All Finland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Finland

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

Updated April 27, 2023

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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 79 Things To Do in Finland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Finland

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Statues 9
Sculptures 7
Churches 7
Sacred Spaces 6
Geology 6
Art 6
Architectural Oddities 6
History & Culture 6

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Stories About Finland

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
The newly described auroral dunes are visible on the left, next to the more common curtain-like forms.

How Finnish Skywatchers Discovered a Strange New Aurora

The mysterious phenomenon resembles green sand dunes in the sky.
by Sabrina Imbler
Bright night skies—like this scene in Helsinki, Finland—can be exacerbated by snow.

'Snowglow' Sounds Charming, But It's a Menace to Night Skies

Fresh powder can worsen light pollution, according to new research from Germany.
by Jessica Leigh Hester

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