what's so special about it, and why should you pay a visit? Here are 18 reasons, to get you started.
1. IT'S the safest country on Earth.
according to the 2018 Travel Risk Map, which assesses the world across three categories medical risks, security and road safety. Finland has the lowest over all threat level . A lovely place to hunker down and hope everything just blows over.
2. And the most eco friendly.
Finland has tremendous green credentials.In fact, it ranked top in the 2016 Environmental performance Index , which handed Finland a rating of 90.68 beating its nearest rival Iceland ( 90.51) and neighbour sweden (90.43). The report, commissioned by the Yale center for Environmental Law and policy, said; " Finland's goal of consuming 38 per cent of their final energy from renewable sources by 2020 is legally binding , and they already produce nearly two- thirds of their electricity from renewable or nuclear power sources". Nice one Finland.
3. Nowhere in Europe has more trees
Finland has more forest per square mile than any country in Europe, and the 11th most in the world. It's amazing there's room for anything but trees, to be honest, as the nation is 73 per cent firs, briches and oaks ( that's nothing compared to Suriname, top of the list, which is 95 per cent forest).
4.Its capital couldn't be greener
Helsinki has embarked on an ambitious project to make motor vehicle ownership obsolete by 2025. Harnessing the power of new technologies. the authorities want to create an on demand- public transport system that will be so good nobody needs car. As with make motor other scandinavian cities.Helsinki long ago promoted pedal power as a way of getting around. The city now has 2,400 miles of cycle lanes, which have been enthusiastically embraced by locals.
5.There are 179,584 islands
Finland's nick name is the land of a Thousand island. pah, The nation boasts a few more than that; 179,584 to be exact. making it second only to Sweden in the global island ranking.
6. And 188,000 lakes, including western Europe's second biggest.
Not the biggest. That's Lake vanern in Sweden.of course.But at 1,700 square miles in surface area. Lake saimaa is still remarkably big-certainly the largest of those that dot the Finnish landscape. It is home to the saimaa Ringed seal- although you will be lucky to spot one of these endangered freshwater beasts. They number a mere 320 in total , and are only found in the lake. still, you can take a pair of binoculars and try. The waterside is most easily reached via the small city of Lappeenranta-140 miles north- east of Helsinki.
7. It's a tolerant place.
According to the Legatum prosperity Index, which ranks countries according to a range of criteria, including personal freedom.based on access to legal rights, freedom of speech and religion and social tolerance. Finland is the ninth most tolerant nation in the world. The UK is 15th.
8. With enviable gender equality
The above might explain why it's also one of the best countries in the world for gender equality. Finland ranks third, according to the World economy Forum 's Global Gender Gap Report. behind only Iceland ( first )
9. Santa lives there.
Tolerance and gender equality are great, but Finland also has Father Christmas. He lives in Lapland , of course, and can be visited all year. Lapland is arguable the real Finland -a wilderness region that is home to the nomadic sami and their reindeer. In summer there are great hiking trails and white water rafting. In winter you can ski, go ice fishing, snowmobile along forest trails or mush a husky dog tam.
10. They really appreciate good coffee.
It seems the Finnish live their lives by some pretty admirable guiding principles, but that's not even the half of it. Arguably more important is the fact that the Finns consume more coffee than anywhere else in the world - 12 kg per capita per year, a hefty 2.1 kg more per head than Norway , in second place.
11.And stripping off for a sauna.
Up for baring it all in public? You haven't sampled the life of a Finn unless you've done so at a sauna. There are 5.4 million people in Finland, and three million saunas - such is the national obsession with communal cleansing. The yrjonkadun uimahalli sauna and pool in Helsinki occupies a classic 1920' s Art Deco building. or head to the lakeside town of kuopio to try the world's largest smoke sauna at jatkankamppa Lodge, possible accompanied by live accordion music.
12. It has great Wi-Fi
Ever wondered which countries provide the more rapid Internet experience? of course you have, and of course Finland features in the top 10
The map below shows the world according to average connection speed in Mbits /s , as recorded by Akamai- the content delivery network (CDN) responsible for everything between 15 and 30 per cent of all web traffic.
13.And the most spectacular lights display in the world.
Finland is one of the best places on earth to observe the Northern Lights . Of course , never travel *for* the aurora Borealis, because you'll only be left disappointed, but if you just so happen to be in Finland over the winter months, there's a decent chance you'll witness the mystifying light display.
14. Helsinki has one of the world's loveliest cathedrals.
The Tuomiokirkko (helsinkicathedralfi ) a neoclassical wonder in white, capped with domes of green, which sits at the heart of the Finnish capital. It was bulit between 1830 and 1852 in forelock- tugging tribute to Tsar Nicholas I, but lacks much of the pomp and circumstance which can characterise Russian churches, trading instead on a quiet architectural grace. It looks colossal from the outside, rearing above Senaatintori (senate) square,but feels rather smaller within - even though it can seat home 1300 worshippers. 15. And suprisingly good beaches.
Not in the very centre , admittedly, where Helsinki is still very much a port, But look around , and there are plenty of strips of sand nuzzled by the Baltic . One is found 10 miles to the east in Aurinkolahti. That the name of this outer suburb -which translates as ''sunny Bay" - was recently changed from "Mustalahti" ("Black Bay") , in a marketing exercise designed to pull in potential residents , does not detract from the broadness of its main beach. It lives up to its moniker too- at least in July and August , when Helsinki lifts itself to a temperature of 21 c , and the sea warms to a just about toe-diappable 16 c.
17. Or spot bears in a weekend That's what Hazel plush did this year for Telegraph Travel."I though that wolverines were just comic book creations, but they"re real- and rather large-and living in Finland,"she said."They're not the only fearsome predators to lurk in one of Europe's wildest corners either; this is brown bear territory,and the height of summer-under the eerie glow of the midnight sun-is the best time to spot both."
18. It all means the residents are a happy bunch.
According to the 2018 World Happiness Report,Finland is the most contented nation on the planet.
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