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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Finland

84 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Finland

Updated October 23, 2024

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  1. Helsinki
  2. Inari
  3. Kuopio
  4. Oulu
  5. Ranua
  6. Rovaniemi
  7. Tampere
  8. Turku

Unusual Attractions in Finland

See All 84 Things To Do in Finland

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Architecture 16
Statues 9
History & Culture 9
Sculptures 8
Churches 7
Art 7
Sacred Spaces 6
Museums 6

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Stories About Finland

This 1882 engraving of Ragnarok, the Viking doomsday, shows Odin mounted on a horse and fighting the wolf Fenrir.

7 Stories That Show Just How Metal the Nordics Are

From Viking werewolves to snacking on pickled ram's testicles, Europe's northernmost countries are badass.
by Roxanne Hoorn
Pinecone confections are surprisingly popular in cold climates.

In Nordic Countries, Pine Foods Have Evergreen Appeal

What was once famine food is now fine dining.
by Kirstin Fawcett

How Are These Trees Floating Over a Finnish Road?

A photo archive reveals clever camouflage techniques, and highlights the strange position of NATO’s newest member, during World War II.
by Andrea Prada Bianchi

Podcast: Luomus Spiders

The tale of a Scandinavian museum's 50-year infestation with Chilean recluse spiders.
by The Podcast Team
The ship first known as the Viking Sally was once a floating pleasure palace, part of the Baltic's "cruiseferry culture."

The Curse of the Viking Sally, the Baltic’s Most Ill-Starred Ship

The one-time floating pleasure palace left a legacy of murder and maritime disaster in its wake.
by Michael Hunt
The Glanville fritillary is common throughout most of Europe and parts of northern Africa.

These Butterflies Full of Wasps Full of Microwasps Are a Science Nightmare

Accidentally released on a Finnish island 30 years ago, the parasites are spreading.
by Patrick Barkham
The endangered Saimaa ringed seal has adapted over time to both fresh water and the presence of humans.

The Uncertain Future of Finland's Rare Freshwater Seals

The animals face threats from climate change, fishing, and a tourism boom, but their biggest advocate remains hopeful.
by Michael Hunt
The Itäkeskus swimming hall doubles as an emergency shelter beneath Helsinki.

How Cold War Fears Helped Create Helsinki's Subterranean Paradise

The Finnish capital's city-within-a-city has a church, a hockey rink, and stockpiles of life-saving supplies.
by Michael Hunt

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