Being one of the northernmost countries in the world means wrapping up warm when you travel to Finland; but the countless lakes and seaviews, plus beautiful pine forests as far as the eye can see, make travelling within its borders an unforgettable experience.
While Finland's bustling capital city Helsinki lies in the southern state of Uusimaa, it's to the north in Lapland where Father Christmas is said to live, and tourism in the northern region is especially rife as a result. In order to reach both ends of the country we strongly recommend hiring a car in Finland.
Anyone visiting Finland's northern extremes simply cannot miss out on the chance to see one of the planet's most amazing natural phenomena. Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a dazzling light show that's entirely natural rather than man-made. See this stunning display up-close by hiring a car in Finland and making the trip up north - it's well worth it.
The capital Helsinki is also well worth a visit, with the 2012 World Design Capital making a significant and innovative contribution to society thanks to world-famous brands like Nokia, and some stunning architecture to give visitors pause.
Because it's one of the least densely-populated countries in Europe, you'll often find that Finland's open roads are yours to enjoy alone - as long as you're driving responsibly (and on the right) you'll marvel at the views that driving here will open up.
In winter the speed limits are reduced to 80km/h due to the extreme conditions, and winter tyres are mandatory. All year round, and even during the day you'll need to leave your headlights on due to the unpredictable light levels caused by the country's place near the top of the map.