With 41 parks across the country, each shaped by its own landscape and local culture, there's something for everyone, from relaxed day hikers to seasoned wilderness adventurers. Most national parks are accessible year-round.
In the south, you’ll find easy-to-reach parks like Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi, where quiet forests and lakes sit just a short trip from Helsinki. They're ideal for a quick escape into nature complete with marked trails, campfire spots and occasional forest reindeer sightings if you’re lucky.
Lakeland’s parks, such as Linnansaari and Kolovesi, are shaped by water. Here, the best way to explore is by canoe or kayak, gliding between forested islands, spotting ospreys, and perhaps even glimpsing the rare Saimaa ringed seal.
On the west coast and in the archipelago, places like Bothnian Bay and Archipelago National Park combine sea and silence. Wind-swept skerries, fishing heritage, and lighthouses make for a truly coastal experience, where the horizon feels endless and the sea air clears your thoughts.
Lapland, meanwhile, offers vast, untamed fells in parks like Pallas-Yllästunturi and Urho Kekkonen. These northern giants let you roam through tundra-like landscapes under the Midnight Sun – or in winter, snowshoe under the Northern Lights.