Life & society

Helsinki sees seaside sauna renaissance

Several new sauna buildings have impressively transformed parts of the Helsinki waterfront, increasing the number of public saunas where visitors and locals can go for an authentic Finnish sauna experience – and a bracing dip in the Baltic Sea.

Life & society Webpick

When the sun doesn’t rise in northern Finland

The Polar Night Counter shows how long kaamos, the season with no sunrise, lasts in northern Finland. It also shows how long is left before the winter solstice.

Life & society Education

Finnish reading dogs help kids learn and grow

“Reading dogs” are no ordinary canines. Reading out loud to a dog can give kids confidence, improve their skills and contribute to their creativity.

Life & society Webpick

Johanna’s arctic endurance dive

A record-holding freediver plunges beneath the perilous Arctic ice

Life & society Wellbeing

Enabling active ageing in Finland

Keeping Finland’s older citizens physically and socially active is of crucial importance for a society that is greying fast.

Life & society Festivals

Finnish festivals driven by volunteer power

Every year for one July weekend the population of the town of Joensuu, near the Finnish-Russian border, virtually doubles when music-lovers flock in for the Ilosaarirock festival. Volunteer workers make an essential contribution to the organisation of this popular event.

Life & society Cuisine

Wild and wonderful Finnish foods

Wild food is a big international trend, but there are very few places where nature is as accessible as it is in Finland. Pick or catch your own food and enjoy.