebrating Vappu
Our arrival lined up perfectly with Vappu, their Labour Day. People were heading out to the park with bottles of sparkling wine, and mini DJ stages were set up in the parks and by the harbour. It was brilliant to see students sharing food and drinks, alongside different brands hosting fun activations. The good vibe was everywhere – not just in the parks, but all around the city. You could see people of every age, style, and background just having fun together. At some point, I felt like we celebrated together – my birthday, or maybe I was celebrating them? Or both?
Getting wonderfully distracted
The following days were designated for exploration. We went to the Kiasma museum, which offers a great mix of contemporary art alongside the 10,000-plus years of history of the Sami, the indigenous people who lived in Scandinavia before Finland, Norway, or Sweden existed.
The main library is a piece of art in itself. It is a brilliant place to stop, rest, reflect, and write something down on a piece of paper – just like these notes.
We’ve been staying in a hotel located in the Design District. Every time we set out with a destination in mind, we never arrived when we planned. There are simply too many distractions along the route. We always find ourselves stopping for small art galleries, boutique shops, hidden bakeries, coffee shops, or just a beautiful building.
The magic of the Finnish sauna
I simply can’t write about Finland without mentioning saunas. They are everywhere. Mixed with cold showers or cold plunges, it’s absolute heaven for your body and mind. After doing this just once a day, I could feel the benefits already. I felt more energetic physically and calmer mentally at the same time. Initially, I thought it was just the usual travel adrenaline I get when I’m travelling. Normally this fades away after a few days, but not this time. Something was different.
As a tourist, you have a lot of options. You can use the sauna at your hotel, or visit one of the public saunas by the Baltic Sea or in the forest, where clothes are optional. If you are looking for an experience that is a bit more elevated, you can go premium to places like Löyly.
Quiet moments at Cafe Regatta
I've always liked ports, harbours, marinas, and anything in between that can move on water. One beautiful, less touristy spot in Helsinki for people like me is Cafe Regatta in Taka Toolo. It’s just a small cabin where they bake what are probably the best cinnamon rolls in the city. The coffee isn't great, so I think they could easily stick to just their bakery products. However, the experience is less about what they are selling and more about the setup. They have a generous outdoor space where you can relax, read a book, or admire the nature. Being right by a small harbour makes it a brilliant place to unwind.
Slowing down outside the city
Once you go outside Helsinki, the pace slows down even more. There is more nature and more open space. The forests become increasingly dense, the people seem calmer, and the food is even tastier. Speaking of food, there is no trip to a Scandinavian country without trying salmon soup. It’s so good that Florence and I have already decided to introduce it into our daily routine when we get back to our flat in the Cotswolds. We also tried reindeer meat, which is a great delicacy to have once in a while.