Lifestyle - thisisFINLAND

A whole bunch of brunch for May Day: Finland’s festival of spring arrives

May Day, traditionally the wildest party of the year in Finland, starts on April 30 and continues on May 1, when people take to the parks for a picnic brunch. Chef Timo Lepistö provides us with recipes that fit the holiday.

Life & society Finnishness

For seventh year running, Finland is first in World Happiness Report – other Nordics in top 7

Since 2018, the UN World Happiness Report has found that Finland is the happiest country in the world. How does happiness happen? And where can you take a happiness masterclass?

Business & innovation Society

A humble but powerful Finnish invention: Pedestrian safety reflectors save lives

Invented by a Finnish farmer in 1963, the pedestrian reflector is still helping people stay safe all over the world.

85.4%

of Finns live in urban areas

Source: UN World Urbanisation Prospects

Life & society Society

Digital services in Finland help families lead smoother lives

The Antila-Suurpää family from Helsinki leads a busy life. Digital services provide a lot of help in managing their daily routines and errands.

Business & innovation Work

Gathering experiences of working life in Finland

Finland is looking for international talent to join its workforce, especially for positions in the health and ICT sectors. Professors of practice Jamie Hyneman and Jorma Turunen talk about their experiences working in Finland. We also speak to startup entrepreneurs Iranthi Gomes and Anna Fatima Sambou about launching a business in the country.

3.2 million

Amount of saunas in Finland

Source: Finnish Sauna Society

Arts & culture Music

Hold on to summer: Sunny Flow Fest memories in Helsinki last through the autumn and beyond

Flow Festival is an extravaganza, the highlight of the summer for multitudes of music fans in Finland. With interviews and a photo show, we attempt to bottle its essence so we can make the summer last longer, even as autumn is increasingly in the air.

Life & society Sports

Having fun on the water in Finland

People in Finland love spending time outdoors. Finland’s 188,000 lakes, hundreds of rivers and long coastline offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature. The Finnish Lake District is the largest such area in Europe.

Arts & culture Webpick

50 Finnish summer music festivals to go to in 2023

During the long summer days and midnight sun, Finland offers hundreds of festivals. The experts at Music Finland pick 50 recommendations, from classical to pop, folk and beyond.

500,400

Number of summer cottages in Finland

Source: Statistics Finland

Life & society Quality of life

We asked people in Finland what makes them happy

In honour of the International Day of Happiness, which takes place every year on March 20, we visit Oodi, Helsinki’s grand central library, to talk with people about what makes them happy. In our video, they tell you in their own words.