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Finland

Ecuador

The 20 countries to put on your travel list for 2026

Find new charm in the familiar, or forge a fresh trail. Here are the under-the-radar nations and re-emerging classics set to define travel in 2026.

  • Ute Junker
In 2024, visitor numbers to Poland’s Baltic region jumped by 30 per cent.

Better than the Med: Europe’s other great sea remains underrated

Like the Mediterranean, this sea and its eight countries are rich in attractions and culture – but there are far fewer crowds.

  • Brian Johnston
The front-row seat has extra legroom.

Your next international Qantas flight might be operated by this airline

It might have one of the best economy seats I’ve ever flown in, but the food and entertainment falls short on this long haul.

  • Lee Tulloch
MS Silja Serenade.

I took this ferry to save on an airfare. I had no idea what I was in for

A quiet overnight trip from Stockholm to Helsinki was what I expected. Instead I found myself on board a debauched Vegas on water.

  • Natasha Bazika
Passengers in the departures hall at Helsinki airport in Finland.

A 10-hour layover in this small airport is surprisingly enjoyable

For a small airport, it’s beautiful, efficient, well-considered and has lots of quirky corners to explore.

  • Lee Tulloch
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A bucket-list road trip in the world’s happiest country

Universal access to nature, sauna culture and easy city living define the country often touted as the happiest on Earth.

  • Kate Allman
“Finnish women are tough, and we know how to make the best of our lives.”

Want to know the secret of the world’s happiest country? Ask its women

Saunas, nature and a lack of corruption are often cited as the reason this country leads the way on happiness. But there may be another key factor.

  • Heidi Fuller-Love
The vast Helsinki Archipelago.

The capital of the world’s happiest country is full of delights

Finland consistently tops lists of the world’s happiest countries. A stay in the country’s capital goes a long way towards explaining why that is.

  • Kate Allman
tra-santa-131224

Even the home of Santa Claus is now suffering from overtourism

The capital of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi, happily calls itself the “official home town of Santa Claus”. But not everyone is merry about Christmas tourists.

  • JAMES BROOKS
Majestic landscapes at Pulpit Rock.

Ranked and rated: Which Scandinavian country is the best destination?

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland or Greenland? We compare the contenders across five categories to help you decide which to visit.

  • Sarah Marshall

Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/traveller/topic/finland-9q3